Patent ID: 7069443
Filing Date: 2006-06-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. In a system wherein a digital signature is attached to an electronic document and can be isolated from the electronic document such that the electronic document is no longer digitally signed, a method for digitally signing the electronic document such that the digital signature is embedded in the electronic document, the method comprising acts of: creating an electronic document by providing content for the electronic document; inserting a signature block for each person that will digitally sign the document, wherein each signature block is embedded in the electronic document and each signature block has at least one attributes, the at least one attribute including a signature attribute; when a person digitally signs the electronic document, filling at least one of the at least one attributes before generating the digital signature for the electronic document; generating the digital signature such that the digital signature includes the filled at least one attributes; and placing the digital signature in the signature attribute of the signature block of the person digitally signing the electronic document, wherein the signature attribute corresponds to the digital signature of the person digitally signing the document.