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 a 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, comprising: using a computing device to perform the following process actions: capturing signature text from user which are formatted using formatting options; marking the user action as electronically signed; alerting user via alert communication methods of user choice that can include email, text message, voice message, voice call, SMS, audible alarm, visual clues; logging the user action, process steps and its outcome;

2. The process of claim 1, where in the user action can be document approval, work flow step approval, transaction approval, approval of data changes, approval of action taken during the course of business, approval of action taken during usage of software application, program or software service and signature text can be user name, user initials, user identifier, user pin or any other text assigned or sent to user that identifies the user.

3. A computer-implemented process of accepting electronic signature from user that is personalized using formatting options, comprising: using a computing device to perform the following process actions: capturing signature text from user which are formatted using formatting options; comparing the captured formatted signature text against formatted signature text stored on the server that is designated by user as valid prior to requesting access; 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 user via alert communication methods of user choice that can include email, text message, voice message, voice call, SMS, audible alarm, visual clues; logging the user action, process steps and its outcome;

4. The process of claim 3, where in the user action can be document approval, work flow step approval, transaction approval, approval of data changes, approval of action taken during the course of business, approval of action taken during usage of software application, program or software service and signature text can be user name, user initials, user identifier, user pin or any other text assigned or sent to user that identifies the user.

5. A computer-implemented process of accepting electronic signature from user that is personalized using formatting options, comprising: using a computing device to perform the following process actions: capturing signature text from user which are formatted using formatting options; 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 user via alert communication methods of user choice that can include email, text message, voice message, voice call, SMS, audible alarm, visual clues; logging the user action, process steps and its outcome;

6. The process of claim 5, where in the user action can be document approval, work flow step approval, transaction approval, approval of data changes, approval of action taken during the course of business, approval of action taken during usage of software application, program or software service and signature text can be user name, user initials, user identifier, user pin or any other text assigned or sent to user that identifies the user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Flowcharts

[0011] 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.

[0012] FIG. 2. Electronic Signature compared with configured earlier.

[0013] 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.

[0014] FIG. 3. Electronic Signature using formatting options

[0015] User asked to format signature using formatting options sent to user. If match occurs action is allowed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Given below are the examples of user choosing different factor values for different characters in his signature text. [0017] a. Example of User choosing different colors for different characters:
! [0018] Here We- is colored in blue, are-2 colored in red, H colored in Green, app colored in pink and y! colored in black. [0019] b. Example of User choosing different fonts for different characters: [0020] 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. [0021] c. Example of User choosing different font sizes for different characters: [0022] 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. [0023] d. Example of User choosing different font styles for different characters: [0024] 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. [0025] e. Example of User choosing different font effects for different characters: [0026] 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. [0027] f. Example of User choosing different font underline style for different characters: We-are-2Happy
Here We-are is having no Font underline style, 2Happy is having Font Underline style. [0028] g. Example of User choosing different shading for different characters:

##STR00001## [0029] Here We-2-are is having shading of dark black, very is having shading of turquoise and Happy! is having shading of brick red.
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.
E.g. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and on the rest of the days of the week.

[0030] 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.