Method and apparatus for applying revision specific electronic signatures to an electronically stored document
View Patent ↗Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods and systems for applying electronic signatures to an electronically stored document wherein the electronic signatures are associated with a specific revision of that electronically stored document (revision specific electronic signatures).
1. A computer-implemented method for electronically signing an electronically stored document comprising the steps of:
applying, by one or more processors, a first electronic signature to the electronically stored document to produce an initial signed version of the electronically stored document, wherein the first electronic signature includes information that associates the first electronic signature with the initial signed version of the electronically stored document;
subsequent to applying the first electronic signature to the electronically stored document, modifying, by the one or more processors, the initial signed version of the electronically stored document thereby producing a first revision of the electronically stored document;
applying, by the one or more processors, a second electronic signature to the first revision of the electronically stored document, wherein the second electronic signature includes information that associates the second electronic signature with the first revision of the electronically stored document, such that the first revision of the electronically stored document includes both the first electronic signature and the second electronic signature, and
providing a user with the ability to view a revision history of the electronically stored document while viewing the electronically stored document,
wherein the first electronic signature expires after a pre-determined period of time, and
wherein the electronically stored document is simultaneously accessed by a first user associated with the first electronic signature and a second user associated with the second electronic signature.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronically stored document is a shared document among a number of different users.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first electronic signature is revoked upon modifying the electronically stored document.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first electronic signature and the second electronic signature are each associated with the same person.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic signatures are user-selectable indicia.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic signatures are applied through the effect of a selector mechanism chosen from the group consisting of: checkbox, menu, dialogue box, pushbutton, and radiobutton.
7. A computer-implemented system for electronically signing an electronically stored document that is accessible by the system, the system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more memory devices for storing program instructions, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
apply a first electronic signature to the electronically stored document to produce an initial signed version of the electronically stored document, wherein the first electronic signature includes information that associates the first electronic signature with the initial signed version of the electronically stored document,
subsequent to application of the first electronic signature to the electronically stored document, modify the initial signed version of the electronically stored document thereby producing a first revision of the electronically stored document,
apply a second electronic signature to the first revision of the electronically stored document, wherein the second electronic signature includes information that associates the second electronic signature with the first revision of the electronically stored document, such that the first revision of the electronically stored document includes both the first electronic signature and the second electronic signature, and
provide a user with the ability to view a revision history of the electronically stored document while viewing the electronically stored document,
wherein the program instructions further cause the one or more processors to effect the expiration of the first electronic signature after a pre-determined period of time,
wherein the program instructions further cause the one or more processors provide simultaneous access to the electronically stored document by a first user associated with the first electronic signature and a second user associated with the second electronic signature.
8. The computer implemented system of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions further cause the one or more processors to share the electronically stored document among a number of different users.
9. The computer implemented system of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions further cause the one or more processors to revoke the first electronic signature upon modification of the electronically stored document.
10. The computer implemented system of claim 7 wherein the first electronic signature and the second electronic signature are each associated with the same person.
11. The computer implemented system of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions further cause the one or more processors to apply the electronic signatures through the effect of a selector mechanism chosen from the group consisting of: checkbox, menu, dialogue box, pushbutton, radiobutton.
12. A non-transitory computer storage medium having computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform operations comprising:
applying, by one or more processors, a first electronic signature to an electronically stored document to produce an initial signed version of the electronically stored document, wherein the first electronic signature includes information that associates the first electronic signature with the initial signed version of the electronically stored document;
subsequent to applying the first electronic signature to the electronically stored document, modifying, by the one or more processors, the initial signed version of the electronically stored document thereby producing a first revision of the electronically stored document;
applying a second electronic signature to the first revision of the electronically stored document, wherein the second electronic signature includes information that associates the second electronic signature with the first revision of the electronically stored document, such that the first revision of the electronically stored document includes both the first electronic signature and the second electronic signature, and
providing a user with the ability to view a revision history of the electronically stored document while viewing the electronically stored document,
wherein the first electronic signature expires after a pre-determined period of time, and
wherein the electronically stored document is simultaneously accessed by a first user associated with the first electronic signature and a second user associated with the second electronic signature.