LOCKBOX IMAGING SYSTEM

• US 20090060314A1
• Filed: 10/20/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Mathur, Sumit, Mao, Paul, Price, Joanne
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/137
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/10 Image acquisition document image scanning and transmission H04N1/00; control of digital cameras H04N23/60

Abstract

A system and method for imaging and capturing information from checks and documents contained in a lockbox remittance. A computer workstation is used to generate and print a header sheet that includes information identifying the check. The header sheet is appended to the front of the documents and the document are imaged using a scanner. Identifying information from each of the documents is used to create a data record for each document. In parallel to the scanning of the documents, the checks are scanned and images are created for each of the checks. Additionally, identifying information from each of the checks (e.g., the check number, the amount, etc.) is manually input into a database, thus creating a data record for each check. Once all of the data entry and scanning has been completed, an automatic association process takes place in which the check data records, the check images, the document data records and the document images are all automatically associated and cross-referenced such that the system recreates an electronic version of the original batch of physical papers. All of the associated data and images are contained in a database, from which all of the information for a lockbox customer can be electronically retrieved over the Internet.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A lockbox processing system for processing lockbox remittances, the lockbox remittances comprising a check and at least one document associated with the check, the check and at least one document forming a group, the check having a check number associated therewith, the system comprising:

a document capture component, the document capture component scanning the at least one document thereby generating a document image, the document capture component further generating a document data record that identifies the at least one document;

a first memory coupled to the document capture component and storing the document image and the document data record;

a check capture component, the check capture component scanning the check thereby generating a check image, the check capture component further generating a check data record that identifies the check;

a second memory coupled to the check capture component and storing the check image and the check data record; and

a processor coupled to the first memory and the second memory, the processor logically associating the check data record, the document data record, the check image and the document image;

wherein the processor further retrieves the check image and the check data record from one or more of the first memory and the second memory and stores the check image and the check data record in one or more of the first memory and the second memory, and wherein the logical association is performed.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the logical association is performed on one or more of the first memory and the second memory.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the logical association is stored in a memory, from which information for a lockbox customer is retrieved.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the memory comprises one or more of the first memory and the second memory.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the document image comprises one or more of Tagged Image File Format (TIFF), JPEG and GIF.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the check image comprises one or more of Tagged Image File Format (TIFF), JPEG and GIF.

27. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) drive coupled to one or more of the first and second memory, wherein CD-ROM drive is used to generate a CD-ROM containing the check data records, the document data records, the check images and the document images associated with the customer.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the customer performs one or more of the following:

search, retrieve, sort, download and print data records and images.

29. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a portable memory drive coupled to one or more of the first and second memory, wherein the portable memory drive is used to generate a portable memory containing the check data records, the document data records, the check images and the document images associated with the customer.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the customer performs one or more of the following:

search, retrieve, sort, download and print data records and images.

31. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

an interface coupled to one or more of the first memory and the second memory, wherein the interface is capable of allowing a customer with access to the check data records, the document data records, the check images and the document images associated with the customer.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the customer performs one or more of the following:

search, retrieve, sort, download and print data records and images.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the interface comprises one or more of a bulk file interface for access over one or more of Internet, private network, dial up connection and remote connection.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the check data records, the document data records, the check images and the document images associated with the customer are stored on a permanent storage on the system.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the customer accesses the check data records, the document data records, the check images and the document images associated with the customer over a network connection.

36. The system of claim 21, wherein an electronic file containing the check data records, the document data records, the check images and the document images associated with the customer is encrypted and transmitted to the customer over a network connection.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the customer performs one or more of the following:

search, retrieve, sort, download and print data records and images.

38. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a header generator for generating a header sheet wherein the header sheet identifies the document image.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the header sheet comprises a combination of the following:

lockbox number, control number, check number, check amount and time stamp.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the header sheet identifies the group.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the header sheet comprises a bar code.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the bar code comprises a two-dimensional bar code.

43. The system of claim 21, wherein a key is associated with the document image for subsequent association.

44. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor accesses the header sheet when the processor detects an error.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein header sheet is modified.

46. The system of claim 21 further comprising an interface capable of allowing a customer with access to the check data records, the document data records, the check images and the document images associated with the customer.

47. The system of claim 21 further comprising an interface capable of transmitting to a customer the document data records, the check images and the document images associated with the customer.

48. The system of claim 31, wherein the interface is accessed over one or more of Internet, private network, dial up connection and remote connection.