Abstract: A digital certificate includes framing characters defining a protected area. The protected area contains a selected set of components, including text-based components and binary-based components, and the certificate serves as a transport container for such components. A message digest or hashing algorithm applied to the protected area provides consistent results despite modifications to the certificate outside the protected area. A digital signature provides authentication of source and content integrity. Digital certificates under the present invention may be applied to a variety of purposes including but not limited to proof of ownership, gift certificates, upgrade purchases, and other applications where verification of source and content integrity are desirable.

Abstract: Digital product dissemination and sale occurs across a broad spectrum of distribution platforms making available a packaged digital product for wide spread public distribution. Execution of a packaged digital product on a purchasing consumer's personal computer provides opportunity to the user-consumer for purchase and delivery of the digital product. The user-consumer triggers a purchase step conducted automatically and directly between the personal computer and a bank network. A publishing merchant need not be involved in the purchase step other than receiving credit for the purchase in the credit card bank network. Delivery of the digital product following purchase occurs automatically and without use of cumbersome encryption keys.