Patent ID: 9411971
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: G06F,H04L

Claim Text:
1. A method for automatically updating electronic documents to prevent execution by an unauthorized signatory, the method comprising: receiving, by an electronic signature service, an electronic document to be electronically signed on behalf of an organization, wherein the electronic signature service is executed by a processing device, wherein the electronic signature service receives the electronic document subsequent to determining that a first signatory identifiable from metadata of a prior electronic document is authorized to electronically sign the prior electronic document; retrieving, by the electronic signature service from a non-transitory computer-readable medium, organization data indicative of signatories that are authorized to electronically sign the electronic document, wherein the organization data is inaccessible to the first signatory, wherein the first signatory is identifiable from metadata of the electronic document, wherein signing the electronic document comprises modifying data associated with the electronic document to indicate agreement with provisions included in the electronic document; determining, by the electronic signature service, that the first signatory associated with the electronic document is not authorized to electronically sign the document, wherein an absence of signature authority for the first signatory is determined from the retrieved organization data; preventing the first signatory from electronically signing the electronic document based on determining that the first signatory is not authorized to electronically sign the document; determining, by the electronic signature service, that a second signatory from the organization is authorized for executing the received document, wherein determining that the second signatory is authorized for executing the received document comprises: modifying, by the electronic signature service, the electronic document to omit a reference to the first signatory and to include the second signatory; and altering, via the electronic signature service, the organization data to remove references to the first signatory, wherein the altered organization data is applicable to multiple documents that are managed by the electronic signature service and that involve the first signatory.