Patent ID: 7140541

Claim:
A data processing method for the capture of customers' wet signatures in retail store transactions, using a point of sale terminal having an attached printer and a 2D signature capture device, the terminal and the 2D signature capture device communicating with a central computer, comprising the steps of: (a) printing a sales receipt on a printer attached to a point of sale terminal in a retail store for a customer to sign, the printed sales receipt having a printed barcode and a printed signature area adjacent the printed barcode, the printed barcode having data to orient a 2D signature capture device to the location of the printed signature area; (b) the customer signing the sales receipt in the printed signature area, thereby producing a wet signature; (c) scanning the barcode on the sales receipt with the 2D signature capture device to orient the 2D signature capture device to the printed signature area on the sales receipt; (d) capturing a 2D image of the customer's wet signature using the 2D signature capture device; (e) transmitting the 2D image of the customer's wet signature from the 2D signature capture device to a central computer; and (f) storing the 2D image of the customer's wet signature on the central computer.