SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM, FOR ENABLING ENTRY INTO TRANSACTIONS ON A REMOTE BASIS

• US 20100011428A1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syngrafii Corporation
• Original Assignee: Donald Kevin Marshall, John H.D. Wiltshire, Margaret Atwood, Matthew M.C. Gibson, Nemesio Carlos Garcia
• Inventors: Gibson, Matthew M.C., Marshall, Donald Kevin, Garcia, Nemesio Carlos, Wiltshire, John H.D., Atwood, Margaret
• Granted Patent: US 8,296,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

A system, method and computer program for enabling transactions on a remote basis is provided. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of: (1) providing a first computer at a location of a customer, and providing a second computer at a location of a financial institution, the first computer and the second computer being linked so as to provide a two-way audiovisual communication system; (2) providing an authentication request at the second computer and communicating the request to the first computer; (3) the customer reviewing the request and providing a signature or other writing as an input to an input device connected to the first computer; (5) transmitting the signature from the first computer to the second computer; (6) receiving the signature and providing the signature to a plotting device connected to the second computer; and (7) applying the signature to a transactional document, wherein the audiovisual information received by the second computer and the signature received by the second computer in combination provide a means of transaction authentication and non-repudiation.

Claims

1. A method for enabling entry into transactions remotely, wherein a first computer is provided at a first location of one or more parties to a transaction, and a second computer is provided at a second location of one or more other parties to the transaction, the first computer and the second computer being linked so as to provide communication therebetween, characterized by:

(a) either the first computer, the second computer, or both of the first computer and the second computer initiating a request to authenticate one or more of the parties, a document associated with the transaction, and/or the transaction;

(b) in response to the request(s) to authenticate, one or more of the parties providing a signature or other handwriting as input to the first computer or the second computer at their location by operation of an input device linked to such first computer or second computer; and

(c) transmitting the signature or other handwriting from the first computer or the second computer to the other of the first computer or second computer, or to a central authentication server, and associating the signature or other handwriting, along with optionally other data elements, with the document, so as to authenticate one or more of the parties, the document, or the transaction.

2. The method of claim 1 characterized in that the first computer and the second computer are linked to provide two-way audiovisual communication therebetween.

3. The method of claim 2 characterized in that the first computer and/or the second computer are operable to capture data elements from the audiovisual communication for authentication of one or more of the parties, the document, or the transaction, data elements from the audiovisual communication.

4. The method of claim 1 characterized in that the other of the first computer or the second computer is linked to a writing or plotting device, and the writing or plotting device is operable to apply the signature or other handwriting to the document.

5. The method of claim 1 characterized in that the other of the first computer or the second computer, or the central authentication server, assembles an authentication file, the authentication file consisting of one or more data elements for authenticating the one or more of the parties, the document and/or the transaction.

6. The method of claim 1 characterized in that the document is a paper document, and at least the second computer is linked to a writing device for affixing a reproduction of handwriting (including optionally a signature) on the paper document at the second location, based on the handwriting (including optionally a signature) provided by one or more parties to the first computer at the first location.

7. The method of claim 1 characterized in that:

(a) the document is a digital document,

(b) the first computer is operable to enable the one or more parties to view and/or, edit a digital document, and capture handwriting electronically (including optionally a signature) provided by the one or more parties by operation of an input device linked to, or part of, the first computer; and

(c) the first computer is further operable to analyze the handwriting (including optionally a signature) to determine the identity of the one or more parties, or communicate a data file including the handwriting (including optionally a signature) to the central authentication server for analysis.

8. The method of claim 5 characterized in that the data elements consist of one or more of the following:

(a) identification data for the one or more parties including username/password data;

(b) biometric authentication data for the one or more parties;

(c) one or more identifiers associated with the document, or a copy of document or part of the document (including a copy of signed execution page(s) for the document);

(d) a time log identifying the time of the transaction, or one or more steps involved in entry into the transaction;

(e) location data for the first computer, the second computer or the central authentication server if applicable;

(f) digital capture data for the handwriting (including optionally a signature);

(g) analytical data established for the handwriting (including optionally a signature) based on authentication analysis thereof; and

(h) one or more audio or video images related to the transaction.

9. The method of claim 7 characterized in that the input device consists of a digital pen.

10. The method of claim 9 characterized in that the input device and the first computer are interoperable to enable the capture of data related to the path of the digital pen during the course of the handwriting (including a signature) being provided electronically.

11. The method of claim 1 characterized in that the transaction is a financial transaction, the first computer is made available to a customer and the second customer is associated with a financial institution.

12. The method of claim 1 characterized in that the transaction is a legal transaction and may include the entry into a legal agreement.

13. The method of claim 1 characterized in enabling real time or near real time authentication of one or more of the parties, the document, or the transaction.

14. The method of claim 8 characterized in that the authentication file provides an audit trail regarding the authenticity of the document or the related transaction.

16. The system of claim 1 characterized in that the system includes the first computer and the second computer.

17. The system of claim 1 characterized in that the system includes the central authentication server.

18. The system of claim 1 characterized in that the first computer is linked to or incorporates an audiovisual utility that is operable to enable audiovisual communications between the first computer and the second computer.

19. The system of claim 18 characterized in that the second computer is linked to or incorporates an audiovisual utility that is operable to interoperate with the audiovisual utility of the first computer to enable the audiovisual communications therebetween.

20. The system of claim 19 characterized in that the system enables real time or near real time authentication of one or more of the parties, the document, or the transaction.

15. A system for enabling entry into transactions remotely, characterized in that the system includes:

(a) a first computer provided at a first location of one or more parties to a transaction, the first computer being linked to a second computer provided at a second location of one or more other parties to the transaction, the first computer and the second computer being operable to permit communication therebetween;

(i) the first computer being linked to or including an authentication utility that is operable to initiate a request to authenticate one or more of the parties, a document associated with the transaction, and/or the transaction, or to act on such a request received from the second computer or from a central authentication server;

(ii) the authentication utility being linked to or incorporating a writing utility that enables, in response to the request(s) to authenticate, one or more of the parties to provide a signature or other handwriting as input to the first computer; and

(iii) the first computer being operable to transmit the signature or other handwriting from the first computer or the second computer to the other of the first computer or second computer, or to a central authentication server, and associating the signature or other handwriting, along with optionally other data elements, with the document, so as to authenticate one or more of the parties, the document, or the transaction.

21. The system of claim 15 characterized in that the authentication utility is operable to compile an authentication file for the transaction that includes one or more of the following data elements:

(a) identification data for the one or more parties including username/password data;

(b) biometric authentication data for the one or more parties;

(c) one or more identifiers associated with the document, or a copy of document or part of the document (including a copy of signed execution page(s) for the document);

(d) a time log identifying the time of the transaction, or one or more steps involved in entry into the transaction;

(e) location data for the first computer, the second computer or the central authentication server if applicable;

(f) digital capture data for the handwriting (including optionally a signature);

(g) analytical data established for the handwriting (including optionally a signature) based on authentication analysis thereof; and

(h) one or more audio or video images related to the transaction.

22. A computer program including computer instructions executable by a computer, the computer program characterized in that:

(a) the computer program includes an authentication utility that is operable to initiate a request to authenticate one or more of parties associated with a transaction, a document associated with the transaction, and/or the transaction, or to act on such a request received from a remote computer or from a central authentication server;

(b) the authentication utility is linked to or incorporates a writing utility that enables, in response to the request(s) to authenticate, one or more of the parties to provide a signature or other handwriting as input to the computer; and

(c) the computer program being operable to transmit the signature or other handwriting from the computer to the remote computer, or to the central authentication server, and associating the signature or other handwriting, along with optionally other data elements, with the document, so as to authenticate one or more of the parties, the document, or the transaction.