Java based electronic signature capture method, device and system

• US 7,552,332 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2003
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Subramanian, Srinivasan, Lal, Sunil, Singh, Prithipal
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh; Ayaz R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moorthy; Aravind K
• Application Number:
  US10/689,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20050086483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,073 Days
• Field of Search: 713/170
• US Class Current: 713/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp

Abstract

A method and system for capturing an electronic signature of a user in a Java-based environment on a personal digital assistant. A user is prompted by an applet operating on the personal digital assistant, handling a canvas by the applet, and capturing an instance of the electronic signature on the canvas. The canvas encodes the instance of the electronic signature in a file and transfers the file by the canvas to the applet. A personal digital assistant may include a screen sensitive to pressure for capturing a signature and an application adapted to capture and attach the signature to a business object. The application may also include an applet adapted to prompt a user and adapted to handle a canvas. The canvas is adapted to capture an instance of the electronic signature and encode the instance in a file. The file is transferred by the canvas to the applet.

Claims

1. A method for capturing an electronic signature of a user in a java based environment on a personal digital assistant (PDA) for verifying delivery of a package, comprising:

capturing an instance of the electronic signature by a canvas application;

encoding by the canvas the instance of the electronic signature in a file, wherein the canvas application has exclusive access to captured electronic signatures on the PDA;

encoding an identification number of a second application loaded on the PDA for the delivery of the package to generate an encoded identifier;

combining the encoded signature with the encoded identifier to generate a signature/identifier pair;

encoding the signature/identifier pair;

transferring the encoded signature/identifier pair to a remote CRM application; and

responsive to receiving a verification from the remote CRM application, if the signature/identifier pair is verified then authorizing the delivery of the package, otherwise not authorizing the delivery of the package.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing the encoded signature/identifier to a file;

attaching a pointer to the file, the pointer pointing to a business object associated with the second application and the delivery of the package.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising communicating by the personal digital assistant the file and the business object to a server.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising encoding the file and the business object prior to communicating the file and the business object to the server.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the file and the business object are encoded using an MD5 algorithm.

6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising comparing the file to at least one stored file by the server for consistency.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising producing a rejection message if the server determines that the file and the at least one stored file are not consistent.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising producing an acceptance message if the server determines that the file and the at least one stored file are consistent.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the file is a .gif file.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user is prompted to present the electronic signature in response to a delivery of a pharmaceutical, the electronic signature and identification of the second application verifying receipt of the pharmaceutical.

11. A personal digital assistant (PDA) for capturing an electronic signature of a user for verifying delivery of a package, comprising:

a pressure sensitive screen; and

a processing system adapted to;

capture an instance of the electronic signature by a canvas application;

encode by the canvas the instance of the electronic signature in a file, wherein the canvas application has exclusive access to captured electronic signatures on the PDA;

encode an identification number of a second application loaded on the PDA for the delivery of the package to generate an encoded identifier;

combine the encoded signature with the encoded identifier to generate a signature/identifier pair;

transfer the encoded signature/identifier pair to a remote CRM application; and

responsive to receipt of a verification from the remote CRM application, if the signature/identifier pair is verified then authorize the delivery of the package, otherwise not authorize the delivery of the package, wherein the processing system is operated in a java based environment.

12. The personal digital assistant according to claim 11, wherein a pointer is attached to the file, the pointer pointing to a business object associated with the signature.

13. The personal digital assistant according to claim 12, wherein the personal digital assistant communicates the file and the business object to a server.

14. The personal digital assistant according to claim 13, wherein the personal digital assistant encodes the file and the business object prior to communicating the file and the business object to the server.

15. The personal digital assistant according to claim 13, wherein the server compares the file to at least one stored file for consistency.

16. A computer readable medium embodying computer instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform a method for capturing an electronic signature of a user in a java based environment on a personal digital assistant (PDA) for verifying delivery of a package, the method comprising:

capturing an instance of the electronic signature by a canvas application;

encoding by the canvas the instance of the electronic signature in a file, wherein the canvas application has exclusive access to captured electronic signatures on the PDA;

encoding an identification number of a second application loaded on the PDA for the delivery of the package to generate an encoded identifier;

combining the encoded signature with the encoded identifier to generate a signature/identifier pair;

encoding the signature/identifier pair;

transferring the encoded signature/identifier pair to remote CRM application; and

responsive to receiving a verification from the remote CRM application, if the signature/identifier pair is verified then authorizing the delivery of the package, otherwise not authorizing the delivery of the package.

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the method further comprises attaching a pointer to the file, the pointer pointing to a business object associated with the electronic signature.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the method further comprises communicating by the personal digital assistant the file and the business object to a server.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the method further comprises encoding the file and the business object prior to communicating the file and the business object to the server.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the method further comprises comparing the file to at least one stored file by the server for consistency.

21. A network, comprising:

a personal digital assistant (PDA) for capturing an electronic signature of a user for verifying delivery of a package adapted to;

capture an instance of the electronic signature by a canvas application;

encode by the canvas the instance of the electronic signature in a file, wherein the canvas application has exclusive access to captured electronic signatures on the PDA;

encode an identification number of a second application loaded on the PDA for the delivery of the package to generate an encoded identifier;

combine the encoded signature with the encoded identifier to generate a signature/identifier pair;

encode the signature/identifier pair;

transfer the encoded signature/identifier pair to a remote CRM application; and

responsive to receipt of a verification from the remote CRM application, if the signature/identifier pair is verified then authorize the delivery of the package, otherwise not authorize the delivery of the package;

a server adapted to receive the encoded signature/identifier pair from the PDA;

wherein the server compares the encoded signature/identifier to a stored signature/identifier file and sends a verification to the PDA if the result of the comparison is determined to be a match.