Method of carrying out a safe remote electronic signing by cellular phone

The invention relates to a method of carrying out a safe remote electronic signing by a cellular phone coupled to a computer having a browser for setting conditions for accessing the Internet, the computer being operated to perform the steps of registering for obtaining an authorized browsing driver from a server based on the conditions; installing the browsing driver in the cellular phone; and when the cellular phone is activated to access the Internet for remote signing of an electronic document, selecting a safety level by running the browsing driver, in response to the selected safety level, adding a corresponding password in the document, and sending the document over the Internet in a form of encryption for transmission on an authorized network channel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to remote electronic signing and more particularly to a method of carrying out a safe remote electronic signing by a cellular phone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Both Information and electronics technologies have known a rapid, spectacular development. Further, over the past decade there has been a simultaneous growth in computer, mobile communication, and network leading to an increasing use of related products. Recently, there is a trend of developing compact, multifunctional, and inexpensive communication products. A number of products such as cellular phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) closely related to our daily life are very popular among consumers. The increasing popularity of such portable communication devices not only shortens distance between people but also reduces time required for achieving the communication. Moreover, features and quality required by consumers are diversified and high as a variety of communication products have been commercially available. As such, a leading indicator regarding the manufacturing technology of communication product can be decided by determining whether it can provide more convenient, more effective, and multi-functional services to users.

Quite often, more and more newer models of cellular phone have the capability of sending, receiving e-mails and accessing a network (e.g., the Internet) in real time. As such, a user can retrieve latest information by using the cellular phone at any time and place without being adversely affected by geography. However, the well-known cellular phone does not provide any safety action. As such, a third party may illegally intercept credentials being sent or received by a cellular phone or an electronic list being signed online. This can cause significant loss to the user. Therefore, it is desirable for communication product manufacturers to provide means for enabling a cellular phone user to sign an electronic list online at any time and place and safely sending the electronic list over the Internet without being affected by geography, buildings, and locations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a method of carrying out a safe remote electronic signing by a cellular phone for overcoming the above drawback of the prior art. For example, a third party may illegally intercept credentials being sent or received by a cellular phone or an electronic list being signed online, resulting in a significant loss to the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of carrying out a safe remote electronic signing by a cellular phone coupled to a computer having a browser for setting conditions for accessing the Internet, a central processing unit (CPU) of the computer being operated to perform the steps of registering for obtaining authorization including an authorized browsing driver from a server based on the conditions; installing the authorized browsing driver in the cellular phone; and when the cellular phone is activated to access the Internet for remote signing of an electronic document, selecting a safety level by running the browsing driver, in response to the selected safety level, adding a corresponding password in the electronic document, and sending the electronic document over the Internet in a form of encryption for transmission on an authorized network channel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of carrying out a safe remote electronic signing by a cellular phone having a Web browsing driver of a computer installed therein, the cellular phone being activated to access the Internet for remote signing of an electronic document, setting conditions for accessing the Internet in the Web browsing driver, and operating a microprocessor of the cellular phone to perform the steps of registering for obtaining authorization from a server based on the conditions; selecting a safety level by running the browsing driver; and in response to the selected safety level, adding a corresponding password in the electronic document; and sending the electronic document over the Internet in a form of encryption for transmission on an authorized network channel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, there is shown a structure applicable to a first preferred embodiment of the invention for a method of carrying out a safe remote electronic signing by cellular phone. A browser (e.g., Internet Explorer) in a personal computer11is used to set conditions for accessing the Internet13. A central processing unit (CPU) of the computer11may be operated to register for obtaining authorization from a server15based on the conditions. An obtained authorized browsing driver is then installed in a cellular phone16. As such, a user may operate the cellular phone16to access the Internet13for remote signing of an electronic document. Further, a safety level can be selected by running the driver. In response to the selected safety level, a corresponding password is added in the electronic document. Hence, the electronic document can be sent over the Internet13in encrypted form for transmission on an authorized network channel.

Referring toFIG. 1again, it is particularly noted that the cellular phone16is coupled to the computer11through a connection interface circuit17. The computer11is able to install the obtained authorized browsing driver in the cellular phone16. Also, the cellular phone16is coupled to the Internet13through a wireless application protocol (WAP)18for sending data over the Internet13. Moreover, the user can use the cellular phone16to connect to an Internet service provider (ISP)19for establishing a set of rules about messages. Once established, the server15may receive electronic documents from the Internet13based on the set of rules. Once an electronic document is received, signals associated therewith are transmitted to the ISP19. In response, the ISP19sends a message to the cellular phone16for informing the user of the electronic document to be signed.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, in the embodiment the cellular phone16comprises a cellular phone dialing program161, an electronic signing program162, and a Web browsing driver163. The cellular phone dialing program161can be run to dial the cellular phone16for accessing the Internet13. Once a connection to the Internet13is established, the cellular phone16is able to sign the electronic document online by running the electronic signing program162. The Web browsing driver163is obtained as the computer11installs the obtained authorized browsing driver in the cellular phone16. The user can select a desired safety level by running the driver for establishing a customized virtual dedicated network. As stated above, the corresponding password is added in the electronic document by the cellular phone16prior to sending over the Internet13. Further, the encrypted electronic document is sent safely thereover. Even if a third party (e.g., cellular phone user) illegally intercepts the electronic document sent over the Internet13, there is no way for the unauthorized third party to browse content of the electronic document. As a result, the purpose of protecting electronic documents is achieved.

Referring toFIG. 3in conjunction withFIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a process of carrying out a safe remote electronic signing of electronic document over the Internet13by a cellular phone user according to the invention. Steps of the process performed by the server15will now be described in detail below. In step301, it is determined whether there is an electronic document to be signed. If yes, the process goes to step302. Otherwise, the process loops back to step301for continuation.

In step302, transmit signals of the electronic document to be signed to the ISP19.

In step303, once the electronic document is received, the ISP19sends a message to the cellular phone16based on the set of rules for informing the cellular phone user of the electronic document to be signed. Next, the user runs the electronic signing program162on the cellular phone16in order to sign the electronic document. The user may then run the Web browsing driver163on the cellular phone16for selecting a desired safety level. The user then runs the cellular phone dialing program161to dial the cellular phone for accessing the Internet13. The signed and encrypted electronic document is sent back to the server15.

In step304, it is determined whether a transmission request is sent out by running the Web browsing driver163on the cellular phone16and whether the transmission request for obtaining authorization is authorized. If the transmission request is authorized, the process goes to step305. Otherwise, the process ends immediately.

In step305, establish a safe network channel based on the authorization.

In step306, send the electronic document to an assigned address via the network channel prior to ending the process.

By utilizing this, even a third party (e.g., cellular phone user) illegally intercepts the electronic document sent over the Internet, there is no way for the unauthorized third party to browse content of the electronic document. As a result, the purpose of protecting electronic documents is achieved.

Referring toFIG. 4, there is shown a structure applicable to a second preferred embodiment of the invention for a method of carrying out a safe remote electronic signing by cellular phone16. Similar to the first preferred embodiment a Web browsing driver is installed in the computer11. The user operates the cellular phone16to access the Internet13for carrying out a safe remote signing of electronic document. First, the Web browsing driver is used to set conditions for accessing the Internet13. Microprocessor of the cellular phone16may be operated to register and obtain authorization from the server15based on the conditions. As such, the user may select a desired safety level by running the driver. In response to the selected safety level, a corresponding password is added in the electronic document. Hence, the electronic document can be sent over the Internet13in a form of encryption for transmission on an authorized network channel.

Referring toFIG. 4again, it is particularly noted that the cellular phone16is coupled to the computer11through a connection interface circuit17. The computer11is able to install the Web browsing driver in the cellular phone16.