US 12,323,563 B2
Signature system, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium therefor
Jun Yamada, Nagoya (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Sep. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/935,105.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-159234 (JP), filed on Sep. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0096499 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. G06Q 10/00 (2023.01); G06Q 30/018 (2023.01); G06V 40/30 (2022.01); H04N 1/00 (2006.01); H04N 1/32 (2006.01)
CPC H04N 1/00941 (2013.01) [G06Q 30/018 (2013.01); G06V 40/30 (2022.01); H04N 1/32144 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A signature system having a first device and a second device, the first device being a device for an applicant, the second device being a device for an approver,
the first device comprising a first non-transitory computer-readable storage containing first computer-executable instructions realizing a full-application executable by a computer of the first device, the full-application corresponding to a signature flow, and
the second device not having the full-application installed,
wherein, when the first device receives a print instruction to print a digital document subject to signature, the full-application cause, when executed by the computer of the first device, a printer to print the digital document, a signature field, and a mark for starting up a mini application, identification information of the digital document being printed on the printed digital document, information of a signer being printed on the printed signature field, the mini application being a program realized by second computer-executable instructions, the mini application being a program having part of functions of the full-application, the mini application being executable after downloaded without installation, the mini application being deleted when a particular time period has elapsed after downloaded, the mark for starting the mini application including access information necessary for download of the mini application,
wherein the full-application further causes, when executed by the computer of the first device, the first device to upload electronic data corresponding to the digital document to a server to store the digital document therein in response to receipt of the print instruction, the electronic data to be stored in the server containing identification information of the digital document and signature information including a signer of the digital document and a signature status,
wherein the second device is configured to read the mark printed by the first device, download the mini application using the access information contained in the mark, and execute the downloaded mini application,
wherein the mini application causes, when executed by a computer of the second device, the second device to perform:
identifying a user of the second device;
reading the digital document printed by the first device to identify the identification information of the digital document;
reading the signature field printed by the first device to identify the signer for the digital document;
determining whether approval of the identified user of the second device is necessary based on the identified signer of the digital document and based on the signature information included in the electronic data corresponding to the identified identification information of the digital document among the electronic data stored in the server;
requesting for a signature of the user of the second device when determining that the approval of the identified user of the second device is necessary; and
accessing the server when a digital signature of the user of the second device has been made, updating the signature information contained in the electronic data corresponding to the identified identification information of the digital document.