Check anti-fraud security system

• US 20030219122A1
• Filed: 02/13/2003
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Servicios Especializados Y Tecnologia Informatica SA
• Original Assignee: Servicios Especializados Y Tecnologia Informatica SA
• Inventors: Ramirez, Rodolfo, Rangel, Armando
• Granted Patent: US 7,739,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/54
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0047 using checkcodes, e.g. coded numbers derived from serial number and denomination
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/04 Testing magnetic properties of the materials thereof, e.g. by detection of magnetic imprint G07D7/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/12 Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

A system and method for check anti-fraud security includes a system installed with an optional printer for printing the check base identification, a camera/scanner/reader coupled to the production printer for imaging/scanning/reading check base identification and MICR line information of the check, a data processing equipment to generate the unique check identification based on the imaged data, a database in communication with the camera/scanner/reader for storing the unique identification information, and a check validation infrastructure in communication with the database for validating the check in accordance with the database when the check is issued to a recipient; and further includes a corresponding method for identifying a check base stock, imaging check base identification and MICR line information of the printed check, generating the unique check identification, storing the unique check identification information in a database and validating the check in accordance with the database when the check is issued to a recipient.

Claims

1. A method for check anti-fraud security comprising:

identifying the check base stock;

at least one of imaging, scanning and reading check base identification and MICR line information of the printed check;

generating a unique identification for each check;

storing the unique check identification information in a database; and

validating the check in accordance with the database when the check is issued to a recipient and presented for payment.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving base stock;

at least one of imaging, scanning and reading check base identification information of the base stock;

storing the check base stock identification information in the database;

controlling the use of the base stock in a production process;

correlating the unique check identification information with the check base stock identification information; and

storing the correlation information in the database.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein said correlating is performed contemporaneously with said printing.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of reading and scanning a check presented for payment;

validating the check in accordance with the database;

moving the check information from the database to an historic database; and

updating a log database.

5. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein each of the live checks database, the historic database and the log database comprise encrypted access paths.

6. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein said validating comprises returning one of a Valid or an Invalid answer.

7. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising:

maintaining at least one of a lost check database and a cancelled check database; and

validating the check presented for payment in accordance with the at least one database.

8. A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising updating the database with checkbook delivery information contemporaneously with at least one of distribution to a bank and distribution to an account holder.

9. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for check anti-fraud security, the method steps comprising:

identifying check base stock;

at least one of imaging, scanning and reading check base identification and MICR line information of a printed check;

generating the unique identification for each check

storing the unique check identification information in a database, and

validating the check in accordance with the database when the check is issued to a recipient and presented for payment.

10. A program storage device as defined in claim 9, the steps further comprising:

receiving base stock;

imaging check base identification information of the base stock;

storing the check base stock identification information in the database;

controlling the use of the base stock in a production process;

correlating the unique check identification information with the check base stock identification information; and

storing the correlation information in the database.

11. A program storage device as defined in claim 10 wherein said correlating step is performed contemporaneously with said printing.

12. A program storage device as defined in claim 9, the steps further comprising:

reading a check presented for payment;

validating the read check in accordance with the database;

moving the check information from the database to an historic database; and

updating a log database.

13. A program storage device as defined in claim 12 wherein each of the live check database, the historic database and the log database comprise encrypted access paths.

14. A program storage device as defined in claim 12 wherein said validating step comprises returning one of a Valid or an Invalid answer.

15. A program storage device as defined in claim 12, the steps further comprising:

maintaining at least one of a lost check database and a cancelled check database; and

validating the check presented for payment in accordance with the at least one database.

16. A program storage device as defined in claim 10, the steps further comprising updating the database with checkbook delivery information contemporaneously with at least one of distribution to a bank and distribution to an account holder.

17. A check anti-fraud security system comprising:

identification means for identifying check base stock;

receiving means for at least one of imaging, scanning and reading check base identification and MICR line information of a printed check;

data processing means for generating a unique check identification;

storing means for storing the unique check identification information in a database; and

validating means for validating the check authenticity in accordance with the database when the check is issued to a recipient.

18. A system as defined in claim 17, further comprising:

receiving means for receiving base stock;

second receiving means for at least one of imaging, scanning and reading check base stock identification information of the base stock;

second storing means for storing the check base stock identification information in the database;

correlating means for correlating the unique check identification information with the unique base stock identification information; and

third storing means for storing the correlation information in the database.

19. A system as defined in claim 18 wherein said correlating means is for use contemporaneously with said printing means.

20. A system as defined in claim 17, further comprising:

third receiving means for at least one of scanning and reading a check presented for payment;

first data processing means for validating the read check in accordance with the database;

second data processing means for moving the check information from the database to an historic database; and

third data processing means for updating a log database.

21. A system as defined in claim 20 wherein each of the live check database, the historic database and the log database comprise encrypted access paths.

22. A system as defined in claim 20 wherein said first data processing means comprises returning means for returning one of a Valid or an Invalid answer.

23. A system as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

fourth data processing means for maintaining at least one of a lost check database and a cancelled check database; and

fifth data processing means for validating the check presented for payment in accordance with the at least one database.

24. A system as defined in claim 18, further comprising sixth data processing means for updating the database with checkbook delivery information contemporaneously with at least one of distribution to a bank and distribution to an account holder.

25. A system for check anti-fraud security comprising:

a production apparatus for identifying check base stock;

an input device coupled to the production apparatus for at least one of imaging, scanning and reading unique identification information of the check;

a database in signal communication with the input device for storing the unique identification information; and

a check validation infrastructure in signal communication with the database for validating the check in accordance with the database when the check is issued to a recipient.

26. A system as defined in claim 25 wherein the production apparatus comprises a printer.

27. A system as defined in claim 25, further comprising a second input device in signal communication with the database for at least one of imaging, scanning and reading check base stock identification information of a base stock prior to printing.

28. A system as defined in claim 25, further comprising at least one biometric device in signal communication with the database for verifying the identity of a user.

29. A system as defined in claim 25, further comprising an MICR reader in signal communication with the check validation infrastructure for at least one of imaging, scanning and reading unique identification information of the issued check prior to validation.