Electronic Signature Server Aural Document Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic document workflows face challenges due to limitations in accessibility for individuals who cannot read visual information on computer screens or execute electronic signatures, particularly those with disabilities or limited access to computer resources, as current solutions like screen readers and voice recognition software are costly, resource-intensive, and require specialized hardware/software.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows documents to be distributed, assented to, and interacted with aurally and orally using conventional components like microphones and speakers, via an electronic signature server that provides voice prompts and spoken commands, enabling recipients to listen to document terms and record electronic signatures without needing specialized computer hardware or software, and can be used on various devices including smartphones and public kiosks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If screen readers and text-to-speech software are used to convert documents to audible speech, then accessibility for individuals with disabilities is improved, but cost and computational resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary server that hosts pre-recorded audio versions of documents. Instead of converting documents to speech locally on user devices (which consumes computational resources), the system mediates by providing ready-to-play audio files through a server, reducing local processing requirements while maintaining accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-recording audio versions of documents before distribution. The audio content is prepared in advance and stored on a server, eliminating the need for real-time text-to-speech conversion on user devices, thereby reducing computational resource consumption during document interaction
2Ease of operation
If voice recognition software is used to enable oral interaction with documents, then accessibility for individuals who cannot execute electronic signatures is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary server that handles the complex voice recognition and processing tasks. Instead of requiring voice recognition software to be installed on every user device, the server mediates by receiving audio input, processing it, and returning appropriate responses, thereby simplifying client device requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex voice recognition functionality from individual user devices and consolidates it on a centralized server. This separation allows users to interact with documents orally using simple devices while the heavy processing requirements are handled externally by the server
3Ease of operation
If specialized hardware and software are deployed to enable aural and oral document interaction, then accessibility is improved, but deployment cost and infrastructure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a system that works across multiple existing device types (smartphones, tablets, computers, telephones) without requiring specialized hardware. The server provides a universal interface that adapts to various client devices, eliminating the need for dedicated accessibility hardware while maintaining broad compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates audio copies of documents that can be played on any device with basic audio playback capability. Instead of requiring specialized hardware, the system generates and distributes audio file copies that can be consumed by standard devices, significantly reducing deployment costs while improving accessibility
Data Source
AI summary
Workflows are provided that enable documents to be distributed, assented to, and otherwise interacted with on an aural and/or oral basis. Such workflows can be implemented so as to allow a recipient to receive, understand, and interact with a document using conventional components such as the microphone and speaker provided by a telephone. For instance, in one embodiment a document originator may send a document to a recipient with a request for an electronic signature. The document may include an audio version of the document terms. The recipient can listen to the audio version of the document terms and record an electronic signature that represents assent to such terms. An electronic signature server can record the recipient's electronic signature and incorporate it into the document, such that it forms part of the electronic document just as a traditional handwritten signature forms part of a signed paper document.