Electronic Document Signature Splitting for PDF Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic document signature systems expose elements of signed documents to extraction and reuse for fraudulent purposes due to their inability to flatten PDFs into single images, compromising security while maintaining searchability.
Innovation Solution
The system splits the signature into portions and embeds them within the content area and image of the document, storing modified elements separately to prevent extraction and reuse, while maintaining searchable text fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If PDF elements are maintained as separate elements to preserve searchability, then text search functionality is improved, but security against extraction and reuse of signatures and images deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the signature into multiple separate portions and places them in different locations within the PDF structure. Instead of storing the complete signature as a single extractable element, it is fragmented across multiple pages or sections, making it impossible to retrieve the full signature through simple extraction operations. This segmentation directly addresses the security vulnerability while preserving the document's functional integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary encoding layer between the original signature and its storage in the PDF. The signature is transformed through an encoding process that embeds it within the document structure in a concealed manner. This intermediary transformation allows the signature to be stored within the PDF without being directly extractable, thus protecting against misuse while maintaining searchability through proper indexing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If PDFs are flattened into single images to protect signatures and images, then security against extraction is improved, but text searchability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than flattening the entire PDF into a single image, the patent segments the protection approach by applying image embedding only to specific elements (signatures and images) while keeping the text content as searchable PDF elements. This selective segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of security for sensitive elements and searchability for text content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the protective image embedding technique with the searchable PDF structure by integrating encoded signature portions within the PDF's text layer. This combination allows the system to maintain the benefits of both approaches: the security of image embedding and the searchability of structured PDF text, without requiring complete flattening.
3Reliability
If complete signature is stored to maintain document integrity, then document authenticity is improved, but vulnerability to fraudulent reuse deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signature into multiple portions distributed across different PDF elements. This segmentation maintains document authenticity because all portions are required for complete verification, while simultaneously preventing fraudulent reuse since extracting a single portion does not yield a usable signature. The segmented structure ensures that authentication requires access to the complete distributed signature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality characteristics to different parts of the signature structure. Each signature portion is encoded with specific local properties that are necessary for its function but insufficient for fraudulent use. This local quality differentiation ensures that each segment contributes to overall authenticity verification while lacking the completeness required for misuse.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques for storing an electronic document signed during an electronic document signing process. A computing device receives an electronic document that includes content within a content area, an image field positioned on the content area, and a cross sign field positioned partially on the image field and partially on the content area. The computing device receives an image to populate the image field and a signature to populate the cross sign field. The computing devices creates a first signature portion and a second signature portion by splitting the signature. The image is modified with the first signature portion and the content area is modified with the second signature portion. The computing device stores the electronic document by storing a file having separate elements, the separate elements including the modified content area and the modified image, without including the complete signature, unaltered content area, or unaltered image.