Digital verified identification system and method | Patent Number 09054860
US 09054860 B1A digital verified identification system and method are presented for verifying and/or authenticating the identification of an entity associated with an electronic file, such as, for example the digital signatory thereof. In particular, the system and method include a module generating assembly structured to receive at least one verification data element, and at least one digital identification module structured to be associated with at least one entity. The digital identification module is capable of being disposed or embedded within at least one electronic file. Further, the digital identification module includes at least one primary component structured to at least partially associate the digital identification module with the entity, and one or more metadata components.
- 1. A digital verified identification system, comprisingnat least one digital identification module structured to be associated with at least one entity,a module generating assembly structured to receive at least one verification data element corresponding to the at least one entity and create said at least one digital identification module,said at least one digital identification module being disposable within at least one electronic file, andsaid at least one digital identification module comprising at least one primary component structured to at least partially associate said digital identification module with said at least one entity, whereinsaid at least one digital identification module is cooperatively structured to be embedded within only a single electronic file.
- 23. A digital verified identification system, comprising:na module generating assembly structured to receive at least one verification data element corresponding to at least one entity and create at least one digital identification module, wherein said at least one digital identification module is structured to be associated with said at least one entity,said at least one digital identification module further structured to be embedded within at least one electronic file,said at least one digital identification module comprising at least one primary component structured to at least partially associate said at least one digital identification module with said at least one entity, wherein said at least one primary component includes a digital signature, whereinsaid at least one digital identification module is cooperatively structured to be embedded within only a single electronic file.
- 26. A method of digital identification verification, comprising:nreceiving at least one verification data element from an entity,creating at least one digital identification module corresponding to the entity, wherein the digital identification module includes at least one primary component at least partially associated with the entity, andembedding the at least one digital identification module within an electronic file, whereinsaid at least one digital identification module is cooperatively structured to be embedded within only a single electronic file.
- 39. A method of verifying the identification of an entity associated with an electronic file, comprising:nreceiving at least one verification data element from the entity,creating at least one digital identification module corresponding to the entity by at least partially combining a primary component with at least one metadata component, wherein the primary component includes a digital signature, andembedding the at least one digital identification module within the electronic file, whereinsaid at least one digital identification module is cooperatively structured to be embedded within only a single electronic file.
1. Field of the Invention
The present specification is generally directed to a digital verified identification system and method having at least one digital identification module structured to be embedded or otherwise disposed within one or more electronic files.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, contracts, letters, messages, notes, and/or other hard copies of papers or documents may be physically signed, for example, with a pen or other writing utensil, by one or more entities to identify the provenance of the document and/or otherwise associate the document with the respective entity. In addition, often times a notary public or other witness is used or required assist in the verification or authentication of the identity of the signatory of the document. With the advent of computers and the proliferation of the World Wide Web, however, many people and/or entities tend to conduct business or otherwise communicate electronically. As a result, various methods of associating an electronic file or document with one or more entities, or otherwise including electronic signatures on the electronic file or document, have been developed. For example, at least one common method of electronically signing a document includes placing a forward or backward slash prior to and/or following the signatory's typed name. Accordingly, an individual named John Doe might electronically sign a document by placing “/John Doe/†on a signature line that is typically at or near the end of the document. These various electronic signatures or identifiers, however, are rather difficult to authenticate, and as such, it has become an arduous, if not impossible task to verify and/or authenticate the identity of the signatory to a respectable degree.
Accordingly, there is a current need in the art for a digital verified identification system structured to facilitate authenticating and/or verifying the identity of an electronic signatory to a file and/or otherwise structured to associate an electronic file with one or more entities. As such, it would be beneficial to provide a system having one or more digital identification modules structured to be embedded or otherwise disposed within at least one electronic file or document. In particular, it would be advantageous if the digital identification module is created or otherwise generated by a module generating assembly utilizing at least one verification data element corresponding to the one or more entities, such as, for example, a signatory of the electronic file.
It addition, it would be particularly beneficial to provide a digital verified identification system wherein the one or more digital identification modules include at least one primary component and at least one metadata component having, for example, various identifying information and/or reference codes and/or numbers. In particular, the primary component may include the signature or other identifying indicia of the respective signatory. Additionally, the metadata component(s) may include, for example, a module or entity reference code and/or number, the signatory's name, the date/time, or other data corresponding to the signatory and/or the signatory's digital identification module.
The present specification is directed to a digital verified identification system and method including a module generating assembly structured to create at least one digital identification module, wherein the digital identification module is structured to be embedded or otherwise disposed within one or more electronic files. Moreover, an entity, such as a signatory of an electronic document, may communicate at least one verification data element to the module generating assembly prior to creating the digital identification module. The verification data element(s) may include any indicia or data structured to facilitate the verification or identification of the corresponding entity. For example, the verification data element(s) may include a username and/or password, date of birth, social security number, driver's license number, credit card number, etc.
Additionally, in at least one embodiment, the digital identification module includes a file or object that may be imported into a computer application to facilitate embedding or otherwise disposing the digital identification module into an electronic file, such as, for example a word processing document. In at least one embodiment, however, the module generating assembly is at least partially integrated within the computer application, e.g., an interactive word processing program, such that the digital identification module created therefrom may be directly embedded within the electronic file rather than first being imported into the computer application.
Furthermore, the digital identification module of at least one embodiment includes at least one primary component and at least one metadata component. The primary component may include, for example, a digital representation of a signature and/or one or more reference codes, numbers, or characters, the significance of which will be apparent from the discussion below. The primary component is generally visible or perceptible to a reader, recipient, or other user of the electronic document. In addition, the metadata components may be representative of the one or more of the verification data elements, or other data corresponding to the digital identification module and/or entity, including the date and time, location of the entity, etc.
A reader, recipient, or other user of the electronic document may access some or all of the metadata components of the digital identification module, for example, by activating the module. Specifically, the user may hover a mouse or other pointing device thereon, or click on the digital identification module via the mouse or pointing device. In addition, a user may communicate the one or more reference codes, which may be part of the primary component(s) and/or the metadata component(s), to a third party to access some or all of the metadata components.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more clear when the drawings as well as the detailed description are taken into consideration.
For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
As shown in the accompanying drawings, and in particular
Furthermore, at least one embodiment of the system 10 of the present specification includes a module generating assembly 50 structured to receive at least one verification data element 52 corresponding to the at least one entity 30. In addition, the module generating assembly 50 is further structured to create or otherwise generate the digital identification module 20 of the various embodiments of the present system 10. More in particular,
Additionally, in at least one embodiment of the module generating assembly 50, as illustrated in
As mentioned above, the module generating assembly 50 of the various embodiments of the system 10 is structured to create at least one digital identification module 20. In particular, assuming an entity 30 has already logged into the module generating assembly 50 or otherwise communicated at least one verification data element 52 thereto, in at least one embodiment of the present system 10, the particular electronic file 40 in which the module 20 will be embedded or disposed, may be specified or pre-selected, as shown at reference numeral 40′ in
Additionally, in at least one embodiment of the present system 10, the digital identification module 20 is structured to be disposed in an inactive state upon manipulating the content(s) 42 of the electronic file 40 subsequent to embedding the digital identification module 20 therein. In particular, if the content(s) 42 of the electronic file 40 are manipulated, deleted, changed, or added to subsequent to embedding or otherwise disposing the digital identification module 20 therein, the digital identification module 20 may be automatically deleted or removed from the electronic file 40. In addition, the digital identification module 20 may be crossed out, or automatically stamped “void†, for example.
Moreover, in at least one embodiment of the present system 10, once the digital identification module 20 is embedded or otherwise disposed within the electronic file 40, a user or recipient of the file 40 cannot delete or remove the digital identification module 20 therefrom. In addition, should an electronic copy of the electronic file 40 be made subsequent to embedding or otherwise disposing a digital identification module 20 therein, the copy of the electronic file 40 may also include a copy of the digital identification module 20 embedded therein.
Furthermore, as illustrated in
In yet another embodiment, however, as shown in
In addition, and as illustrated in
It is also contemplated that the electronic file 40 may include a document, form, or other file disposed on the World Wide Web. In such an embodiment, the digital identification module 20 may be uploaded to the particular web server, web site, or other form or document on the World Wide Web so as to associate the particular file with the respective entity 30. Of course if the digital identification module 20 is created via a web site, the module 20 may not need to be uploaded in certain circumstances.
It should be apparent that the module generating assembly 50 of the various embodiments of the present system 10 may include one or more devices or mechanisms structured to facilitate the practice of the present system 10 in the intended manner. For example, as illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
Moreover, as above, at least one embodiment of the present system 10 further includes one or more corresponding metadata components 24. In particular, the corresponding metadata components 24 are structured to correspond to, for example, the entity 30, the respective digital identification module 20, the entity's computer, the one or more verification data elements 52, etc. Accordingly, in at least one embodiment, the metadata component(s) 24 include, but are in no way limited to the date and time the digital identification module 20 was created, the computer or device the digital identification module 20 or electronic file 40 was created on, the computer or device that embedded the digital identification module 20 into the electronic file 40, GPS location of the entity 30 or computer/device that created or embedded the file 40, the country, zip code, state, city or other information pertaining to the location of the entity 30, the location of the computer or device that embedded the digital identification module 20 into the electronic file 40, tracing information to the computer that created or embedded the module 20, notes, etc. In particular, the metadata component(s) 24 may include a graphical representation of a digital signature, and as such, may include, for example, a JPEG, BMP, PNG, or GIF file. Additionally, the metadata component(s) 24 may include computer identification numbers or characters corresponding to the computer in which the digital identification module 20 was created, initiated, or otherwise institutes, such as the entity's 30 computer. As such, the metadata component(s) 24 may include, for example, a computer's Media Access Control (“MAC†) address or other identification numbers, characters, or data.
Furthermore, in at least one embodiment, the metadata component(s) 24 may include a unique module reference code or number corresponding to the digital identification module 20, or a unique entity reference code or number corresponding to the entity 30. Accordingly, once an individual, such as the recipient of the electronic file 40, has knowledge of or access to the module or entity reference codes, it is contemplated that the reference codes may be communicated to the module generating assembly 50, or other third party, such as, for example a web site, and gather more information about the entity 30 or the particular digital identification module 20. For example, the third party may have information to verify the entity 30 or signatory, or otherwise provide some or all of the metadata components 24 either corresponding to the entity 30, the respective digital identification module 20, or both.
In addition, the digital identification module 20 of at least one embodiment may be structured to display, show, or reveal some or all of the corresponding metadata components 24, such as, for example, upon the occurrence of one or more predetermined events, including, but not limited to, a mouse over or clicking event. Accordingly, as illustrated in
Moreover, the identification of the entity 30 with which the electronic file 40 is associated may be verified by the module generating assembly 50. For example, as above, the verification data element(s) 52 may include, for example, identification information such as a name, address, and credit card number. Accordingly, the module generating assembly 50 may, in at least one embodiment, contact the corresponding financial institution for verifying that the verification data element(s) 52 indeed corresponds to the entity 30 prior to generating the digital identification module 20. On the other hand, at least one embodiment of the present system 10 is structured to provide metadata components 24 to the user or recipient of the electronic file 40 such that the user or recipient can verify the identity of the respective entity 30 associated with the electronic file 40.
In addition, and as illustrated in
Furthermore, still referring to
Moreover, the various embodiments of the method 100 of the present specification include embedding the at least one digital identification module within the electronic file, represented as 106 in
Once the digital identification module is embedded within the electronic file, at least one embodiment of the present method 100 includes revealing at least one metadata component, represented as 108 in
Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Now that the invention has been described,