Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for cryptographic control and maintenance of organizational structure and functions are provided. A method for control and maintenance of an operational organizational structure, the method includes associating entities with cryptographic capabilities; organizing entities within the organizational structure as roles; and maintaining roles within the organizational structure. The system may involve at least a Public Key Infrastructure operation. Elements in said organizational structure may be assigned to roles and/or groups within said organizational structure.

Abstract: In an infrastructure in which some of a plurality of entities provide cryptographically supported services, a method of registering a subscriber entity of a plurality of entities at a principal entity of a plurality of entities, the method comprising the subscriber entity requesting service from the principal entity by sending a request message to a registrar entity of the plurality of entities; the registrar entity verifying the subscriber entity and forwarding the request for service to the principal entity; the principal entity storing the forwarded request and transmitting an acknowledgement message to the registrar entity, the acknowledgement stating acceptance and authentication/authorization information that the subscriber entity requires for the requested service; and the registrar entity verifying the authenticity of the received acknowledgement message, and, if correct, forwarding the acknowledgement message to the subscriber entity.

Abstract: An electronic transaction system includes an authority issuing electronic signals representing subscriber assurance of an attribute of a subscriber to the system; and a reliance server obtaining electronic signals representing information regarding the subscriber assurance issued by the issuing authority, the reliance server issuing electronic signals representing a signed warranty offer to a relying party, the signed warranty offer being based at least on the subscriber attribute assurance, wherein the reliance server only provides the signed warranty offer if the relying party is authorized to make a request for said warranty.

Abstract: A method for providing a warranty relating to a transaction between two parties, each party having a data communications device, in a system which includes an infrastructure composed of a plurality of locations each associated with a respective institution which provides services to clients, each location having a computer system, a database coupled to the computer system and storing information about each client of the institution and a data communications device coupled to the computer system for communication with the data communications device of any one party, each party being a client of at least one of the institutions, the method containing the steps of: