Signature management in workflow systems

Abstract

Signatures have been widely used in paper-based work-flow systems for different purposes. Currently there are many studies on computerizing workflow systems. There are also studies on implementing signatures in electronic media. But the diversified purposes of a signature in workflow makes a straight-forward implementation of digital signature schemes inadequate to satisfy the needs of an electronic workflow system. There are few studies on the implication on the purposes of signatures in workflow systems after the change in the media of operation. In this paper, we report our studies on the purposes of signature and our implementing of these purposes in the Liaison workflow system.