Electronic check

• US 20060161501A1
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Echeck21 LLC
• Original Assignee: Gabrit Concourse, Inc.
• Inventors: Bansal, Atal, Waserstein, Alan I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,113,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/65
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0425 the cheque being electronic only
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/128 Check-book balancing, updating or printing arrangements

Abstract

An electronic check that is created by a secure electronic transmission which can be printed as a paper check by the payee. The electronic check is created by a software program that makes a digital image of the check, securely encrypts the digital image and transmits the digital image to the payee. The payee then uses special software to decrypt the transmitted check image, which is then capable of being printed as a paper check by the payee. The payee can deposit the paper check to the bank. Optionally, the payee can electronically transmit the check image to the payee'"'"'s bank.

Claims

1. A method for securely transmitting an electronic check comprising:

preparation of an encrypted electronic check which is a digital image of a paper check by a payor;

said digital image including a bar code containing a digital signature and information selected from the group consisting of pavor'"'"'s details, bank information check amount and combinations thereof;

transmission of said electronic check to a payee;

decryption and receipt of said electronic check by payee; and

conversion of said electronic check to a paper check by the payee.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic check is prepared utilizing software on a personal computer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said software communicates with and updates said payor'"'"'s accounting software.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein during the preparation of said electronic check, said electronic check is encrypted with symmetric key encryption.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein during the preparation of said electronic check, said electronic check is encrypted with public key infrastructure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein during receipt of said electronic check by said payee, said electronic check is decrypted by said payee.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission of said electronic check is by email.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission of said electronic check is through a payment gateway.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission of said electronic check is through a secure web-based application.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said conversion of said electronic check is performed by a printer.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein said digital signature is created using a payor'"'"'s private key and at least a portion of the bar code information, and wherein said bar code information is selected from the group consisting of payor details, payee details, bank information, check details, a payor name, a payor account number, a payee name, a check amount, a check date, a check number, a bank ach routing number and combinations thereof.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic check contains a visible background that repeats unencrypted information from said electronic check, wherein said unencrypted information is selected from the group consisting of payor details, payee details, bank information, check details, payor name, a payor account number, a payee name, a check dollar amount, a check date, a check number, a bank ach routing number and combinations thereof.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic check is decrypted before receipt by the payee.

37. The method of claim 8, including notifying the payee that said electronic check has been received by said payment gateway;

and transmitting said electronic check by the payment gateway upon request by payee.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said electronic check is decrypted before transmission by the payment gateway.

11. A method for transmitting a payment using an electronic check comprising the steps of:

preparation by a pavor using a software program of a digital image of a paper check including a bar code containing a digital signature and information selected from the group consisting of payor'"'"'s details, bank information check amount and combinations thereof;

encryption of said digital image as said electronic check;

transmission of said electronic check to a payee; and

decryption of said electronic check to produce an image of said paper check.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said digital image of said electronic check is encrypted with symmetric key encryption.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said digital image of said electronic check is encrypted with public key infrastructure encryption.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said transmission of said electronic check is by email.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said transmission of said electronic check is through a non-financial payment gateway.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said transmission of said electronic check is through a financial payment gateway.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said transmission of said electronic check is through a secure web-based application.

18. The method of claim 11, comprising the further step of converting said digital image of said electronic check to a paper check by printing a paper check from said digital image of said electronic check.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said electronic check is further transmitted by said payee to a bank prior to said decryption.

28. The method of claim 11, wherein said digital signature is created using a payor'"'"'s private key and at least a portion of the bar code information, wherein said bar code information is selected from the group consisting of payor details, payee details, bank information, check details, a payor name, a payor account number, a payee name, a check amount, a check date, a check number, a bank ach routing number and combinations thereof.

29. The method of claim 11, wherein said electronic check contains a visible background that repeats unencrypted information from said electronic check, wherein said unencrypted information is selected from the group consisting of payor details, payee details, bank information, check details, a payor name, a payor account number, a payee name, a check dollar amount, a check date, a check number, a bank ach routing number and combinations thereof.

39. The method of claim 15, including notifying the payee that said electronic check has been received by said payment gateway;

and transmitting said electronic check by the payment gateway upon request by payee.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said electronic check is decrypted before transmission by the payment gateway.

20. A system for transmitting a payment electronically comprising:

means for a payor to prepare an electronic check by inputting a payment amount, payee name and payee address into a payor software program wherein said software program generates a digital image of a paper check as said electronic check and a payee public key including a bar code containing a digital signature and information selected from the group consisting of payor'"'"'s details bank information, check amount and combinations thereof;

means for encryption of said electronic check utilizing said payee pubic key;

means for transmission of said electronic check by said payor to a payee;

means for receipt of said electronic check said payee'"'"'s private key; and

means for printing of a paper check from said electronic check.

21. The system of claim 20, including a payment gateway and wherein said payor has obtained said payee'"'"'s public key from a payment gateway.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein said digital signature is created using a payor'"'"'s private key and at least a portion of the bar code information, wherein said digital signature is appended to said unencrypted information, and wherein said bar code information is selected from the group consisting of payor details, payee details, bank information, check details, a payor name, a payor account number, a payee name, a check amount, a check date, a check number, a bank ach routing number and combinations thereof.

32. The system of claim 20, including means to provide in said electronic check a visible background that repeats unencrypted information from said electronic check, wherein said unencrypted information is selected from the group consisting of payor details, payee details, bank information, check details, a payor name, a payor account number, a payee name, a check dollar amount, a check date, a check number, a bank ach routing number and combinations thereof.

41. The method of claim 20, wherein said transmission means transmits said electronic check to said payment gateway and said payment gateway transmits the electronic check to said receipt means of the payee.

22-27. -27. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

42. A method for transmitting a payment using an electronic check comprising the steps of:

preparation by a payor using a software program of a digital image of a paper check including a bar code containing a digital signature and information selected from the group consisting of payor'"'"'s details, bank information, check amount and combinations thereof;

encryption of said digital image as said electronic check;

transmission of said electronic check via one of e-mail and a secure web-based application.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said program includes in the electronic check a visible background that repeats unencrypted information from said electronic check, wherein said unencrypted information is selected from the group consisting of payor'"'"'s details, payee'"'"'s details, bank information, check details, payor'"'"'s name, a payor'"'"'s account number, a payee'"'"'s name, a check dollar amount, a check date, a check number, a bank ach routing number and combinations thereof.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the digital image is encrypted with public key infrastructure.

45. A device for transmitting a payment electronically comprising:

means for a payor to prepare an electronic check by inputting a payment amount, and payee'"'"'s name into a payor software program wherein said software program generates a digital image of a paper check as said electronic check including a bar code containing a digital signature and information selected from the group consisting of payor'"'"'s details bank information, check amount and combinations thereof;

means for encryption of said electronic check; and

means for transmission of said electronic check by said payor via one of e-mail and a secure web-based application; and

46. The device of claim 45, said program providing in said electronic check a visible background that repeats unencrypted information from said electronic check, wherein said unencrypted information is selected from the group consisting of payor details, payee details, bank information, check details, payor name, a payor account number, a payee name, a check dollar amount, a check date, a check number, a bank ach routing number and combinations thereof.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the electronic check is encrypted with public key infrastructure.

48. A method for transmitting a payment using an electronic check comprising the steps of:

preparation by a payor using a software program of a digital image of a paper check;

said program providing a visible background in the digital image that repeats unencrypted information from said electronic check selected from the group consisting of payor'"'"'s details, payee'"'"'s details, bank information, check details, payor'"'"'s name, a payor'"'"'s account number, a payee'"'"'s name, a check dollar amount, a check date, a check number, a bank ach routing number and combinations thereof;

encryption of said digital image as said electronic check; and

transmission of said electronic check via one of e-mail and a secure web-based application.

49. A device for transmitting a payment electronically comprising:

means for a payor to prepare an electronic check by inputting a payment amount, and payee'"'"'s name into a payor software program;

said software program generates a digital image of a paper check as said electronic check with a visible background that repeats unencrypted information from said electronic check selected from the group consisting of payor details, payee details, bank information, check details, payor name, a payor account number, a payee name, a check dollar amount, a check date, a check number, a bank ach routing number and combinations thereof;

means for encryption of said electronic check; and

means for transmission of said electronic check by said payor via one of e-mail and a secure web-based application.