Systems and methods for distributed electronic signature documents

• US 8,949,706 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DocuSign Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DocuSign Incorporated
• Inventors: McCabe, Andrew David, Gonser, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paula, Cesar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cortes, Howard
• Application Number:
  US12/176,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20090024912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,391 Days
• Field of Search: 713/176, 713/179, 713/180, 713/168, 715/234, 715/225, 709/206, 705/50, 705/64, 705/67
• US Class Current: 715/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Systems and methods for distributed electronic signature documents. A method for distributed electronic signature documents includes creating a signing template that contains information about how a signable document is to be signed. A signable document is created to be distributed to a signer for signing. The signable document is electronically transmitted to the signer. A message is sent using an activatable control in the signing document to a web signing server to invoke the signing process. A browser window is opened on a signer'"'"'s computer in order to execute the signing process.

Claims

1. A method for distributed electronic signature documents comprising:

creating and storing on a signing server a signing template that contains information about how a signable document is to be signed, the information specifying locations in the signable document of signatures of one or more signers;

creating a signable document to be distributed to a signer for signing, wherein the signable document is a document file that includes form fields and an activatable control that references the signing template stored on a web signing server;

electronically transmitting the signable document to the signer;

sending a message using the activatable control in the signing document to a web signing server to invoke a signing process defined by the signing template; and

executing the signing process by receiving data entered by the signer into the form fields of the document file and merging the received data into the signing template,

wherein the signing template is separate from the signable document, and wherein the signing template and the signable document reference one another, and

wherein the information in the template further includes;

information specifying linkage between form fields in the signable document;

a number of times the signable document can be executed;

information identifying who will pay for the signature process; and

information governing whether the signable document content is modifiable by each of the signers.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling a signer to fill in fields prior to signing.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating an activatable control in the signable document that initiates the signing process.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising authenticating a user when logging into the web signing server.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising locking the content of a contract such that it cannot be modified.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising prompting a user to make changes to a contract as necessary.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising enforcing workflow and sequencing of a document at the web signing server.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein enforcing the workflow includes, in response to receiving a signature from the signer, automatically routing the document to additional signers.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein enforcing the workflow includes assuring that multiple signers sign the signable document in a specified order.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to a sender allowing content of the signable document be modified prior to submitting to the web signing server for signing, uploading the entire signable document to the web signing server for handling through the signing process rather than uploading only the data entered by the signer into the form fields.

11. A system for distributed electronic signature documents, comprising

a display;

a memory configured to store document information;

a processor in data communication with the display and the memory, the memory further comprising;

a first component configured to create a signing template, the signing template configured to contain information about how a signable document is to be signed, the information specifying locations in the signable document of signatures of one or more signers;

a second component configured to create a signable document, wherein the signable document is a document file that includes contractual text, form fields, and an activatable control that references the signing template;

a web signing server in communication with the processor and further configured to store the signing template and host application logic to correlate data between the signable document and the signing template; and

an electronic signature service configured to;

execute a signing process defined by the signing template through the web signing server; and

receive data entered by the signer into the form fields of the document file and merge the received data into the signing template,

wherein the signing template is separate from the signable document, and wherein the signing template and the signable document reference one another, and

wherein the information in the template further includes;

information specifying linkage between form fields in the signable document;

a number of times the signable document can be executed;

information identifying who will pay for the signature process; and

information governing whether the signable document content is modifiable by each of the signers.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a third component configured to enable a signer to fill in fields prior to signing.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising a third component configured to create an activatable control in the signable document that initiates the signing process.

14. The system of claim 11 further comprising a third component configured to enforce workflow and sequencing of a document at the web signing server.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the information in the template further includes information used by decision systems to decide on different signature execution processes based on what is entered into the signable document during the signing process.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the information in the template further includes:

information specifying linkage between form fields in the signable document; and

information governing whether the signable document content is modifiable by each of the signers.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium stored with a program for causing a computer to function as a distributor of electronic signature documents following a series of steps comprising:

creating a signing template that contains information about how a signable document is to be signed, the information specifying locations in the signable document of signatures of one or more signers;

creating a signable document to be distributed to a signer for signing, wherein the signable document is a document file that includes form fields and an activatable control that references the signing template stored on a web signing server;

electronically transmitting the signable document to the signer;

sending a message using the activatable control in the signing document to a web signing server to invoke a signing process defined by the signing template; and

executing the signing process by receiving data entered by the signer into the form fields of the document file and merging the received data into the signing template,

wherein the signing template is separate from the signable document, and wherein the signing template and the signable document reference one another, and

wherein the information in the template further includes;

information specifying linkage between form fields in the signable document;

a number of times the signable document can be executed;

information identifying who will pay for the signature process; and

information governing whether the signable document content is modifiable by each of the signers.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 further comprising enabling a signer to fill in fields prior to signing.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17 further comprising creating an activatable control in the signable document that initiates the signing process.