Adobe, Inc.

Benjamin David Follis

Marc Thomas Kaufman

Eran Aloni

Dennis Eugene Griffin

A user can provide input to a device in a 2-dimensional manner (such as by entering the data using a stylus or finger to apply pressure to a touchscreen) or in a 3-dimensional manner (such as by moving the device in 3-dimensional space). While the user input is being received, biometric data in the form of accelerometer data is collected. The accelerometer data indicates an amount of force applied in each of one or more directions over time. The collected accelerometer data thus provides an indication of the manner in which the device was moved, whether intentionally or unintentionally, while the user input was being received. The collected accelerometer data can be used in various manners, such as to verify the user input, as a signature of the user, as an authentication value to access a service or device, and so forth.

Accelerometer-based biometric data

Techniques allow for automatic signing of a digital document in response to some event and/or when the document satisfies some predefined condition. The document may be, for example, an agreement, a technical paper for publication, a press release or marketing materials, or any other digital document that might need to be assented to, approved by, and/or attributed to one or more persons or representatives. The techniques may further provide support for automatic signature tracking and notification in order to assist with auditability. In one example embodiment, the techniques are implemented in the context of an e-signature application or service, which may be installed locally on the user's computer or provided to the user via a network from a server. In one example embodiment, the e-signature service is configured to automatically impress a signer's signature into a given document, if the signer's pre-established auto-sign criteria is met.

Automatic E-signatures in response to conditions and/or events

In some embodiments, an electronic signature service receives a document to be electronically signed on behalf of an organization. The electronic signature service automatically determines at least one authorized signatory from the organization for executing the received document. The authorized signatory is determined from data describing an organizational structure and signature authorities for the organization. The electronic signature service electronically provides the document to the authorized signatory via a data network.

Automatically identifying authorized signatories from an organization for executing an electronic document

Techniques for generating a document according to attestation requirements are provided. A method determines attestation requirements for electronically signing an electronic document. The method modifies the document based in part on the requirements, and then provides the modified document to users requested to electronically sign the document, wherein the users are only permitted to electronically sign the document in circumstances satisfying the requirements. An electronic signature service can generate a document whose signing needs to be witnessed and/or recorded according to attestation requirements. The document may be associated with number of signers. The electronic signature service may determine one or more witnesses of the signers and may determine applicable attestation requirements based on the witnesses, the signers, and the document. Further, the electronic signature service may record proceedings associated with collecting signatures for the document and record and/or pause a workflow associated with the document to meet the applicable requirements.

Attestation for electronic signatures

Workflows are provided that enable documents to be distributed, assented to, and otherwise interacted with on an aural and/or oral basis. Such workflows can be implemented so as to allow a recipient to receive, understand, and interact with a document using conventional components such as the microphone and speaker provided by a telephone. For instance, in one embodiment a document originator may send a document to a recipient with a request for an electronic signature. The document may include an audio version of the document terms. The recipient can listen to the audio version of the document terms and record an electronic signature that represents assent to such terms. An electronic signature server can record the recipient's electronic signature and incorporate it into the document, such that it forms part of the electronic document just as a traditional handwritten signature forms part of a signed paper document.

Document distribution and interaction

An electronic document signature system preserves the security of an electronic document while tracking a signature process corresponding to the electronic document. In particular, using a client application on a client device, an originating user can protect an electronic document and send the protected electronic document to a tracking server. The tracking server receives only a protected document such that the security the electronic document is preserved. Using a client applications on client devices, one or more participating users can subsequently receive the protected document from the tracking server, access the contents of the electronic document, and sign the electronic document. The tracking server can record events that occur with respect to the protected document to create an event log.

Privacy preserving electronic document signature service

Electronic signatures are authenticated utilizing near field communication (NFC) devices as proof of identity. An identification service collects an identification of a NFC device associated with a signer of a contract. The identification may be utilized as an access control mechanism that enables the signer to receive, view, or sign the contract. An electronic signature associated with the signer is received. The identification of the NFC device and the electronic signature of the signer are recorded in the contract and/or audit information associated with the contract.

Use of near field communication devices as proof of identity during electronic signature process

Techniques are disclosed for providing an electronic signature service where the content of an electronic document to be signed remains unknown to the service. A sender of the electronic document negotiates a specification for encoding the electronic document. In particular, the specification does not include any content of the electronic document. In this manner, the content of the electronic document can be encrypted and securely transmitted between the sender and the signer via the electronic signature service using one or more data packets conforming to the specification without permitting the electronic signature service to read or otherwise decipher the content. The specification enables the electronic signature service to certify that the signer has received the electronic document and assented to its terms. Further, the specification enables the electronic signature service to perform authentication and transaction logging operations associated with obtaining an electronically signed version of the electronic document.

Private electronic signature service for electronic documents

Techniques are disclosed that allow for automatic signing of a digital document in response to some event and/or when the document satisfies some predefined condition. The document may be, for example, an agreement, a technical paper for publication, a press release or marketing materials, or any other digital document that might need to be assented to, approved by, and/or attributed to one or more persons or representatives. The techniques may further provide support for automatic signature tracking and notification in order to assist with auditability. In one example embodiment, the techniques are implemented in the context of an e-signature application or service, which may be installed locally on the user's computer or provided to the user via a network from a server. In one example embodiment, the e-signature service is configured to automatically impress a signer's signature into a given document, if the signer's pre-established auto-sign criteria is met.

An electronic signature system is used to procure one or more electronic signatures on a document. The electronic signature system not only facilitates communication between the document originator and the document recipient, but it also tracks the document status through states such as sent, viewed, executed, and fulfilled. For example, at some point the electronic signature system may receive an incoming notification that an obligation set forth in the signed document has been fulfilled. This incoming fulfillment notification is recorded and the document status is updated accordingly. The electronic signature system can also be configured to generate outgoing fulfillment notifications to announce that an obligation associated with the signed document has been fulfilled. The various notifications and fulfillment events disclosed herein can be tracked so as to allow users to generate status reports that reveal the fulfillment status of a collection of documents administered by the electronic signature.

Tracking and notification of fulfillment events

Techniques for generating and enforcing document visibility rights associated with a document in use with an electronic signature service are described. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, document visibility rights can be established for each person designated to sign and/or receive a copy of a document, and on a per-page, per-document section, or per-source document basis. Additionally, visibility rights may be conditional, such that various events (including the signing of a document) may modify visibility rights making a previously un-viewable page or document section viewable to a particular person.

Methods and systems for establishing and enforcing document visibility rights with an electronic signature service

Techniques for generating and enforcing document visibility rights associated with a document in use with an electronic signature service are described. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, document visibility rights can be established for each person designated to sign and/or receive a copy of a document, and on a per-page, per-document section, or per-source document basis. Additionally, visibility rights may be conditional, such that various events (including the singing of a document) may modify visibility rights making a previously un-viewable page or document section viewable to a particular person.

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Redwood City, CA, United States of America

Benjamin David Follis