Method of and system for associating an electronic signature with an electronic record

• US 20050108283A1
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Puri, Srinivasulu, Durgada, Savita, Akella, Ravindra, Karimisetty, Srikanth, Singh, Charanjeet
• Granted Patent: US 7,600,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/81 Indexing, e.g. XML tags; Data structures therefor; Storage structures

Abstract

A method of and system for associating an electronic signature with an electronic record in a computer system. In one embodiment the method comprises allowing a user to define an event that, upon occurrence, generates an electronic record that requires an electronic signature; allowing a user to define the fields stored in the electronic record; allowing a user to generate a map that maps data from underlying database tables to at least some of the fields defined for the electronic record; allowing a user to define a layout for displaying data in the electronic record on a computer display when an electronic signature for the data record is collected; allowing a user to identify a signatory approver for the electronic record; generating the electronic record and displaying the electronic record to the signatory approver according to the defined layout in response to the occurrence of the event; receiving an electronic signature from the signatory approver; and associating the electronic signature with the electronic record. Some embodiments further comprise verifying the electronic signature prior to associating the signature with the electronic record.

Claims

1. A method of associating an electronic signature with an electronic record in a computer system, the method comprising:

allowing a user to define an event that, upon occurrence, generates an electronic record that requires an electronic signature;

allowing a user to define the fields stored in the electronic record;

allowing a user to generate a map that maps data from underlying database tables to at least some of the fields defined for the electronic record;

allowing a user to define a layout for displaying data in the electronic record on a computer display when an electronic signature for the data record is collected;

allowing a user to identify a signatory approver for the electronic record;

in response to the occurrence of the event, generating the electronic record and displaying the electronic record to the signatory approver according to the defined layout;

receiving an electronic signature from the signatory approver; and

associating the electronic signature with the electronic record.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising verifying the electronic signature prior to associating the electronic signature with the electronic record.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of associating the electronic signature with the data record is performed in response to a positive verification of the electronic signature.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic signature comprises a user id and a password.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising verifying the electronic signature and storing the electronic record in a common repository of electronic records that are generated from multiple data sources.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the electronic record comprises unstructured data in a character large object (CLOB) format.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the common repository is a database and wherein the unstructured data is a well-formed XML document stored within a column of a table stored in the database.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of, if execution of the rule results in a determination that an electronic signature is required, displaying data from the electronic record on a computer display.

9. A computer system that manages electronic records stored in a database, the computer system comprising:

a processor;

a database; and

a computer-readable memory coupled to the processor, the computer-readable memory configured to store a computer program;

wherein the processor is operative with the computer program to;

(i) allow a user to define an event that, upon occurrence, generates an electronic record that requires an electronic signature;

(ii) allow a user to define the fields stored in the electronic record;

(iii) allow a user to generate a map that maps data from underlying database tables to at least some of the fields defined for the electronic record;

(iv) allow a user to define a layout for displaying data in the electronic record on a computer display when an electronic signature for the data record is collected;

(v) allow a user to identify a signatory approver for the electronic record;

(vi) generate the electronic record and displaying the electronic record to the signatory approver according to the defined layout in response to the occurrence of the event;

(vii) receive an electronic signature from the signatory approver; and

(viii) associate the electronic signature with the electronic record.

10. The computer system of claim 9 wherein processor is further operative to verify the electronic signature.

11. The computer system of claim 10 wherein processor is operative to associate the electronic signature with the data record in response to a positive verification of the electronic signature.

12. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the electronic signature comprises a user id and a password.

13. The computer system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further operative to verify the electronic signature and store the electronic record in a common repository of electronic records that are generated from multiple data sources.

14. The computer system of claim 13 wherein the electronic record comprises unstructured data in a character large object (CLOB) format.

15. The computer system of claim 14 wherein the common repository is a database and wherein the unstructured data is a well-formed XML document stored within a column of a table stored in the database.

16. The computer system of claim 9 wherein the processor is further operative to display data from the electronic record on a computer display if execution of the rule results in a determination that an electronic signature is required.

17. A computer program stored on a computer-readable storage medium for managing electronic records stored in a database, the computer program comprising:

code for allowing a user to define an event that, upon occurrence, generates an electronic record that requires an electronic signature;

code for allowing a user to define the fields stored in the electronic record;

code for allowing a user to generate a map that maps data from underlying database tables to at least some of the fields defined for the electronic record;

code for allowing a user to define a layout for displaying data in the electronic record on a computer display when an electronic signature for the data record is collected;

code for allowing a user to identify a signatory approver for the electronic record;

code for, in response to the occurrence of the event, generating the electronic record and displaying the electronic record to the signatory approver according to the defined layout;

code for receiving an electronic signature from the signatory approver; and

code for associating the electronic signature with the electronic record.

18. The computer program of claim 17 further comprising code for verifying the electronic signature.

19. The computer program of claim 18 wherein the electronic signature comprises a user id and a password.

20. The computer program of claim 18 further comprising code for storing the electronic record in a common repository of electronic records that are generated from multiple data sources.

21. The computer program of claim 20 wherein the electronic record comprises unstructured data in a character large object (CLOB) format.

22. The computer program of claim 21 wherein the common repository is a database and wherein the unstructured data is a well-formed XML document stored within a column of a table stored in the database.