WO1997045271A1

WO1997045271A1 - Equipment for remote signing and writing

Info

Publication number: WO1997045271A1
Application number: PCT/FR1997/000920
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raoul Girod
Original assignee: Raoul Girod
Priority date: 1996-05-30
Filing date: 1997-05-26
Publication date: 1997-12-04
Also published as: FR2749417B1; DE69704273D1; EP0904202A1; EP0904202B1; FR2749417A1; DE69704273T2

Abstract

The equipment (1) enables remote document reading, filling and writing, being commanded from a remote terminal (10) provided with a screen (11) and a keyboard (12). This equipment (1) comprises a document internal circuit (4) supplied from a tray (3), on which are set an optical read head (7) and a print head (8) associated to operate on the same document being processed. The read head (7) enables the progressive transmission of the document image on the terminal screen (11). This terminal keyboard (12) provides remote control for moving the document forward and backward in the equipment (1), writing a text and/or signing the document via the print head (8), and ejecting the processed document into a supply tray (5), the signature possibly being accompanied by a control code. The invention is useful in remote signing in commercial and banking activities, remote filling of administrative forms, teleworking.

Description

Device for remote signature and writing.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for remote signing and writing, making it possible to consult, read, fill in, annotate and / or sign documents while being remotely controlled.

Currently, the persons responsible for reading, completing and / or signing documents are obliged to be physically present at the place of writing, editing and / or processing of these documents, or to do so by exchange of letters or faxes, the latter possibility requiring time (in the case of mail) or not ensuring sufficient security as regards the signature (case of faxing). The present invention aims to remedy the constraint of a physical presence of the person concerned, and the disadvantages of mail and fax, by providing a device making it possible to carry out reading, writing, signing and the like operations remotely, with maximum security and flexibility.

To this end, the invention essentially relates to a device for remote signature and writing, capable of being controlled from a terminal provided with a screen and a keyboard, located at a distance from the device in question, this device. comprising at least one internal document circuit on which a print head and an optical read head are arranged, associated to intervene on the same document during processing, at least one tray for supplying the above-mentioned circuit with documents to read or process, and means for driving documents on said circuit in the direction of advance and backward, the optical reading head for gradually transmitting the image of a document on the screen of the remote terminal , while the keyboard of this terminal allows remote control the advance or retreat of a document in the device, as well as the writing of signs and / or a signature on the document by the print head of this device.

The device object of the invention thus has a tray for storing and feeding "original" documents, at the actual place of existence of these documents, the documents deposited in the tray being awaiting reading and processing, these documents must be prepared on site for a remote operator. The remote terminal, which can be a computer, a computer terminal, a "minitel" or any combination of a screen and a keyboard (even a landline or mobile phone with a display that can meet this definition), is connected to the device by a remote transmission line, such as a telephone line, and allows remote control of the functions of this device.

Thus, the reading of a document is triggered by typing, on the keyboard of the terminal, an instruction preferably accompanied by a personalized code ensuring the discretion of the transmission. The optical read head reads the document in progress, whose image thus read is sent to the terminal screen; by pressing a key on the keyboard, the remote operator of the device controls the progressive advance of the document, for a synchronized reading with this advance, and / or causes a storage of the document in a memory of the terminal, for a reading deferred. The stop of the document advancement, stop controlled by the keyboard, or the programming or the presetting of breakpoints on a given page, allow the positioning of the print head, for typing or printing 'indication at any places or in predetermined areas. A movement of the document in reverse, in particular a return to a predefined line, can also be controlled by the keyboard. This keyboard also allows to control the ejection of a document, at the end of processing.

As regards the optical reading and printing heads, an advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that these are combined in a single mixed reading and printing head.

The physical offset between the reading point and the printing point, in particular in the case where the optical reading head and the printing head remain separate, constitutes a parameter of the apparatus. An electronic or control logic circuit enables the correspondence between reading and writing to be re-established, taking this known offset into account, either by a corresponding offset in the transmission and display of the document image on the screen of the terminal, either by a physical movement, possibly backwards, of the document and / or the heads.

As regards the writing functions and more particularly the remote signature, the following arrangements are advantageously provided:

An automatic stop of the document being processed is provided before the end of the scrolling of each physical page, and makes it possible to decide whether the printing of the signature or of an initialing should be done, or if the page should be ejected without signature or other impression.

In the event of a signature decision, the keystroke on the keyboard of the remote terminal triggers the printing of a set of signs constituting the signature. Typing characters on the terminal keyboard also allows the printing of various texts, such as details to complete a form or annotations, on the document being processed, with or without signature. The diagram of the signature transmitted from the remote terminal can be previously stored either in this terminal, if it is a terminal assigned to a single person, either on a magnetic card or on any transportable storage medium, in the case of a terminal usable by several people, the terminal being in this case equipped for reading such a card or such a support.

In order to secure this signature, various procedures can be used, alone or in combination: typing a confidential control code on the keyboard, or transmitting the date and time associated with that of the signature, with printing on the document of these indications associated with that of the signature, or printing of a time-varying control code, calculated for example by combination of a personalized key and the date (expressed in days, hours, minutes and possibly seconds) of the signature , which allows control in the event of a dispute.

In the case of a magnetic card, this itself constitutes additional security on the side of the issuance of the signature, if the terminal allows the use of such a card.

The graphic signature is not absolutely necessary, if the printed codes are impossible to reconstruct by a malicious third party, and are likely to be checked afterwards. The plain name of the person, and the associated code or codes, could logically suffice. However, the graphic signature could be kept, to satisfy legal requirements or to comply with usage. In the case of non-personalized terminals, the signature diagram can be stored in the device that is the subject of the invention, and extracted using the user's personal code, in particular if it is an affected device. to one person. In this case, the signature diagram may be initially entered using the optical reading head of the device. The keystroke of the eject command advances the document until it leaves the device, and allows the read head to read the information (signature or other) printed by the print head; the result of this reading is transmitted to the screen of the terminal, which allows the remote user to verify the proper execution of the operation and, in particular, to control the affixing of his signature.

The printing of an operation report can also be considered, as a check and proof.

The device which is the subject of the invention can be used in association with an intermediate computer server, provided on the transmission line between this device and the remote terminal, this also with the aim of increasing security by allowing authentication.

In the same vein, an encrypted transmission is also possible, in particular in the case of a remote transmission over a network which may involve a risk of "hacking".

The invention will in any case be better understood with the aid of the following description of an embodiment and of various variants of this device for remote signing and writing, with reference to the appended drawing: FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an apparatus according to the present invention associated with a remote terminal;

Figures 2 and 3 are partial views, illustrating two variants of this device; Figures 4, 5 and 6 are side views, very schematic, of apparatus according to the invention adapted to also constitute fax machines;

FIG. 7 represents, in the form of a flow diagram, the detail of the internal electronic circuits of the apparatus. The device for remote signing and writing, shown completely in FIG. 1 and generally designated by the reference 1, comprises a box 2 in the upper part of which is provided a supply tray 3. Original documents to be processed are deposited and put on hold in the feed tray 3.

The apparatus 1 comprises an internal circuit 4 of documents, starting from the feed tank 3 and ending at an outlet provided with a reception tank 5. On the internal circuit 4 are arranged motorized members 6 for driving documents, in the direction of advance (arrow FI) and backward (arrow F2). An optical read head 7 and a print head 8 are disposed on the internal circuit 4 of the documents, the read head 7 being located downstream of the print head 8 in the example of FIG. 1.

The read head 7 and the print head 8 are connected, inside the housing 2 of the device 1, to electronic circuits 9 of a type similar to that of fax machines.

A display and control terminal 10, provided with a screen 11 and a keyboard 12, and located at a distance from the device 1, is connected to the latter by a remote transmission line 13. The read head 7 allows the progressive optical reading of a document being processed, traversing circuit 4 while being driven forward, and possibly backward, by the drive members 6. The image of the document is transmitted, by the line 13, at the terminal 10 where it is displayed on the screen 11. The print head 8 allows the printing, on the same document being scrolled, of various inscriptions and in particular of a signature, triggered by action on the keyboard 12 of the terminal 10. At the end of processing, the signed or unsigned document is ejected into the reception bin 5, where it can be recovered for further processing or archiving.

Figures 2 and 3 show two alternative positioning of the read and print heads. In the case of FIG. 2, the optical read head 7 is located upstream of the print head 8, on the internal circuit 4 of the documents. In the case of FIG. 3, the read head 7 and the print head 8 are located at the same point of the circuit 4, and are in particular joined in the form of a mixed read and print head.

The device 1 previously described, used in association with the terminal 10 which allows its control by a person located at a distance, allows the reading, the consultation, the signature, the initialing, the filling or the annotation at a distance of documents of all kinds. In particular, this device allows business managers and other managers to consult letters and documents and to sign them securely when they are away from their office, for example on the road or at home. The invention also allows individuals, customers, insured ... to send remotely, without having to travel, a signature to an organization, an administration, a company, a bank, ... In particular, the proposed system makes it possible to fill in administrative forms remotely. The use of this system can be both occasional (for example: signing and initialing of a contract) as systematic, in the context of a professional activity of "teleworking".

The device 1 previously described can also be used, in association with a remote terminal 10, only for reading or consulting documents, by viewing on the screen 11 of the terminal 10, without issuing a signature. When this device 1 is assigned to a single person, the latter can freely choose the moment of 1 • operation on the documents waiting in the feed tray 3, which offers great flexibility of use.

The device 1 can also include additional functions and uses.

Thus, its printing mechanism may include means for projecting or depositing white ink on the document being processed, to erase certain signs, thus allowing the user to make corrections remotely on this document.

Thanks to its optical read head 7 and its print head 8, the device 1 can also be used as a scanner and / or printer, in connection with a computer installed at the same place or remotely.

Finally, the basic constitution of this device 1 makes it possible to complete it fairly easily to obtain a combined device, also performing the function of an ordinary fax machine or an improved fax machine, with optical rereading of the documents actually received and printed and retransmission of these documents, as re-read, to the device sending the original document, as an acknowledgment of receipt. To this end, the apparatus is advantageously supplemented by a second upper feed tray, and / or by a lower internal tray, storing the blank paper necessary for printing the documents to be received by fax. Examples of such a combined device are illustrated very schematically in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

FIG. 4 thus shows an apparatus 1 with separate read head 7 and print head 8, the housing 2 of which contains, in its lower part, a tray 14 containing a reserve of blank sheets. An auxiliary internal paper circuit 15, starting from the tray 14, is connects to the main circuit 4 upstream of the read 7 and print 8 heads.

FIG. 5 shows another device 1 provided with a second upper feed tray 16, receiving the blank paper, while the feed tray 3 receives, depending on the use of the device 1, the documents to be processed by this device in the manner previously described, or original documents to be sent by fax, these latter documents being read by the read head 7.

FIG. 6 shows yet another device 1, derived from the previous one, in which the read heads 7 and print heads 8 are combined in the form of a mixed head, and in which an additional read head 17 is arranged upstream of this mixed head, on the circuit of the documents to be processed by the device 1 and the original documents to be sent by fax.

As FIGS. 5 and 6 suggest (see the dotted lines), a lower internal tray 14 for blank sheets can be added on these latter devices.

The arrangements described above contribute to the versatility of the device 1, which is not limited to the sole uses here described by way of examples. In addition, FIG. 7 gives, in the form of a flowchart, a representation of the electronic circuits 9 of the device 1, performing the functions described above.

Claims

1 - Apparatus for reading, signing and writing documents remotely, capable of being controlled from a terminal (10) provided with a screen (11) and a keyboard (12), located at a distance from this device (1), characterized in that it comprises at least one internal document circuit (4) on which are arranged a print head (8) and an optical read head (7), associated to operate on the same document being processed, at least one tray (3) for supplying the above-mentioned circuit (4) with documents to be read or to be processed, and drive means (6) for documents on said circuit (4) in the direction of advance (FI) and recoil (F2), the optical reading head (7) making it possible to gradually transmit the image of a document on the screen (11) of the remote terminal (10), while the keyboard (12) of this terminal (10) makes it possible to remotely control the advance or retreat of a document in the device (1), as well as the writing of signs and / or d 'A signature on the document by the print head (8) of this device (1).

2 - Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, at the outlet of its internal circuit (4) of documents, a receiving tank (5), the ejection of a document at the end of treatment being controlled by the keyboard (12) of the remote terminal (10).

3 - Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the optical reading heads (7) and printing (8) are combined in a single mixed reading and printing head.

4 - Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the optical reading head (7) and the printing head (8) are separate, the electronic circuits (9) of the device (1) being provided for compensate for the physical offset between the reading point and the printing point either by a corresponding offset in the transmission and display of the document image on the screen (11) of the terminal (10), or by a displacement of the document and / or of the heads ( 7.8). 5 - Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is intended to meet programmed or preset breakpoints during the advancement of a document, in addition to the movement controlled by the keyboard (11) of the remote terminal (10).

6 - Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is provided for the registration of a signature accompanied by a control code, such as a confidential code typed on the keyboard (11) of the remote terminal (10) and / or a code calculated according to the date and time of the signature.

7 - Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is provided for the registration of a signature whose diagram is stored in the remote terminal (10).

8 - Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is provided for the registration of a signature whose diagram is stored on a magnetic card or other transportable storage medium; the remote terminal (10) being equipped for reading such a card or such a medium.

9 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is used in association with an intermediate server, placed between this device (1) and the remote terminal (10).

10- Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is intended to be also usable in scanner and / or printer, thanks to its optical reading head (7) and its head printing (8), in connection with a computer. 11 - Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is intended to be used also as a fax machine, in particular with an additional supply (14; 16) of virgin paper.