System and method for the generation and verification of signatures associated with hardcopy documents

A method for generating and verifying signatures on hardcopy documents comprising the steps of:

• storing a signor key associated with a signor of a hardcopy document;
• acquiring document data required to be written on the hardcopy document;
• generating a document signature using the Signor key to encode data selected from the document data;
• generating a data indicator indicating which of the document data is used to generate the document signature;
• associating the document signature and data indicator with the hardcopy document;
• receiving for verification the hardcopy document having its associated document signature, data indicator and document data written thereon;
• performing a comparison to determine whether the document signature was generated using the signor key and the document data indicated by the data indicator;
• and
• outputting an indication, based on the results of the comparison, of whether the document signature was generated using the signor key and the document data indicated by the data indicator.

An apparatus for generating and placing digital signatures on checks comprising:

• a signor key associated with a signor of the check;
• check information required to be written on the check including a check identification number and bank routing number along with information selected from the set consisting of:
• a check amount, a check date and a payee name;
• an encoded signature which is generated by using the signor key to encode data selected from the check information and which is then placed on the check;
• and
• a data indicator indicating which of the check amount, the check date and the payee name are used to generate the signature.