Method of using text and picture formatting options such as font, font size, font color, shading, font style, font effects, font underline, character effects as part of electronic signature

Abstract

We propose a method that uses formatting options of Font, Font Size, Font Color, Shading, Font Style, Font Effects, Font Underline, and Character Effects as a part of electronic signature.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented process of accepting electronic signature from user that is personalized using formatting options, the process comprising: using a computing device to perform the steps of: capturing signature text from user which are formatted using formatting options, wherein signature text comprise user name, user initials, user identifier, user pin or any other text assigned or sent to user that identifies the user, and wherein the formatting options comprise Font, Font Size, Font Color, Shading, Font Style, Font Effects, Font Underline, and character effects; sending formatting instructions to the user to format signature text; comparing the captured formatted signature text against system generated formatted signature text using same formatting options that user is instructed to use; flagging the captured electronic signature as valid if match occurs and marking the user action as electronically signed, flagging the captured electronic signature as invalid and rejecting it to mark as signed if match doesn't occur; alerting the user via alert communication methods chosen by the user including email, text message, voice message, voice call, SMS, audible alarm, or visual clues; and logging the user action, process steps and its outcome.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the user action is a document approval, work flow step approval, transaction approval, approval of data changes, approval of action taken during the course of business or approval of action taken during usage of software application, program or software service.

3. An apparatus comprising: one or more processors; a memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors perform the steps comprising: using a computing device to perform the steps of: capturing signature text from user which are formatted using formatting options, wherein signature text comprise user name, user initials, user identifier, user pin or any other text assigned or sent to user that identifies the user, and wherein the formatting options comprise Font, Font Size, Font Color, Shading, Font Style, Font Effects, Font Underline, and character effects; sending formatting instructions to the user to format signature text; comparing the captured formatted signature text against system generated formatted signature text using same formatting options that user is instructed to use; flagging the captured electronic signature as valid if match occurs and marking the user action as electronically signed, flagging the captured electronic signature as invalid and rejecting it to mark as signed if match doesn't occur; alerting the user via alert communication methods chosen by the user including email, text message, voice message, voice call, SMS, audible alarm, or visual clues; and logging the user action, process steps and its outcome.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the user action is a document approval, work flow step approval, transaction approval, approval of data changes, approval of action taken during the course of business or approval of action taken during usage of software application, program or software service.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon executable by a computing platform to: use a computing device to perform the steps of: capture signature text from user which are formatted using formatting options, wherein signature text comprise user name, user initials, user identifier, user pin or any other text assigned or sent to user that identifies the user, and wherein the formatting options comprise Font, Font Size, Font Color, Shading, Font Style, Font Effects, Font Underline, and character effects; send formatting instructions to the user to format signature text; compare the captured formatted signature text against system generated formatted signature text using same formatting options that user is instructed to use; flag the captured electronic signature as valid if match occurs and marking the user action as electronically signed, flagging the captured electronic signature as invalid and rejecting it to mark as signed if match doesn't occur; alert the user via alert communication methods chosen by the user including email, text message, voice message, voice call, SMS, audible alarm, or visual clues; and log the user action, process steps and its outcome.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the user action is a document approval, work flow step approval, transaction approval, approval of data changes, approval of action taken during the course of business or approval of action taken during usage of software application, program or software service.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) Flowcharts

(2) FIG. 1. Electronic Signature using formatting options, no validation against any signature stored earlier. This workflow is for scenarios where signatures are accepted on good faith.

(3) FIG. 2. Electronic Signature compared with configured earlier.

(4) User asked to provide his formatted electronic signature based on formatting options that he remember when he originally configured electronic signatures. If match occurs action is allowed.

(5) FIG. 3. Electronic Signature using formatting options

(6) User asked to format signature using formatting options sent to user. If match occurs action is allowed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) Given below are the examples of user choosing different factor values for different characters in his signature text. a. Example of User choosing different colors for different characters: ! Here We- is colored in blue, are-2 colored in red, H colored in Green, app colored in pink and y! colored in black. b. Example of User choosing different fonts for different characters: Here We- is having Font Arial, are-2 is having Font Lucida Handwriting, H is having Font Arial Black, app is having Font Tempus Sans ITC and y! is having Font Broadway. c. Example of User choosing different font sizes for different characters: Here We- is having Font size 11, are-2 is having Font size 16, H is having Font size 8, app is having Font size 14 and y! is having Font size 9. d. Example of User choosing different font styles for different characters: Here We- is not having Font style Regular, are-2 is having Font style Bold, H is having Font style Italic, appy! is having Font style Bold Italic. e. Example of User choosing different font effects for different characters: Here We- is having Font effect Superscript, are- is having Font effect small caps, not is having Font effect Strikethrough, very- is having Font effect Double Strikethrough, HAPPY! is having Font effect ALL CAPS. f. Example of User choosing different font underline style for different characters: Here We-are- is having no Font underline style, 2Happy is having Font Underline style. g. Example of User choosing different shading for different characters:

(8) ##STR00001## Here We-2-are- is having shading of dark black, very- is having shading of turquoise and Happy! is having shading of brick red.

(9) Given below is the example of user using combination of factors of font, font style, font size and font color. User can configure one or more set of factors for signature characters.

(10) E.g. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and on the rest of the days of the week.

(11) These formatting options gives lot of choice and flexibility to users and at the same time makes it very difficult for hackers to steal, store and use stolen signature information.