incomplete - characterizes alternative approaches to e-signatures.


Accountability is a function of confidence in the original identity assertion (was the registrant who they claimed to be?), the chain of custody of the identity credentials (did the registrant maintain sole custody of the secret key), the integrity of the signed document (is the document in evidence exactly the same document that was signed?), and the legal framework of the e-signature (is the signature legally binding?).

This decomposition may be useful in discussing alternative solutions, but these are tightly interrelated elements and not independently addressable. However, in the implementation of e-signature systems there are several independent components that can be loosely mapped to these concepts:

Registration

Credential

Credential
Delivery

Signing
Ceremony

Tamper
Evident
Packaging

In-person proofing at USPO