Transaction automation and archival system using electronic contract disclosure units
A transaction automation and archival system is provided for controlling, real-time logging, and archiving complex commercial transactions such as the purchase and financing of an automobile. The heart of the system is an electronic contract disclosure unit, or ECDU. The ECDU includes a digitizing display that includes a video display for imaging to participants the various documents involved in the transaction and a digitizer for allowing participants to sign, indicate choices, and otherwise interact directly on documents and images presented on the display. A computer controls the entire progress of the transaction, and thus controls the collaborative space occupied by the participants to the transaction. The computer, for instance, controls the order of presentation of documents to a vehicle purchaser, receives the purchaser's signature on the displayed documents when required, offers choices of various packages that can be accepted or declined by the purchaser, and insures that the entire transaction is carried out properly. The ECDU further logs the transaction for future review and preferably includes a video camera and microphone for logging images and sounds of the participants during the transaction. One or more fingerprint readers are associated with the digitizing display for allowing participants to select between options by pressing their thumb or finger on the reader, which simultaneously verifies the identity of the individual making the selection through the fingerprint.
1. An electronic contract disclosure unit (ECDU) for controlling a commercial transaction between individuals and generating an electronic record of the transaction, the ECDU comprising:
a housing sized and configured to be located for convenient access by individuals involved in the commercial transaction;
a computer;
a digitizing display on the housing and coupled to the computer, the digitizing display including a video display for presenting images of documents and information and a digitizer for detecting written inputs related to the presented images;
a first stylus for use by individuals to provide written inputs on the digitizing display in response to documents and information presented thereon;
the computer being programmed to receive electronic documents and to cause images of those electronic documents and information associated with the commercial transaction to be presented on the video display in predetermined sequences, to receive responsive written inputs via the first stylus and the digitizer, and to ensure a complete response to presented documents before presenting subsequent documents for response; and
a camera mounted on a support movable through a range of motion defining a variety of mounted positions, the camera being configured and oriented to capture a digital image of a physical document placed on the housing when the camera is in a first mounted position;
the computer being further programmed to incorporate the digital image of the physical document into the electronic record of the commercial transaction.
2. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the computer is further programmed to incorporate captured digital images of individuals into the electronic record of the commercial transaction.
3. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the camera comprises a camera capable of capturing still images and video images.
4. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a camera angle adjustment for adjusting the look angle of the camera.
5. An ECDU as claimed in claim 4 and further comprising an automatic angle adjuster on the housing positioned and configured to ensure that the camera points in a predetermined direction when the swing arm is moved to its stowed position.
6. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a storage slot formed in the housing sized to receive the swing arm when in its stowed position.
7. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a light positioned to illuminate physical documents as they are imaged by the camera.
8. An ECDU as claimed in claim 7 and wherein the light is mounted on a swing arm with the camera.
9. An ECDU as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a document digitizing area on the housing, physical documents being placed in the document digitizing area for capture by the camera.
10. An ECDU as claimed in claim 9 and wherein the document digitizing area at least partially covers the digitizing display.