Abstract: A system for warranting the identity of a party over an electronic network. The system comprises a root entity and a plurality of additional entities. Each additional entity is admitted to the system after agreeing to abide by a plurality of operating rules promulgated by the root entity. The additional entities may comprise level-one participants and level-two participants. Certificate authorities maintained by level-one participants issue digital certificates to their customers. The digital certificates bind the customers to their public keys. System customers are also provided with a warranty request formatter which is adapted to formulate a request for a warranty as to the veracity of information contained in a digital certificate. The warranty request formatter is also adapted to transmit the request for the warranty to the customer's level-one participant.

Abstract: Methods, apparati, and computer-readable media for providing authorization and other services. In a preferred embodiment, an authorization service includes both a messaging specification and a set of rules that govern its use. A first customer wishing to use the authorization service prepares a request that complies with the service's messaging specification and transmits it to a first participant. The first participant transmits the request to a second participant, which processes the request according to authorization information provided by a second customer and rules that have been specified for the service. The second participant then prepares a response that complies with the service's messaging specification.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for transparently providing certificate validation and other services without requiring a separate service request by either a relying customer or subscribing customer. In a preferred embodiment, after the subscribing customer digitally signs a document (e.g., a commercial document such as a purchase order), it forwards the document to a trusted messaging entity which validates the certificates of both the subscribing customer and relying customer and the respective system participants of which they are customers. If the certificates are valid, the trusted messaging entity appends a validation message to the digitally-signed document and forwards the document to the relying customer. A validation message is also preferably appended to a digitally-signed receipt from the relying customer and transmitted to the subscribing customer. In this way, both the relying customer and subscribing customer obtain certification of their respective counterparty to the transaction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for warranting the identity of a party over an electronic network. The system comprises a root entity and a plurality of additional entities. Each additional entity is admitted to the system after agreeing to abide by a plurality of operating rules promulgated by the root entity. The additional entities may comprise level-one participants and level-two participants. Certificate authorities maintained by level-one participants issue digital certificates to their customers. The digital certificates bind the customers to their public keys. System customers are also provided with a warranty request formatter which is adapted to formulate a request for a warranty as to the veracity of information contained in a digital certificate. The warranty request formatter is also adapted to transmit the request for the warranty to the customer's level-one participant.