Method and system for the capture, storage, transport and authentication of handwritten signatures

A computer-based method for creating an electronic representation of a handwritten signature for an electronic document, comprising the steps of:

• at a first computer processor, electronically displaying an image of a first document;
• at the first computer processor, signing the first document by electronically capturing a handwritten signature of a signatory;
• statistically analyzing the handwritten signature to obtain a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• at the first computer processor, storing in a signature envelope the set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• at the first computer processor, creating a first checksum of the first document;
• at the first computer processor, storing the first checksum in the signature envelope;
• at the first computer processor, encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope;
• transmitting the encrypted signature envelope to a second computer processor;
• at the second computer processor, decrypting the encrypted signature envelope;
• at the second computer processor, creating a second checksum of a second document;
• and
• comparing the second checksum to the first checksum stored in the signature envelope to determine if the second document is a true representation of the first document.

A computer-based method for creating an electronic representation of a handwritten signature for an electronic document, comprising the steps of:

• at a first computer processor, electronically displaying an image of a first document;
• at the first computer processor, signing the first document by electronically capturing a handwritten signature of a signatory;
• statistically analyzing the handwritten signature to obtain a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• at the first computer processor, storing in a signature envelope the set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• at the first computer processor, creating a first checksum of the first document;
• at the first computer processor, storing the first checksum in the signature envelope;
• at the first computer processor, storing in the signature envelope an indication of the signatory;
• at the first computer processor, encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope;
• transmitting the encrypted signature envelope to a second computer processor;
• at the second computer processor, decrypting the encrypted signature envelope;
• at the second computer processor, verifying that the handwritten signature is that of the signatory by examining the set of measurements stored in the signature envelope;
• at the second computer processor, creating a second checksum of a second document;
• and at the second computer processor, comparing the second checksum to the first checksum stored in the signature envelope to determine if the second document is a true representation of the first document.

A computer-based method for creating an electronic representation of a handwritten signature for a document, comprising the steps of:

• electronically displaying an image of a first document;
• signing the first document by electronically capturing a handwritten signature of a signatory;
• statistically analyzing the handwritten signature to obtain a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• storing in a signature envelope the set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• creating a first checksum of the first document;
• storing the first checksum in the signature envelope;
• storing in the signature envelope an indication of the signatory;
• encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope;
• storing the encrypted signature envelope in a memory;
• decrypting the encrypted signature envelope;
• verifying that the handwritten signature is that of the signatory by examining the set of measurements stored in the signature envelope;
• creating a second checksum of a second document;
• and
• comparing the second checksum to the first checksum stored in the signature envelope to determine if the second document is a true representation of the first document.

A computer-based method for capturing an electronic representation of a handwritten signature that relates to a document, and thereafter verifying the handwritten signature, comprising the steps of:

• signing a document by electronically capturing a handwritten signature of a signatory;
• storing in a signature envelope a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• creating a checksum of the document;
• storing the checksum in the signature envelope;
• storing in the signature envelope a claimed identity of the signatory;
• encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope;
• storing the encrypted signature envelope in a memory;
• decrypting the encrypted signature envelope;
• retrieving from the memory a signature template of a person having the claimed identity as stored in the signature envelope, the signature template comprising a verified set of measurements of a verified handwritten signature of said person;
• and
• comparing the verified set of measurements stored in the signature template with the set of measurements stored in the signature envelope to obtain a similarity score representative of a degree of similarity between the handwritten signature captured upon signing the document and the verified handwritten signature.

A computer-based method for capturing and verifying an electronic representation of a handwritten signature for a document, comprising the steps of:

• at a first computer processor, electronically displaying an image of a first document;
• at the first processor, electronically displaying a prompt summarizing the first document;
• at the first computer processor, signing the first document by electronically capturing a handwritten signature of a signatory;
• at the first computer processor, storing in a signature envelope a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• at the first computer processor, storing in the signature envelope an indication of the signatory;
• at the first processor, storing the prompt in the signature envelope;
• at the first computer processor, encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope;
• transmitting the encrypted signature envelope to a second computer processor;
• at the second computer processor, decrypting the encrypted signature envelope;
• at the second computer processor, verifying that the handwritten signature is that of the signatory;
• and at the second computer processor, retrieving the prompt from the signature envelope.

A computer-based method for creating and verifying an electronic representation of a handwritten signature for a document, comprising the steps of:

• electronically displaying an image of a first document;
• electronically displaying a gravity prompt, the gravity prompt identifying the nature of the first document;
• signing the first document by electronically capturing a handwritten signature of a signatory;
• storing in a signature envelope a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• storing in the signature envelope an indication of the signatory's claimed identity;
• storing the gravity prompt in the signature envelope;
• encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope;
• thereafter, decrypting the encrypted signature envelope;
• verifying that the handwritten signature is that of the signatory;
• and
• retrieving the gravity prompt from the signature envelope to ascertain what the signatory was informed as to the nature of the first document.

In a computer system having a client application, a signature capture application and a signature verification application, a computer-based method for capturing and verifying an electronic representation of a handwritten signature for a document, comprising the steps of:

• under the control of the client application,
• a. displaying an image of a first document,
• b. requesting that the signature capture application capture a handwritten signature, and
• c. passing a gravity prompt to the signature capture application, the gravity prompt being a message relating to the first document;
• under the control of the signature capture application,
• d. displaying a signature capture window,
• e. displaying the gravity prompt,
• f. enabling a user to sign the first document by electronically capturing a handwritten signature of the user,
• g. storing in a signature envelope a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature,
• h. storing in the signature envelope an indication of the user's claimed identity,
• i. storing the gravity prompt in the signature envelope,
• j. encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope, and
• k. passing the encrypted signature envelope to the client application;
• under control of the client application,
• l. passing the encrypted signature envelope to the signature verification application;
• and
• under control of the signature verification application,
• m. decrypting the encrypted signature envelope,
• n. retrieving from a database a template comprising a verified set of measurements
• corresponding to the verified handwritten signature of the user whose claimed identity is stored in the signature envelope,
• o. comparing the set of measurements stored in the signature envelope with verified set of measurements in the template to obtain a similarity score,
• p. retrieving the gravity prompt from the signature envelope, and
• q. passing the gravity prompt and the similarity score to the client application.

In a computer system having a client application, a signature capture application and a signature verification application, a computer-based method for capturing and verifying an electronic representation of a handwritten signature, comprising the steps of:

• under the control of the client application,
• a. requesting that the signature capture application capture a handwritten signature;
• under the control of the signature capture application,
• b. enabling a user to electronically enter a handwritten signature;
• c. electronically capturing the handwritten signature of the user,
• d. calculating a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• e. storing the set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature in a signature envelope,
• f. storing in the signature envelope an indication of the user's claimed identity, g. encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope, and
• h. passing the encrypted signature envelope to the client application;
• under control of the client application,
• i. passing the encrypted signature envelope to the signature verification application;
• and
• under control of the signature verification application,
• j. decrypting the encrypted signature envelope,
• k. retrieving from a database a template comprising a verified set of measurements corresponding to the verified handwritten signature of the user whose claimed identity is stored in the signature envelope,
• l. comparing the set of measurements stored in the signature envelope with verified set of measurements in the template to obtain a similarity score, and
• m. passing the similarity score to the client application.

In a computer system having a client application, a signature capture application and a signature verification application, a computer-based method for capturing and verifying an electronic representation of a handwritten signature on an electronic document, comprising the steps of:

• under the control of the client application,
• a. displaying an image of a document,
• b. requesting that the signature capture application capture a handwritten signature;
• under the control of the signature capture application,
• c. enabling a user to electronically enter a handwritten signature;
• d. electronically capturing the handwritten signature of the user,
• e. calculating a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• f. storing the set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature in a signature envelope,
• g. storing in the signature envelope an indication of the user's claimed identity,
• h. creating a checksum of the document,
• i. storing the checksum in the signature envelope,
• j. encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope, and
• k. passing the encrypted signature envelope to the client application;
• under control of the client application,
• l. passing the encrypted signature envelope to the signature verification application;
• and
• under control of the signature verification application,
• m. decrypting the encrypted signature envelope,
• n. retrieving from a database a template comprising a verified set of measurements corresponding to the verified handwritten signature of the user whose claimed identity is stored in the signature envelope,
• o. comparing the set of measurements stored in the signature envelope with verified set of measurements in the template to obtain a similarity score, and
• p. passing the similarity score to the client application.

In a computer system having a client application, a signature capture application and a signature verification application, a computer-based method for capturing and verifying an electronic representation of a handwritten signature on an electronic document, comprising the steps of:

• under the control of the client application,
• a. displaying an image of a first document,
• b. requesting that the signature capture application capture a handwritten signature;
• under the control of the signature capture application,
• c. enabling a user to electronically enter a handwritten signature;
• d. electronically capturing the handwritten signature of the user,
• e. calculating a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• f. storing the set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature in a signature envelope,
• g. creating a first checksum of the first document,
• h. storing the first checksum in the signature envelope,
• i. encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope, and
• j. passing the encrypted signature envelope to the client application;
• under control of the client application,
• k. passing the encrypted signature envelope to the signature verification application;
• and
• under control of the signature verification application,
• l. decrypting the encrypted signature envelope,
• m. creating a second checksum of a second document,
• n. comparing the first checksum stored in the signature envelope to the second checksum to ascertain if the first document is the same as the second document, and
• o. informing the client application if the first document is the same as the second document.

In a computer system having a first client application, a second client application, a signature capture application and a signature verification application, a computer-based method for capturing and verifying an electronic representation of a handwritten signature, comprising the steps of:

• under the control of the first client application,
• a. requesting that the signature capture application capture a handwritten signature;
• under the control of the signature capture application,
• b. enabling a user to electronically enter a handwritten signature;
• c. electronically capturing the handwritten signature of the user,
• d. calculating a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• e. storing the set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature in a signature envelope,
• f. storing in the signature envelope an indication of the user's claimed identity,
• g. encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope, and
• h. passing the encrypted signature envelope to the first client application;
• under control of the first client application,
• i. passing the encrypted signature envelope to the second client application
• under the control of the second client application,
• j. passing the encrypted signature envelope to the signature verification application;
• and
• under control of the signature verification application,
• k. decrypting the encrypted signature envelope,
• l. retrieving from a database a template comprising a verified set of measurements corresponding to the verified handwritten signature of the user whose claimed identity is stored in the signature envelope,
• m. comparing the set of measurements stored in the signature envelope with verified set of measurements in the template to obtain a similarity score, and
• n. passing the similarity score to the second client application.

A computer-based system for creating an electronic representation of a handwritten signature for an electronic document, comprising the steps of:

• means for enabling a signatory to sign a first document by electronically capturing a handwritten signature of the signatory;
• means for statistically analyzing the handwritten signature to obtain a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• means for storing in a signature envelope the set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature;
• means for creating a first checksum of the first document;
• means for storing the first checksum in the signature envelope;
• means for storing in the signature envelope an indication of the signatory;
• and
• means for encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope.

A signature verification bureau system comprising:

• a plurality of first processors for capturing handwritten signatures, each one of the plurality of first processors including:
• means for enabling a signatory to electronically enter a handwritten signature to the first processor,
• means for electronically capturing the handwritten signature of the signatory,
• means for storing a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature in a signature envelope,
• means for entering the signatory's claimed identity,
• means for storing the signatory's claimed identity in the signature envelope,
• means for encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope, and
• means for communicating the encrypted signature envelope to a remote signature verification bureau;
• and
• a signature verification bureau for verifying handwritten signatures, remotely located with respect to each of the plurality of first processors but electronically coupled thereto, the signature verification bureau controlled by a second processor coupled to a database of signature templates, the second processor including:
• means for receiving the encrypted signature envelope from one of the first processors,
• means for decrypting the encrypted signature envelope,
• means for accessing the database to retrieve a signature template corresponding to the signatory's claimed identity, each signature template including a verified set of signature measurements,
• means for verifying the handwritten signature by comparing the set of measurements stored in the signature envelope with the verified set of signature measurements,
• means for determining a similarity score representing a similarity between the set of measurements stored in the signature envelope and the verified set of signature measurements, means for communicating the similarity score to the one of the first processors.

A signature verification bureau system comprising:

• a plurality of first processors for capturing handwritten signatures, each one of the plurality of first processors including:
• means for enabling a signatory to electronically enter a handwritten signature to the first processor,
• means for electronically capturing the handwritten signature of the signatory,
• means for storing a set of measurements relating to the handwritten signature in a signature envelope,
• means for entering the signatory's claimed identity,
• means for storing the signatory's claimed identity in the signature envelope,
• means for encrypting the signature envelope to create an encrypted signature envelope, and means for communicating the encrypted signature envelope to a remote signature verification bureau;
• a central database for storing verified handwritten signature data comprising a plurality of signature templates, each signature template indexed by identity of signatory and including a verified set of signature measurements for said signatory;
• a signature verification bureau for verifying handwritten signatures, remotely located with respect to each of the plurality of first processors but electronically coupled thereto, the signature verification bureau controlled by a second processor coupled to the central database, the second processor including:
• means for receiving the encrypted signature envelope from one of the first processors,
• means for decrypting the encrypted signature envelope,
• means for accessing the central database to retrieve a signature template corresponding to the signatory's claimed identity,
• means for verifying the handwritten signature by comparing the set of measurements stored in the signature envelope with the verified set of signature measurements,
• means for determining a similarity score representing a similarity between the set of measurements stored in the signature envelope and the verified set of signature measurements,
• means for communicating the similarity score to the one of the first processors.