Method of and system for collecting an electronic signature for an electronic record stored in a database
First Claim
1. A method of collecting an electronic signature for an electronic record stored in a database, the method comprising:
- automatically creating an electronic record from data stored in a plurality of different database tables in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event;
storing an instance of the electronic record in a common repository of electronic records that provides an audit trail that cannot be altered or disabled by users of the system;
executing a rule associated with the electronic record to determine whether an electronic signature is required to connote review and/or approval of the electronic record; and
if execution of the rule results in a determination that an electronic signature is required, marking the instance of the electronic record as unsigned and initiating a request to collect the required electronic signature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of and system for collecting an electronic signature for an electronic record stored in a database. In one embodiment the method comprises automatically creating an electronic record from data stored in a plurality of different database tables in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event; storing an instance of the electronic record in a common repository of electronic records that provides an audit trail that cannot be altered or disabled by users of the system; executing a rule associated with the electronic record to determine whether an electronic signature is required to connote review and/or approval of the electronic record; and if execution of the rule results in a determination that an electronic signature is required, marking the instance of the electronic record as unsigned and initiating a request to collect the required electronic signature. In some embodiments the electronic record is stored as unstructured data in a character large object (CLOB) format and the unstructured data comprises a well-formed XML document stored within a column of a table stored in the database.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of collecting an electronic signature for an electronic record stored in a database, the method comprising:
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automatically creating an electronic record from data stored in a plurality of different database tables in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event;
storing an instance of the electronic record in a common repository of electronic records that provides an audit trail that cannot be altered or disabled by users of the system;
executing a rule associated with the electronic record to determine whether an electronic signature is required to connote review and/or approval of the electronic record; and
if execution of the rule results in a determination that an electronic signature is required, marking the instance of the electronic record as unsigned and initiating a request to collect the required electronic signature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system that manages electronic records stored in a database, the computer system comprising:
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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) automatically create an electronic record from data stored in a plurality of different database tables in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event;
(ii) store an instance of the electronic record in a common repository of electronic records that provides an audit trail that cannot be altered or disabled by users of the system;
(iii) execute a rule associated with the electronic record to determine whether an electronic signature is required to connote review and/or approval of the electronic record; and
(iv) mark the instance of the electronic record as unsigned and initiate a request to collect the required electronic signature if execution of the rule results in a determination that an electronic signature is required. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program stored on a computer-readable storage medium for managing electronic records stored in a database, the computer program comprising:
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code for automatically creating an electronic record from data stored in a plurality of different database tables in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event;
code for storing an instance of the electronic record in a common repository of electronic records that provides an audit trail that cannot be altered or disabled by users of the system;
code for executing a rule associated with the electronic record to determine whether an electronic signature is required to connote review and/or approval of the electronic record; and
code for marking the instance of the electronic record as unsigned and initiating a request to collect the required electronic signature if execution of the rule results in a determination that an electronic signature is required. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. The method of program 23 wherein the computer program further comprises code for initially marking the electronic record as unsigned by setting an appropriate attribute associated with a database table in which at least part of the record is stored.
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25. A method of collecting an electronic signature for an electronic record stored in a database, the method comprising:
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automatically creating an electronic record in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event, wherein the electronic record comprises unstructured, well-formed XML data stored in a character large-object (CLOB) format;
storing an instance of the electronic record in a common repository of electronic records that provides an audit trail that cannot be altered or disabled by users of the system;
executing a rule associated with the electronic record to determine whether an electronic signature is required to connote review and/or approval of the electronic record; and
if execution of the rule results in a determination that an electronic signature is required, marking the instance of the electronic record as unsigned;
requesting the electronic signature;
after obtaining the electronic signature, verifying its authenticity; and
if the electronic signature is verified as authentic, marking the electronic record as signed.
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Specification