Generating a legally binding object within a group-based communication system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11968313-B2
Application number	US-202217896044-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2022
Priority date	Jul 30, 2019
Publication date	Apr 23, 2024
Grant date	Apr 23, 2024

Abstract

Techniques for facilitating a digital signature occurrence associated with an object transmitted via a communication channel associated with a group-based communication platform. The object may be created by a user within either the group-based communication platform or a third-party application and transmitted to one or more other users associated with the communication channel via the group-based communication platform. The group-based communication platform may be configured to authenticate a digital signature and, based on a verification of the authenticity, associate the digital signature with the object. The group-based communication platform may cause the digital signature to be presented via an interface associated with the communication channel, such as proximate to or viewable in association with the object.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, from a first computing device of a first user and via a communication channel of a group-based communication system, a document and a digital signature request for a second user to digitally sign the document;
based at least in part on the digital signature request, causing to display, via a second computing device of the second user, the document and a first notification of the digital signature request;
receiving, from the second computing device, digital signature data corresponding to a digital signature provided by the second user;
generating a modified document based on the document and the digital signature data;
storing the modified document in a database;
causing to display, via the first computing device, a second notification indicating an availability of the modified document,
at least partly responsive to causing display of the second notification, receiving, from the first computing device, an access request to access the modified document; and
at least partly responsive to receiving the access request, causing to display, via the first computing device, the modified document.

2. The method as claim 1 recites, further comprising:
receiving the digital signature request via input to a first user interface displayed via the first computing device.

3. The method as claim 2 recites,
wherein the access request is received via the first user interface or via a second user interface displayed via the first computing device.

4. The method as claim 1 recites, wherein the second user is a member of the communication channel and wherein sending the first notification comprises sending the first notification via the communication channel.

5. The method as claim 1 recites, further comprising:
associating the document with a group-based communication channel identifier and a document identifier.

6. The method as claim 1 recites, wherein the document was created from within the group-based communication system.

7. The method as claim 1 recites, further comprising:
before storing the modified document, verifying that the digital signature data is associated with a confirmed digital signature of the second user.

8. The method as claim 1 recites, wherein the first user and the second user comprise users of the group-based communication system, and the method further comprising:
associating a first user identifier with the first user and a second user identifier with the second user.

9. A system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions executable by the one or more processors, wherein the instructions program the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
receiving, by one or more server computing devices associated with a group-based communication system and from a first computing device of a first user and via a communication channel of the group-based communication system, a document and a digital signature request for a second user to digitally sign the document;
based at least in part on the digital signature request, causing to display, by the one or more server computing devices and via a second computing device of the second user, the document and a first notification of the digital signature request;
receiving, by the one or more server computing devices and from the second computing device, digital signature data corresponding to a digital signature provided by the second user;
generating, by the one or more server computing devices, a modified document based on the document and the digital signature data;
storing, by the one or more server computing devices, the modified document in a database;
causing to display, by the one or more server computing devices and via the first computing device, a second notification indicating an availability of the modified document;
at least partly responsive to causing display of the second notification, receiving, by the one or more server computing devices and from the first computing device, an access request to access the modified document; and
at least partly responsive to receiving the access request, causing to display, by the one or more server computing devices and via the first computing device, the modified document.

10. The system as claim 9 recites, the acts further comprising:
receiving, by the one or more server computing devices, the digital signature request via input to a first user interface displayed via the first computing device.

11. The system as claim 10 recites,
wherein the access request is received via the first user interface or via a second user interface displayed via the first computing device.

12. The system as claim 9 recites, wherein the second user is a member of the communication channel and wherein sending the first notification comprises sending the first notification via the communication channel.

13. The system as claim 9 recites, the acts further comprising:
associating, by the one or more server computing devices, the document with a group-based communication channel identifier and a document identifier.

14. The system as claim 9 recites, wherein the document was created from within the group-based communication system.

15. The system as claim 9 recites, the acts further comprising:
before storing the modified document, verifying, by the one or more server computing devices, that the digital signature data is associated with a confirmed digital signature of the second user.

16. The system as claim 9 recites, wherein the first user and the second user comprise users of the group-based communication system, and the acts further comprising:
associating, by the one or more server computing devices, a first user identifier with the first user and a second user identifier with the second user.

17. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions executable by one or more processors that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
receiving, by one or more server computing devices associated with a group-based communication system and from a first computing device of a first user and via a communication channel of the group-based communication system, a document and a digital signature request for a second user to digitally sign the document;
based at least in part on the digital signature request, causing to display, by the one or more server computing devices and via a second computing device of the second user, the document and a first notification of the digital signature request;
receiving, by the one or more server computing devices and from the second computing device, digital signature data corresponding to a digital signature provided by the second user;
generating, by the one or more server computing devices, a modified document based on the document and the digital signature data;
storing, by the one or more server computing devices, the modified document in a database;
causing to display, by the one or more server computing devices and via the first computing device, a second notification indicating an availability of the modified document;
at least partly responsive to causing display of the second notification, receiving, by the one or more server computing devices and from the first computing device, an access request to access the modified document; and
at least partly responsive to receiving the access request, causing to display, by the one or more server computing devices and via the first computing

Assignees

• Slack Tech Llc
• Salesforce Inc

Inventors

• Attard Samuel
• Rieseberg Felix
• Hansen Deani
• Hannemann Jan

Classifications

• H04L9/3247 Primary

  involving digital signatures · CPC title

• G06F21/64

  Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures · CPC title

• G06Q10/10 Primary

  Office automation; Time management · CPC title

• G06Q2220/00

  Business processing using cryptography · CPC title

• H04L9/3297

  involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps · CPC title