System and method for signature capture

1. A method of capturing an image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, said portable digital media device being in communication with a first computer, the method comprising:

using the first computer, accessing a web application;

using the first computer, selecting an electronic document for signature in the web application;

using the first computer, entering identification of the portable digital media device in the web application;

sending a communication to the portable digital media device, including a time-sensitive URL address for a webpage, said URL address being a working address for a preset period of time;

using the first computer to allow access, via the URL address, to the webpage on the portable digital media device only during said preset period of time to enter said handwritten signature such that said handwritten signature is associated with said document by said web application; and

using the first computer to disable the URL address after expiration of the preset period of time such that the webpage on the portable digital media device is no longer accessible.

2. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 1 , in which sending the communication to the portable digital media device, including a URL address for a webpage, includes sending the communication to the portable digital media device wirelessly via email.

3. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 1 , in which sending the communication to the portable digital media device, including a URL address for a webpage, includes sending the communication to the portable digital media device wirelessly via SMS text message.

4. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 1 , in which sending the communication to the portable digital media device, including a URL address for a webpage, includes sending the communication to the portable digital media device wirelessly via an intranet.

5. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 1 , wherein the time-sensitive URL address an obfuscated URL address containing no signatory-specific information.

6. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 1 , in which communication includes communication over a Wi-Fi link.

7. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 1 , in which communication includes communication over a cellular link.

8. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 1 , in which the step of entering identification of the portable digital media device comprises entering the telephone number of the portable digital media device.

9. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 1 , in which the step of entering identification of the portable digital media device comprises entering an e-mail address linked to the portable digital media device.

10. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 1 , in which sending the communication to the portable digital media device, including a URL address for a webpage, includes sending the communication to the portable digital media device wirelessly.

11. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 1 , wherein the portable digital media device includes a GPS receiver system configured to retrieve a location of the portable digital media device, and wherein the handwritten signature is acceptable as valid only if, at the time of signature, the portable digital media device is located at a predetermined acceptable location.

12. A method of capturing an image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, said portable digital media device being in communication with a first computer, an electronic document for signature having been selected with said first computer, the method comprising:

receiving a communication, with said portable digital media device, sent by the first computer, said communication including a time-sensitive URL address for a webpage containing a rendering of the electronic document, said URL address being a working address for only a preset period of time after the communication has been sent;

accessing the webpage with the portable digital media device via the URL address only during said preset period of time, wherein the URL address is disabled after the preset period of time;

using said touch responsive screen of said portable digital media device to enter said handwritten signature; and

transmitting said handwritten signature from said portable digital media device for association with said electronic document.

13. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 12 , in which receiving the communication with said portable digital media device, said communication including a URL address for a webpage, includes receiving wirelessly via e-mail the communication with said portable digital media device.

14. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 12 , in which receiving the communication with said portable digital media device, said communication including a URL address for a webpage, includes receiving wirelessly via SMS text message the communication with said portable digital media device.

15. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 12 , in which the handwritten signature is entered on the touch responsive screen of the portable digital media device by signing with a stylus in contact with the screen.

16. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 12 , in which the handwritten signature is entered on the touch responsive screen of the portable digital media device by signing with a finger in contact with the screen.

17. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 12 , wherein the time-sensitive URL address is an obfuscated URL address containing no signatory-specific information.

18. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 12 , in which communication includes wireless communication over the Internet.

19. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 12 , in which communication includes communication over a Wi-Fi link.

20. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 12 , in which communication includes communication over a cellular link.

21. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 12 , wherein the portable digital media device includes a GPS receiver system configured to retrieve a location of the portable digital media device, and the method further comprises:

retrieving a location of the portable digital media device using the GPS receiver system, wherein the handwritten signature is acceptable as valid only if, at the time of signature, the portable digital media device is located at a predetermined acceptable location.

22. A method of capturing an image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, said portable digital media device being in communication with a first computer, the method comprising:

using the first computer, accessing a web application containing the document for signature;

using the first computer, entering identification of the portable digital media device in the web application;

sending a communication to the portable digital media device, the communication including a time-sensitive URL address for a webpage, said URL address being a working address for a preset period of time after the communication is sent;

using the first computer to allow access to the webpage via the URL address with the portable digital media device only during said preset period of time to enter, via said touch responsive screen of said portable digital media device, said handwritten signature such that said handwritten signature is associated with said document by said web application; and

allowing the URL address to become disabled upon expiration of the preset period of time.

23. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 22 , wherein the time-sensitive URL address is an obfuscated URL address containing no signatory-specific information.

24. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 22 , in which entering identification of the portable digital media device comprises entering the telephone number of the portable digital media device.

25. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 22 , in which entering identification of the portable digital media device comprises entering an e-mail address linked to the portable digital media device.

26. The method of capturing the image of a handwritten signature with a portable digital media device for insertion in a document, according to claim 22 , wherein the portable digital media device includes a GPS receiver system configured to retrieve a location of the portable digital media device, and wherein the handwritten signature is acceptable as valid only if, at the time of signature, the portable digital media device is located at a predetermined acceptable location.