Abstract:
A remote data capture system includes a host computing device and a client computing device communicatively coupled to the host computing device. A capture device is coupled to the client computing device. The capture device is configured to receive an electrical input signal from a sensor and convert the input signal to corresponding input data having a predetermined electronic data format. The client computing device selectably transmits the input data to the host computing device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 61/600,809, filed Feb. 20, 2012, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a signature capture device. In particular, the present invention relates to a means for applying manual signatures to documents presented electronically to a remote user. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic transactions have become commonplace. Consumers typically engage with the providers of goods and services over the internet in order to make purchases. To accommodate such electronic transactions, various measures have been adopted to verify that the undertaken transaction was authorized by the party to be held accountable for it. Unlike face-to-face transactions, wherein parties to a transaction can simply apply their handwritten signature to a document, electronic transactions are not so easily signed. 
     Systems exist that provide for the collection of handwritten signatures on electronically delivered documents. As currently practiced a sensor panel, such as a resistive or capacitive type, is provided at the signer&#39;s (client) location. A host computer may provide a client computer with a designated window, such as an internet browser web page, for the placement of a recognizable handwritten electronic signature. When the panel is traversed by a stylus in the handwriting transaction, it outputs x-y coordinate data derived from a voltage gradient on the panel corresponding to the handwritten signature scribed thereon. This data is then digitized by an associated controller output to the host computer, which interpolates the digitized coordinate data and places indicia within the window corresponding to the handwritten signature scribed onto the sensor panel. The protocol, sent by the controller, is interpolated by a host computer executing operating-specific software. (e.g., Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac or Linux). 
     The present method for accomplishing the task of capturing a digitized handwritten signature under the foregoing scenario suffers from a number of shortcomings. First, the user must have access to both the signature capture hardware and the corresponding software installed on the users&#39; client computer or device. Under this system the operating system of the client computer must be known in order to get compatible software to communicate with the digitizer. This is commonly referred to as “installing a driver” to provide connectivity between the hardware device and the client computer. 
     It should also be noted that if web pages are sent by the host computer to the client computer by way of the internet, and the client computer is running Microsoft Windows as the operating platform and running Microsoft Internet Explorer as the browser, then typically an “Active X” program for down load must be downloaded to the client computer in order for the signature device to properly communicate with the host via the internet. Thus, companies that need to deliver electronic documents to customers for signature face a number of communication issues when trying to communicate with client computers that are typically using a significant number of different computer operating systems. 
     Dealing with a large number of different operating systems presents the host computer with an equally large number of dynamic variables. Compatible software must be loaded onto the client device to interpret the protocol of the signature capture hardware attached to the system. In addition to the client computers that require customized start-up assistance, it can be expected that there will be significant resources expended in the labor and tedium involved in getting the host computer synchronized with each of the client devices to which it is in communication. 
     There is a need for a device that would enable a customer or other contracting party to affix their handwritten signature to an electronically delivered document which is simple, secure, interfaces with all major operating systems and which provides a verified electronic signature, in real time, that is virtually indisputable. 
     SUMMARY 
     To address the shortcomings found in the existing hardware/software solutions designed to capture handwritten signatures for electronic documents, one embodiment of the invention utilizes firmware that resides on the digitizer control board or near thereto that, when coupled to the client computer, provide signals pursuant to a pre-defined output protocol, such as keyboard key codes (a.k.a. scan codes), emulating a standard computer keyboard. Thus, the client computer will recognize the signature capture device as a standard keyboard having a predetermined, translatable data stream as an output, recognized and compatible with client computers running a variety of different operating platforms. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention a remote data capture system includes a host computing device and a client computing device communicatively coupled to the host computing device. A capture device is coupled to the client computing device. The capture device is configured to receive an electrical input signal from a sensor and convert the input signal to corresponding input data having a predetermined electronic data format. The client computing device selectably transmits the input data to the host computing device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features of the inventive embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the embodiments relate from reading the specification and claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of a signature capture device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram depicting a remote signature capture system and method in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram showing a process for providing remote application of signatures to electronic documents according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a remote signature capture system and methodology  10 , according to an embodiment of the present invention, is shown. A stylus-based signature capture device  12  is shown and comprises a sensor panel  12 A and an associated controller  12 B interconnected via connection  12 C. A stylus  12 D may be used to “write” signatures upon sensor panel  12 A. An electronic interface  14  is utilized to communicatively couple signature capture device  12  to a client computer  16 . 
     In one non-limiting example embodiment of the present invention signature capture apparatus  12  may be supplied as a Model ST1500U, available from Scriptel Corporation of Columbus, Ohio. Sensor panel  12 A may be of a capacitive, resistive or other suitable construction. Firmware is provided within signature capture device  12  on controller  12 B and provides the intelligence to convert movements of a stylus  12 D upon the face of sensor panel  12 A into data corresponding to the trace of the stylus, i.e., a handwritten signature. In addition to converting stylus  12 D movements into handwriting signature data, predetermined electronic hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof associated with controller  12 B may utilize a pre-defined “encoding key” to convert the handwriting signature data into a series of key codes/scan codes, such as those output from a standard computer keyboard, as at  16 C. 
     As is commonly understood, a keyboard wedge is a hardware device or software program that interfaces with a computer to translate data read by a device other than a keyboard, such as a magnetic strip, bar code reader or other such scanning device, into keyboard data. The term “wedge” comes from the fact that the hardware device typically sits, or wedges, between the keyboard and the system unit. In the case of an embodiment of the present inventions, the wedge is resident within firmware located within controller  12 B. Heretofore, there is no known instance of the keyboard wedge being used to interface a signature capture device, such as at  10 , associated with a client computer  16 , with an electronic document delivered by a host computer, as at  20 , for a handwritten signature. 
     In practice, a document  22  residing on or accessible by a host computer  20 , needing to be signed with a handwritten signature of a party is delivered by the host computer to a client computer  16  via an electronic communication system  18 , such the internet, modem or other communications methodology. A first communication connection  18 A is made to client computer  16 , while a second communication connection  18 B is made to host computer  20 . A network, such as the internet or any of the other previously-mentioned communication systems, may be intermediate communication connections  18 A,  18 B to facilitate communication between client computer  16  and host computer  20 . 
     Once a document  22  is presented to the client computer  16  for signature, a signature block  16 B for an electronic document, etc. may be presented on the client computer screen  16 A. A user at the client computer  16  positions a cursor on the signature line of the document within the document window  16 B and then scribes a handwritten signature onto the sensor panel  12 A of signature capture apparatus  12 . As the signature is scribed, corresponding signature data is generated and acted upon by a pre-defined “encoding key” which generates a key code/scan code data stream which the client computer translates into a string of ASCII or Unicode characters. The document  22  to be signed, which appears on computer screen  16 A, is provided with a “decoding key” corresponding to the “encoding key” that was used to create the encoded character string embedded within it or in a separate, but related, data file. A graphic representation of the signature appears within the signature block  16 B on the client computer. Signature capture device  12  is coupled to the processing component of the client computer via a standard interface, such as through a “USB” port which may be directly connected to the computer (not shown) or to an interfacing connector on keyboard  16 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , which is in turn coupled to the computer. In this manner, signature capture device  12  essentially emulates the characteristics of a standard computer keyboard, and appears electronically to be a standard keyboard, as far as the rest of the system components are concerned. 
     Although previously described as hardware, wedges may be provided as software. Software wedges are programs that reroute the data once it has been input into a computer, typically through a data interface such as a “COM” port. The input data is routed to the keyboard buffer by the software, making it appear as if it entered the system through the keyboard. Keyboard wedges can be used simultaneously with keyboards. 
     Once the user enters a signature via signature capture apparatus  12 , it may be verified by reviewing the signature window  16 B on client computer screen  16 A. In the alternative or as a redundancy, the signature can also appear and be verified via the sensor panel  12 A. Upon verification that the signature is legible and of sufficient quality, the signature and the electronic document to which it was attached may be “cast” and then released to the host computer  20 . For purposes of this disclosure, the term “cast” means that the document and all signatures applied thereto becomes fixed in time by applying an embedded digital stamp or signature that would verify its integrity. In the alternative, the signature entered onto the signature capture apparatus  12  may simultaneously appear on the screen of the host computer  20 . However, in this case, it may well be desirable to maintain the signature as a transient until it is finally cast in the document by the user. 
     Once the document has been cast with a handwritten signature it may be printed remotely, transmitted electronically or stored for future access by authorized parties. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the general arrangement of a process s 100  for providing remote application of signatures to electronic documents is shown in  FIG. 3  according to an embodiment of the present invention. At s 102  a user is presented with a document  22  having a signature block  16 B for signature, the signature block being presented on computer screen  16 A of client computer  16 . 
     At s 104  the user utilizes stylus  12 D to apply a signature on sensor panel  12 A of signature capture device  12 . Sensor panel  12 A generates an electrical input signal corresponding to the signature. 
     Signature capture device  12  receives at s 106  the input signal from sensor panel  12  corresponding to the user&#39;s signature and, at s 108 , converts the input signal to a corresponding first group of input data having a first electronic data format. Any suitable standard, non-standard, or proprietary electronic data format may be used for first electronic data format. 
     At s 110  the first data format of s 108  is converted to a corresponding second group of input data having a second predetermined data format. Any suitable standard, non-standard, or proprietary electronic data format may be used for second electronic data format such as, for example, a string of ASCII or Unicode characters. 
     In an alternate embodiment of the present invention the input signal of s 106  may be directly converted to the format of the second group of input data described at s 110 , thereby omitting the intermediate step of converting the input signal to the format of the first group of input data as at s 108 . 
     The signature applied at s 104  is displayed upon client computer screen  16 A at s 112 . The signature may also be displayed on sensor panel  12 A in addition to (or instead of) the client computer screen. If the signature is acceptable to the user, at s 114  the user “casts” the signature as previously described and releases the signature for transmission to host computer  20 . 
     At s 116  the electronic signature, in the form of the aforementioned second input data, is transmitted from client computer  16  to host computer  20  via electronic communication system  18 . 
     The electronic signature is received by host computer  20  at s 118 . Host computer  20  may utilize the format of the second input data to generate a signature corresponding to the signature applied by the user at s 104 . Alternatively, host computer  20  may convert the electronic signature from the format of the second input data to an output signal having a predetermined output format corresponding to the signature applied by the user at s 104 , the output signal being suitable to generate a signature corresponding to the signature applied by the user at s 104 . 
     At s 120  the received, generated signature may be entered, e.g., applied to document  22 , printed remotely from the client computer  16  at host computer  20 , further transmitted electronically, or stored for future access by authorized parties, etc. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, no dedicated software is required to be installed and running on the client computer  16  in order to implement the handwriting signature capture system  10 . The installation may be as simple as plugging the signature capture device  12  into the client computer  16  using a standard human interface connection, such as the Universal Serial Bus (“USB”). The client computer  16  will typically recognize the capture device  12  and confirm installation of a standard keyboard driver compatible with the operating system residing on the client computer  16 . Thus, the capture device  12  need only be compatible with the client computer  16  and is platform-independent with respect to the host computer  20 , which only “sees” an output of ASCII or Unicode characters from the client computer. 
     According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a service provider sending web-based documents  22  from a host computer  20  can imbed code within the document as a “decoding key” to translate the output character string from the signature capture device  12  attached to the client machine  16  into a series of x-y coordinate data points. A plot of the coordinate data is then drawn within the prescribed area on the document  22  on the host web page, thus inserting an electronic handwriting signature on the desired document at a predetermined point, such as where the cursor has been previously placed. After the signature is placed within the designated area of the given document on the host computer using stylus  12 D, the completed document  22  with the affixed signature may be sent to the client computer  16  as a confirmation of a completed transaction, “cast” in time and then be stored in any number of different formats for retrieval at a later date. 
     According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the character string output from the signature capture device  12  may be encrypted to prevent the unauthorized interception and misuse of the transmitted signature data. For added security and utility, an aspect of the invention also provides for security indicia affixed to and/or embedded within the properties of the document  22  that uniquely correspond with the condition of a given document at the time that it was completed and/or signed, or otherwise “cast” in time. 
     Some of the advantages associated with embodiments of the present invention include lower costs at both the client end and the host end of the transaction. Because the interfacing problems during install and uninstall are removed, there is an advantage of reduced setup time and wasting valuable resources. Since the preferred embodiments of the present invention are platform-independent, there is no need to provide or maintain multiple versions of software for numerous operating systems, as is required by the signature capture devices presently available. 
     Although the present invention as described above is directed to capturing signatures, it will be appreciated that any form or type of information generated by a user with signature capture device  12  may be transmitted from client computer  16  to host computer  20 . 
     While this invention has been shown and described with respect to a detailed embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the claims of the invention.