Method of duplicate check detection in a check image capture application

• US 20080116257A1
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Fickling, Douglas A.
• Application Number:
  US11/585,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20080116257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3827 Use of message hashing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]

Abstract

A method of duplicate check detection in a remote check image capture application comprises receiving check image data which is representative of an image of a check provided by a user at a remote check image capture device, storing the check image data in a check item database, determining a hash result based upon the check image data received from the user, and comparing the hash result with other hash results stored in a hashing database to determine if there is a match and thereby to allow a determination to be made as to whether the check image data received from the user is representative of a duplicate check provided by the user at the remote check image capture device.

Claims

1. A method of duplicate check detection in a remote check image capture application, the method comprising:

receiving check image data which is representative of an image of a check provided by a user at a remote check image capture device;

storing the check image data in a check item database;

determining a hash result based upon the check image data received from the user; and

comparing the hash result with other hash results stored in a hashing database to determine if there is a match and thereby to allow a determination to be made as to whether the check image data received from the user is representative of a duplicate check provided by the user at the remote check image capture device.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing the hash result in the hashing database to update the hashing database.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

storing in the hashing database a unique object identification pointer which functions as a single key index to directly access the corresponding check image data stored in the check item database.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

storing in the check item database a unique object identification pointer which is associated with the object identification pointer stored in the hashing database.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the unique object identification pointer stored in the check item database is identical to the object identification pointer stored in the hashing database.

6. A method of operating a back office facility of an institution, the method comprising:

receiving check image data which is representative of an image of a check provided by a user at a remote check image capture device;

storing the check image data in a check item database;

determining a hash value based upon the check image data received from the user;

storing the hash value in a hashing database;

comparing the hash value with other hash values already stored in the hashing database to determine if there is a match;

concluding that the check provided by the user at the remote check image capture device is not a duplicate check when there is no match based upon the comparison of the hash value with the other hash values already stored in the hashing database; and

concluding that the check provided by the user at the remote check image capture device may be a duplicate check when there is a match based upon the comparison of the hash value with the other hash values already stored in the hashing database.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

comparing check image data associated with the check with other check image data stored in the check item database to determine if there is a match only when there is a match based upon the comparison of the hash value with the other hash values already stored in the hashing database; and

concluding that the check provided by the user at the remote check image capture device is a duplicate check when there is a match based upon the comparison of the check item data associated with the check with other check image data stored in the check item database.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein (i) the institution comprises a financial institution in the form of a bank, and (ii) the remote check image capture device comprises a table-top check processing terminal located at a merchant'"'"'s check image capture facility which is located remote from the back office facility of the bank.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein (i) the institution comprises a financial institution in the form of a bank, and (ii) the remote check image capture device comprises a table-top check processing terminal located at a bank branch which is located remote from the back office facility of the bank.

10. A method according to claim 6, wherein (i) the institution comprises a third party check processing service provider, and (ii) the remote check image capture device comprises a terminal located at a bank which uses the third party check processing service provider to process checks.

11. A method according to claim 6, wherein (i) the institution comprises a first bank at which checks can be processed, and (ii) the remote check image capture device comprises a terminal located at a second bank which is different from the first bank and which uses the first bank to process checks.

12. A method according to claim 6, wherein the remote check image capture device comprises an image-based self-service check depositing terminal.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the image-based self-service check depositing terminal comprises an image-based check depositing automated teller machine (ATM).

14. A program storage medium readable by a computer having a memory, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for detecting a duplicate check in a remote check image capture application, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving check image data which is representative of an image of a check provided by a user at a remote check image capture device;

(b) storing the check image data in a check item database;

(c) determining a hash result based upon the check image data received from the user; and

(d) comparing the hash result with other hash results stored in a hashing database to determine if there is a match and thereby to allow a determination to be made as to whether the check image data received from the user is representative of a duplicate check provided by the user at the remote check image capture device.

15. A program storage medium according to claim 14, further comprising:

(e) storing the hash result in the hashing database to update the hashing database.

16. A program storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising:

(f) storing in the hashing database a unique object identification pointer which functions as a single key index to directly access the corresponding check image data stored in the check item database.

17. A program storage medium according to claim 16, further comprising:

(g) storing in the check item database a unique object identification pointer which is associated with the object identification pointer stored in the hashing database.