US 8,949,708 B2Granted

Web-based electronically signed documents

AssigneeDocuSign, Inc.

InventorsDonald G. Peterson, Duane E. Wald, Mike Borozdin

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Techniques for electronic signature process management are described. Some embodiments provide an electronic signature service (“ESS”) configured to manage electronic signature processes represented by way of templates. In some embodiments, the ESS transmits a URL or other identifier of a template that specifies required electronic signature data, such as a singer name and/or signature. Then, the ESS dynamically prepares a form based on a received request for the identified template. Next, the ESS receives the electronic signature data by causing the form to be presented by a Web browser or other client. In some embodiments, the ESS and associated client systems perform these techniques without use of a Portable Document Format processing module.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method in an electronic signature service, comprising:

creating a template that specifies required electronic signature data and that specifies usage restrictions that specify a maximum number of electronic signatures that can be collected via the template;
transmitting a URL that identifies the template;
receiving a request based on the transmitted URL;
enforcing the usage restrictions;
determining a number of uses for the template;
in response to the received request, and when it is determined, based on the determined number of uses, that the maximum number of electronic signatures specified by the usage restrictions has not been reached,
preparing a form based on the template;
presenting the form within a Web browser;
and
receiving the required electronic signature data;
and
in response to the received request, and when it is determined, based on the determined number of uses, that the maximum number of electronic signatures specified by the usage restrictions has been reached,
presenting an error message indicating that the form is not available for signing;
and
refusing to prepare and transmit a form based on the template,
wherein the usage restrictions further specify a maximum frequency that the template can be used for electronic signature purposes, the maximum frequency specifying a length of time between signings, wherein a recipient may only sign the form once within the specified length of time.

13 more elements

A system comprising:

an electronic signature service computer that includes a processor and a memory and that is configured to:
transmit a URL that identifies a template that specifies required electronic signature data and that specifies usage restrictions that specify a maximum number of electronic signatures that can be collected via the template;
receive a request based on the transmitted URL;
enforce the usage restrictions;
determining a number of uses for the template;
in response to the received request, and when it is determined, based on the determined number of uses, that the maximum number of electronic signatures specified by the usage restrictions has not been reached,
prepare a form based on the template;
present the form within a Web browser;
and
receive the required electronic signature data;
and
in response to the received request, and when it is determined, based on the determined number of uses, that the maximum number of electronic signatures specified by the usage restrictions has been reached,
presenting an error message indicating that the form is not available for signing;
and
refusing to prepare and transmit a form based on the template,
wherein the usage restrictions further specify a maximum frequency that the template can be used for electronic signature purposes, the maximum frequency specifying a length of time between signings, wherein a recipient may only sign the form once within the specified length of time.

13 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes instructions configured, when executed an electronic signature service computing system, to perform a method comprising:

transmitting a URL that identifies a template, created via the user interface, that specifies required electronic signature data and that specifies usage restrictions that specify a maximum number of electronic signatures that can be collected via the template;
receiving a request based on the transmitted URL;
enforcing the usage restrictions;
determining a number of uses for the template;
in response to the received request, and when it is determined, based on the determined number of uses, that the maximum number of electronic signatures specified by the usage restrictions has not been reached,
preparing a form prepared based on the template;
presenting the form within a Web browser executing on a remote client device;
and
receiving the required the electronic signature data;
and
in response to the received request, and when it is determined, based on the determined number of uses, that the maximum number of electronic signatures specified by the usage restrictions has been reached,
presenting an error message indicating that the form is not available for signing;
and
refusing to prepare and transmit a form based on the template,
wherein the usage restrictions further specify a maximum frequency that the template can be used for electronic signature purposes, the maximum frequency specifying a length of time between signings, wherein a recipient may only sign the form once within the specified length of time.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/158,937Filed 13 Jun 2011 · us provisional application
Priority: 11 Jun 2010
Published: US 2011/0314371 A122 Dec 2011
Granted: 3 Feb 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G06F 40/174
Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting: form filling; Merging
G06F 21/645
Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures: using a third party
G06F 40/186
Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting: templates
H04L 67/02
Protocols: based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]