Method for electronically endorsing check images

• US 20070118747A1
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Pintsov, David, Pintsov, Leon
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• 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 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3825 Use of electronic signatures

Abstract

A method of electronically endorsing a check includes obtaining an electronic image of the check and composing an endorsement data element for the check that includes at least first information identifying a party endorsing the check. The method further includes creating a message data file including the electronic image and the endorsement data element, and creating a signed message data file that includes the message data file and a digital signature of the message data file creating using a private key. The private key may be specific to the party endorsing the check or to an electronic device with which the method is implemented. Also, a method of performing an inquiry relating to a check that was endorsed as described above using the endorsement data element.

Claims

1. A method of electronically endorsing a check, comprising:

obtaining an electronic image of said check;

composing an endorsement data element for said check, said endorsement data element including at least a first information element identifying a party endorsing said check;

creating a message data file including said electronic image of said check and said endorsement data element; and

creating a signed message data file, said signed message data file including said message data file and a digital signature of said message data file created by using a private key.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said private key is specific to said party endorsing said check.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method is implemented on an electronic device and wherein said private key is specific to said electronic device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said endorsement data element also includes a second information element identifying a date and/or time on which said check was endorsed.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first information element includes a routing number for said party endorsing said check.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said first information element further includes a branch identifier for said party endorsing said check.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first information element further includes an item sequence number maintained by said party endorsing said check.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said obtaining step comprises generating said electronic image from a paper version of said check.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said electronic image is received by said party endorsing said check from a third party.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining one or more check data elements from said electronic image, wherein said message data file also includes said one or more check data elements.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said check data elements include one or more of the issuing bank routing number of said check, the account number of said check, the check number of said check, the amount of said check, and the address of the party issuing the check.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting said signed message data file to a downstream processor.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising archiving said signed message data file.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to said step of creating said message data file, electronically superimposing said endorsement data element on said electronic image of said check in a manner such that the electronic data element can be seen when viewing the electronic image and optically recognized via OCR/ICR processing.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first information element further includes an item sequence number maintained by a party endorsing said check.

15. A method of performing an inquiry relating to a check, comprising:

obtaining a signed message data file for said check, said signed message data file including a message data file and a digital signature of said message data file created using a private key, said message data file including an electronic image of said check and an endorsement data element including at least a first information element identifying a party endorsing said check;

obtaining and verifying a public key corresponding to said private key;

determining whether said signed message data file can be authenticated using said digital signature and said public key; and

if said signed message data file can be authenticated, retrieving said endorsement data element from said message data file for use in said inquiry.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said private key is specific to a party endorsing said check.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said private key is specific to an electronic device used to endorse said check.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein said endorsement data element also includes a second information element identifying a date and/or time on which said check was endorsed.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein said first information element includes a routing number for a party endorsing said check.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said first information element further includes a branch identifier for said party endorsing said check.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein said endorsement data element is electronically superimposing on said electronic image of said check and can be obtained therefrom through an OCR/ICR process.