Ubiquitous Imaging Device Based Check Image Capture

• US 20110310442A1
• Filed: 04/15/2011
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lighthouse Consulting Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Lighthouse Consulting Group LLC
• Inventors: Popadic, Robert P., Popadic, John R., Gazda, Thomas E., Lipoff, Stuart J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,590,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/403
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0425 the cheque being electronic only
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency

Abstract

A method or corresponding apparatus for remote transmission of a negotiable instrument. In an example embodiment, the process provides a carrier that secures a negotiable instrument. Next, the process creates a unique identifier, associated with the carrier, and generates an electronic image of the negotiable instrument. After generating the electronic image, the process transmits the electronic image of the negotiable instrument and the unique identifier to a remote location. The negotiable instrument may be transmitted via a fax, a scanner, a device designed to transmit electronic data, other image device compatible with ITU-T recommendations T.30 or T.4, or combination thereof. The process may also verify the negotiable instrument has a valid endorsement, verify image quality of the electronic image to ensure compliance with financial industry standards, or validate any received security information.

Claims

1. A system for remote depositing of a negotiable instrument comprising:

a carrier for receiving a negotiable instrument, the carrier having an identifier on a front and back side of the carrier, the identifier being unique to the carrier and designed to permit a front image and back image of the negotiable instrument to be generated;

an imaging device for separately generating and transmitting the electronic image of the front and back of the negotiable instrument and the unique identifier, while the negotiable instrument is secured to the carrier;

a link configured to permit the image device to be in communication with a network for directing the front and back electronic image to a remote location for subsequent pairing of the front and back image of the negotiable instrument using the unique identifier; and

a receiving unit at the remote location for receiving and storing for later pairing separately transmitted front and back images of the negotiable instrument and subsequently to pair the front image of the negotiable instrument having the associated unique identifier to a separately received corresponding back image of the negotiable instrument having the associated unique identifier, so as to provide a complete image of the negotiable instrument.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the carrier further includes one of:

a transparent sealing carrier, transparent non-sealing carrier having pockets, transparent non-sealing carrier without pockets, a non-transparent cut-out carrier, a transparent carrier with an inserted negotiable instrument, a single sided carrier, and two sided carrier.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the carrier further includes one of:

a seal to retain the negotiable instrument therewith, an identifier to indicate the negotiable instrument is processed, or a feature to permit alignment of the negotiable instrument in a specified manner.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the negotiable instrument is a check or deposit slip.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the image device includes one of a fax, a scanner, a device designed to transmit electronic data, other image devices compatible with ITU-T recommendations T.30 or T.4, other communications protocols compatible with banking industry standards, or combination thereof.

6. A carrier for a negotiable instrument, the carrier comprising:

a body portion designed to permit a front image and a back image of the negotiable instrument, when the negotiable instrument is secured thereto, to be generated;

an identifier on a front side and back side of the carrier to be imaged with the front and back of the negotiable instrument, the identifier being unique to;

an alignment indicator that permits positioning the negotiable instrument; and

a surface, on the body portion, made from a material that can avoid interference with transmission of an electronic image of the front and back of the negotiable instrument and the unique identifier, while the negotiable instrument is secured to the carrier, and with subsequent pairing of the front and back image of the negotiable instrument at a remote location.

7. The carrier of claim 6 wherein the surface is capable of providing deposit or endorsement information.

8. The carrier of claim 6 wherein the body portion includes a second surface capable of providing deposit or endorsement information.

9. The carrier of claim 6 wherein the body portion includes one of a seal or pocket.

10. The carrier of claim 6 wherein the surface is transparent.

11. The carrier of claim 6 wherein the surface includes one of:

a pattern, half tone markings, a sequence number, a bar code, a cryptography bar code, or an invisible marking.

12. The carrier of claim 6 wherein the body portion allows the negotiable instrument to be stored in a permanent manner.

13. The carrier of claim 6 wherein the surface of the body portion is further designed to permit a marking to be provided on the negotiable instrument to prevent re-processing of the negotiable instrument.

14. The carrier of claim 6 wherein the alignment indicator is a registration mark or an adhesive strip.

15. A system for remote depositing of a negotiable instrument comprising:

a carrier for receiving a negotiable instrument and designed to permit a front and back image of the negotiable instrument, when the negotiable instrument is secured to the carrier, to be generated, the carrier having an identifier unique to the carrier and associated therewith, and a surface area for providing deposit information;

an imaging device for separately generating and transmitting the electronic image of the front and back of the negotiable instrument and the unique identifier, while the negotiable instrument is secured to the carrier;

a link configured to permit the image device to be in communication with a network for directing the front and back electronic image to a remote location for subsequent pairing of the front and back image of the negotiable instrument using the unique identifier; and

a receiving unit at the remote location for receiving and storing for later pairing separately transmitted front and back images of the negotiable instrument and subsequently to pair the front image of the negotiable instrument having the associated unique identifier to a separately received corresponding back image of the negotiable instrument having the associated unique identifier, so as to provide a complete image of the negotiable instrument.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the carrier further includes one of:

a transparent sealing carrier, transparent non-sealing carrier having pockets, transparent non-sealing carrier without pockets, a non-transparent cut-out carrier, a transparent carrier with an inserted negotiable instrument, a single sided carrier, and two sided carrier.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the carrier further includes one of:

a seal to retain the negotiable instrument therewith, an identifier to indicate the negotiable instrument is processed, or a feature to permit alignment of the negotiable instrument in a specified manner.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the negotiable instrument is a check or deposit slip.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the image device includes one of a fax, a scanner, a device designed to transmit electronic data, other image devices compatible with ITU-T recommendations T.30 or T.4, other communications protocols compatible with banking industry standards, or combination thereof.

20. A carrier for a negotiable instrument, the carrier comprising:

a surface to which a negotiable instrument can be attached and made from a material that permits a front image and a back image of the negotiable instrument, when the negotiable instrument is secured to the surface, to be generated for subsequent pairing of the front and back image using the unique identifier;

an identifier unique to the surface and associated therewith;

an adhesive strip that permits positioning and securing the negotiable instrument;

a preprinted area on the surface onto which deposit information can be entered and which can be imaged with the negotiable instrument; and

a constraint box in the preprinted area where deposit information can be entered, to improve the readability of hand printed information.

21. The carrier of claim 20 wherein the surface includes one of:

a pattern, half tone markings, a sequence number, a bar code, a cryptography bar code, or an invisible marking.

22. The carrier of claim 20 wherein the body portion allows the negotiable instrument to be stored in a permanent manner.

23. The carrier of claim 20 wherein the surface on the body portion is further designed to permit a marking to be provided on the negotiable instrument to prevent re-processing of the negotiable instrument.

24. A carrier for a negotiable instrument and an associated deposit ticket, the carrier and associated deposit ticket comprising:

a body portion of the carrier designed to permit a front image and a back image of the negotiable instrument and associated deposit ticket, when the negotiable instrument and associated deposit ticket are secured thereto, to be generated;

an identifier on a front side and back side of the associated deposit ticket to be imaged with the front and back respectively of the negotiable instrument, the identifier being unique to the associated deposit ticket; and

a surface, on the body portion of the carrier, made from a material that can avoid interference with transmission of an electronic image of the front and back of the negotiable instrument and the associated deposit ticket including the unique identifier, while the negotiable instrument is secured to the carrier, and with subsequent pairing of the front and back image of the negotiable instrument at a remote location.

25. The carrier of claim 24 wherein the body portion includes one of a seal or pocket.

26. The carrier of claim 24 wherein the wherein the surface is transparent.

27. The carrier of claim 24 wherein the surface includes one of:

a pattern, half tone markings, a sequence number, a bar code, a cryptography bar code, or an invisible marking.

28. The carrier of claim 24 wherein the body portion allows the negotiable instrument to be stored in a permanent manner.

29. The carrier of claim 24 wherein the surface of the body portion is further designed to permit a marking to be provided on the negotiable instrument to prevent re-processing of the negotiable instrument.