Patent ID: 7426288

Claim:
An information processing apparatus comprising: an input device which inputs coordinate data and pressure data corresponding to a signature which is handwritten by a stylus; a determining unit configured to determine whether the stylus lifts off the input device, based on the pressure data input by the input device; a sensing unit configured to sense a completion of input of a handwritten signature when a lift-off state of the stylus continues for a given period of time; a detecting unit configured to detect an actual stroke end point at which the stylus contacts the input device last, when the completion of input of the handwritten signature is sensed; an extracting unit configured to extract a given number of items of coordinate data input after the actual stroke end point, as effective air stroke data after the actual stroke end point, from the coordinate data and pressure data both input during a period of time from the actual stroke end point to sensing of the completion of input of the handwritten signature; and a defining unit configured to defines, as signature data corresponding to the handwritten signature, the coordinate data and the pressure data both input during a period of time from a signature input start point at which the stylus contacts the input device first to the actual stroke end point and the coordinate data extracted as the effective air stroke data.