Abstract: A marketing method comprising a Provider offering a potential reward to a first party in exchange for promotional assistance of forwarding a first e-mail message to a second party comprising a personalized referral for the marketable entity, a first set of data comprising a first serial number and a first URL link. A first Web site corresponding to the first URL link is created which provides information on the referenced marketable entity and an offer to transact. The first set of data in the first e-mail message is correlated to a first set of database data within a digital database controlled by the Provider. The first e-mail message is forwarded from the Provider to the first party. The first e-mail message is forwarded from the first party directly to the second party without giving any identifying information about the second party to the Provider.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses digital signatures in a novel configuration to perform validations to facilitate a trade. This system operates by receiving a quote related to the trade at a first computer system, wherein the quote includes permission information that facilitates determining permissions that have been granted to a quote maker. Upon receiving the quote, the system validates that the quote maker digitally signed the quote by using a public key of the quote maker to verify that the quote was signed by a corresponding private key belonging to the quote maker. The system also validates that the quote maker has permission to perform the trade by using a public key of a first security officer to verify that the permission information was signed by a corresponding private key belonging to the first security officer, thereby authorizing the quote maker to perform the trade.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for automatically settling a financial transaction. This system operates by receiving a trade record specifying previously-agreed-to details of the financial transaction between a first party and a second party. This trade record includes settlement instructions specifying a transfer of a first financial instrument belonging to the first party into a second party destination account belonging to the second party. It also includes a second digital signature created by digitally signing at least a portion of the trade record, including the settlement instructions, with a second private key belonging to the second party. Upon receiving this trade record, the system attempts to ensure that funds are available to complete the financial transaction.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses digital signatures to validate an amendment to a financial transaction, wherein the financial transaction was previously agreed upon between a first party and a second party. The system operates by receiving a request to make the amendment from a first representative of the first party, wherein the request includes a suggested change to at least one term of the financial transaction. Next, the system validates that the first representative of the first party digitally signed the request by using a public key of the first representative to verify that the request was signed by a corresponding private key belonging to the first representative.