Patent ID: 8479006

Claim:
In a computing environment a method of creating a token for use by an entity when digitally signing documents, the method comprising: accessing a digital identity representation for an entity, wherein the digital identity representation comprises information identifying identity attributes about the entity and capabilities of an identity provider that provides tokens for use by the entity, wherein the information identifying capabilities of the identity provider includes at least one of an indication of the identity of the identity provider and what assertions the identity provider can make; accessing context information, the context information including information about which, how and where the attributes for the entity identified in the digital identity representation will be used, wherein the attributes are contained within the accessed digital identity representation, and the context information including information about a document signing event which is associated with circumstances surrounding the signing of the document, comprising, a type of document to be signed, and a type of authority needed to sign the document; and creating a security token using both the information in the digital identity representation and the context information, the security token including assertions by the identity provider based on the information in the digital identity representation, and the token further comprising information related to at least a portion of the context information.