System and method for providing an online electronic signature

Abstract

A system is provided for generating an online electronic signature. The system includes a computer interface module which records movement of a cursor on a computer screen and outputs the recorded data. A signature generation module which receives the recorded data and generates a graphical image based upon the recorded data.

1 . A system for generating an online electronic signature, said system comprising: 
 a computer interface module which records movement of a cursor on a computer screen and outputs the recorded data;    a signature generation module which receives said recorded data and generates a graphical image based upon said recorded data.    
   
   
       2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said computer interface module records coordinate data of said cursor.  
   
   
       3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said computer interface module includes a signature block object which is displayed on the screen of a computer, and said computer interface records and outputs coordinate data of cursor movement within said signature block object.  
   
   
       4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said computer interface module comprises a flash program.  
   
   
       5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said computer interface module comprises a browser plug-in.  
   
   
       6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said computer interface module comprises a built-in component of a web browser.  
   
   
       7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said computer interface module comprises a java applet.  
   
   
       8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said computer interface module comprises a downloadable computer program.  
   
   
       9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said computer interface module is installed onto a first computer and said signature generation module is installed on a second computer and said data is transmitted from said computer interface module to said signature generation module over an electronic data network.  
   
   
       10 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said computer interface module is configured to store said coordinate data in a file and transmit said file to said signature generation module, and said signature generation module is configured to read said coordinate data from said file.  
   
   
       11 . The system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said cursor is moved on said computer by a computer mouse, and said coordinate data is recorded only when a mouse button is depressed on said mouse.  
   
   
       12 . The system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said cursor is moved on said computer screen via a peripheral device input into said computer.  
   
   
       13 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said peripheral device input into said computer comprises a computer mouse, and said computer interface module is configured to record coordinate data only when a mouse button is depressed upon said mouse.  
   
   
       14 . The system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said computer interface module is further configured to transmit a signal to said signature generation module to begin signature generation.  
   
   
       15 . The system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said computer interface module is further configured to transmit a signal to said signature generation module to begin signal generation.  
   
   
       16 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said computer interface module is further configured to transmit a signal to said signature generation module to begin signature generation.  
   
   
       17 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said computer interface module is further configured to display an error message when a data error occurs with entry of data into a corresponding form.  
   
   
       18 . A method for capturing an online electronic signature, comprising steps of: 
 downloading online content to a client computer interface;    as a result of said downloading, displaying a signature block on the client computer interface, said signature block capturing coordinate data from a computer peripheral device; and    generating a graphical image of a signature from said coordinate data.    
   
   
       19 . The method for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said displaying a signature block step includes a step of downloading a signature block program based on link embedded in said online content, said signature block program configured to display the signature block on the client computer interface and capture the coordinate data from a computer peripheral device.  
   
   
       20 . The method for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said computer client interface includes a web browser for displaying said online content to a computer user, and 
 said displaying a signature block step includes a step of executing a signature block module based on an embedded command in said online content, said signature block module configured to display the signature block on the client computer interface and capture the coordinate data from a computer peripheral device.    
   
   
       21 . The method for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said signature block module comprises a plug-in to said web browser.  
   
   
       22 . The method for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said signature block module comprises included in said web browser.  
   
   
       23 . The method for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in  claim 20 , wherein said signature block module comprises embedded in said online content.  
   
   
       24 . A system for capturing an online electronic signature, comprising: 
 a web server configured to store and transmit online content;    a client interface configured to access said web server and download and display said online content; and    a signature capture program configured to display a signature block on said client interface, to capture coordinate data of a computer cursor within said signature block, and to generate a signature image based on said captured coordinate data.    
   
   
       25 . A system for capturing an online electronic signature via a web browser on a client computer interface, said system comprising: 
 a signature capture program configured to display a signature block on said client interface within said web browser, to capture coordinate data of a computer cursor within said signature block, and to generate a signature image based on said captured coordinate data.    
   
   
       26 . The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said a signature capture program is stored remote from said client computer interface and is downloadable to said web browser.  
   
   
       27 . The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said a signature capture program is downloaded and executed by said client computer interface as a result of an embedded object call in online content displayed by said web browser.  
   
   
       28 . The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in  claim 27 , wherein said online content includes a form for entering data, and wherein: 
 said signature capture program is configured to capture data entered into said form and link said data with at least one of said coordinate data and said signature image.    
   
   
       29 . The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said signature capture program is configured to capture data entered into said form and link said data with at least one of said coordinate data and said signature image.    
   
   
       30 . The system for capturing an online electronic signature as recited in  claim 26 , wherein: 
 said signature capture program comprises a signature capture module configured to capture coordinate data of a computer cursor within said signature block, and a signature generation module configured to generate said graphical signature based on said captured data;    wherein said signature capture module and signature generation module reside on different computer devices.    
   
   
       31 . A system for generating an online electronic signature, said system comprising: 
 means for interfacing with a client computer, recording movement of a cursor on a computer screen and outputting recorded coordinate data;    means for receiving said recorded coordinate data and generating a graphical image based upon said recorded coordinate data.    
   
   
       32 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said means for interfacing records coordinate data of a computer windows cursor controlled by a peripheral computer device.  
   
   
       33 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said means for interfacing includes a means for displaying a signature block object on the screen of a computer, and records and outputs coordinate data of cursor movement within said signature block object.  
   
   
       34 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said means for interfacing comprises a flash program.  
   
   
       35 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said means for interfacing comprises a browser plug-in.  
   
   
       36 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said means for interfacing comprises a built-in component of a web browser.  
   
   
       37 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said means for interfacing comprises a java applet.  
   
   
       38 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said means for interfacing comprises a computer program.  
   
   
       39 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said means for interfacing is installed onto a first computer and said means for receiving is installed on a second computer, and said data is transmitted from said means for interfacing to said means for receiving over an electronic data network.  
   
   
       40 . The system as recited in  claim 32 , wherein said means for interfacing stores said recorded coordinate data in a file and transmits said file to said means for receiving, and said means for receiving reads said coordinate data from said file.  
   
   
       41 . The system as recited in  claim 33 , wherein said cursor is moved on said computer by a computer mouse, and said coordinate data is recorded only when a mouse button is depressed on said mouse.  
   
   
       42 . The system as recited in  claim 33 , wherein said cursor is moved on said computer screen via a peripheral device input into said computer.  
   
   
       43 . The system as recited in  claim 42 , wherein said peripheral device input into said computer comprises a computer mouse, and said means for interfacing record coordinates data only when a mouse button is depressed upon said mouse.  
   
   
       44 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said means for interfacing transmits a signal to said means for receiving to begin signature generation.  
   
   
       45 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said means for interfacing transmits a signal to said means for receiving to begin signature generation.  
   
   
       46 . A web browser, comprising: 
 means for displaying online content;    a computer interface module which records movement of a cursor on a computer screen and outputs the recorded data;    a signature generation module which receives said recorded data and generates a graphical image based upon said recorded data; and    means for invoking said computer interface module such that online content displayed with said web browser can invoke said computer interface module.    
   
   
       47 . The web browser as recited in  claim 46 , wherein said computer interface module records coordinate data of said cursor.  
   
   
       48 . The web browser as recited in  claim 46 , wherein said computer interface module includes a signature block object which is displayed on the screen of a computer, and said computer interface records and outputs coordinate data of cursor movement within said signature block object.  
   
   
       49 . The web browser as recited in  claim 47 , wherein said computer interface module is configured to store said coordinate data in a file, and said signature generation module is configured to read said coordinate data from said file.  
   
   
       50 . The web browser as recited in  claim 48 , wherein said cursor is moved on said computer by a computer mouse, and said coordinate data is recorded only when a mouse button is depressed on said mouse.  
   
   
       51 . The web browser as recited in  claim 48 , wherein said cursor is moved on said computer screen via a peripheral device input into said computer.  
   
   
       52 . The web browser as recited in  claim 51 , wherein said peripheral device input into said computer comprises a computer mouse, and said computer interface module is configured to record coordinate data only when a mouse button is depressed upon said mouse.  
   
   
       53 . The browser as recited in  claim 52 , wherein said computer interface module is further configured to display an error message when a data error occurs with entry of data into a corresponding form.  
   
   
       54 . The system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said means for interfacing is installed onto a same computer as said means for receiving is installed.