Electronic Signature System with Multi-Level Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic signature methods are cumbersome and require users to access their local infrastructure, limiting their usability in daily communication, especially when mobile or in situations where access is restricted, and often result in signatures that do not meet the initiator's security requirements, necessitating re-signing.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allow specification of multiple signature levels with different security levels for electronic signatures, enabling automated processing that meets the initiator's specifications, with the option for signers to override and allowing quick, easy access through online authentication, facilitating legally binding digital transactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users access their local infrastructure to generate digital signatures, then security requirements are met, but the signature process becomes cumbersome and inaccessible in mobile or restricted situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary signature service provider that hosts signature infrastructure on remote servers. Users can generate digital signatures through web portals or mobile applications without accessing their local infrastructure. The service provider acts as a mediator between the user's device and the cryptographic operations, delivering signed documents back to users. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining security (through professional infrastructure) while dramatically improving usability (accessible from any device with internet connection).
2Ease of manufacture
If a single signature type is provided, then implementation is simple, but it cannot meet varying initiator requirements and necessitates re-signing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic signature specification where the initiator can define required signature types and security levels in the signature request. The system adapts to different requirements by processing multiple signature types (simple, advanced, qualified) with varying security levels. This resolves the contradiction by making the system versatile (meeting different initiator requirements) while maintaining simple implementation through automated processing and clear specification protocols.
3Reliability
If multiple signature levels with different security levels are specified, then compliance with legal requirements is ensured, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by defining multiple signature levels with different security parameters (simple, advanced, qualified signatures). Each level has specific cryptographic and procedural parameters that determine its legal validity. The system manages this complexity through structured parameter specification in requests and automated validation, ensuring legal compliance while keeping the user interface relatively simple through standardized options.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for electronically signing an electronic document, in which an initiator of a signature process generates a request data record comprising the electronic document and a signature request, wherein the signature request includes a request for an electronic signature from at least one signer on at least the electronic document. The request data record is made available to the at least one signer for generating the electronic signature on at least the electronic document. The at least one signer generates an electronic signature on at least the electronic document and a positive response data record comprising at least the electronic document and the electronic signature. The positive response data record is made available to at least one recipient, in particular the initiator.For electronic signatures, at least two signature levels with different security levels of the electronic signature are specified, whereby the signature requirement includes a signature specification that can be specified by the initiator, which defines a minimum security level that the electronic signature of at least one signer must have over the electronic document.