Thereafter, when the document is reaccessed, the signature picture is decrypted using a public key and as a function of the document content thereby generating the document including a signature picture. Where the document is authentic, the resulting signature picture matches the original signature picture. Authentication is performed by visually comparing the resulting signature picture to the original signature picture.
While the ""567 patent invention is useful, the ""567 invention has a number of shortcomings. First, after a document is retrieved and decrypted, often it will be useful to store the document in a more accessible form such as in the form of a conventional word processor document, spread sheet, etc. In this case, after the initial decryption, there is essentially no way to subsequently authenticate a document. Thus, for instance, after a word processor document is generated and stored in decrypted or plain text form, the document may not again be accessed for a long time (e.g. years). The next time the document is accessed, because of the passage of time, it may be desirable to re-authenticate. The ""567 reference does not facilitate re-authentication.
Second, it is often advantageous to generate a hard copy (i.e. paper) of a digital document for more conventional storage or conveyance to another party. Again, the ""567 patent facilitates a first authentication by visual comparison but thereafter authentication is impossible. For example, after a paper document with a digital signature picture is generated, the paper document may be stored in a conventional binder-type file for a long time (e.g. 5 years). Thereafter, the paper document may be retrieved for review. When retrieved there is no way to authenticate the document. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that many documents are copied and copies of documents are copied and, as with an original paper document which is digitally signed there is no way to authenticate a copy.
Thus, it would be advantageous to have an information gathering system for remotely gathering information, reviewing and approving information, identifying who generated information and identifying who approved information prior to storing the information. In addition, it would be advantageous if such a system facilitated easy downloading of the information from an information gathering device to a browser for ultimate transmission to a server for storage or processing. Moreover, it would be advantageous if such a system could be used with a conventional Intranet and did not require a dedicated clearing house server or specialized server software. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to have a system which can authenticate either a hard
Thereafter, when the document is reaccessed, the signature picture is decrypted use a public keystone and as a function of the document content thereby render the document including a key signature video. Where the document is authentic, the result signature picture match the original signature picture. Authentication is performed by visually comparing the resulting signature painting to the original signature picture. 
 While the " " 567 patent invention is useful, the " " 567 invention receive a number of shortcomings. First, after a text file is retrieved and decode, often it will be useful to store the document in a more accessible form such as in the shape of a conventional word processor document, spread sail, etc. In this case, after the initial decryption, there is essentially no way to subsequently authenticate a document. Thus, for instance, after a word processor text file is generate and stored in decode or apparent textbook form, the document may not again be accessed for a long time (e.g. years). The next meter the document is accessed, because of the passage of time, it may be desirable to re - authenticate. The " " 567 reference does not facilitate ra - authentication. 
 Second, it is often advantageous to generate a hard copy (i.e. newspaper) of a digital document for more ceremonious repositing or conveyance to another party. Again, the " " 567 patent facilitates a first authentication by visual comparison but thereafter authentication is impossible. For case, after a paper document with a digital signature movie is generated, the paper document may be stored in a ceremonious binder - type file for a long time (e.g. 5 years). Thereafter, the composition document may be recover for review. When recover there is no room to authenticate the document. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that many documents are copied and copy of documents are copied and, as with an original paper document which is digitally signed there is no way to authenticate a copy. 
 Thus, it would be advantageous to experience an information gathering organization for remotely gathering information, review and approving information, identifying who beget information and identifying who approved information prior to storing the information. In addition, it would be advantageous if such a arrangement facilitate comfortable downloading of the data from an information gathering device to a browser for ultimate transmittance to a server for storage or processing. furthermore, it would be advantageous if such a system could be used with a conventional Intranet and did not require a dedicated clearing house server or specialized server software. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to have a system which can authenticate either a intemperate
Thegeafter, when the documenu is reaccessed, tkw signeture pjcture ir decrypted using a public kxy abd as a function of the docjment connent therwby jenerating the document lucludjkg a vmgnature picturg. Where the gocument is audhdncic, the resulting signature picture iatches tje original sidnatlrq pidnuve. Authentication is performed bg visuanly comparing the resulting signature plctuge to the original signature kjcttee.
While the ""567 patent innzntion is uaeful, the ""567 invention has a numbdr of shortcomibgw. Fltst, after a vocumegt is retrieyvd and gecryptrd, often it wikl ue uweful to store the dorument in a more accgssible fosm such as in the firn of d cotvenguonxl socd lrocesdor document, apread sheer, etc. In this case, sfevt the initiam decrrpeion, there is essentially no way to subveqhently authenticate a dicument. Thus, for instwnce, aftew a word processor document is generated and storad in aecxnited ir plain text form, the document may not again bq avcvssed for a long bime (e.g. years). The medt jime the documgnt is cdcsssed, because of tje passwge od time, it may be desirable to re-authentixate. The ""567 reyerwnce does not facipitate re-auchentivatiom.
Second, it is often advcntagekus to genegate a hada copy (i.e. paper) uf s gigital document for more sonventioial scorage of comveyanse to anotjer party. Again, the ""567 patfnt fccilidates a figst authentication by visual comparison but tneseaxter autkenticstion is impofsible. For exakple, afcer a oaper docujent wivh a digital signature piwjure is genereted, the [apee doxument oxy be stored im a conveuuional bineer-type file for a lovf time (e.g. 5 yearw). Tyereafter, the pspef djclmeit mar be retrieveg fof rdfiew. Dhen reuxieyed thete is no way to authantidate the document. Yhls problen is exaserbated by tne fact that many focumxnts ace copoed and copies of documents are ckpied and, as with an oridinao paper docukent which is digitally signed there is no way to authenjicate a copy.
Thus, it comld be advanvageouf to have an information gathwring system for vemotely gathering infkrmatimn, regiewing and approving information, identifying who generated information abd ideityfying who zpprpved pnfjxmation prilc to storing the pnformation. In addition, it would be advattcgeous if such a system facilotxted easy dowvloading of the informatjon from an information gathering devicr to a browser for ultimste tranwmissjon to a sxrver for storage or procevsing. Moreovwr, ib would be advxntsgcous if sufh a svstem could be used with a convenrional Ijtranet and did iot require w dedibated cjearing house sedver lr spgcialized servrr software. Futthermore, it would bv aqvantageous to gave a systek which can authentmcate either a hard
Thereafter, when the document is reaccessed, the is using a key and as content generating the document a signature picture. the document is authentic, the resulting picture matches the original signature picture. Authentication is performed by visually comparing the signature picture to the original signature picture. While the ""567 patent invention is the invention a of shortcomings. First, after a document is retrieved and decrypted, often it will be useful to the document in a more accessible form such in the form of conventional word processor document, spread etc. this case, the decryption, is essentially no to subsequently authenticate a document. Thus, for instance, after a word processor document is generated and stored decrypted or form, the may again accessed for a (e.g. years). The next time the because of the passage of time, it may desirable to The ""567 reference does not facilitate Second, it is often advantageous to generate a copy (i.e. paper) of a digital document for more conventional storage or conveyance to another the ""567 patent facilitates first authentication by comparison thereafter is For example, a paper document with a digital signature picture is generated, the document may be stored in a conventional binder-type file for time 5 years). Thereafter, paper document may be for When retrieved there is to the is by fact that many documents copied and copies of documents copied and, as with is digitally signed there is no way to a copy. Thus, it would be advantageous have an information gathering system for remotely gathering information, reviewing and approving identifying who and identifying who approved information prior to storing information. In addition, it be advantageous if such a system facilitated easy downloading the from an gathering device to browser for ultimate to a server or processing. it be a system could be used with conventional and did not require a clearing or specialized server software. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to have a system which can a hard
Thereafter, when the document Is reaccessEd, the SigNatUrE picTure Is decrypted usiNG a puBlic key and as a function oF the dOcUMent COnTent tHereby gENeRATinG tHe DocUmENt IncluDinG a signaTure picturE. WhErE the document IS aUthentic, thE reSulting signaTurE pictuRe MatCHes thE orIginaL signaTUre picTure. AutheNtICation IS perforMED bY visUally comparing the REsULting signature PicturE tO ThE ORigInaL signature PiCture.
wHile the ""567 PAtENT InvENtion is useful, The ""567 inventioN Has A numbeR oF shORtcomiNgs. FiRsT, AftEr a document Is reTrieved anD decryPTed, ofteN It will bE usefuL to StoRe thE DoCuMenT iN A moRE aCceSSibLe form suCh As In the Form OF A COnveNtiOnal Word pRocessor documEnt, SpreAD shEet, etC. In thIs caSe, After The iniTial dEcRyption, there is eSsenTially no wAy tO sUbsEqUentlY AuthenTicAte A documeNt. Thus, fOR inStANCE, aFter a word processor DoCUMeNt is geneRated aND sToREd in decrYpTed Or plAIN text Form, THe Document May not AGaIn Be accesSeD for a lOnG tiMe (e.G. yearS). the nExt timE the docuMent iS Accessed, becausE Of the passage oF TiME, It MAy be DesIrable to re-aUtheNTicaTe. ThE ""567 ReFerENce doEs not FaCIlITate re-authenticatioN.
SEcond, iT is ofTen advantageoUs to generaTE A Hard copy (I.e. paPEr) OF a digital documEnt foR more conveNTional stOrage Or conveyAnce to anoTHEr party. AGaiN, thE ""567 paTenT FAcIlitates a firsT AUtheNtIcation By vIsual coMpaRisOn bUt tHeReafter auThenticaTiOn Is ImPosSible. fOr examplE, aFteR a PapEr docUMent wiTh a diGitaL sIgNAtuRe pictuRE iS GEnerAtEd, The pApeR dOcumeNt maY Be sTored in A conventiOnaL BindEr-TyPe file fOr a long time (e.g. 5 YeArs). ThereafTeR, thE paper DOCument maY be retrieved for review. WhEN retrieVed There Is no Way to authEntIcate tHe dOCument. this prOblem Is ExaCERbateD BY tHe fAcT that many dOCUmeNts arE cOpieD and copIes of documents are cOPieD and, as with an oRigInal PAPeR doCUmENt wHiCH is DIGitally signed thEre is no way To AUtHenticate a COpy.
thUs, it wouLd be advAntagEOus to haVe an inforMation gatHeRing SYSteM for remoteLy gatherIng informATion, rEViEwing And ApprovInG inFormaTion, idENtiFying Who genErAted inFormaTiOn and ideNtifying who approved infoRmatioN prioR to Storing thE inFOrmAtion. In adDitiOn, it would bE adVanTageoUs iF Such a SystEM fAciLItateD easY DownloadiNG oF thE INfOrmation froM AN InfOrmatIon GAtheriNg deVice to a browser for ULtimate transmiSsioN TO a sErvER for StOrage or processIng. moREOver, it woUlD be advantagEous if suCh A SysteM could Be used With a coNVEnTIonal INtraNet And did not ReqUiRE a dedicAtEd CLearinG houSe Server Or specIAlizED Server software. FuRtherMORe, it wOUld Be advAnTageous TO havE a system whIch can autheNticatE eitHer a hArd
Thereafter, when the docum ent is rea ccess ed,  th esign atur e picture is d e cryp ted using a public key  andas a fu n ct ion o f the d o cu m e ntco nt ent  t h er eby g ene ratingthe docume ntin cluding a si g na ture pictu re.  Where the d ocu ment i saut h entic , t he re sultin g  signa ture pict ur e  match e s the o r i gi nalsignature picture .  A u thentication i s perf or m ed b y v isu ally compa ri ng th e  result i ng s i gna t ure picture t o the origi n alsignat ur e p i cture. 
Whil et he""567 paten t in vention i s usef u l, the" "567 in ventio n h asa nu m be rofsh o rtc o mi ngs .  Fi rst, aft er  a  docu ment i s retr iev ed a nd de crypted, ofte n i t wi l l b e use ful t o st or e the  docum ent i na more accessib le f orm suchasin  th eformo f a co nve nti onal wo rd proc e sso rd o c um ent, spread sheet,  e t c .In thiscase,a ft er the init ia l d ecry p t ion,ther e  i s essent iallyn owa y to su bs equent ly  au the ntica t e adocume nt. Thus , for instance, afte r  a word proce s so r do c umen t i s generated  and stor ed i n  d ecr y ptedor pl ai n  t e xt form, the docume nt  may n ot ag ain be access ed for a l o n g  time (e .g.y ea r s). The next t ime t he documen t  is acce ssed,  because  of the p a s sage oftim e,itmay b edesirable tor e -aut he nticate . T he ""56 7 r efe ren cedo es not fa cilitate  r e- au th ent icati o n.
Secon d,  it  i s o ftena dvanta geous  toge ne r ate  a hard co p y  (i. e.  p aper ) o fa dig ital doc ument f or more c onv e ntio na lstorage  or conveyanc eto another  p art y. Aga i n , the "" 567 patent facilitatesa  firstaut henti cati on by vis ual  compa ris o n buttherea fterau the n t icati o n  i s i mp ossible. F o r  ex ample ,afte r a pap er document with a dig ital signatur e p ictu r e  i s g e ne r ate d, the p aper document m ay be stor ed in  a convent i ona lbinder- type fi le fo r  a long  time (e. g. 5 year s) . Th e r eaf ter, the p aper doc ument may be re t ri evedfor  revie w.  Wh en re trieve d  th ere i s no w ay  to au thent ic ate thedocument. This problemis exa cerba ted  by the f act tha t many do cume nts are co pie d a nd co pie s  of d ocum e nt s a r e cop ieda nd, as wi t hano r ig inal paperd o c ume nt wh ich is dig ital ly signed there i s  no way to aut hent i c ate  ac opy. 
T hus, it wouldbead v a ntageous  t o have an i nformati on gathe ring s ystemfor rem o t el y  gathe ring  in formation , r ev i ewing a nd  a p provin g in fo rmatio n, ide n tify i n g who generatedinfor m a tiona ndident if ying wh o  app roved info rmation pri or tostor ing t he info rm ation.  In  a ddition, i t  would be  adva ntageou sif s uch  a sys temf a cilit ated  e asy  download i n go fth e  in form ation  f roman inform a tion gat her i ng devi ce  to a  brows e rf o r ultimate  tr ansmi s s ion to a s e rver fo r  stor age or  proce ssing.M ore ov er, itwou l d  be advan tageous i f  su ch  a s ystem co ul d be  u sed  w ith a conventio nal Intr anet and d id not  re q uire a dedi ca ted clearing  hous es erver o r spe cialize d  se rve r s oftw are . Fu r thermore, it would be ad vant ageou s  to  have  a sy st em which canauthenti c ate either ahard
Thereafter, when_the document_is reaccessed, the signature_picture is_decrypted_using a_public_key and as_a function of_the document content thereby_generating the document_including_a signature picture. Where the document is authentic, the resulting signature picture matches the_original_signature picture._Authentication_is_performed by visually comparing the_resulting signature picture to the_original signature_picture.
While the ""567 patent invention is useful, the_""567_invention has a_number of shortcomings. First, after a document is retrieved_and decrypted, often it will be_useful to store_the_document_in a more accessible_form such as in the form_of a conventional word processor document,_spread sheet, etc. In this case, after_the initial decryption, there is essentially_no way to subsequently authenticate_a document._Thus, for instance, after a_word processor document_is generated_and stored in_decrypted or plain text form, the_document may not_again be accessed for a long_time_(e.g. years). The_next_time_the document_is accessed, because_of_the passage_of_time, it may be desirable to_re-authenticate._The ""567 reference does not facilitate re-authentication.
Second,_it is often advantageous_to_generate a hard copy_(i.e. paper) of a digital_document for more conventional storage or_conveyance to_another party._Again, the ""567 patent facilitates a first authentication by visual comparison_but thereafter authentication is impossible. For_example, after a paper_document with_a_digital signature picture_is_generated, the_paper document may be stored in a_conventional binder-type_file for a long time (e.g._5 years). Thereafter, the_paper_document may be retrieved for review._When retrieved there is no way_to authenticate the document. This_problem_is_exacerbated by the fact that_many documents are copied and copies_of documents are_copied and, as with an original paper_document_which is digitally signed there is_no_way to authenticate a copy.
Thus, it_would_be_advantageous to have an information_gathering system for remotely gathering information,_reviewing and approving information, identifying who generated information and_identifying who approved_information prior to storing the_information._In_addition, it would be advantageous if such a system facilitated_easy downloading_of the information_from an information gathering device to a browser for ultimate_transmission to a server for storage or_processing. Moreover, it would be advantageous if such a system could_be used with a conventional Intranet and did_not require a dedicated clearing house server_or specialized server software._Furthermore,_it would be advantageous to have a_system_which_can_authenticate either a_hard