In a networked computer environment, a client is unencumbered from
signature generating components, yet conversant to transmit
signature-based documents in a signature-based metalanguage such as XML.
The nonsigning client/user invokes a signature from a signature server to
send a payload of data in a signed message format to a recipient also
conversant in the metalanguage, according to the metalanguage format. The
nonsigning client receives a signature block including a signature value
from the server. The client identifies a payload for transmission
according to the metalanguage. Employing the metalanguage interpreter in
client, the client stores the payload data in the signature block without
disrupting the signature and the data it covers in the signature block.
The nonsigning client the sends the resulting signature message including
the payload data and the signature value, in the metalanguage format, to
the recipient destination conversant in the metalanguage. Accordingly,
the nonsigning client employs signature-based messages without the
encumbrance of cryptographic components.