System and Method for Providing A Real-Time, Online Biometric Signature

• US 20110228991A1
• Filed: 03/28/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signaturelink Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Signaturelink Incorporated
• Inventors: Hicks, Bill, Liscum, Dave
• Granted Patent: US 8,588,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/119
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/33 based only on signature image, e.g. static signature recognition

Abstract

A system is provided for generating an online biometrically accurate electronic signature. The system includes a computer interface module which records movement of a cursor on a computer screen and outputs the recorded data. A signature generation module which receives the recorded data and generates a graphical image based upon the recorded data.

Claims

1. A system for capturing an online electronic, biometric signature for an online transaction via a web browser on a client computer interface, said system comprising:

a signature capture program stored on a computer readable medium and configured to display a signature block on said client interface within a hosting application, to capture coordinate data of a computer cursor within said signature block, and to generate a signature image based on said captured coordinate data, store at least one of the coordinate data and signature image data remotely with data relating to said online transaction with a non-party to the transaction, and to transmit a notification to each party to the transaction indicating that the signature has been received; and

wherein said computer client interface includes a hosting application for displaying said online content to a computer user, and is configured to execute said signature capture program by downloading said signature capture program from a location different than the location where said online content is stored based on an embedded command in said online content, said signature program module is configured to display the signature block on the client computer interface and capture the signature data from a computer peripheral device.

2. The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 1, wherein said signature capture program is stored remote from said client computer interface and is downloadable to said hosting application.

3. The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 2, wherein:

said signature capture program is configured to capture data entered into said form and link said data with at least one of said coordinate data and said signature image.

4. The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 2, wherein:

said signature capture program comprises a signature capture module configured to capture coordinate data of a computer cursor within said signature block, and a signature generation module configured to generate said graphical signature based on said captured data;

wherein said signature capture module and signature generation module reside on different computer devices.

5. The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 1, wherein said signature capture program is downloaded and executed by said client computer interface as a result of an embedded object call in online content displayed by said hosting application.

6. The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in claim 5, wherein said online content includes a form for entering data, and wherein:

said signature capture program is configured to capture data entered into said form and link said data with at least one of said coordinate data and said signature image.

7. A system for generating an online electronic, biometric signature for an online transaction, said system comprising:

means for electronically receiving online content relating to an online transaction from a first party;

means for interfacing with a client computer, recording movement of a cursor on a computer screen, and outputting recorded coordinate data;

means for receiving said recorded coordinate data and generating a graphical image based upon said recorded coordinate data;

means for storing at least one of said recorded coordinate data and said graphical image remotely with data relating to said online transaction with a second party; and

means for transmitting a notification to said first party and said client computer indicating that the signature has been received by said second party;

wherein said means for interfacing with a client computer includes a hosting application for displaying said online content to a computer user, and is configured to download a signature capture program from a location different than the location where said online content is stored based on an embedded command in said online content, said signature program module is configured to display the signature block on the client computer interface and capture the signature data from a computer peripheral device.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for interfacing records coordinate data of a computer windows cursor controlled by a peripheral computer device.

9. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for interfacing includes a means for displaying a signature block object on the screen of a computer, and records and outputs coordinate data of cursor movement within said signature block object.

10. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for interfacing is installed onto a first computer and said means for receiving is installed on a second computer, and said data is transmitted from said means for interfacing to said means for receiving over an electronic data network.

11. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for interfacing is installed onto a same computer as said means for receiving is installed.

12. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for interfacing comprises a component or control file loaded by a hosting application.

13. A computer-implemented hosting application, comprising:

means for displaying online content received from a first party and for executing a signature capture program received from a second party;

said signature capture program comprising a computer interface module which records movement of a cursor on a computer screen and outputs recorded data;

a signature generation module which receives said recorded data and generates a graphical image based upon said recorded data;

module for remotely storing at least one of said recorded data and said graphical image remotely with data related to an online transaction with said second party;

module for transmitting a notification to said first party and to said computer interface module indicating that the signature has been received when said at least one of recorded data and graphical image is stored;

wherein said means for displaying online content is configured to execute said signature capture program by downloading said signature capture program from a location different than the location where said online content is stored based on an embedded command in said online content, said signature program module is configured to display the signature block on the client computer interface and capture the signature data from a computer peripheral device.

14. The hosting application as recited in claim 13, wherein said computer interface module records coordinate data of said cursor.

15. The hosting application as recited in claim 14, wherein said computer interface module is configured to store said coordinate data in a file, and said signature generation module is configured to read said coordinate data from said file.

16. The hosting application as recited in claim 13, wherein said computer interface module includes a signature block object which is displayed on the screen of a computer, and said computer interface records and outputs coordinate data of cursor movement within said signature block object.

17. The hosting application as recited in claim 16, wherein said cursor is moved on said computer screen via a peripheral device input into said computer.

18. The hosting application as recited in claim 17, wherein said peripheral device input into said computer comprises a computer mouse, and said computer interface module is configured to record coordinate data only when a mouse button is depressed upon said mouse.

19. The hosting application as recited in claim 18, wherein said computer interface module is further configured to display an error message when a data error occurs with entry of data into a corresponding form.