Transaction automation and archival system using electrode contract disclosure units

摘要

A system is provided for controlling, real-time logging, and archiving complex commercial transactions such as the purchase and financing of an automobile. An electronic contract disclosure unit or ECDU includes a digitizing display for imaging documents involved in the transaction and a digitizer for manual interaction with images on the display. A computer controls the transaction, and may for instance, control the order of presentation of documents to a vehicle purchaser, receive the purchaser's signature on the displayed documents when required, offer choices of various packages that can be accepted or declined by the purchaser, and insures that the entire transaction is carried out properly. The ECDU logs the transaction for future review and preferably records video and audio. Fingerprint readers allow participants to select between options by pressing their thumb or finger on the readers.

主权项

1. A system for managing a business transaction requiring at least the presentation of documents by at least one first user and the signing of documents on at least one page thereof by at least one second user, the system comprising:
a housing having a substantially flat upper surface, the housing being sized and configured for placement between the first user and the second user with the upper surface being oriented generally horizontally and being accessible by the first user and by the second user; a digitizing display within the housing and visible through the upper surface of the housing, the digitizing display including a video display on which images of pages of documents can be displayed and a digitizer configured to detect motion of at least one stylus on the upper surface of the housing; a collaborative volume defined above the upper surface of the housing and within which the first user and the second user interact with each other and with the digitizing display during a business transaction; a computer operatively coupled to the digitizing display; software in the computer that, when executed, displays images of pages of documents associated with the business transaction on the video display and receives and interprets motion of the at least one stylus on the upper surface of the housing; the software, when executed, permitting pages of documents associated with the business transaction to be displayed in one orientation for the first user and to be displayed in a different orientation for the second user; and an audio system coupled to the computer, the audio system being configured to produce sounds during a business transaction from at least one location displaced from the video display, the at least one location being selected such that the source of the sounds appears to the first and second users to be generally from within the collaborative volume during the business transaction.