System and method for preparing, executing, and securely managing electronic documents
First Claim
1. A system for enabling the preparation, execution and secure management of an electronic chattel paper agreement comprising:
- a server processing unit and a server memory device electrically coupled to the server processing unit;
a client processing unit and a client memory device electrically coupled to the client processing unit;
a server program module, stored in the server memory device, for providing instructions to the server processing unit;
a client program module, stored in the client memory device, for providing instructions to the client processing unit, anda communication medium, communicatively coupling the server processing unit and the client processing unit;
the client processing unit, responsive to the instruction of the client program module and the server processing unit, responsive to the instructions of the server program module, being operative to;
authorize access to the system;
generate at least one unexecuted electronic chattel paper document;
prevent the creation of fraudulent versions of the electronic chattel paper document;
associate signatures electrically input by parties to a chattel paper transaction with the electronic chattel paper document thereby generating an electronic chattel paper agreement; and
maintain an authoritative copy of the electronic chattel paper document in the server memory device of the server processing unit.
25 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and a method for creating and controlling electronic agreements. In general, the system includes a server and at least one client interconnected through a communications medium. In operation, the system only allows access to authorized users. Once a user gains access, the user inputs commands and data that are necessary to create an electronic document. Upon completion of the electronic document, the user can invoke a signature process. During the signature process, the parties to the agreement enter electronic signatures. The present invention operates to encrypt the electronic document and then encrypts each of the signatures using an encryption key that is based, at least in part, on the contents of the electronic document. This aspect of the system prevents the creation of fraudulent versions of the electronic document because any modifications to the electronic document will invalidate the encrypted signatures. Finally, the system operates to transfer the electronic agreement to a secure server. The server maintains the authoritative copy of the electronic agreement, thereby providing control of the electronic agreement.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for enabling the preparation, execution and secure management of an electronic chattel paper agreement comprising:
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a server processing unit and a server memory device electrically coupled to the server processing unit; a client processing unit and a client memory device electrically coupled to the client processing unit; a server program module, stored in the server memory device, for providing instructions to the server processing unit; a client program module, stored in the client memory device, for providing instructions to the client processing unit, and a communication medium, communicatively coupling the server processing unit and the client processing unit; the client processing unit, responsive to the instruction of the client program module and the server processing unit, responsive to the instructions of the server program module, being operative to; authorize access to the system; generate at least one unexecuted electronic chattel paper document; prevent the creation of fraudulent versions of the electronic chattel paper document; associate signatures electrically input by parties to a chattel paper transaction with the electronic chattel paper document thereby generating an electronic chattel paper agreement; and maintain an authoritative copy of the electronic chattel paper document in the server memory device of the server processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for creating an electronic chattel paper agreement and maintaining an authoritative copy of the electronic chattel paper agreement, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving a set of input information from an input source, the set of input information including a subset of information necessary to generate an electronic chattel paper document; (b) in response to receiving a complete indicator from the input source, the complete indicator indicating that the received subset of input information is complete, generating an electronic chattel paper document by merging the subset of input information with a chattel paper document template; (c) electronically receiving a set of signatures by parties to a chattel paper transaction from the input source, whereby upon receiving the set of chattel paper signatures, the electronic chattel paper document is considered an electronic chattel paper agreement; and (d) in response to receiving a submit indicator, storing the electronic chattel paper agreement within an access restricted computer system, the stored electronic chattel paper agreement constituting an authoritative copy of the electronic chattel paper agreement. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a distributed computer system including at least one server device and at least one client device communicatively coupled to the server device, a method for maintaining an authoritative copy of an electronic chattel paper agreement, the method comprising:
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(a) a client device receiving a set of input information from an input source, the set of input information including a subset of information necessary to generate an electronic chattel paper document and a set of signatures necessary to make the electronic chattel paper document a binding chattel paper agreement; (b) the client device encrypting the electronic chattel paper document using a first key and the set of signatures using a second key, the second key being based at least in part on the contents of the electronic chattel paper document, whereby any modifications to the electronic chattel paper document would result in invalidating the set of signatures; (c) the client device transferring the encrypted electronic chattel paper document and the encrypted set of signatures to a server device over a communications medium, the server device being access restricted, the stored electronic chattel paper document and set of signatures constituting the only authoritative copy of the electronic chattel paper agreement.
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17. A client system operating within an electronic chattel paper document system, the electronic chattel paper document system including a server, a server memory storage device and a server program module, the client system comprising:
a client processing uint; a client memory device, a display device and an input device all electrically coupled to the client processing unit;
a client program module, stored in the client memory, for proving instructions to the client processing unit;a communication medium, communicatively coupling the client system to the electronic document system; and the client processing unit, responsive to the instructions of the client program module, being operative to; authorize access to the electronic chattel paper document system by receiving access information from the input device, transmitting the access information to the server over the communication medium, and receiving an authorization indicator from the server processing unit over the communication medium; generate at least one electronic chattel paper document; prevent the creation of fraudulent versions of the electronic chattel paper document; associate electronically input signatures with the electronic chattel paper document thereby generating an electronic chattel paper agreement, receiving a set of signatures from the input device, creating at least one signature file containing the set of signature, and encrypting the signature using a encryption key that is based at least in part on the contents of the electronic chattel paper document; and transfer the electronic chattel paper document and the encrypted signature file as an electronic chattel paper agreement to the server over the communication medium. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
Specification