Multi-device electronic signature framework

• US 10,347,215 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Inventors: Bansal, Rahul, Dang, Nikhil
• Primary Examiner(s): Moorthy, Aravind K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Peiliang
• Application Number:
  US15/166,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20170345394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 726 4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0838 using one-time-passwords
• 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: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications

Abstract

A user manipulates a document using a desktop computer with a large screen. Upon deciding to sign the document, the user invokes a “Sign with Mobile” workflow that causes a two-dimensional barcode to be displayed. Using a signature acquisition application executing on his or her smartphone, the user scans the displayed barcode and creates an electronic signature by snapping a photograph of a conventional pen-and-paper signature or by detecting a handwritten signature drawn on a touch sensitive surface. The signature acquisition application sends the resulting electronic signature to the desktop computer, for example via an electronic signature server. The user is then able to apply the electronic signature to the document as desired.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause an electronic signature process to be carried out, the process comprising:

using a first computing device to display at least a portion of an electronic document;

in response to receiving a mobile signature command at the first computing device, generating a unique code that includes a device identifier that identifies the first computing device;

providing the unique code to a second computing device;

in response to receiving the unique code at the second computing device, activating a signature acquisition user interface at the second computing device;

acquiring an electronic representation of a handwritten signature via the signature acquisition user interface;

linking the acquired electronic representation of the handwritten signature to the unique code;

sending the acquired electronic representation of the handwritten signature and the linked unique code from the second computing device to an electronic signature server;

sending a signature request from the first computing device to the electronic signature server, wherein the signature request is associated with the unique code;

receiving, from the electronic signature server, by the first computing device, the acquired electronic representation of the handwritten signature; and

using the first computing device to apply the acquired electronic representation of the handwritten signature to the electronic document.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the unique code is selected from a group consisting of a barcode, an alphanumeric code, and an audibly-rendered passphrase.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the signature acquisition user interface is configured to become inactive in response to failure to acquire any electronic representation of any handwritten signature within a designated time period.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, the electronic signature process further comprising receiving a user approval of the acquired electronic representation of the handwritten signature before the acquired electronic representation of the handwritten signature is sent to the electronic signature server from the second computing device.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, the electronic signature process further comprising providing a one-time-password that enables the second computing device to access signature acquisition functionality hosted by the electronic signature server.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, the electronic signature process further comprising:

displaying the unique code on a display device that is in communication with the first computing device; and

optically scanning the displayed unique code using a camera that is integrated into the second computing device.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, the electronic signature process further comprising, in response to receiving the mobile signature command, prompting a user for a telephone number associated with the second computing device.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein providing the unique code to the second computing device comprises sending a message to the second computing device using a telephone number associated with the second computing device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein providing the unique code to the second computing device comprises typing an alphanumeric code using the second computing device.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the first computing device is selected from a group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and a netbook;

the first computing device lacks at least one of a touch sensitive surface and an integrated camera;

the second computing device is selected from a group consisting of a smartphone and a tablet computer; and

the second computing device includes at least one of a touch sensitive surface and an integrated camera.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a signature acquisition device, a unique code that identifies a signature application device;

in response to receiving the unique code, activating a signature acquisition user interface on the signature acquisition device;

acquiring an electronic representation of a handwritten signature via the signature acquisition user interface;

causing the signature acquisition user interface to display the electronic representation of the handwritten signature;

receiving a user approval of the electronic representation of the handwritten signature; and

in response to receiving the user approval, sending a transmission to an electronic signature server, the transmission including the acquired electronic representation of the handwritten signature and a device identifier that identifies the signature application device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the unique code is a two-dimensional barcode.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the signature acquisition user interface is configured to generate the electronic representation of the handwritten signature by capturing a digital photograph of the handwritten signature using a camera that is integrated into the signature acquisition device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the signature acquisition user interface is activated for a limited time period that is selected from a group consisting of less than ten minutes, less than eight minutes, less than five minutes, less than three minutes, less than two minutes, and less than one minute.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the signature acquisition user interface is configured to generate the electronic representation of the handwritten signature based on detection of the handwritten signature drawn on a touch sensitive surface that forms part of the signature acquisition device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the unique code comprises scanning a two-dimensional barcode displayed by the signature application device.