Use of public switched telephone network for capturing electronic signatures in on-line transactions

• US 7,461,258 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2003
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Payfone Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Authentify, Inc. (Early Warning Services, LLC)
• Inventors: Rolfe, Andrew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Revak; Christopher A
• Application Number:
  US10/714,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20040153655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/42 using separate channels for security data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/645 using a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords

Abstract

A system for obtaining a digital signature incorporates two communication channels, and at least one of third-party data sources, geographic correlation algorithms, speech recognition algorithms, voice biometric comparison algorithms, and mechanisms to convert textual data into speech. A site visitor'"'"'s identity can be verified using one or all of such features in combination with a visitors address on one of the channels.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing two different electronic communications paths whereby a first path is established, and using information obtained thereby establishing an address to open the second path;

verifying the identity of a party who has established the first path;

presenting a requested document and a unique document identifier to the party via the first path first, seeking confirmation from the party that the document is acceptable, and, then in response thereto, audibly receiving from the party, via the second path, the unique document identifier.

2. A method as in claim 1 which includes creating a digital signature associated with the presented document.

3. A method as in claim 2 which includes comparing current audio responses from the party with previously received responses from the party.

4. A method as in claim 1 which includes interrogating at least one third-party database to evaluate the trustworthiness of the address.

5. A method as in claim 4 which includes evaluating the address with respect to selected mail delivery information associated with the party.

6. A method as in claim 4 which includes carrying out a geographical correlation between the address and other information associated with the party.

7. A system for capturing an electronic signature comprising:

a telephone network-type communication system and a second communication system different, at least in part, from the telephone system;

executable instructions enabling a user to communicate with a document provider and to receive, via the second system, a copy of a document to be signed;

executable instructions enabling the document provider to generate a unique document identifier and to subsequently forward that identifier to the user via the second system;

executable instructions enabling the user to be contacted, via the telephone system at a telephone number associated with the user, seeking confirmation from the user that wording of the document is acceptable, and, executable instructions, responsive to the user'"'"'s confirmation that the received document is acceptable, which request that the user return the document identifier via the telephone system; and

executable instructions that compare the document identifier forwarded to the user, via the second system, with that returned by the user, via the telephone system, and, responsive to a match therebetween, enabling the document provider to generate an electronic signature indicative thereof.

8. A system as in claim 7 which includes executable instructions, associated with the telephone system for storing voice related information received when the user verbally provides the document identifier via the telephone system.

9. A system as in claim 8 which includes speech recognition software.

10. A system as in claim 8 where the document provider stores document signature records.