Patent ID: 8020003

Claim:
A method of automatically generating and processing signature files for an electronic signature list, comprising the steps of: periodically searching data records contained in a first database for signature-relevant status changes; providing, in response to detecting signature-relevant status changes, a multiplicity of documents in paper form, each document containing a predefined blank region for receiving a personal signature and also control information items assigned to the signature, the control information items containing a data record identifier, wherein one of the data records with associated data record identifier is assigned to each document; scanning-in, in a batch processing operation, the multiplicity of documents that have received the personal signatures, at least one signature file being generated for each document, which signature file contains the personal signature in electronically processable form and also a representation of the assigned control information items, wherein the assigned control information items of each document are independent of their corresponding personal signature in its electronically processable form; document-wise interpretation of the content of the control information items contained in a representation, including the document-wise determination of the assigned data record based on the data record identifier contained in the control information item; and dispatching the signature files via a communications network controlled by the control information items.