SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISTRIBUTED ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE DOCUMENTS

• US 20090292786A1
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DocuSign Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DocuSign Incorporated
• Inventors: Gosner, Thomas H. JR., McCabe, Andrew David
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/645 using a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a report describing the status of an electronic envelope. The electronic envelope includes a first electronic document to be distributed for electronic signature and an electronic signing template defining a set of at least one task that must be performed by an executor of the first electronic document to complete the electronic signature. The first electronic document is subject to a workflow including a plurality of events. The method includes receiving from a monitoring entity a selection of an identifier of an event of the plurality. The progress of the first electronic document through the workflow is monitored. That the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document is determined. In response to determining that the at least one event has occurred, the monitoring entity is notified of such.

Claims

1. A method for providing a report describing the status of an electronic envelope including a first electronic document to be distributed for electronic signature and an electronic signing template defining a set of at least one task that must be performed by an executor of the first electronic document to complete the electronic signature, the first electronic document being subject to a document-execution workflow comprising a plurality of events including the at least one task, the method comprising:

receiving from a monitoring entity an electronic selection of an identifier of at least one event of the plurality;

monitoring over a network the progress of the first electronic document through the workflow;

determining that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document; and

in response to determining that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document, notifying the monitoring entity that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first document includes an embedded activatable control; and

determining that the event has occurred comprises receiving an indication that the control has been activated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic envelope includes a second electronic document to be distributed for electronic signature, and further comprising:

monitoring the progress of the second electronic document through the workflow;

determining that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the second electronic document; and

in response to determining that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the second electronic document, notifying the monitoring entity that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the second electronic document.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a graphical user interface (GUI) to a display device associated with the monitoring entity, wherein the identifier selection is provided by the monitoring entity via the GUI.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one event comprises completion of the electronic signature of the first electronic document.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from the monitoring entity a selection of a first destination of a plurality of destinations to be notified that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document.

7. A system, comprising:

a source client executable on a first computing device, the source client configured to generate an electronic envelope including a first electronic document to be distributed over a network for electronic signature and an electronic signing template defining a set of at least one task that must be performed by an executor of the first electronic document to complete the electronic signature, the first electronic document being subject to a document-execution workflow comprising a plurality of events including the at least one task; and

an electronic device coupled to the first computing device over the network, the electronic device configured to;

receive from the first computing device an electronic selection of an identifier of at least one event of the plurality,

monitor over the network the progress of the first electronic document through the workflow,

determine that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document, and

in response to determining that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document, notify the first computing device that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the source client is further configured to embed into the first document an activatable control; and

the electronic device is further configured to determine that the event has occurred in response to receiving an indication that the control has been activated.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic envelope includes a second electronic document to be distributed for electronic signature, and the electronic device is further configured to:

monitor the progress of the second electronic document through the workflow;

determine that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the second electronic document; and

in response to determining that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the second electronic document, notify the first computing device that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the second electronic document.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic device is further configured to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) to a display device associated with the first computing device, wherein the identifier selection is provided by a user of the first computing device via the GUI.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one event comprises completion of the electronic signature of the first electronic document.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic device is further configured to receive from the first computing device a selection of a first destination of a plurality of destinations to be notified that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document.

13. A computer readable medium including instructions that, when executed by an electronic device, enable the electronic device to perform steps for providing a report describing the status of an electronic envelope including a first electronic document to be distributed for electronic signature and an electronic signing template defining a set of at least one task that must be performed by an executor of the first electronic document to complete the electronic signature, the first electronic document being subject to a document-execution workflow comprising a plurality of events including the at least one task, the steps comprising:

receiving from a monitoring entity an electronic selection of an identifier of at least one event of the plurality;

monitoring over a network the progress of the first electronic document through the workflow;

determining that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document; and

in response to determining that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document, notifying the monitoring entity that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein:

the first document includes an embedded activatable control; and

determining that the event has occurred comprises receiving an indication that the control has been activated.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein the electronic envelope includes a second electronic document to be distributed for electronic signature, and further comprising:

monitoring the progress of the second electronic document through the workflow;

determining that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the second electronic document; and

in response to determining that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the second electronic document, notifying the monitoring entity that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the second electronic document.

16. The medium of claim 13, further comprising generating a graphical user interface (GUI) to a display device associated with the monitoring entity, wherein the identifier selection is provided by the monitoring entity via the GUI.

17. The medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one event comprises completion of the electronic signature of the first electronic document.

18. The medium of claim 13, further comprising receiving from the monitoring entity a selection of a first destination of a plurality of destinations to be notified that the at least one event has occurred with respect to the first electronic document.