System for remote signature writing

• US 6,970,854 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Weigel, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Greene, Daniel L.
• Application Number:
  US09/864,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 705/67, 705/39, 705/74, 705/75, 705/76
• US Class Current: 705/75
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3825 Use of electronic signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures

Abstract

A portable device may be configured to transmit a digital signature of a user to an Internet terminal for the user to complete a transaction requiring a signature. The portable device may be a remote control, a personal digital assistance (“PDA”), an electronic pen, and the like. The portable device may include an wireless transceiver to provide transmit capability of the digital signature to the Internet terminal. The portable device may also provide receive capability to receive the digital signature of the user from another signature source and a memory to provide storage capability of the digital signature. Alternatively, the portable device may include an encryptor module to generate a digital signature based on a characteristic of the user and/or the portable device. The portable device may yet further include a keypad to provide an interface for the user to complete transactions requiring the digital signature provided by the portable device. Accordingly, by providing a user with a portable digital signature, the user may become mobile and have the capability to complete electronic transactions at any compatible Internet terminal.

Claims

1. A method for conducting an electronic transaction, said method comprising:

storing a digital signature of a user in a memory of a remote control controlling at least one function of a television set wherein said at least one function includes at least one of volume control, channel selection and color selection;

performing said electronic transaction; and

transmitting said digital signature of said user from said remote control to complete said electronic transaction, wherein the digital signature remains stored in the memory after the transaction is completed or canceled.

2. The method for conducting an electronic transaction according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting said electronic transaction on an Internet terminal, wherein said Internet terminal includes said television set;

receiving said digital signature by said Internet terminal; and

presenting a verification of conclusion of said electronic transaction.

3. The method for conducting an electronic transaction according to claim 2, wherein said digital signature of said user is transmitted utilizing wireless protocols.

4. A device for transmitting a digital signature, said device comprising:

a memory;

a keypad configured to provide a user interface;

a wireless transceiver; and

a controller configured to transmit a digital signature stored in said memory through said wireless transceiver to complete an electronic transaction in response to a first input from said keypad, wherein the digital signature remains stored in the memory after the transaction is completed or canceled; and

said controller is further configured to transmit a signal to a television set for controlling at least one of volume control, channel selection and color selection of said television set.

5. The device for transmitting a digital signature according to claim 4, wherein said controller is further configured to receive said digital signature from a second device adapted to generate said digital signature in response to a second input from said keypad.

6. The device for transmitting a digital signature according to claim 4, further comprising an encryptor module for encrypting the digital signature.

7. An apparatus comprising:

memory means for storing a digital signature of a user in one of a remote control controlling at least one function of a television set and a personal digital assistant;

means for initiating an electronic transaction using the memory means and an Internet terminal connected to at least one of the remote control and the personal digital assistant; and

means for transmitting said digital signature of said user from said memory means to the Internet terminal for completing said electronic transaction, wherein the digital signature remains stored in the memory means after the transaction is completed or canceled.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for encrypting the digital signature.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for receiving the digital signature from a second device.