System, method and computer program for conducting transactions remotely

• US 8,843,552 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2009
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syngrafii Corporation
• Original Assignee: Syngrafii Corporation
• Inventors: Gibson, Matthew, Wiltshire, John H. D., Dave, Ravi Vipool Balmukund
• Primary Examiner(s): BAROT, BHARAT
• Application Number:
  US12/427,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20090265641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,981 Days
• Field of Search: 709202-207, 715/753, 715757-759, 370259-260
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/30 Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/33 using certificates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085

Abstract

A transaction system and method is provided that ensures a high degree of non-repudiation. The transaction system may include a media conferencing terminal and a client computer on each end of the transaction. The system may be linked via a network such as the Internet so that transactions may be conducted between remote locations. The media conferencing terminal ensures that each party to the transaction may be satisfied as to the identity of the other parties. The method includes recording the pressure, speed and acceleration of annotations made to digital documents that are used for conducting transactions. The system is operable to store all media conferencing information, digital document information, and annotation information such that the information can be later recovered to reproduce the transaction, proving a high degree of non-repudiation.

Claims

1. A method for conducting and recording transactions remotely comprising:

(a) establishing a media conference between a plurality of media conferencing terminals;

(b) linking a plurality of computers each operable to display a digital document associated with a transaction and also with the media conference;

(c) recording a plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements inputted by one or more participants of the media conference on one or more of the plurality of computers during the media conference; and

(d) creating and storing an authentication file that authenticates the digital document by;

(i) storing the digital document and the plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements; and

(ii) storing audio data and/or video data corresponding to the media conference, wherein the audio data and/or video data is processed to enable the identification of the one or more participants of the media conference and to verify the identification of the one or more participants of the media conference;

wherein the digitally generated handwriting elements are associated with the digital document;

wherein the authentication file is associated with the digital document for authentication of the transaction;

wherein the one or more participants of the media conference are parties to the digital document and the associated transaction; and

wherein the authentication file authenticates the digital document and the associated transaction using the plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements and the stored audio and/or video data, the stored audio and/or video data enabling the verification of the identification of the one or more participants of the media conference.

2. The method claimed in claim 1 comprising the further step of printing of the digital document using a printing means.

3. The method claimed in claim 2 comprising the further step of using a printing means that is a laser printer or inkjet printer.

4. The method claimed in claim 1 comprising the further step of the computer recording a pressure, a speed, and an acceleration of each of the plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements.

5. The method claimed in claim 1 comprising the further step of printing the plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements using a printing means.

6. The method claimed in claim 5 comprising the further step of printing the plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements using a printing means that is operable to replicate the pressure, the speed, the acceleration of each of the plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements.

7. The method claimed in claim 1 comprising the further step of pairing the one or more of the plurality of computers on a common device with one or more of the media conferencing terminals.

8. A transaction system comprising:

(a) a plurality of computers each including an input means, a display means, a network connection and a media recording means;

(b) a plurality of media conferencing terminals each including an input means and an output means; and

(c) a transaction utility linked to each of the plurality of computers or loaded on the plurality of computers, the transaction utility operable to;

(i) establish a media conference between the plurality of media conferencing terminals;

(ii) link the plurality of computers and display on the display means of each of the plurality of computers a digital document associated with a transaction and also with the media conference;

(iii) record a plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements inputted by one or more participants of the media conference using the input means of one or more of the plurality of computers during the media conference; and

(iv) create and store an authentication file that authenticates the digital document by;

(A) storing the digital document and the plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements; and

(B) storing audio data and/or video data corresponding to the media conference, wherein the audio data and/or video data is processed to enable the identification of the one or more participants of the media conference and to verify the identification of the one or more participants of the media conference;

wherein the digitally generated handwriting elements are associated with the digital document;

wherein the authentication file is associated with the digital document for authentication of the transaction;

wherein the one or more participants of the media conference are parties to the digital document and the associated transaction; and

wherein the authentication file authenticates the digital document and the associated transaction using the plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements and the stored audio and/or video data, the stored audio and/or video data enabling the verification of the identification of the one or more participants of the media conference.

9. The transaction system claimed in claim 8 wherein the input means of the computer is a stylus.

10. The transaction system claimed in claim 8 wherein the input means is operable to generate a pressure, a speed, and an acceleration corresponding to its use.

11. The transaction system claimed in claim 8 wherein the display means is a monitor.

12. The transaction system claimed in claim 8 wherein the display means is a video projector.

13. The transaction system claimed in claim 8 wherein the input means of the media conferencing terminal is a camera.

14. The transaction system claimed in claim 8 wherein the output means is a plurality of audio speakers.

15. The transaction system claimed in claim 14 wherein the output means further comprises a video monitor.

16. The transaction system claimed in claim 14 wherein the output means further comprises a video projector.

17. A computer network implemented system comprising at least one computer, and a server application linked to the at least one computer, the server application providing a remote transaction utility that is operable to:

(a) establish a media conference between a plurality of media conferencing terminals;

(b) link a plurality of computers each operable to display a digital document associated with a transaction and also with the media conference;

(c) record a plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements inputted by one or more participants of the media conference on one or more of the plurality of computers during the media conference; and

(d) create and store an authentication file that authenticates the digital document by;

(i) storing the digital document and the plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements; and

(ii) storing audio data and/or video data corresponding to the media conference, wherein the audio data and/or video data is processed to enable the identification of the one or more participants of the media conference and to verify the identification of the one or more participants of the media conference;

wherein the digitally generated handwriting elements are associated with the digital document; and

wherein the authentication file is associated with the digital document for authentication of the transaction;

wherein the one or more participants of the media conference are parties to the digital document and the associated transaction; and

wherein the authentication file authenticates the digital document and the associated transaction using the plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements and the stored audio and/or video data, the stored audio and/or video data enabling the verification of the identification of the one or more participants of the media conference.

18. The computer network implemented system claimed in claim 17 wherein the system is operable to record and store information corresponding to on which of the plurality of computers each of the plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements is inputted.

19. The computer network implemented system claimed in claim 17 further operable to print the digital document to a printing means.

20. The computer network implemented system claimed in claim 17 further operable to print the plurality of digitally generated handwriting elements to a printing means.