System and Method for Providing A Real-Time, Online Biometric Signature

Abstract

A system is provided for generating an online biometrically accurate 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.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for capturing an electronic, biometric signature for a transaction, said system comprising:
 a signature server configured to receive and store electronic data; and   a computer including a computer readable storage and a touchscreen display, the computer being configured to:
 receive a signature capture program; 
 store the received signature capture program in the computer readable storage; 
 subsequent to the signature capture program being stored in the computer readable storage, receive electronic content relating to an electronic transaction from a remote content server over an electronic data network; 
 display the electronic content on said touchscreen display; 
 execute the signature capture program in connection with the electronic transaction, wherein executing the signature capture program comprises:
 displaying a signature block on said touchscreen display, 
 capturing coordinate data of a signature input within said signature block via said touchscreen display, 
 displaying a signature within the signature block on the touchscreen display as the coordinate data is captured, and 
 transmitting data relating to said electronic transaction and signature information including at least one of the coordinate data and 
 
 a signature image generated based on the captured coordinate data to the signature server over an electronic data network; 
   wherein the signature server has a storage device, is remote from the computer, and is configured to:
 receive the data relating to said electronic transaction and the signature information over the electronic data network; 
 store the signature information with the data relating to said electronic transaction in the storage device; 
 transmit a notification to the computer indicating that the signature information has been received; and 
 transmit the signature information; and 
   wherein the computer receives the signature capture program from a remote server other than the remote content server.   
     
     
         2 . The system for capturing the electronic signature as recited in  claim 1 , wherein executing said signature capture program comprises generating said signature image based on said captured coordinate data. 
     
     
         3 . The system for capturing the electronic signature as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said signature capture program is executed by said computer as a result of an embedded object call in the electronic content. 
     
     
         4 . The system for capturing the electronic signature as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said electronic content includes a form for entering data, and executing said signature capture program comprises capturing data entered into said form. 
     
     
         5 . The system for capturing the electronic signature as recited in  claim 4 , wherein:
 executing said signature capture program comprises linking the captured data entered into said form with said signature information.   
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein executing the signature capture program comprises storing said coordinate data in a file. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein executing the signature capture program comprises displaying an error message when a data error occurs with entry of data into a corresponding form. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signature server is configured to transmit the signature information to the computer. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signature capture program is included within a hosting application stored in the computer readable storage. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signature capture program is a plug-in to the hosting application. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein execution of the signature capture program stored in the computer readable storage is invoked by the electronic content received from the remote content server. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the location of the remote content server is different than the location of the signature server. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signature server is configured to transmit the signature capture program to the computer, and the computer is configured to receive the signature capture program from the signature server. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for capturing an electronic, biometric signature for a transaction, the apparatus comprising:
 a computer including a computer readable storage and a touchscreen display, the computer being configured to:
 receive a signature capture program; 
 store the signature capture program in the computer readable storage; 
 subsequent to the signature capture program being stored in the computer readable storage, receive electronic content relating to an electronic transaction from a remote content server over an electronic data network; 
 display the electronic content on said touchscreen display; 
 execute the signature capture program in connection with the electronic transaction, wherein executing the signature capture program comprises:
 displaying a signature block on said touchscreen display, 
 capturing coordinate data of a signature input within said signature block via said touchscreen display, 
 displaying a signature within the signature block on the touchscreen display as the coordinate data is captured, and 
 transmitting data relating to said electronic transaction and 
 
 signature information including at least one of the coordinate data and 
 a signature image generated based on the captured coordinate data to a signature server over an electronic data network; and 
 receive, from the signature server, a notification indicating that the signature information has been received by the signature server; 
   wherein the computer receives the signature capture program from a remote server other than the remote content server.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the signature capture program is included within a hosting application stored in the computer readable storage. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the signature capture program is a plug-in to the hosting application. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein execution of the signature capture program stored in the computer readable storage is invoked by the electronic content received from the remote content server. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein executing said signature capture program comprises generating said signature image based on said captured coordinate data. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said electronic content includes a form for entering data, executing said signature capture program comprises capturing data entered into said form. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein executing said signature capture program comprises linking the captured data entered into said form with said signature information. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein executing the signature capture program comprises storing said coordinate data in a file. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein executing the signature capture program comprises displaying an error message when a data error occurs with entry of data into a corresponding form. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the location of the remote content server is different than the location of the signature server. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the computer is configured to receive the signature capture program from the signature server. 
     
     
         25 . A method for capturing an electronic, biometric signature for a transaction, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a computer including a computer readable storage and a touchscreen display, a signature capture program;   storing, by the computer, the signature capture program in the computer readable storage;   subsequent to storing the signature capture program in the computer readable storage, receiving, by the computer, electronic content relating to an electronic transaction from a first remote server over an electronic data network;   displaying the electronic content on said touchscreen display;   executing, by the computer, the signature capture program in connection with the electronic transaction, wherein executing the signature capture program comprises:
 displaying a signature block on the touchscreen display, 
 capturing coordinate data of a signature input within the signature block via said touchscreen display, 
 displaying a signature within the signature block on the touchscreen display as the coordinate data is captured, and 
 transmitting data relating to the electronic transaction and signature information including at least one of the coordinate data and a signature image generated based on the captured coordinate data to a second remote server over the electronic data network; and 
   receiving, by the computer, a notification indicating that the signature information has been received by the second remote server;   wherein the computer receives the signature capture program from a remote server other than the first remote server.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the location of the first remote server is different than the location of the second remote server. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the computer receives the signature capture program from the second remote server. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the signature capture program is executed independent of the electronic content relating to the electronic transaction. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the second remote server, the data relating to the electronic transaction and the signature information over the electronic data network;   storing, by the second remote server, the signature information with the data relating to said electronic transaction in a storage device coupled with the second remote server;   transmitting, by the second remote server, the notification to the computer indicating that the signature information has been received, and   transmitting, by the second remote server, the signature information.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the second remote server transmits the signature information to the computer. 
     
     
         31 . The method  claim 25 , further comprising displaying an error message when a data error occurs with entry of data into a corresponding form. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein executing the signature capture program further comprises generating the signature image based on the captured coordinate data. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the signature capture program is included within a hosting application stored in the computer readable storage. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the signature capture program is a plug-in to the hosting application. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein execution of the signature capture program stored in the computer readable storage is invoked by the electronic content received from the remote content server.