Patents

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Patents [Abstract]

Patents

4. Patents

Patents, net consists of the following at December 31:

	Expiration	Estimated Original Life	2011	2010
Patent (Various)	Various	5	$           9	$          9
Patent (Various)	Various	7	476	476
5544255	2013	13	93	93
5647017	2014	14	187	187
5818955	2015	15	373	373
6064751	2017	17	1,213	1,213
6091835	2017	17	4,394	4,394
			6,745	6,745
Less accumulated amortization			(4,725)	(4,353)
			$    2,020	$   2,392

The nature of the underlying technology of each material patent is as follows:

• Patent numbers 5544255, 5647017, 5818955 and 6064751 involve (a) the electronic capture of a handwritten signature utilizing an electronic tablet device on a standard computer system within an electronic document, (b) the verification of the identity of the person providing the electronic signature through comparison of stored signature measurements, and (c) a system to determine whether an electronic document has been modified after signature.
  
  
• Patent number 6091835 involves all of the foregoing and the recording of the electronic execution of a document regardless of whether execution occurs through a handwritten signature, voice pattern, fingerprint or other identifiable means.
  
  
• Patent numbers 5933514, 6212295, 6381344, and 6487310 involve methods and processes related to handwriting recognition developed by the Company over the years. Legal fees associated with these patents were immaterial and expensed as the fees were incurred.

The Company does not foresee any effects of obsolescence or significant competitive pressure on its current or future products, anticipates increasing demand for products utilizing the patented technology, and believes that the current markets for its products based on the patented technology will remain constant or will grow over the remaining useful lives assigned to the patents because of a legal, regulatory and business environment encouraging the use of electronic signatures.