Natural visualization and routing of digital signatures
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for collecting digital signatures for routing through an application program executing on a computer system, comprising:
- converting an electronic document generated by the application program into a tree comprising a plurality of markup language nodes, wherein each markup language node corresponds to one of a plurality of signature lines, and wherein the tree represents a visual layout of the plurality of signature lines in the electronic document;
traversing the markup language nodes to determine a visual order of each of the plurality of signature lines;
assigning a number to each of the plurality of markup language nodes corresponding to the visual order;
sending a link to the electronic document to a current signer identified by an unsigned signature line among the plurality of signature lines for receiving a current digital signature;
automatically selecting, based at least in part on the visual order, the unsigned signature line for receiving the current digital signature from the current signer;
receiving the current digital signature of the current signer in the selected unsigned signature line, wherein the current digital signature is incorporated into the electronic document; and
upon receiving the current digital signature of the current signer, sending the link to the electronic document including the current digital signature to at least one subsequent signer identified by at least one subsequent unsigned signature line of the plurality of signature lines in the electronic document until digital signatures have been received for each of the plurality of signature lines.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments are provided for securely visualizing and routing digital signatures in an electronic document generated by an application program executing on a computer system. The application program may generate an electronic document for receiving a signature graphic, and calculate a hash value from the electronic document and the signature graphic, and create a cryptographic signature from the hash value using a cryptographic encryption method. The electronic document is digitally signed by embedding the cryptographic signature therein. The application program may further collect and route digital signatures by automatically collecting signatures from individual signers, one-by-one, and identify the appropriate signature line for each signer to sign. The application program may further generate a user interface for creating and collecting digital signatures.
57 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for collecting digital signatures for routing through an application program executing on a computer system, comprising:
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converting an electronic document generated by the application program into a tree comprising a plurality of markup language nodes, wherein each markup language node corresponds to one of a plurality of signature lines, and wherein the tree represents a visual layout of the plurality of signature lines in the electronic document; traversing the markup language nodes to determine a visual order of each of the plurality of signature lines; assigning a number to each of the plurality of markup language nodes corresponding to the visual order; sending a link to the electronic document to a current signer identified by an unsigned signature line among the plurality of signature lines for receiving a current digital signature; automatically selecting, based at least in part on the visual order, the unsigned signature line for receiving the current digital signature from the current signer; receiving the current digital signature of the current signer in the selected unsigned signature line, wherein the current digital signature is incorporated into the electronic document; and upon receiving the current digital signature of the current signer, sending the link to the electronic document including the current digital signature to at least one subsequent signer identified by at least one subsequent unsigned signature line of the plurality of signature lines in the electronic document until digital signatures have been received for each of the plurality of signature lines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer system, comprising:
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at least one processing unit; and at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by the at least one processing unit cause the computing system to; convert an electronic document generated by the application program into a tree comprising a plurality of markup language nodes, wherein each markup language node corresponds to one of a plurality of signature lines, and wherein the tree represents a visual layout of the plurality of signature lines in the electronic document; traverse the markup language nodes to determine a visual order of each of the plurality of signature lines; send a link to the electronic document to a current signer identified by an unsigned signature line among the plurality of signature lines for receiving a current digital signature; automatically select, based at least in part on the visual order, the unsigned signature line for receiving the current digital signature from the current signer; receive the current digital signature of the current signer in the selected unsigned signature line; incorporate the current digital signature into the electronic document; and send the link to the electronic document including the current digital signature to at least one subsequent signer identified by at least one subsequent unsigned signature line of the plurality of signature lines in the electronic document until digital signatures have been received for each of the plurality of signature lines. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by at least one processing unit cause the at least one processing unit to:
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convert an electronic document generated by the application program into a tree comprising a plurality of markup language nodes, wherein each markup language node corresponds to one of a plurality of signature lines, and wherein the tree represents a visual layout of the plurality of signature lines in the electronic document; traverse the markup language nodes to determine a visual order of each of the plurality of signature lines; send a link to the electronic document to a current signer identified by an unsigned signature line among the plurality of signature lines for receiving a current digital signature; automatically select, based at least in part on the visual order, the unsigned signature line for receiving the current digital signature from the current signer; receive the current digital signature of the current signer in the selected unsigned signature line, wherein the current digital signature is incorporated into the electronic document; and in response to receiving the current digital signature of the current signer, send the link to the electronic document including the current digital signature to at least one subsequent signer identified by at least one subsequent unsigned signature line of the plurality of signature lines in the electronic document until digital signatures have been received for each of the plurality of signature lines. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification