Transaction coordinator for digital certificate validation and other services

An apparatus for facilitating computerized transactions between at least a first entity and a second entity, the apparatus comprising:

• a first server, said server comprising a first transaction coordinator associated with said first entity;
• a second server, said server comprising a second transaction coordinator associated with said second entity and communicatively coupled to said first transaction coordinator via a communications network;
• said first transaction coordinator comprising an interface module that communicates with said second transaction coordinator, said interface module comprising a transaction coordinator request manager component and a transport services component;
• said first transaction coordinator further comprising, coupled to the interface module,
• a set of service modules comprising a digital certificate status check module that validates digital certificates of said entities, a warranty service module that guarantees an identity of an entity that signs an electronic communication relating to a transaction, and a payment guarantee module that provides a first entity with confirmation of a second entity's ability to fulfill a financial obligation;
• and
• a set of core components comprising a logging component that provides non-repudiation and security auditing services, a billing component that creates and stores a transaction billing history for responses and requests received by the transaction coordinator, and a digital signature component that uses cryptographic processing to verify digital signatures.