WO2000075879A1 - Obtaining a signature using a markup language - Google Patents

Obtaining a signature using a markup language Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000075879A1
WO2000075879A1 PCT/US2000/015195 US0015195W WO0075879A1 WO 2000075879 A1 WO2000075879 A1 WO 2000075879A1 US 0015195 W US0015195 W US 0015195W WO 0075879 A1 WO0075879 A1 WO 0075879A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
display
signature
touch pad
page
displaying
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/015195
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
J. Gregory Stout
Original Assignee
Receiptcity.Com, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Receiptcity.Com, Inc. filed Critical Receiptcity.Com, Inc.
Publication of WO2000075879A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000075879A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F8/00—Arrangements for software engineering
    • G06F8/30—Creation or generation of source code
    • G06F8/34—Graphical or visual programming
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/04—Payment circuits
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/04—Payment circuits
    • G06Q20/047—Payment circuits using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
    • G06Q20/18—Payment architectures involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
    • G06Q20/20—Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
    • G07C9/30—Individual registration on entry or exit not involving the use of a pass
    • G07C9/32—Individual registration on entry or exit not involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check
    • G07C9/35—Individual registration on entry or exit not involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check by means of a handwritten signature
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F19/00—Complete banking systems; Coded card-freed arrangements adapted for dispensing or receiving monies or the like and posting such transactions to existing accounts, e.g. automatic teller machines
    • G07F19/20—Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F19/00—Complete banking systems; Coded card-freed arrangements adapted for dispensing or receiving monies or the like and posting such transactions to existing accounts, e.g. automatic teller machines
    • G07F19/20—Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
    • G07F19/201—Accessories of ATMs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
    • G07G1/00—Cash registers
    • G07G1/12—Cash registers electronically operated
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
    • G07G1/00—Cash registers
    • G07G1/12—Cash registers electronically operated
    • G07G1/14—Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
    • G07G5/00—Receipt-giving machines

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the capture of electronic signatures and the security of transactions. More specifically, this invention relates to the capture of electronic signatures authorizing transactions and to the storage and retrieval of such electronic signatures as proof of the transactions.
  • Electronic cash registers, no-frills card-swipe electronic- funds-transfer units and signature-capture platforms dominate the approximately eight million point-of-sale (POS) locations in the United States. At these POS locations, a consumer pays presenting cash, a check, a debit or credit card, an electronic-funds transfer card (automated-teller-machine card) or a smart card.
  • POS point-of-sale
  • the bank submits a formal transaction- dispute record on paper to the subject merchant.
  • the merchant then faxes to the bank a copy of the paper transaction receipt that the merchant maintains.
  • the delay can frustrate the customer, and the on-again, off-again nature of the transaction investigation is inefficient for the bank.
  • the method includes disposing a touch pad above and adjacent a display, then displaying a markup-language page on the display. Simultaneously with the displaying, the method collects a signature by means of the touch pad.
  • the touch pad may be disposed above and adjacent the display and extend less than the display in one of the planar dimensions of the display, while the displaying may include displaying a markup-language page (such as a HyperText Markup Language or extensible Markup Language page) on the display, reserving an area of the page for signing a signature.
  • a markup-language page such as a HyperText Markup Language or extensible Markup Language page
  • a portion of the reserved area may be under a portion of the touch pad.
  • the reserved area may co- extend with the touch pad.
  • the collecting includes signing a signature in the reserved area.
  • Figures 1A and IB illustrate first and second electronic- signature-capture systems incorporating first and second embodiments of the invention.
  • Figures 2A and 2B illustrate the overlying relationship of the touch pad of the electronic-signature-capture systems of Figures 1A and IB to their respective displays.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the personal computer (PC) of Figure 1.
  • Figure 4 illustrates the POS TC 142 of Figure IB.
  • Figure 1A illustrates a first electronic-signature-capture system 100A incorporating one embodiment of the invention.
  • the system 100A includes a personal computer 110, a provider 120 and a communications link 130.
  • the link 130 communicatively couples the personal computer 110 and the provider 120 to each other and to any other entities connected to the link 130.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the personal computer (PC) 110 incorporating an embodiment of the invention.
  • the PC 110 includes one or more of the following: a central processing unit (“CPU") 111, a memory 112, a user interface 113, a port 114, a communications interface 115, a co-processor 117a and an internal bus 116.
  • the bus 116 communicatively interconnects the CPU 111, memory 112, user interface 113, port 114, communications interface 115 and co-processor 117a.
  • the memory 112 includes high-speed, volatile random-access memory (RAM) 1122, as well as non-volatile memory such as read-only memory (ROM) 1121 and magnetic disk drives. Further, the memory 112 contains software 1123. The software 1123 is layered: Application software 11231 communicates with the operating system 11232, and the operating system 11232 communicates with the I/O subsystem 11233. The I/O subsystem 11233 communicates with the CPU 111, user interface 113, the communications interface 115 and the co-processor 117a by means of the communications bus 116.
  • the memory 112 may be programmed according to the methods described herein.
  • the user interface 113 may include a mouse 1131, a keyboard 1132, a display 1133, a touch pad 1134 and a touch screen 1135.
  • Figure 2A illustrates the overlying relationship of the touch pad 1134 to the display 1133. (Typically, only one of the touch pad 1134 and touch screen 1135 will exist in one user interface.)
  • a co-processor 117 may be a signature-capture sub-system.
  • the CPU 111 may be programmed to perform the functions of the coprocessor 117a. In such cases, the CPU 111 and the co-processor 117a are integral . )
  • the provider 120 may seek to sell a product, supply content or otherwise provide a service to a user of the PC 110. Indeed, the only restriction on the entity 120 is that at some point in a transaction with the PC user, it desires that the user sign his signature.
  • a “signature” herein indicates a conventional signature, initials or other personally identifying mark.
  • Signature as used herein also indicates any token of approval: initials, check marks, etc. Indeed, in one embodiment, a “signature” may include any mark that a reviewer of a document would make on a printed version of that document. More than one such mark may be captured per document.
  • Figure IB illustrates a second electronic-signature-capture system 100B incorporating an embodiment of the invention.
  • the system 100B includes a provider 140 and the communications link 130.
  • the link 130 communicatively couples the provider 140 to any other entities connected to the link 130.
  • the provider 140 includes a data center 141. a point-of-sale (POS) transaction computer (TC) 142 and a communications link 143.
  • the link 143 communicatively couples the data center 141 and the POS TC 142.
  • the data center 141 is a computer system for performing transactions of the provider 140.
  • the data center 141 may (indirectly) control the display of the POS TC 142 during such a transaction.
  • FIG 4 illustrates the POS TC 142.
  • the POS TC 142 includes one or more of the following: a central processing unit (“CPU") 411, a memory 412, a user interface 413, a port 414, a communications interface 415, a co-processor 117b and an internal bus 416.
  • the bus 416 communicatively interconnects the CPU 411, memory 412, user interface 413, port 414, communications interface 415 and co-processor 117b.
  • the POS TC 142 may be embedded or distributed.
  • the memory 412 may include RAM 4122, as well as ROM 4121. Further, the memory 412 contains software 4123. The memory 412 may be programmed according to the methods described herein.
  • the user interface 413 may include a display 4133, a touch pad 4134 and a touch screen 4135.
  • Figure 2B illustrates the overlying relationship of the touch pad 4134 to the display 4133.
  • touch pad 1134 and touch screen 1135 will exist in one user interface.
  • a markup language may instruct a capturing device (a personal computer 110 or POS device 142) when and how to capture the signature through elements in the markup language on a specific form or HTML page.
  • the entity "SIGNATURE" tells the browser or markup-language parser where it is to create an area on the screen for a customer signature.
  • the attributes "ALIGN”, “WIDTH” and “HEIGHT” indicate the alignment on the page (center, left, right) and how wide and tall the signature area should be.
  • “MAXPOINTS” indicates the maximum number of signature points to capture, thereby limiting the amount of memory necessary for a signature.
  • "TYPE” indicates how the signature is to be stored and compressed, (“std” uses no compression and standard point-to- point array for the signature, for example).
  • VAR dictates how the signature is exposed to the capturing device through a variable that can be read via a browser or internal to the capturing device.
  • the markup language may be the extensible Markup Language) (XML), HyperText Markup Language (HTML), Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) or other similar, entity-attribute-value markup language.
  • XML extensible Markup Language
  • HTML HyperText Markup Language
  • SGML Standard Generalized Markup Language
  • Walk-throughs of typical transactions illustrate the systems 100A, 100B in situ: A person seeks to close on a residential real -estate purchase.
  • the seller, the seller's real-estate agent, the buyer's real- estate agent, the loan-company agent and all other participants - except the buyer himself - are present in an office of the escrow agent.
  • the buyer is traveling and cannot be physically present at the escrow office, but does have access to a PC 110 connected to a link 130.
  • the buyer is under a deadline (for tax, estate or other reasons) to close the purchase.
  • the deadline will pass before the buyer returns to the locale of the purchase. Accordingly, the purchaser is extremely motivated to complete the transaction without having to travel back to the locale.
  • the seller and loan company are hesitant to complete the transaction without actual signatures of the buyer. Indeed, the state law of the locale may require contemporaneous signatures for the transaction to be valid.
  • the transaction system 100A is useful.
  • the provider 120 in this case is the loan company and any other participant seeking a signature of the buyer.
  • the loan company 120 presents its contract in a markup language to the buyer via the communications link 130 and the PC 110.
  • the electronic text for the contract that the loan company prints for its customers is the markup-language source that produces the document that the buyer sees on the display 1133 of the PC 110.
  • the buyer can now read through the loan-company contract at his leisure.
  • the PC 110 is programmed to operate much as would a web browser using a markup language, the buyer can scroll up and down through the document as through any markup- language page.
  • the buyer may initial paragraphs of the document as circumstances require. He may make changes (typically minor) and initial those changes.
  • the former initials occur in spaces foreseen by the loan company 120.
  • the loan company 120 has reserved spaces 118 in the markup-language document for these foreseeable marks.
  • the latter initials occur in places not foreseen by the company 120.
  • the signature-capture subsystem 117 captures the signature in area 118.
  • the PC tracks which area 118 a given signature was signed in.
  • the PC 110 transmits the signature (and the corresponding area information, if desired) to the provider 120 by means of the communications link 130.
  • the provider 140 is the broker:
  • the broker provides a service of equity transactions on behalf of the customer.
  • the broker agent instead directs the attention of the customer to a POS TC 142 and directs a computer-system 141 of the broker 140 to direct the POS TC 142 to display the purchase contract on its display 4133.
  • the computer-system 141 sends to the POS TC 142 a markup- language document representing the purchase contract.
  • the customer views this contract on the POS TC 142.
  • the markup- language document reproduces on the POS TC 142 as nearly as is practicable the broker's preferred printed version of the contract.

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for capturing an electronic signature using a markup language. In one embodiment, the method includes disposing a touch pad above and adjacent a display, then displaying a markup-language page on the display. Simultaneously with the displaying, the method collects a signature by means of the touch pad. More particularly, the touch pad may be disposed above and adjacent the display and extend less than the display in a planar dimensions of the display, while the displaying may include displaying a markup-language page (such as an HyperText Markup Language page) on the display, reserving an area of the page for signing a signature. A portion of the reserved area may be under a portion of the touch pad. Of course, the reserved area may co-extend with the touch pad. In one embodiment, the collecting includes signing a signature in the reserved area.

Description

OBTAINING A SIGNATURE USING A MARKUP LANGUAGE
This application claims the benefit of the filing date(s) of the following earlier application(s):
U.S. Patent Application No. 60/137,575. entitled, "A Web- Enabled Point-of-Sale Device," filed June 4, 1999, naming Scott T. Allan, Timothy L. Droz, Alexander F. Frai or, Jeffrey T. Miles and J. G. Stout as inventors, with Attorney Docket No. P-68133/T0H/LM, and under obligation of assignment to ReceiptCity.com of San Jose, California; and
U.S. Patent Application No. 60/141,380, entitled, "An Electronic-Receipts Service," filed June 28, 1999, naming Llavanya Fernando and Aziz Valliani as joint inventors, with Attorney Docket No. P-68207/TOH/LM, and under obligation of assignment to ReceiptCity.com of San Jose, California.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to the following U.S. patent applications:
U.S. Patent Application No. 09/ , , entitled, "A Visual
Design Tool for Interactive Point-of-Sale Devices," filed , 2000, naming J. Greg Stout as inventor, with Attorney Docket No. A-68136/MAK/LM, and under an obligation of assignment to @P0S.C0M of San Jose, California,
each of which related applications is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND
This invention relates to the capture of electronic signatures and the security of transactions. More specifically, this invention relates to the capture of electronic signatures authorizing transactions and to the storage and retrieval of such electronic signatures as proof of the transactions.
Electronic cash registers, no-frills card-swipe electronic- funds-transfer units and signature-capture platforms dominate the approximately eight million point-of-sale (POS) locations in the United States. At these POS locations, a consumer pays presenting cash, a check, a debit or credit card, an electronic-funds transfer card (automated-teller-machine card) or a smart card.
The genesis of prior-art cash registers was, of course, the receipt of currency. The register evolved to generate a paper transaction receipt and, still later, to accept and perform the initial processing of paper checks. With the introduction of debit and credit cards, cash registers evolved still further to incorporate card readers. The card readers are integral to the main body of the cash register or are distally located closer to the customer rather than the register operator but nonetheless connected directly to the cash register. (In the latter distally located incarnations, these card readers are termed "stand besides.") Finally, registers today incorporate signature-capture mechanisms to facilitate debit and credit-card transactions.
Advances in signature-capture platforms have made such platforms popular in the industry. Not uncommonly, a consumer signs electronically to complete a credit-card transaction rather than conventionally signing a paper receipt or the even older carbon-copy receipts. As the platforms have become more popular in the sale of retail products, they have become more popular in other locations as well .
Therefore, it is desirable to place signature-capture platforms in situations not heretofore contemplated: at a kiosk, bank, leasing agency, financial broker, etc. - even in the home. The personal computer is infiltrating the home, followed closely by the internet and the world-wide web of e-commerce built upon it. Home e-commerce transactions have been limited, however, to such transactions as can be completed at conventional personal computers.
However, integrating electronic-signature capture, storage and retrieval into legacy systems can be both complex and costly. It is, therefore, also desirable to extend the usefulness of traditional POS platforms by integrating them into systems that incorporate web technologies and advanced POS-device capabilities.
Nearly catholic in merchant-consumer interactions, particularly face-to-face transactions, is the generation of a receipt to summarize and memorialize a transaction. Even where the transaction has otherwise been completely electronic (the purchase of an e-ticket on an airline's internet web site, for example) and even where the business has otherwise automated its operations, the generation of a receipt is necessary for many reasons. Receipts facilitate exchanges, returns and the resolution of disputed charges, for example.
With receipts generated for the vast majority of transactions, the presence of so many receipts may be counterproductive. The costs to process, store and retrieve these receipts in a timely manner can force a merchant to adopt policies under which it accepts losses rather than disputes a charge or return.
For example and not atypically, when a customer disputes a credit transaction with his bank, the bank submits a formal transaction- dispute record on paper to the subject merchant. At some appreciably later time, the merchant then faxes to the bank a copy of the paper transaction receipt that the merchant maintains. The delay can frustrate the customer, and the on-again, off-again nature of the transaction investigation is inefficient for the bank.
Accordingly, it is desirable to achieve both of the seemingly conflicting goals of reducing customer-service costs, on the one hand, and improving the quality of service to the consumer, on the other hand.
It is desirable to severely reduce or even eliminate altogether the costs associated with paper receipts (including labor, storage, retrieval, transaction disputes and charge back) while nonetheless providing relatively immediate access to the information contained on such paper receipts.
These and other goals of the invention will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art on reading the background above and the description below.
SUMMARY
Herein are described methods and apparatus for capturing an electronic signature using a markup language. In one embodiment, the method includes disposing a touch pad above and adjacent a display, then displaying a markup-language page on the display. Simultaneously with the displaying, the method collects a signature by means of the touch pad.
More particularly, the touch pad may be disposed above and adjacent the display and extend less than the display in one of the planar dimensions of the display, while the displaying may include displaying a markup-language page (such as a HyperText Markup Language or extensible Markup Language page) on the display, reserving an area of the page for signing a signature. A portion of the reserved area may be under a portion of the touch pad. Of course, the reserved area may co- extend with the touch pad.
In one embodiment, the collecting includes signing a signature in the reserved area. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figures 1A and IB illustrate first and second electronic- signature-capture systems incorporating first and second embodiments of the invention.
Figures 2A and 2B illustrate the overlying relationship of the touch pad of the electronic-signature-capture systems of Figures 1A and IB to their respective displays.
Figure 3 illustrates the personal computer (PC) of Figure 1.
Figure 4 illustrates the POS TC 142 of Figure IB.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS ARCHITECTURE
Figure 1A illustrates a first electronic-signature-capture system 100A incorporating one embodiment of the invention. The system 100A includes a personal computer 110, a provider 120 and a communications link 130. The link 130 communicatively couples the personal computer 110 and the provider 120 to each other and to any other entities connected to the link 130.
Figure 3 illustrates the personal computer (PC) 110 incorporating an embodiment of the invention. The PC 110 includes one or more of the following: a central processing unit ("CPU") 111, a memory 112, a user interface 113, a port 114, a communications interface 115, a co-processor 117a and an internal bus 116. The bus 116 communicatively interconnects the CPU 111, memory 112, user interface 113, port 114, communications interface 115 and co-processor 117a.
(Of course, in an embedded system, some of these components may be missing, as is well understood in the art of embedded systems. In a distributed computing environment, some of these components may be on separate physical machines, as is well understood in the art of distributed computing.) The memory 112 includes high-speed, volatile random-access memory (RAM) 1122, as well as non-volatile memory such as read-only memory (ROM) 1121 and magnetic disk drives. Further, the memory 112 contains software 1123. The software 1123 is layered: Application software 11231 communicates with the operating system 11232, and the operating system 11232 communicates with the I/O subsystem 11233. The I/O subsystem 11233 communicates with the CPU 111, user interface 113, the communications interface 115 and the co-processor 117a by means of the communications bus 116.
The memory 112 may be programmed according to the methods described herein.
The user interface 113 may include a mouse 1131, a keyboard 1132, a display 1133, a touch pad 1134 and a touch screen 1135. Figure 2A illustrates the overlying relationship of the touch pad 1134 to the display 1133. (Typically, only one of the touch pad 1134 and touch screen 1135 will exist in one user interface.)
A co-processor 117 may be a signature-capture sub-system. (The CPU 111 may be programmed to perform the functions of the coprocessor 117a. In such cases, the CPU 111 and the co-processor 117a are integral . )
The provider 120 may seek to sell a product, supply content or otherwise provide a service to a user of the PC 110. Indeed, the only restriction on the entity 120 is that at some point in a transaction with the PC user, it desires that the user sign his signature.
(A "signature" herein indicates a conventional signature, initials or other personally identifying mark. "Signature" as used herein also indicates any token of approval: initials, check marks, etc. Indeed, in one embodiment, a "signature" may include any mark that a reviewer of a document would make on a printed version of that document. More than one such mark may be captured per document.)
Figure IB illustrates a second electronic-signature-capture system 100B incorporating an embodiment of the invention. The system 100B includes a provider 140 and the communications link 130. The link 130 communicatively couples the provider 140 to any other entities connected to the link 130.
The provider 140 includes a data center 141. a point-of-sale (POS) transaction computer (TC) 142 and a communications link 143. The link 143 communicatively couples the data center 141 and the POS TC 142.
The data center 141 is a computer system for performing transactions of the provider 140. The data center 141 may (indirectly) control the display of the POS TC 142 during such a transaction.
Figure 4 illustrates the POS TC 142. The POS TC 142 includes one or more of the following: a central processing unit ("CPU") 411, a memory 412, a user interface 413, a port 414, a communications interface 415, a co-processor 117b and an internal bus 416. The bus 416 communicatively interconnects the CPU 411, memory 412, user interface 413, port 414, communications interface 415 and co-processor 117b. (The POS TC 142 may be embedded or distributed.)
The memory 412 may include RAM 4122, as well as ROM 4121. Further, the memory 412 contains software 4123. The memory 412 may be programmed according to the methods described herein.
The user interface 413 may include a display 4133, a touch pad 4134 and a touch screen 4135. Figure 2B illustrates the overlying relationship of the touch pad 4134 to the display 4133.
(Typically, only one of the touch pad 1134 and touch screen 1135 will exist in one user interface.)
A markup language may instruct a capturing device (a personal computer 110 or POS device 142) when and how to capture the signature through elements in the markup language on a specific form or HTML page. The markup language may use the following example entities to dictate how the capturing device is to obtain a signature: SIGNATURE ALIGN="CENTER" WIDTH="220" HEIGHT="80" MAXPOINTS="2000" TYPE="std" VAR="SIG"/>
(Either XML or HTML can use the above example.)
The entity "SIGNATURE" tells the browser or markup-language parser where it is to create an area on the screen for a customer signature.
The attributes "ALIGN", "WIDTH" and "HEIGHT" indicate the alignment on the page (center, left, right) and how wide and tall the signature area should be. "MAXPOINTS" indicates the maximum number of signature points to capture, thereby limiting the amount of memory necessary for a signature. "TYPE" indicates how the signature is to be stored and compressed, ("std" uses no compression and standard point-to- point array for the signature, for example).
The attribute "VAR" dictates how the signature is exposed to the capturing device through a variable that can be read via a browser or internal to the capturing device.
The markup language may be the extensible Markup Language) (XML), HyperText Markup Language (HTML), Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) or other similar, entity-attribute-value markup language.
EXPANDED ILLUSTRATION
Walk-throughs of typical transactions illustrate the systems 100A, 100B in situ: A person seeks to close on a residential real -estate purchase. The seller, the seller's real-estate agent, the buyer's real- estate agent, the loan-company agent and all other participants - except the buyer himself - are present in an office of the escrow agent. The buyer is traveling and cannot be physically present at the escrow office, but does have access to a PC 110 connected to a link 130.
The buyer is under a deadline (for tax, estate or other reasons) to close the purchase. The deadline will pass before the buyer returns to the locale of the purchase. Accordingly, the purchaser is extremely motivated to complete the transaction without having to travel back to the locale. On the other hand, the seller and loan company are hesitant to complete the transaction without actual signatures of the buyer. Indeed, the state law of the locale may require contemporaneous signatures for the transaction to be valid.
In this scenario, the transaction system 100A is useful. The provider 120 in this case is the loan company and any other participant seeking a signature of the buyer.
The loan company 120 presents its contract in a markup language to the buyer via the communications link 130 and the PC 110. In the preferred embodiment, the electronic text for the contract that the loan company prints for its customers is the markup-language source that produces the document that the buyer sees on the display 1133 of the PC 110.
Now, sitting before the PC 110 in a locale remote from the other participants in the transaction, the buyer can now read through the loan-company contract at his leisure. Where the PC 110 is programmed to operate much as would a web browser using a markup language, the buyer can scroll up and down through the document as through any markup- language page.
However, he can now also sign by hand as required, using the touch pad 1134. As illustrated in Figure 1A, he can sign the contract at the usual place 118 where borrowers sign the loan company's document.
Indeed, while scrolling through the document, the buyer may initial paragraphs of the document as circumstances require. He may make changes (typically minor) and initial those changes. The former initials occur in spaces foreseen by the loan company 120. The loan company 120 has reserved spaces 118 in the markup-language document for these foreseeable marks. The latter initials occur in places not foreseen by the company 120.
The signature-capture subsystem 117 captures the signature in area 118. The PC tracks which area 118 a given signature was signed in. The PC 110 transmits the signature (and the corresponding area information, if desired) to the provider 120 by means of the communications link 130.
Accordingly, the apparently conflicting goals of the buyer, on the one hand, and the loan-company, the seller and the state, on the other hand, have all been satisfied using the invention described herein.
In a second scenario, let's say a customer of an equities broker wants to purchase stock for his account. Visiting the broker's office, he speaks with the broker agent familiar with his account and decides to purchase 200 shares of Cisco Systems at the market. (The asking price is $200.00 U.S. dollars.)
In this scenario, the provider 140 is the broker: The broker provides a service of equity transactions on behalf of the customer.
Instead of printing a long contract at the end of which the customer signs to verify the order, the broker agent instead directs the attention of the customer to a POS TC 142 and directs a computer-system 141 of the broker 140 to direct the POS TC 142 to display the purchase contract on its display 4133.
The computer-system 141 sends to the POS TC 142 a markup- language document representing the purchase contract. The customer views this contract on the POS TC 142. In a preferred embodiment, the markup- language document reproduces on the POS TC 142 as nearly as is practicable the broker's preferred printed version of the contract.
Indeed, the invention now being fully described, many changes and modifications that can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the addition of a video camera to the PC 110, perhaps even with a video-recording machine, may further insure the credibility of the electronic signature captured. (The recording machine may be at the location of the PC 110 or the provider 120. In the latter case, the video images captured by the recorder are also transmitted via the communications link 130.)
This specification incorporates by reference all publications and patent applications mentioned herein, to the same extent if the specification had specifically and individually incorporated by reference each such individual publication or patent application.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A method for capturing an electronic signature, the method comprising: disposing a touch pad above and adjacent a display; displaying a markup-language page on the display; and simultaneously with the displaying, collecting a signature by means of the touch pad.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of disposing comprises disposing a touch pad above and adjacent the display and extending less than the display in a planar dimensions of the display.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying a HyperText Markup Language page on the display.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying an extensible Markup Language page on the display.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying a markup-language page on the display, the page reserving an area of the page for signing a signature.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein a portion of the reserved area is under a portion of the touch pad.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the reserved area co- extends with the touch pad.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of disposing comprises disposing a touch pad above and adjacent the display and extending less than the display in a planar dimensions of the display and wherein the reserved area co-extends with the touch pad.
9. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of collecting comprises signing a signature in the reserved area.
10. A method for capturing an electronic signature, the method comprising: disposing a touch pad above and adjacent a display and extending less than the display in a planar dimensions of the display; displaying a markup-language page on the display, the page reserving an area of the page for signing a signature; and simultaneously with the displaying, collecting a signature by means of the touch pad, including signing a signature in the area of the page, wherein a portion of the reserved area is under a portion of the touch pad.
11. A computer-readable medium for data storage wherein is located a computer program for causing a computer system having a touch pad disposed above and adjacent a display to capture an electronic signature by displ aying a markup-l anguage page on the display; and simultaneously with the displ aying, col lecting a signature by means of the touch pad.
12. The medium of cl aim 11 wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying a HyperText Markup Language page on the display.
13. The medium of claim 11 wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying a markup-language page on the display, the page reserving an area of the page for signing a signature.
14. A computer-readable medium for data storage wherein is located a computer program for causing a computer system having a touch pad disposed above and adjacent a display and extending less than the display in a planar dimensions of the display to capture an electronic signature by displaying a markup-language page on the display, the page reserving an area of the page for signing a signature; and simultaneously with the displaying, collecting a signature by means of the touch pad, including signing a signature in the area of the page, wherein a portion of the reserved area is under a portion of the touch pad.
15. A computer system comprising: a display; a touch pad, disposed above and adjacent the display; the medium of claim 11; a CPU for executing the computer program in the medium: and at least one bus, communicatively coupling the display, touch pad, medium and CPU.
PCT/US2000/015195 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 Obtaining a signature using a markup language WO2000075879A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13757599P 1999-06-04 1999-06-04
US60/137,575 1999-06-04
US14138099P 1999-06-28 1999-06-28
US60/141,380 1999-06-28
US48088300A 2000-01-10 2000-01-10
US09/480,883 2000-01-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000075879A1 true WO2000075879A1 (en) 2000-12-14

Family

ID=27385040

Family Applications (7)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2000/015371 WO2000075835A2 (en) 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 A secure internet vault for consumer receipts, legal documents and commerce
PCT/US2000/015257 WO2000075855A2 (en) 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 System for consumer-transaction information that follows the consumer
PCT/US2000/015363 WO2000075890A1 (en) 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 Displaying color advertisements on point-of-sales/service (pos) platforms
PCT/US2000/015195 WO2000075879A1 (en) 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 Obtaining a signature using a markup language
PCT/US2000/015369 WO2000079496A2 (en) 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 A point-of-sale/service (pos) portal
PCT/US2000/015365 WO2000079493A1 (en) 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 A visual design tool for interactive sale devices
PCT/US2000/015368 WO2000075834A2 (en) 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 An electronic-receipts service

Family Applications Before (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2000/015371 WO2000075835A2 (en) 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 A secure internet vault for consumer receipts, legal documents and commerce
PCT/US2000/015257 WO2000075855A2 (en) 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 System for consumer-transaction information that follows the consumer
PCT/US2000/015363 WO2000075890A1 (en) 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 Displaying color advertisements on point-of-sales/service (pos) platforms

Family Applications After (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2000/015369 WO2000079496A2 (en) 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 A point-of-sale/service (pos) portal
PCT/US2000/015365 WO2000079493A1 (en) 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 A visual design tool for interactive sale devices
PCT/US2000/015368 WO2000075834A2 (en) 1999-06-04 2000-06-02 An electronic-receipts service

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1185945A2 (en)
WO (7) WO2000075835A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (34)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6694300B1 (en) * 1997-03-21 2004-02-17 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for providing supplementary product sales to a customer at a customer terminal
US6397194B1 (en) * 1995-05-08 2002-05-28 Image Data, Llc Receipt scanning system and method
US7236942B1 (en) 1997-12-19 2007-06-26 Walker Digital, Llc Pre-sale data broadcast system and method
GB2358723A (en) * 1999-09-09 2001-08-01 Ibm Creating and managing Electronic receipts
US7058592B1 (en) * 1999-11-29 2006-06-06 Microsoft Corporation Transmission of information during ad click-through
US7742989B2 (en) 2000-02-03 2010-06-22 Afterbot, Inc. Digital receipt generation from information electronically read from product
EP1256073A4 (en) * 2000-02-03 2006-06-14 Afterbot Inc Electronic transaction receipt system and method
US7552087B2 (en) 2000-02-03 2009-06-23 Afterbot, Inc. Electronic transaction receipt system and method
NO314866B1 (en) 2000-05-08 2003-06-02 Ericsson Telefon Ab L M Mobile receipt system
US7694332B2 (en) 2000-07-28 2010-04-06 Verisign, Inc. Digital receipt for a transaction
KR20020037188A (en) * 2000-11-13 2002-05-18 서재선 Apparatus and method for receipting and endorsing of electronic receipt
KR20020064469A (en) * 2001-02-01 2002-08-09 (주)한국전자증명원 Transaction Protect Service Offering Method of Public Key Infrastructure Through Internet and System Thereof
US7035813B1 (en) * 2001-02-15 2006-04-25 Sprint Communications Company L.P. Product registration using a code processing system
US20030028485A1 (en) * 2001-06-27 2003-02-06 Huberman Bernando A. System and method for providing convenient global access to and storage of personal and business information
KR20030045881A (en) * 2001-12-03 2003-06-12 스타브리지커뮤니케이션 주식회사 Method for issuing electronic receipt by dealing of credit card and method for providing search service of dealing list
AU2002358457A1 (en) * 2001-12-10 2003-06-23 Beamtrust A/S Method of managing lists of purchased goods
US20030120607A1 (en) * 2001-12-20 2003-06-26 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. E-receipt verification system and method
AUPS331202A0 (en) * 2002-06-28 2002-07-25 Intellect Holdings Limited A method for transacting a trade electronically, and a system therefor
US20040064373A1 (en) * 2002-09-30 2004-04-01 Shannon Robert W. J. Point of sale receipt service
WO2005050407A2 (en) * 2003-11-17 2005-06-02 International Outsourcing Services, Llc Systems and methods for credit card charge validation over a network
WO2006110605A2 (en) * 2005-04-08 2006-10-19 American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. System and method for merchant acquisition data capture
DE102005052700A1 (en) * 2005-04-18 2006-11-02 NIEDERHAGEBÖCK, Guilherme Apparatus and methods for generating user-related documents
GB2439966A (en) * 2006-07-07 2008-01-16 Comtech Holdings Ltd Product alarm
US8024267B2 (en) * 2007-09-14 2011-09-20 Ebay Inc. Centralized transaction record storage
US8909620B2 (en) 2012-10-02 2014-12-09 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Searching digital receipts at a mobile device
US9330382B2 (en) 2013-01-31 2016-05-03 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Method to facilitate an in-store audit after issuance of an electronic receipt
US10417387B2 (en) 2016-01-28 2019-09-17 Walmart Apollo, Llc System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for mobile check-in in retail store
US10762985B2 (en) 2016-01-28 2020-09-01 Walmart Apollo, Llc System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for generating accounts for use in computer systems
US10445471B2 (en) 2016-01-28 2019-10-15 Walmart Apollo, Llc System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for mobile check-out in retail store
US10445473B2 (en) 2016-01-28 2019-10-15 Walmart Apollo, Llc System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for evaluating search engine results and displaying a virtual pill case
US10621645B2 (en) 2016-01-28 2020-04-14 Walmart Apollo, Llc System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for endless aisle of products in retail store
US10417231B2 (en) 2016-06-28 2019-09-17 Walmart Apollo, Llc System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for locating a receipt for a product
SG11201906547XA (en) * 2017-01-13 2019-08-27 Jpmorgan Chase Bank Na Systems and methods for management of asset or obligation-backed virtual receipts on a distributed system
US11562060B2 (en) 2020-10-01 2023-01-24 Conveyance Media Group LLC Secure private portable vault container

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0602614A1 (en) * 1992-12-15 1994-06-22 Hitachi, Ltd. Automatic transaction apparatus
US5408077A (en) * 1992-07-16 1995-04-18 Telxon Corporation Portable point of sale terminal
US5537315A (en) * 1994-03-23 1996-07-16 Mitcham; Martin K. Method and apparatus for issuing insurance from kiosk
DE19646733A1 (en) * 1996-11-13 1998-05-14 Rene Baltus Signature writing surface for signature checking device
EP0858052A1 (en) * 1996-07-26 1998-08-12 Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot Signature input device and signature collation system
US5818955A (en) * 1994-08-31 1998-10-06 Penop Limited Document and signature verification system and method
WO1999013421A2 (en) * 1997-09-09 1999-03-18 Microsoft Corporation Consumer-based system and method for managing and paying electronic billing statements

Family Cites Families (37)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0082225B1 (en) * 1981-12-23 1987-05-06 International Business Machines Corporation Business system
US4882675A (en) 1984-11-26 1989-11-21 Steven Nichtberger Paperless system for distributing, redeeming and clearing merchandise coupons
JPS62226271A (en) * 1986-03-27 1987-10-05 Tokyo Electric Co Ltd Automatic switching device for pos loop
US4884199A (en) * 1987-03-02 1989-11-28 International Business Macines Corporation User transaction guidance
US5235509A (en) * 1989-06-28 1993-08-10 Management Information Support, Inc. Customer self-ordering system using information displayed on a screen
JPH03223958A (en) * 1990-01-29 1991-10-02 Hitachi Ltd Transaction inquiring method
WO1994009458A1 (en) * 1992-10-13 1994-04-28 Gilbarco Inc. An apparatus and method for displaying video information
US5590038A (en) * 1994-06-20 1996-12-31 Pitroda; Satyan G. Universal electronic transaction card including receipt storage and system and methods of conducting electronic transactions
US5732400A (en) * 1995-01-04 1998-03-24 Citibank N.A. System and method for a risk-based purchase of goods
US5696909A (en) * 1995-01-27 1997-12-09 Hypercom, Inc. Virtual POS terminal
GB9502819D0 (en) * 1995-02-14 1995-04-05 At & T Global Inf Solution Control systems
JPH08279078A (en) * 1995-04-06 1996-10-22 Fujitsu Ltd Purchase data display method and article registration system
GB9520463D0 (en) * 1995-10-06 1995-12-06 Green Graham M Color-categorized POS station clerk performance evaluation systems and methods
US5764226A (en) * 1995-12-29 1998-06-09 International Business Machine Corp. Reusable and modifiable data entry interface part
JPH09237298A (en) * 1996-02-29 1997-09-09 Hitachi Ltd Electronic currency settlement system
GB2313276B (en) * 1996-05-14 2001-05-02 Fujitsu Ltd Panel displaying method of order receiving pos terminal and order receiving pos terminal
US5739512A (en) * 1996-05-30 1998-04-14 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Digital delivery of receipts
US5915022A (en) * 1996-05-30 1999-06-22 Robinson; Rodney Aaron Method and apparatus for creating and using an encrypted digital receipt for electronic transactions
EP0935785A2 (en) * 1996-06-17 1999-08-18 Verifone, Inc. A system, method and article of manufacture for managing transactions in a high availability system
US5889863A (en) * 1996-06-17 1999-03-30 Verifone, Inc. System, method and article of manufacture for remote virtual point of sale processing utilizing a multichannel, extensible, flexible architecture
US6002395A (en) * 1996-10-31 1999-12-14 Ncr Corporation System and method for building, testing and integrating a graphical touch user interface
WO1998028699A1 (en) * 1996-12-24 1998-07-02 Meridian Enterprises, Inc. System and method for administration of an incentive award program through use of credit
US6490567B1 (en) * 1997-01-15 2002-12-03 At&T Corp. System and method for distributed content electronic commerce
IES73865B2 (en) * 1997-03-19 1997-07-02 Trintech Ltd A point-of-sale transaction processing system
JPH10275191A (en) * 1997-03-31 1998-10-13 Hitachi Ltd Electronic transaction system
TW432305B (en) * 1997-03-31 2001-05-01 Hitachi Ltd Electronic commerce transaction system
US6193152B1 (en) 1997-05-09 2001-02-27 Receiptcity.Com, Inc. Modular signature and data-capture system and point of transaction payment and reward system
JP2001502096A (en) * 1997-07-15 2001-02-13 コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エレクトロニクス エヌ ヴィ Methods and systems for designing graphical user interfaces for electronic consumer devices
US5899980A (en) * 1997-08-11 1999-05-04 Trivnet Ltd. Retail method over a wide area network
WO1999013424A1 (en) * 1997-09-12 1999-03-18 Amazon.Com, Inc. Method and system for placing a purchase order via a communications network
US5883810A (en) * 1997-09-24 1999-03-16 Microsoft Corporation Electronic online commerce card with transactionproxy number for online transactions
WO1999022327A1 (en) 1997-10-24 1999-05-06 Penware, Inc. Method and system for automated electronic receipt of transactions
BR9815131A (en) * 1997-12-02 2005-05-31 Cash Technologies Inc Automated transaction network, automated transaction terminal, and process for transacting with one of several service providers from an automated transaction terminal
WO1999066446A1 (en) * 1998-06-19 1999-12-23 Walker Digital, Llc Billing statement customer acquisition system
JP2000036000A (en) * 1998-06-30 2000-02-02 Sun Microsyst Inc Neutral observer in electronic commercial transaction
AU3889800A (en) * 1999-03-15 2000-10-04 Netpliance, Inc. Dedicated internet access device and method for use
WO2000067218A1 (en) * 1999-05-03 2000-11-09 The Chase Manhattan Bank System and method for effectuating electronic payments

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5408077A (en) * 1992-07-16 1995-04-18 Telxon Corporation Portable point of sale terminal
EP0602614A1 (en) * 1992-12-15 1994-06-22 Hitachi, Ltd. Automatic transaction apparatus
US5537315A (en) * 1994-03-23 1996-07-16 Mitcham; Martin K. Method and apparatus for issuing insurance from kiosk
US5818955A (en) * 1994-08-31 1998-10-06 Penop Limited Document and signature verification system and method
EP0858052A1 (en) * 1996-07-26 1998-08-12 Kabushiki Kaisha Pilot Signature input device and signature collation system
DE19646733A1 (en) * 1996-11-13 1998-05-14 Rene Baltus Signature writing surface for signature checking device
WO1999013421A2 (en) * 1997-09-09 1999-03-18 Microsoft Corporation Consumer-based system and method for managing and paying electronic billing statements

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2000079493A1 (en) 2000-12-28
WO2000075855A2 (en) 2000-12-14
WO2000075834A3 (en) 2001-05-25
WO2000075834A2 (en) 2000-12-14
WO2000075835A2 (en) 2000-12-14
WO2000075835A3 (en) 2001-05-03
WO2000079496A3 (en) 2001-02-15
WO2000079496A2 (en) 2000-12-28
EP1185945A2 (en) 2002-03-13
WO2000075890A1 (en) 2000-12-14
WO2000075855A3 (en) 2001-06-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2000075879A1 (en) Obtaining a signature using a markup language
US20210398076A1 (en) Healthcare debit card linked to healthcare-related and non-healthcare-related financial accounts
US6678664B1 (en) Cashless transactions without credit cards, debit cards or checks
US20070061255A1 (en) Point of Sale Credit System
US20050283436A1 (en) Point of sale purchase system
US20040064373A1 (en) Point of sale receipt service
EP1049056A2 (en) Electronic bill presentment and/or payment clearinghouse
US20040193538A1 (en) Receipt processing system and method
AU2007295102B2 (en) A method and system for managing purchase transactions between a customer and a merchant
US20070288370A1 (en) Proprietary point of purchase resource system
US8146805B1 (en) Systems and methods for depositing cash into deposit account
US7865433B2 (en) Point of sale purchase system
US20030229539A1 (en) Rebate issuance system and methods
US8301469B1 (en) Mortgage insurance system
US20040112952A1 (en) Credit card account payment systems and methods
US20060074757A1 (en) Method and system for expediting coupon and rebate processing resulting in improving a user's credit rating
WO2000057330A1 (en) Financial payment method and medium
US20150262293A1 (en) Credit services organization transactions
CA2535837A1 (en) Point of sale purchase system
JP2022101256A (en) Unsecured funding system using savings passbook
Bingham Jr Deposit Guaranty pioneers automated loan machines

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): CA JP

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP