IP Library Granted Patent US 10,878,183
Granted Patent B2
US 10,878,183 · App. 16/799,525 · Granted Dec 29, 2020

Electronic signing using action responsive document copy generation

Inventor: Glenn Shimkus (Naperville, IL)
Assignee: DocuSign, Inc.
G06F40/166G06F3/0482G06F3/04842G06F21/64G06F40/117G06F40/134G06F40/197G06Q10/10G06Q30/0609G06Q30/0613G06Q40/12H04L9/3247
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,878,183
App. No.
16/799,525
Granted
Dec 29, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system, computer-readable storage medium, and computer-implemented method for signing a document involving generating copies of the document in response to receiving actions to perform on the document. In particular, a web service can transmit a document for signing to a client device such that the document is viewable through graphical user interfaces while the underlying content of the document remains non-editable by the client devices through the web service. Responsive to receiving actions, the web service can generate one or more copies of the document that may include modifications that correspond to the received actions.

Claims (65)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by one or more servers, a pre-tag-indicating a visible location within an electronic document for a signature of a signing role, the electronic document comprising terms of agreement data;

transmitting, by the one or more servers to a client device associated with a first user, a web browser graphical user interface (GUI) configured to display the signing role and an available set of users able to be associated with the signing role;

receiving, by the one or more servers via the GUI, selection of a second user of the set of users for association with the signing role;

associating the second user with the signing role; and

responsive to the selection, generating, by the one or more servers, a copy of the electronic document having a tag automatically overlaid in the copy of the electronic document based on the pre-tag, the tag indicating the visible location for the second user associated with the signing role to sign.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein associating the second user with the signing role comprises:

tagging the electronic document with the tag, the tag a signature tag that corresponds to the signing role.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signing role is one of a plurality of signing roles associated with the electronic document.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the signing role is unassociated with any user of the available set of users; and

providing a report identifying that the signing role is unassociated.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the signing role is unassociated with any user of the available set of users; and

providing a report identifying that the electronic document has one or more signing roles that are unassociated.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating, by the one or more servers, a history GUI document comprising a list of a plurality of actions taken on the electronic document, the list comprising view links to a plurality of copies of the electronic document including at least a first link to the copy of the electronic document and a second link to a second copy of the electronic document that was generated in response to a further change to the electronic document;

receiving, from the client device, a selection of one of the view links; and

responsive to receiving the selection of one of the view links, transmitting the copy of the electronic document that corresponds to the selection.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request to delete the electronic document; and

responsive to the request, deleting the electronic document.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving, by one or more servers, a pre-tag-indicating a visible location within an electronic document for a signature of a signing role, the electronic document comprising terms of agreement data;

transmitting, by the one or more servers to a client device associated with a first user, a web browser graphical user interface (GUI) configured to display the signing role and an available set of users able to be associated with the signing role;

receiving, by the one or more servers via the GUI, selection of a second user of the set of users for association with the signing role;

associating the second user with the signing role; and

responsive to the selection, generating, by the one or more servers, a copy of the electronic document having a tag automatically overlaid in the copy of the electronic document based on the pre-tag, the tag indicating the visible location for the second user associated with the signing role to sign.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein associating the second user with the signing role comprises:

tagging the electronic document with the tag, the tag a signature tag that corresponds to the signing role.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the signing role is one of a plurality of signing roles associated with the electronic document.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the steps further comprise:

determining that the signing role is unassociated with any user of the available set of users; and

providing a report identifying that the signing role is unassociated.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the steps further comprise:

determining that the signing role is unassociated with any user of the available set of users; and

providing a report identifying that the electronic document has one or more signing roles that are unassociated.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the steps further comprise:

generating, by the one or more servers, a history GUI document comprising a list of a plurality of actions taken on the electronic document, the list comprising view links to a plurality of copies of the electronic document including at least a first link to the copy of the electronic document and a second link to a second copy of the electronic document that was generated in response to a further change to the electronic document;

receiving, from the client device, a selection of one of the view links; and

responsive to receiving the selection of one of the view links, transmitting the copy of the electronic document that corresponds to the selection.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the steps further comprise:

receiving a request to delete the electronic document; and

responsive to the request, deleting the electronic document.

15. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving, by one or more servers, a pre-tag-indicating a visible location within an electronic document for a signature of a signing role, the electronic document comprising terms of agreement data;

transmitting, by the one or more servers to a client device associated with a first user, a web browser graphical user interface (GUI) configured to display the signing role and an available set of users able to be associated with the signing role;

receiving, by the one or more servers via the GUI, selection of a second user of the set of users for association with the signing role;

associating the second user with the signing role; and

responsive to the selection, generating, by the one or more servers, a copy of the electronic document having a tag automatically overlaid in the copy of the electronic document based on the pre-tag, the tag indicating the visible location for the second user associated with the signing role to sign.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein associating the second user with the signing role comprises:

tagging the electronic document with the tag, the tag a signature tag that corresponds to the signing role.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the signing role is one of a plurality of signing roles associated with the electronic document.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the steps further comprise:

determining that the signing role is unassociated with any user of the available set of users; and

providing a report identifying that the signing role is unassociated.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the steps further comprise:

determining that the signing role is unassociated with any user of the available set of users; and

providing a report identifying that the electronic document has one or more signing roles that are unassociated.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the steps further comprise:

generating, by the one or more servers, a history GUI document comprising a list of a plurality of actions taken on the electronic document, the list comprising view links to a plurality of copies of the electronic document including at least a first link to the copy of the electronic document and a second link to a second copy of the electronic document that was generated in response to a further change to the electronic document;

receiving, from the client device, a selection of one of the view links; and

responsive to receiving the selection of one of the view links, transmitting the copy of the electronic document that corresponds to the selection.

Assignments (4)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2025
From: DOCUSIGN, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 071337/0240 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (054943/0358) Recorded May 22, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: DOCUSIGN, INC.
Reel/Frame 071337/0148 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2021
From: DOCUSIGN, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 054943/0358 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2020
From: SHIMKUS, GLENN
To: DOCUSIGN, INC.
Reel/Frame 054071/0345 →