Patents Assigned to Topaz Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11526271
    Abstract: A system and method for capturing an electronic signature from a mouse, signature pad, or other input device is disclosed. The system comprises: a signer interface and a separate user interface. The signer interface is configured to present text to a signer via the input device and receive position data representing the points of an electronic signature. The user interface is configured to: select a document for signature based on input from a user, define at least one signature insertion area in the document, define at least one signature capture window, enable the input of position data from the signer interface when the at least one signature capture window is defined, draw at least one signature in the at least one signature capture window; map the at least one signature from the at least one signature capture window to the at least one signature insertion area in the document, and disable the input from the signer interface when the at least one signature is integrated in the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony E. Zank, Peter W. Dunckel
  • Patent number: 10693721
    Abstract: A method for a server to assign a corn port to a peripheral device coupled to a client computer includes initiating a session in response to a request from a client, receiving from the client information identifying the peripheral device, calling on the server a driver for the identified peripheral device and assigning on the driver a fixed virtual port to the identified peripheral device; assigning on the server a virtual corn port in server space for the identified peripheral device, automatically specifying on the server the virtual corn port as the connection for the identified peripheral device, and mapping on the server a variable corn port to the peripheral device in server space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony E. Zank, Christopher Priesz, Jeff Robertson
  • Patent number: 10397004
    Abstract: A distributed multi-function secure system for verifiable signer authentication having a personal private key stored in a secure storage of a mobile device where the mobile device connects to a fragmented distributed signing engine by a secure protocol and is issued a signer certificate from a circle of trust certificate server to securely electronically sign documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikos Leoutsarakos, Paul Chronopoulos
  • Publication number: 20190207809
    Abstract: A method for a server to assign a corn port to a peripheral device coupled to a client computer includes initiating a session in response to a. request from a client, receiving from the client information identifying the peripheral device, calling on the server a driver for the identified peripheral device and assigning on the driver a fixed virtual port to the identified peripheral device; assigning on the server a virtual corn port in server space for the identified peripheral device, automatically specifying on the server the virtual corn port as the connection for the identified peripheral device, and mapping on the server a. variable corn port to the peripheral device in server space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony E. Zank, Christopher Priesz, Jeff Robertson
  • Publication number: 20170331632
    Abstract: A distributed multi-function secure system for verifiable signer authentication having a personal private key stored in a secure storage of a mobile device where the mobile device connects to a fragmented distributed signing engine by a secure protocol and is issued a signer certificate from a circle of trust certificate server to securely electronically sign documents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikos Leoutsarakos, Paul Chronopoulos
  • Patent number: 9722799
    Abstract: A distributed multi-function secure system for verifiable signer authentication having a personal private key stored in a secure storage of a mobile device where the mobile device connects to a fragmented distributed signing engine by a secure protocol and is issued a signer certificate from a circle of trust certificate server to securely electronically sign documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikos Leoutsarakos, Paul Chronopoulos
  • Patent number: 9378518
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention enhances the security of electronic signatures during transmission. A peripheral device, which may be located remotely and separate from a host processing system, captures the signature. The peripheral device then binds the signature to the particular transaction record and transmits it to the host processing system. The host processing system validates or confirms the received signature before accepting the transaction. Binding the signature and record data together at the point-of-use reduces the likelihood that someone may be able to hack into the transmission medium, encrypted or not, and obtain the raw signature data. By binding or associating the signature and transaction record data together at the point-of-use, each transaction has a unique key, further foiling attempts at hacking. In various implementations, rather than associating the whole signature with the transaction record data, signature sample points or segments are encrypted with transaction record data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony E. Zank
  • Patent number: 9329720
    Abstract: A system for receiving, storing, and displaying biometric input has a case, a touchpad, and a digitizer. The case has an open position and a closed position, wherein the case protects the touchpad in the closed position, the case including a digitizer comprising a substantially transparent touch activatable overlay placed over the touchscreen, and a plurality of sensors supported by the overlay to detect input to the overlay. The digitizer includes a data outlet for transferring the detected input as overlay data so the touchpad can visually display the detected input on its touchscreen. The digitizer has sufficient sensors that the overlay data contains more information than the touchpad data would if the touchscreen were contacted directly without the digitizer present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony E. Zank
  • Patent number: 9323409
    Abstract: A system for receiving, storing, and displaying biometric input has a touchpad and a digitizer. The digitizer comprises a substantially transparent touch activatable overlay placed over the touchscreen and a plurality of sensors supported by the overlay to detect input to the overlay. The digitizer includes a data outlet for transferring the detected input as overlay data so the touchpad can visually display the detected input on its touchscreen. The digitizer has sufficient sensors that the overlay data contains more information than the touchpad data would if the touchscreen were contacted directly without the digitizer present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony E. Zank
  • Patent number: 9286596
    Abstract: A system and method for conducting an electronic signing ceremony is provided. The electronic signing ceremony may include a number of defined steps performed by one or more people on a number of documents in a predetermined order. An activity, such as providing a digital signature, may be associated with each document and/or page of each document. The electronic signing ceremony system and method consolidates and streamlines the process of originating, organizing, signing, verifying, storing, and retrieving multiple documents requiring multiple signatures from one or more people virtually anywhere and at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikos Leoutsarakos, Oliver Lan, John London, Nathalie Benoit, Tomlinson G. Rauscher, Paul Chronopoulos
  • Patent number: 9262004
    Abstract: An overlay for covering the writing surface of an electronic writing tablet includes (a) an LCD touch screen adapted to (i) initially display an image drawn or written upon the upper surface by application of pressure on the upper surface without requiring a transfer of matter to the upper surface and (ii) continue display of the image without the consumption of electrical power; (b) a source of electrical power; and (c) a reversible attaching mechanism for reversibly attaching the LCD touch screen over the writing surface of the writing tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony E. Zank
  • Patent number: 8994686
    Abstract: A system for receiving, storing, and displaying biometric input has a case, a touchpad, and a digitizer. The case has an open position and a closed position, wherein the case protects the touchpad in the closed position, the case including a digitizer comprising a substantially transparent touch activatable overlay placed over the touchscreen, and a plurality of sensors supported by the overlay to detect input to the overlay. The digitizer includes a data outlet for transferring the detected input as overlay data so the touchpad can visually display the detected input on its touchscreen. The digitizer has sufficient sensors that the overlay data contains more information than the touchpad data would if the touchscreen were contacted directly without the digitizer present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony E. Zank
  • Patent number: 8959353
    Abstract: A distributed multi-function secure system for verifiable signer authentication having a personal private key stored in a secure storage of a mobile device where the mobile device connects to a fragmented distributed signing engine by a secure protocol and is issued a signer certificate from a circle of trust certificate server to securely electronically sign documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikos Leoutsarakos, Paul Chronopoulos
  • Patent number: 8952926
    Abstract: A system for receiving, storing, and displaying biometric input has a touchpad and a digitizer. The digitizer comprises a substantially transparent touch activatable overlay placed over the touchscreen and a plurality of sensors supported by the overlay to detect input to the overlay. The digitizer includes a data outlet for transferring the detected input as overlay data so the touchpad can visually display the detected input on its touchscreen. The digitizer has sufficient sensors that the overlay data contains more information than the touchpad data would if the touchscreen were contacted directly without the digitizer present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony E. Zank
  • Patent number: 7933840
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention enhances the security of electronic signatures during transmission. A peripheral device, which may be located remotely and separate from a host processing system, captures the signature. The peripheral device then binds the signature to the particular transaction record and transmits it to the host processing system. The host processing system validates or confirms the received signature before accepting the transaction. Binding the signature and record data together at the point-of-use reduces the likelihood that someone may be able to hack into the transmission medium, encrypted or not, and obtain the raw signature data. By binding or associating the signature and transaction record data together at the point-of-use, each transaction has a unique key, further foiling attempts at hacking. In various implementations, rather than associating the whole signature with the transaction record data, signature sample points or segments are encrypted with transaction record data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony E. Zank
  • Publication number: 20110072274
    Abstract: A distributed multi-function secure system for verifiable signer authentication having a personal private key stored in a secure storage of a mobile device where the mobile device connects to a fragmented distributed signing engine by a secure protocol and is issued a signer certificate from a circle of trust certificate server to securely electronically sign documents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: TOPAZ SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Nikos Leoutsarakos, Paul Chronopoulos
  • Patent number: 7876930
    Abstract: The combination of an electronic fingerprint reader and a second electronic transmission device includes a first portion with a top surface and an electronic transmission device disposed therein and a second portion having a top surface with a width between about 2 inches and about 12 inches and a depth between about 1 inch and about 12 inches. A fingerprint reader is disposed in the top surface of the second portion. The top surface of the second portion is disposed at an angle of between about 0° and about 30° with respect to the horizontal such that the top surface of the second portion slants forwardly from the trailing edge of the second portion towards the leading edge of the second portion. The leading edge of the second portion is disposed at an elevation between about 0 inches and about 4 inches above the trailing edge of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Edward Zank, Bruce Odessky
  • Patent number: 7693312
    Abstract: A method for determining whether a disputed electronic signature is that of a purported signator includes the steps of (a) creating in a single step an ink on paper signature and an identical electronic signature of the purported signator; (b) verifying that the ink on paper signature is consistent with known ink on paper signatures of the purported signator; and (c) comparing the disputed electronic signature with the electronic signature of the purported signature to determine whether the disputed electronic signature is that of the purported signator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony E. Zank, Paul M. Zank
  • Patent number: 7526108
    Abstract: A portable electronic data management and transport system includes a base unit and a wireless remote unit. The wireless remote unit can incorporate a graphic tablet digitizer for signaling signature data to a personal computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony E. Zank, Thomas M. Jacques
  • Patent number: 7436397
    Abstract: A touchpad stylus includes a housing, a stylus member axially moveable in the housing, and an energy-absorbing cushion member interposed between a rear extremity of the stylus member and an internal cavity of the housing, the cushion member lightly forwardly biasing the stylus member relative to the housing. The stylus member has a smoothly spherical tip extremity, and the device avoids impact damage to fragile outer membranes of existing touchpad devices because the full mass of the housing is isolated from impact with the touchpad, the stylus member itself having very significantly less mass than an aggregate mass of the complete assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony E. Zank