Method and system for enabling an electronic signature approval process

• US 7,849,101 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lind, Jacob, Jensen, Jan Lysgaard
• Primary Examiner(s): Stevens; Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/127,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 707/9, 707/104.1, 707/783, 707/802, 707/999.9, 713/176
• US Class Current: 707/783
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The present invention includes a computer-implemented method and an Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP). The method and system allows a user to enable an electronic signature approval process for modification of data in a transaction. The method includes accessing a table that corresponds with the transaction and adding a signature field having a property sheet to the table. The method also includes defining a select property in the property sheet with a select parameter. The select property configured to provide approval of modified data in the transaction upon entry of a valid electronic signature.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of enabling an electronic signature approval process for modification of data in a transaction of an Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP), the method comprising:

receiving the transaction having the data to be modified;

accessing a table from a computer storage media, the table corresponding to the transaction;

adding one or more signature fields to the table for approving the modification of the data, each signature field having a property sheet, wherein the property sheet includes a plurality of properties for defining one or more aspects of the electronic signature approval process in association with the transaction;

receiving a parameter for at least one of the plurality of properties, the parameter defining how one of the one or more signature fields functions;

receiving a request to modify the data;

receiving an electronic signature that corresponds to the parameter;

approving the modification of the data in the transaction when the electronic signature includes a valid username and password; and

logging the electronic signature as unsuccessful in a signature log when the electronic signature includes an invalid username and password.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing an electronic signature module; and

configuring the electronic signature module to correspond with the transaction.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein configuring the electronic signature module to correspond with the transaction comprises applying code to the electronic signature module specific to the transaction.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is used consistently across all transactions that enable the electronic signature approval process.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the parameter has a consistent naming convention across all transactions that enable the electronic signature approval process.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each signature field corresponds to a required electronic signature.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein one of the one or more signature fields is named signature modified.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically configuring a database log to log all changes made to the transaction upon entry of the select parameter; and

configuring the signature log for storing logs of one or more electronic signature approval attempts.

9. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for enabling an electronic signature approval process for modification of data in a transaction of an Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP), the computer readable instructions causing the computing device to perform the steps of:

accessing a table from a computer storage media, the table corresponding to the transaction having the data to be modified;

adding one or more signature fields to the table for approving the modification of the data, each signature field having a property sheet, wherein the property sheet includes a plurality of properties for defining one or more aspects of the electronic signature approval process in association with the transaction;

receiving a parameter for at least one of the plurality of properties, the parameter defining how one of the one or more signature fields functions;

receiving a request to modify the data;

receiving an electronic signature that corresponds to the parameter;

approving the modification of the data in the transaction when the electronic signature includes a valid username and password; and

logging the electronic signature as unsuccessful in a signature log when the electronic signature includes an invalid username and password.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the computer readable instructions further cause the computing device to perform the steps of:

accessing an electronic signature module; and

configuring the electronic signature module to correspond with the transaction.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the computer readable instructions further cause the computing device to perform the step of applying code to the electronic signature module such that the electronic signature module corresponds with the transaction.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein each signature field corresponds to a required electronic signature.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the computer readable instructions further cause the computing device to perform the steps of:

automatically configuring a database log to log all changes to all fields within the table upon entry of the parameter; and

configuring the signature log for storing logs of one or more electronic signature approval attempts.

14. An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system having a plurality of transactions and configured to enable an electronic signature approval process for modifying data in each of the plurality of transactions, the ERP system comprising:

a computer storage media having a table configured to be accessed by a user, the table corresponding to one of the plurality of transactions that has the data to be modified;

one or more signature fields for approving the modification of the data, each signature field having a property sheet to be added to the table by the user, wherein the property sheet includes a plurality of properties for defining one or more aspects of the electronic signature approval process in association with the one of the plurality of transactions; and

a parameter for at least one of the plurality of properties, the parameter defining how one of the one or more signature fields functions;

an electronic signature module configured to receive an electronic signature that corresponds to the parameter and provides approval of modified data in the transaction when the electronic signature includes a valid username and password; and

a signature log for logging the electronic signature as unsuccessful when the electronic signature includes an invalid username and password.

15. The ERP system of claim 14 and further comprising an electronic signature module configured to correspond with the transaction.

16. The ERP system of claim 14, wherein each signature field corresponds to a required electronic signature.

17. The ERP system of claim 14, wherein the parameter is used consistently across all transactions that enable the electronic signature approval process.

18. The ERP system of claim 17, wherein the parameter has a consistent naming convention across all transactions that enable the electronic signature approval process.

19. The ERP system of claim 14 and further comprising:

a database log configured to log all changes made to all fields within the table that includes the parameter upon entry of the parameter; and

a wherein the signature log is configured to store logs of one or more electronic signature approval attempts.