Method of using personal signature as postage

• US 20050102241A1
• Filed: 12/18/2001
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Postal Service United States The
• Original Assignee: Postal Service United States The
• Inventors: Cook, Jon, Wilkerson, Wayne A., Gordon, Roy R.
• Application Number:
  US10/450,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102241A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00766 Digital signature, e.g. DSA, DSS, ECDSA, ESIGN
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00822 including unique details
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1016 Devices or methods for securing the PIN and other transaction-data, e.g. by encryption arrangements for secret communication, see H04L9/00

Abstract

A method of converting a signature into an authorization for an item of value in lieu of cash, the method including the steps of transmitting a request, comprising a digitized signature and an amount requested by the user, to a service provider with whom the user has an account; validating the request; and generating for the user an authorization wherein the authorization may be used in lieu of money in the amount authorized.

Claims

1. A method of converting a signature into an authorization for an item of value in lieu of cash, the method comprising:

transmitting a request, comprising a digitized signature and an amount requested by the user, to a service provider with whom the user has an account;

validating the request; and

generating for the user an authorization wherein the authorization may be used in lieu of money in the amount authorized.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

scanning a user'"'"'s signature to produce a digitized signature.

3. The method of claim 1, further including:

inputting a sign one of a pressure sensitive signature pad and a digital pad to produce a digitized signature.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring further includes:

faxing a user'"'"'s signature to produce a digitized signature.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the validating includes:

comparing the digitized signature with a signature previously provided to the service provider by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes:

transmitting a PIN number to the service provider.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein validating further includes

validating the PIN number against the PIN number associated with the user'"'"'s account.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating includes:

generating an authorization comprising a unique barcode; and

providing a copy of the authorization to the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorization authorizes the use of the amount as postage and wherein the method includes:

printing an authorization for use as postage in the amount authorized by the service provider.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein authorization authorizes the use of the amount as a coupon, and wherein the method includes:

printing an authorization in the form of a coupon in the amount authorized by the service provider.

11. A method for converting a signature into an authorization for an item of value in lieu of cash, the method comprising:

transmitting a request, comprising a digitized signature and an amount requested, to a service provider;

receiving an authorization command from the service provider to permit the user to use the amount requested; and

printing an authorization for the user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the authorization comprises a printed barcode.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the authorization permits the user to use the amount for postage, and wherein printing further includes:

printing the authorization for use as postage on an piece of mail.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the authorization constitutes a coupon in the requested amount, and wherein the method further includes:

printing the authorization for use as a coupon.

15. A method for converting a signature into an authorization for an item of value in lieu of cash, the method comprising:

receiving a request comprising a digitized signature and an amount requested by a user;

determining if the signature is valid;

determining if the requested amount if approved for the user; and

transmitting an authorization command to permit the user to use the requested amount if the requested amount is approved.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving includes receiving a PIN number, and wherein determining further includes:

validating the transmitted PIN number.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the method includes:

generating an authorization command for printing a unique barcode.

18. A system for converting a signature into an authorization for an item of value in lieu of cash, the method comprising:

means for transmitting a request comprising a digitized signature and an amount requested by the user to a service provider with whom the user has an account;

means for authorizing the use of the value requested by the user; and

means for generating for the user an authorization allowing the user to spend in the amount authorized.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further including:

a scanner to scan a user'"'"'s signature to produce a digitized signature.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further including:

one of a pressure sensitive signature pad and a digital pad to produce a digitized signature.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further including:

a facsimile machine for sending a digitized signature.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, further including:

means for comparing the digitized signature with a prior signature provided to the service provider by the user.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, further including:

an interface for transferring a PIN number to the service provider.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further including:

means for validating the PIN number against a PIN number associated with the user'"'"'s account.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, further including:

means for generating an authorization comprising a barcode.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, further including:

means for opening and maintaining user accounts with a service provider.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, further including:

a printer for printing a barcode authorization for use of the authorized amount as postage.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, further including:

a printer for printing a barcode authorization for use of the authorized amount as a coupon.

29. An apparatus for converting a signature into an authorization for an item of value in lieu of cash, the method comprising:

means for transmitting a digitized signature and an amount requested to a service provider with whom the user has an account;

means for receiving an authorization command from the service provider to permit the user to use the amount requested;

a printer for printing an authorization for the user.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the printer constitutes a printer for printing an authorization comprising a barcode for the user.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the printer constitutes a printer for printing postage on an piece of mail.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein printer constitutes a printer for printing a coupon for a product.

33. An apparatus for converting a signature into an authorization for an item of value in lieu of cash, the method comprising:

means for receiving a digitized signature and an amount requested by a user;

means of validating the signature;

means of authorizing the use of the amount requested, if the signature is valid; and

means for transmitting an authorization command for use of the amount requested if authorized.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further including:

means for validating a PIN number for the user.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further including:

means for generating an authorization command for printing a unique barcode.