Systems and Methods for Processing a Payment Coupon Image

• US 20110313918A1
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiserv Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fiserv Incorporated
• Inventors: Lawson, Mary Elizabeth, Hobday, Donald Kenneth, Dickerson, Joseph Carl, Whiteside, Barbara Wilson, Dreyer, Hans Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/22 Payment schemes or models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/62 Text, e.g. of license plates, overlay texts or captions on TV images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/224 of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention may provide systems and methods for processing a payment coupon image. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an image representing a payment coupon from a payer, determining an identity of a biller associated with the payment coupon based at least in part on information displayed by the image, and extracting data from the image based at least in part on payment coupon metadata associated with the biller indicating a layout of the payment coupon. The method may further include performing at least one of: (a) processing a payment associated with the payment coupon to the biller based at least in part on the data extracted from the image; (b) adding the biller to a list of billers for a payer associated with the payment coupon; or (c) activating the biller as an electronic biller for the payer associated with the payment coupon.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a payment service provider system comprising one or more computers from a payer, an image representing a payment coupon;

determining, by the payment service provider system, an identity of a biller associated with the payment coupon based at least in part on information displayed by the image;

extracting, by the payment service provider system, data from the image based at least in part on payment coupon metadata associated with the biller indicating a layout of the payment coupon; and

performing, by the payment service provider system, at least one of;

(a) processing a payment associated with the payment coupon to the biller based at least in part on the data extracted from the image;

(b) adding the biller to a list of billers for a payer associated with the payment coupon;

or (c) activating the biller as an electronic biller for the payer associated with the payment coupon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the image comprises one of:

(a) a scanned image of the payment coupon;

or (b) a photograph of the payment coupon.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the identity of the biller comprises extracting the identity of the biller from the image.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein extracting the identity of the biller from the image comprises utilizing optical character recognition processing for at least one predetermined biller location on the image.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the identity of the biller comprises receiving the identity of the biller from the payer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing at least one of:

(a) processing the payment associated with the payment coupon to the biller based at least in part on the data extracted from the image;

(b) adding the biller to the list of billers for the payer associated with the payment coupon;

or (c) activating the biller as an electronic biller for the payer associated with the payment coupon comprises;

determining that the biller is not associated with the list of billers for the payer; and

adding the biller to the list of billers.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein extracting data from the image further comprises:

extracting the payer'"'"'s account identifier from the image based at least in part on the payment coupon metadata; and

storing the address in association with the payer.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein extracting data from the image further comprises:

extracting an address for the biller from the image based at least in part on the payment coupon metadata; and

storing the address in association with the biller.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein performing at least one of:

(a) processing the payment associated with the payment coupon to the biller based at least in part on the data extracted from the image;

(b) adding the biller to the list of billers for the payer associated with the payment coupon;

or (c) activating the biller as an electronic biller for the payer associated with the payment coupon comprises;

determining that the biller is not activated as an electronic biller for the payer; and

activating the biller as an electronic biller for the payer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein extracting data from the image further comprises:

extracting an address for the biller from the image based at least in part on the payment coupon metadata; and

storing the address in association with the biller.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein performing at least one of:

(a) processing the payment associated with the payment coupon to the biller based at least in part on the data extracted from the image;

(b) adding the biller to the list of billers for the payer associated with the payment coupon;

or (c) activating the biller as an electronic biller for the payer associated with the payment coupon comprises;

extracting payment information from the image; and

directing a payment to the biller on behalf of the payer based at least in part on the payment information and the identity of the biller.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the payment information comprises at least one of:

(a) a payment amount;

(b) the payer'"'"'s account identifier;

or (c) a payment date associated with the payment coupon.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising, prior to directing the payment, presenting the payment information to the payer for confirmation or modification.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein extracting data from the image comprises performing optical character recognition processing at one or more predetermined locations in the image based at least in part on the payment coupon metadata.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment coupon metadata is previously stored in association with the biller by the payment service provider system.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment coupon metadata is provided at least in part by the payer.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, prior to extracting data from the image:

determining that no payment coupon metadata is stored in association with the biller;

requesting a respective set of one or more field indicators representing at least an approximate size or an approximate location for one or more fields within the image;

receiving the respective set of one or more field indicators for the one or more fields within the image; and

storing the respective set of one or more field indicators for the one or more fields within the image as the payment coupon metadata in association with the biller.

18. A system, comprising:

at least one memory comprising computer-executable instructions;

at least one communications interface; and

at least one processor in communication with the at least one communications interface and the at least one memory and configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to;

receive an image representing a payment coupon;

determine an identity of a biller associated with the payment coupon based at least in part on information displayed by the image;

extract data from the image based at least in part on payment coupon metadata associated with the biller indicating a layout of the payment coupon; and

perform at least one of;

(a) processing a payment associated with the payment coupon to the biller based at least in part on the data extracted from the image;

(b) adding the biller to a list of billers for a payer associated with the payment coupon;

or (c) activating the biller as an electronic biller for the payer associated with the payment coupon.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to perform optical character recognition processing at one or more predetermined locations in the image based at least in part on the payment coupon metadata.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the payment coupon metadata is previously stored in association with the biller by the payment service provider system.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the payment coupon metadata is provided at least in part by the payer.