Graphic-based electronic signature management system and method

• US 8,677,256 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2012
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jacob J. Dayan
• Original Assignee: Jacob J. Dayan
• Inventors: Dayan, Jacob J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): NABI, REZA U
• Application Number:
  US13/669,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20130174095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 715/763
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9558 Details of hyperlinks; Management of linked annotations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A computer-implemented system for managing an electronic signature is provided. A data collector receives one or more contact information items. A signature builder builds a graphic-based electronic signature based on at least one of the contact information items. The graphic-based electronic signature includes a set of icons. Individual icons in the set of icons are respectively associated with at least one of the contact information items. Individual icons in the set of icons are configured to initiate a communication application when one of the icons is selected in order to communication via the communication application using the contact information item associated with the selected icon.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for managing an electronic signature comprising:

a data collector implemented by a processor, receives one or more information items;

a signature builder that builds a graphic-based electronic signature based on at least one of the information items, the graphic-based electronic signature includes a set of icons, the set of icons of the graphic-based signature includes respective icons for at least an email contact information item, a webpage contact information item, and a social networking information item, wherein individual icons in the set of icons are respectively associated with at least one of the contact information items and the signature builder builds a single link associated with the graphic-based electronic signature for use as an electronic signature; and

wherein individual icons in the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature are displayed adjacent to one another and said individual icons in the set of icons are configured to initiate a communication application when one of the icons is selected in order to communicate via the communication application using the information item associated with the selected icon; and

wherein the signature builder is configured to access signature-related information stored remotely relative to the signature builder;

wherein the communication application is a first communication application until a predetermined event after which the communication application is a second communication application wherein said predetermined event is associated with configuring a web address.

2. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 wherein the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature includes at least one icon that is included in the set of icons based on a user-selection.

3. The computer-implemented system of claim 2 wherein:

the data collector receives one or more third-party information items;

the third-party information items are respectively associated with a set of third-party icons; and

the at least one icon included in the graphic-based electronic signature based on the user-selection is selected from the set of third-party icons.

4. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 wherein the graphic-based electronic signature is included in an electronic communication in response to receipt of user input.

5. The computer-implemented system of claim 4 further comprising an insertion module in signal communication with the communication application such that the insertion module includes the graphic-based electronic signature in the electronic communication in response to receipt of user input at the communication application.

6. The computer-implemented system of claim 5 wherein:

the communication application is an email application;

the electronic communication is an email; and

individual icons in the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature are displayed adjacent to one another when the graphic-based electronic signature is included in the email.

7. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 wherein the data collector receives one or more updated information items from the user and further comprising:

a graphic-based electronic signature manager that associates the one or more updated contact information items with respective individual icons in the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature such that the graphic-based electronic signature includes the one or more updated information items when the graphic-based electronic signature is presented in an electronic communication.

8. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 further comprising a data store

wherein:

the signature builder configures individual icons in the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature to trigger a selection indication when one of the icons is selected, the selection indication includes identifying information relating to the selected icon; and

the data store receives and stores the identifying information of the selection indication to provide a selection history that indicates which icons in the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature have been selected.

9. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 wherein the signature builder configures at least one of the icons in the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature to display the information item associated with the icon in a pop-up dialog when a cursor hovers over the icon.

10. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, where at least one of the icons from the set of icons is an image that is selected from a remote location and formatted as an icon in the set of icons.

11. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 wherein the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature includes an icon and is configured to initiate a communication application for reporting time.

12. The computer-implemented system for managing an electronic signature of claim 1, where the information items includes analytic data.

13. The computer-implemented system for managing an electronic signature of claim 12, where the analytic data include “

time of day”

, date, operating system identification, and geographic information.

14. A computer-implemented method for managing an electronic signature comprising:

receiving one or more information items;

building with a processor a graphic-based electronic signature that is associated by a single link, where the graphic-based electronic signature corresponds corresponding to at least one of the information items, the graphic-based electronic signature includes a set of icons, the set of icons of the graphic-based signature includes respective icons for at least an email contact information item, a webpage contact information item, and a social networking information item;

associating individual icons in the set of icons with respective information items wherein said individual icons in the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature are displayed adjacent to one another and said individual icons in the set of icons; and

configuring said individual icons in the set of icons to initiate a communication application when one of the icons is selected in order to communicate via the communication application using the information item associated with the selected icon and wherein the signature builder is configured to access signature-related information stored remotely relative to the signature builder, wherein the communication application is a first communication application until a predetermined event after which the communication application is a second communication application wherein said predetermined event is associated with configuring a web address.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 further comprising including at least one icon in the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature based on a user-selection.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 further comprising:

receiving one or more third-party information items from a third-party;

respectively associating the third-party information items with a set of third-party icons;

and

wherein the at least one icon included in the graphic-based electronic signature based on the user-selection is selected from the set of third-party icons.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 wherein the graphic-based electronic signature is included in an electronic communication in response to receipt of user input.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising extending functionality of a communication application such that the graphic-based electronic signature is included in response to receipt of user input at the communication application.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving one or more updated information items; and

associating the one or more updated information items with respective individual icons in the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature such that the graphic-based electronic signature includes the one or more updated information items when the graphic-based electronic signature is included in an electronic communication.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 further comprising:

configuring individual icons in the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature to trigger a selection indication when one of the icons is selected, the selection indication includes identifying information relating to the selected icon; and

storing the identifying information of the selection indication to provide a selection history that indicates which icons in the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature have been selected.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 further comprising configuring at least one of the icons in the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature to display the information item associated with the icon in a pop-up dialog when a cursor hovers over the icon.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, includes selecting from a remote location an image;

and

formatting the image as an icon in the set of icons.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 wherein the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature includes a time icon;

and

configuring the time icon to initiate a communication application for reporting time.

24. A computer-implemented system having a processor for locally managing an electronic signature comprising

a data collector executed by a processor in the computer-implemented system that receives one or more information items;

a signature builder that builds a graphic-based electronic signature that results in a single link to the graphic-based electronic signature, where the graphic-based electronic signature is corresponding based on at least one of the information items, the graphic-based electronic signature includes a set of icons, the set of icons of the graphic-based signature includes respective icons for at least an email contact information item, a webpage contact information item, and a social networking information item, wherein individual icons in the set of icons are respectively associated with at least one of the information items;

wherein individual icons in the set of icons of the graphic-based electronic signature are displayed adjacent to one another and said individual icons in the set of icons are configured to initiate a communication application when one of the icons is selected in order to communicate via the communication application using the information item associated with the selected icon; and

wherein the signature builder is configured to access signature-related information stored remotely relative to the signature builder, wherein the communication application is a first communication application until a predetermined event after which the communication application is a second communication application wherein said predetermined event is associated with configuring a web address.

25. The computer-implemented system of claim 24, where at least one of the icons from the set of icons is an image that is selected from a remote location and formatted as an icon in the set of icons.

26. The computer-implemented system of claim 25, where the remote location accessed is via the internet.