Method and apparatus for embedding encrypted images of signatures and other data on checks

• US 20030115470A1
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Breidenbach, Jeff, Jagannathan, Rangaswamy, Cousins, Steve B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,228,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/179
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide a check validation scheme wherein a payor'"'"'s signature is digitized, encrypted and embedded on the front of the check using glyphs. When the payor seeks to convert a blank check into a negotiable instrument, the user fills out the check and signs it. When the check is presented to a bank for payment, a teller using a decoding device, decodes and decrypts the digitized signature such that a human-readable image of the digitized signature can be seen on a screen for comparison with the payor'"'"'s scripted signature. If the two signatures are identical, the check is honored.

Claims

1. An apparatus for creating a tamper-proof document, comprising:

an encoder for digitally encoding a handwritten signature; and

a printer for creating a tamper-proof document comprising the digitally encoded signature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tamper-proof document is a third party check.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digitally encoded signature is printed on the document in the form of glyph marks.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digitally encoded signature is printed on the document in the form of a 2-D barcode.

5. A method for creating a tamper-proof document, comprising:

digitally encoding a handwritten signature; and

printing the tamper-proof document comprising the digitally encoded signature.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the tamper-proof document is a third party check.

7. A method for creating a tamper-proof document, the method comprising;

digitally encoding a user-inputted portion of the document; and

printing the tamper-proof document comprising the encoded information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user-inputted portion is handwritten.

9. A method for ensuring that a document has not been altered, comprising:

digitally encoding a user-inputted portion of the document;

printing the document comprising the encoded information;

decoding the encoded information; and

comparing the decoded information with the user-inputted portion; and

identifying the document as altered, if the decoded information is not identical to the user-inputted portion.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user-inputted portion is handwritten.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the decoded information is a graphical recreation of the user-inputted portion.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the decoding step further comprises placing the document under a viewport, wherein the viewport converts the encoded information to decoded information.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of superimposing the decoded information on the document.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of displaying the decoded information outside of the document.

15. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method for creating a tamper-proof document, the method comprising:

digitally encoding a handwritten signature; and

printing the tamper-proof document comprising the digitally encoded signature.

16. The computer-readable medium of 15, wherein the tamper-proof document is a third party check.

17. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a data processing system to perform a method for creating a tamper-proof document, the method comprising;

digitally encoding a user-inputted portion of the document; and

printing the tamper-proof document comprising the encoded information.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the user-inputted portion is handwritten.

19. A third-party check comprising:

user-inputted information; and

a digitally encoded representation of the user-inputted information;

wherein the digitally encoded representation may be decoded and compared to the user-inputted information to verify that the third-party check has not been altered.

20. The third-party check of claim 19, wherein the user-inputted information is a handwritten signature.

21. The third-party check of claim 19, wherein the user-inputted information is a payor.

22. The third-party check of claim 19, wherein the user-inputted information is a payee.

23. The third-party check of claim 19, wherein the user-inputted information is a dollar amount.

24. A third-party check comprising:

human-readable information; and

a digitally encoded representation of the human-readable information;

wherein the digitally encoded representation may be decoded and compared to the human-readable information to verify that the third-party check has not been altered.

25. The third-party check of claim 24, wherein the human-readable information is a handwritten signature.

26. The third-party check of claim 24, wherein the human-readable information is a payor.

27. The third-party check of claim 24, wherein the human-readable information is a payee.

28. The third-party check of claim 24, wherein the human-readable information is a dollar amount.

29. The third-party check of claim 24, wherein the human-readable information is a MICR line.