Method and system for enabling an electronic signature approval process

• US 20060259486A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lind, Jacob, Jensen, Jan Lysgaard
• Granted Patent: US 7,849,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The present invention includes a computer-implemented method and an Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP). The method and system allows a user to enable an electronic signature approval process for modification of data in a transaction. The method includes accessing a table that corresponds with the transaction and adding a signature field having a property sheet to the table. The method also includes defining a select property in the property sheet with a select parameter. The select property configured to provide approval of modified data in the transaction upon entry of a valid electronic signature.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of enabling an electronic signature approval process for modification of data in a transaction of an Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP), the method comprising:

accessing a table corresponding to the transaction;

adding a signature field having a property sheet to the table; and

defining a select property in the property sheet with a select parameter, the select property configured to provide approval of modified data in the transaction upon entry of a valid electronic signature.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing an electronic signature module; and

configuring the electronic signature module to correspond with the transaction.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein configuring the electronic signature module to correspond with the transaction comprises applying code to the electronic signature module specific to the transaction.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the select parameter in the property sheet comprises a parameter that is used consistently across all transactions that enable an electronic signature approval process.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the parameter has a consistent naming convention across all transactions that enable the electronic signature approval process.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein defining a select property in the property sheet with a select parameter further comprises automatically configuring a database log to log all changes made to the transaction.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein adding a signature field comprises adding multiple signature fields such that each signature field that is added corresponds with a required electronic signature.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein adding a signature field comprises adding a signature field named signature modified.

9. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for enabling an electronic signature approval process for modification of data in a transaction of an Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP), the computer readable instructions causing the computing device to perform the steps of:

(a) accessing a table corresponding to the transaction in response to a first user input;

(b) adding a signature field to the table in response to a second user input; and

(c) defining a select property in the property sheet with a select parameter in response to a third user input, the select property configured to provide approval of modified data in the transaction upon entry of a valid electronic signature.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein step (c) comprises adding a signature field having a property sheet to the table.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein step (c) further comprises automatically configuring a database log to log all changes made to the transaction.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein step (b) comprises adding multiple signature fields such that each signature field that is added corresponds with a required electronic signature.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 23 wherein the computer readable instructions further cause the computing device to perform the steps of:

(d) accessing an electronic signature module in response to a fourth user input; and

(e) configuring the electronic signature module to correspond with the transaction in response to a fifth user input.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein step (e) comprises applying code to the electronic signature module such that the electronic signature module corresponds with the transaction.

15. An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system having a plurality of transactions and configured to enable an electronic signature approval process for modifying data in each of the plurality of transactions, the ERP system comprising:

a table configured to be accessed by the user, the table corresponding to one of the plurality of transactions;

a signature field having a property sheet and configured to be added to the table by the user; and

a select property included in the property sheet and configured to be defined with a select parameter such that the select property provides approval of modified data in the transaction upon entry of a valid electronic signature.

16. The ERP system of claim 15 and further comprising an electronic signature module configured to correspond with the transaction.

17. The ERP system of claim 15, wherein the select parameter automatically configures a database log to log all changes made to the transaction.

18. The ERP system of claim 15, wherein the signature field comprises multiple signature fields such that each signature field that is added corresponds with a required electronic signature.

19. The ERP system of claim 15, wherein the select parameter in the property sheet comprises a parameter that is used consistently across all transactions that enable an electronic signature approval process.

20. The ERP system of claim 19, wherein the select parameter has a consistent naming convention across all transactions that enable the electronic signature approval process.