Signature capture terminal

• US 7,146,577 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC, NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Hoffman, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu D.
• Application Number:
  US09/818,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20020140714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,079 Days
• Field of Search: 345/716, 345/727, 345/728, 345/729, 345/865, 345/864, 345/978, 705/72, 705/73, 705/77, 705/16, 705/17, 705/18, 715/865, 715/729
• US Class Current: 715/865
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Various forms of a signature capture terminal provide added flexibility, and easier access or use by disabled individuals. The signature capture terminal provides audio feedback to the user in response to user input. The audio feedback may take various forms such as secure audio, text-to-speech, and/or touchtone. User input may be entry of a PIN, a signature, or other data. In one form, input to the signature capture terminal is accomplished via a disability access device. The disability access device may be an overlay, a configured access card, or a specially adapted input terminal.

Claims

1. A signature capture terminal comprising:

a signature capture screen operative to graphically receive a signature of a user; and

an audio generator operative to produce audio feedback to the user in direct response to receipt of the signature, the audio feedback correlated to graphic input of the received signature.

2. The signature capture terminal of claim 1, wherein the audio feedback comprises an audible sound having a characteristic thereof that varies in relation to the graphic input of the received signature.

3. The signature capture terminal of claim 2, wherein the characteristic comprises one of frequency, pitch, and amplitude.

4. The signature capture terminal of claim 1, wherein the audio feed back is provided as secure audio.

5. The signature capture terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a disability access device operable to receive a PIN; and

wherein the audio generator is operative to provide further audio feedback corresponding to input of the PIN.

6. A method of operating a signature capture terminal having an input device, comprising the steps of:

entering a written signature with a stylus into said input device of said signature capture terminal, and generating signature data in response thereto;

storing said signature data in a memory of said signature capture terminal; and

generating audio feedback in response to said entering step, said audio feedback having characteristics correlated to attributes of said written signature.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of said attributes of said written signature includes horizontal position of said written signature on a signature capture area of said input device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of said attributes of said written signature includes vertical position of said written signature on a signature capture area of said input device.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein:

said audio feedback generating step includes the step of generating an audio signal in response to said entering step, and

at least one of said characteristics of said audio feedback includes frequency of said audio signal.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein:

said audio feedback generating step includes the step of generating an audio signal in response to said entering step, and

at least one of said characteristics of said audio feedback includes amplitude of said audio signal.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of displaying a visual image of said written signature with a display device in response to said entering step.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein said input device is selected from the group consisting of:

a touch screen input device, a sonar screen input

device, and a pressure sensitive transducer input device.

13. A method of operating a signature capture terminal having an input device, comprising the steps of:

entering a written signature with a stylus into said input device of said signature capture terminal;

displaying a visual image of said written signature on a display device of said signature capture terminal; and

generating audio feedback in response to said entering step, said audio feedback having characteristics correlated to attributes of said written signature.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of said attributes of said written signature includes horizontal position of said written signature on a signature capture area of said input device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of said attributes of said written signature includes vertical position of said written signature on a signature capture area of said input device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said audio feedback generating step includes the step of generating an audio signal in response to said entering step, and

at least one of said characteristics of said audio feedback includes frequency of said audio signal.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said audio feedback generating step includes the step of generating an audio signal in response to said entering step, and

at least one of said characteristics of said audio feedback includes amplitude of said audio signal.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said input device is selected from the group consisting of:

a touch screen input device, a sonar screen input device, and a pressure sensitive transducer input device.