ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT PROCESSING

摘要

A method is provided for processing electronic documents, such as electronic invoices, specifications, or contracts, to ensure authenticity, integrity, confidentiality, and non-repudiation of the document. A third party service provider is established as the agent for two interacting parties. The third party service provider receives an electronic document from a first party, the electronic document relating to a transaction between the parties, the transaction being, for example, a sale or a contract. The third party service provider provides an electronic signature and certification for the document and archives the document, providing it, along with the certification, to the second party or others. The invention is particularly application to processing electronic invoices to comply with value added taxing regulations.