System and method for providing a real-time, online biometric signature

• US 20060159313A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signaturelink Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Signaturelink Incorporated
• Inventors: Hicks, Bill, Liscum, Dave
• Granted Patent: US 7,916,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/119
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A system is provided for generating an online biometrically accurate electronic signature. The system includes a computer interface module which records movement of a cursor on a computer screen and outputs the recorded data. A signature generation module which receives the recorded data and generates a graphical image based upon the recorded data.

Claims

1. A system for generating an online electronic, biometric signature, said system comprising:

a computer interface module which records movement of a cursor on a computer screen and outputs the recorded data;

a signature generation module which receives said recorded data and generates a graphical image of a biometric signature based upon said recorded data.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer interface module records coordinate data of said cursor.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer interface module includes a signature block object which is displayed on the screen of a computer, and said computer interface records and outputs coordinate data of cursor movement within said signature block object.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer interface module comprises one of a FLASH, MS Sparkle, MS Longhorn, Vista or MS Net program.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer interface module comprises a browser plug-in.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer interface module comprises a built-in component of a hosting application.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer interface module comprises a java applet.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer interface module comprises a downloadable stand-alone computer program.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer interface module is installed onto a first computer and said signature generation module is installed on a second computer and said data is transmitted from said computer interface module to said signature generation module over an electronic data network.

10. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said computer interface module is configured to store signature data, based on said recorded data, in a computer file and transmit said computer file to said signature generation module, and said signature generation module is configured to read said signature data from said computer file.

11. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein said cursor is moved on said computer by a computer mouse, and said coordinate data is recorded only when a mouse button is depressed on said mouse.

12. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein said cursor is moved on said computer screen via a peripheral device input into said computer.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said peripheral device input into said computer comprises a computer mouse, and said computer interface module is configured to record coordinate data only when a mouse button is depressed upon said mouse.

14. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein said computer interface module is further configured to transmit a signal to said signature generation module to begin signature generation.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said computer interface module is further configured to transmit a signal to said signature generation module to begin signature generation.

16. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer interface module is further configured to transmit a signal to said signature generation module to begin signature generation.

17. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer interface module is further configured to display an error message when a data error occurs with entry of data into a corresponding form.

18. A method for capturing an online electronic, biometric signature, comprising steps of:

downloading online content to a client computer interface;

as a result of said downloading, executing a signature program module to display a signature block on the client computer interface, said signature block capable of capturing signature data from a computer input peripheral device;

said executing program module receiving signature data from said computer peripheral device representing a biometric signature;

generating a graphical image of said biometric signature from said coordinate data;

storing one of said signature data and said graphical image remotely;

when that said one of said signature data and said graphical image is stored, generating a notification indicating that the signature has been received,

wherein said program module is executed independently from said online content.

19. The method for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 18, wherein said step of executing said program module includes a step of downloading a signature block program based on link embedded in said online content, said signature block program configured to display the signature block on the client computer interface and capture the signature data from a computer peripheral device.

20. The method for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 18, wherein said computer client interface includes a hosting application for displaying said online content to a computer user, and

step of executing said program module includes a step of downloading said signature program module from a location different than a location where said online content is stored based on an embedded command in said online content, said signature program module configured to display the signature block on the client computer interface and capture the signature data from a computer peripheral device.

21. The method for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 20, wherein said signature block module comprises a plug-in to said hosting application.

22. The method for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 20, wherein said signature block module comprises included in said hosting application.

23. The method for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 20, wherein said signature block module comprises embedded in said online content.

55. The method for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 20, wherein said online content comprising an HTML or XAML form and said HTML or XAML form is submitted independent from said execution of said signature program module.

56. The method for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 55, wherein said signature program updates said HTML or XAML form, or a browser cookie, when said one of said signature data and said graphical image is stored.

24. A system for capturing an online electronic signature, comprising:

a web server configured to store and transmit online content;

a client interface configured to access said web server and download and display said online content; and

a signature capture program configured to display a signature block on said client interface, to capture coordinate data of a computer cursor within said signature block, and to generate a signature image based on said captured coordinate data.

25. A system for capturing an online electronic signature via a web browser on a client computer interface, said system comprising:

a signature capture program configured to display a signature block on said client interface within said hosting application, to capture coordinate data of a computer cursor within said signature block, and to generate a signature image based on said captured coordinate data.

26. The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 25, wherein said signature capture program is stored remote from said client computer interface and is downloadable to said hosting application.

27. The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 25, wherein said signature capture program is downloaded and executed by said client computer interface as a result of an embedded object call in online content displayed by said hosting application.

28. The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 27, wherein said online content includes a form for entering data, and wherein:

said signature capture program is configured to capture data entered into said form and link said data with at least one of said coordinate data and said signature image.

29. The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 26, wherein:

said signature capture program is configured to capture data entered into said form and link said data with at least one of said coordinate data and said signature image.

30. The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 26, wherein:

said signature capture program comprises a signature capture module configured to capture coordinate data of a computer cursor within said signature block, and a signature generation module configured to generate said graphical signature based on said captured data;

wherein said signature capture module and signature generation module reside on different computer devices.

31. A system for generating an online electronic signature, said system comprising:

means for interfacing with a client computer, recording movement of a cursor on a computer screen and outputting recorded coordinate data;

means for receiving said recorded coordinate data and generating a graphical image based upon said recorded coordinate data.

32. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for interfacing records coordinate data of a computer windows cursor controlled by a peripheral computer device.

33. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for interfacing includes a means for displaying a signature block object on the screen of a computer, and records and outputs coordinate data of cursor movement within said signature block object.

34. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for interfacing comprises one of a FLASH, MS Sparkle, MS Longhorn, Vista or MS Net program.

35. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for interfacing comprises a hosting application plug-in.

36. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for interfacing comprises a built-in component of a hosting application.

37. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for interfacing comprises a java applet.

38. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for interfacing comprises a computer program.

39. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for interfacing is installed onto a first computer and said means for receiving is installed on a second computer, and said data is transmitted from said means for interfacing to said means for receiving over an electronic data network.

40. The system as recited in claim 32, wherein said means for interfacing stores said recorded coordinate data in a file and transmits said file to said means for receiving, and said means for receiving reads said coordinate data from said file.

41. The system as recited in claim 33, wherein said cursor is moved on said computer by a computer mouse, and said coordinate data is recorded only when a mouse button is depressed on said mouse.

42. The system as recited in claim 33, wherein said cursor is moved on said computer screen via a peripheral device input into said computer.

43. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein said peripheral device input into said computer comprises a computer mouse, and said means for interfacing record coordinates data only when a mouse button is depressed upon said mouse.

44. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for interfacing transmits a signal to said means for receiving to begin signature generation.

45. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for interfacing transmits a signal to said means for receiving to begin signature generation.

54. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for interfacing is installed onto a same computer as said means for receiving is installed.

57. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein said means for interfacing comprises a component or control file loaded by a hosting application.

46. A hosting application, comprising:

means for displaying online content;

a computer interface module which records movement of a cursor on a computer screen and outputs the recorded data;

a signature generation module which receives said recorded data and generates a graphical image based upon said recorded data; and

means for invoking said computer interface module such that online content displayed with said hosting application can invoke said computer interface module.

47. The hosting application as recited in claim 46, wherein said computer interface module records coordinate data of said cursor.

48. The hosting application as recited in claim 46, wherein said computer interface module includes a signature block object which is displayed on the screen of a computer, and said computer interface records and outputs coordinate data of cursor movement within said signature block object.

49. The hosting application as recited in claim 47, wherein said computer interface module is configured to store said coordinate data in a file, and said signature generation module is configured to read said coordinate data from said file.

50. The hosting application as recited in claim 48, wherein said cursor is moved on said computer by a computer mouse, and said coordinate data is recorded only when a mouse button is depressed on said mouse.

51. The hosting application as recited in claim 48, wherein said cursor is moved on said computer screen via a peripheral device input into said computer.

52. The hosting application as recited in claim 51, wherein said peripheral device input into said computer comprises a computer mouse, and said computer interface module is configured to record coordinate data only when a mouse button is depressed upon said mouse.

53. The hosting application as recited in claim 52, wherein said computer interface module is further configured to display an error message when a data error occurs with entry of data into a corresponding form.