Automated transaction machine digital signature system and method
View Patent ↗An automated transaction machine such as an ATM ( 10 ) is provided. The ATM is operative to digitally sign electronic documents ( 42 ). The ATM may be in operative connection with a storage server ( 32 ). The storage server is operative responsive to the ATM to maintain electronic documents ( 42 ) in a data store ( 34 ) in association with the user's digital safe deposit account ( 40 ) and/or a financial account ( 48 ) such as checking, savings, debit, or credit account. The storage server is further operative to store a private key ( 44 ) of a user in association with the user's digital safe deposit account and/or financial account. The ATM is operative to cause electronic documents to be signed using the private key associated with the user. The ATM is further operative to output the electronic document on a display device ( 18 ) of the ATM where the user may view and edit the electronic document.
1. A method comprising:
a) generating through operation of at least one computer, a plurality of private keys and for each private key, a corresponding public key;
b) storing data corresponding to each of the private keys generated in (a) in at least one data store through operation of at least one computer, wherein the data corresponding to each private key is stored in correlated relation with data representative of at least one of an individual and a financial account identifying number associated with a respective individual;
c) providing at least one card to each of a plurality of individuals, wherein each card includes machine readable data corresponding to at least one of an individual to whom the card is provided and a financial account identifying number associated with the individual to whom the card is provided;
d) operating one of a plurality of automated transaction machines (ATMs) to: (i) read data from a card presented by one of the plurality of individuals to the one machine; (ii) display a visual representation of an electronic document through at least one output device in operative connection with the one machine; and (iii) cause the electronic document to be digitally signed using a private key retrieved from the at least one data store responsive to the data read from the card, through communication between the one machine and at least one remote server in operative connection with the at least one data store, wherein each of the automated transaction machines is operative to communicate with the at least one remote server.
2. The method according to claim 1 , and further comprising, including on each card provided in (c) a visible digital signature service source indicator mark,
and further comprising including on each of the plurality of automated transaction machines, a visible digital signature service source indicator mark which visually corresponds to the visible digital signature service source indicator mark on each of the cards provided in (c).
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one automated transaction machine includes a cash dispenser and further comprising dispensing cash through operation of the cash dispenser.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in (c) each card provided is at least one of a credit card, debit card and a bank card.