Image-Based Financial Processing

• US 20120284185A1
• Filed: 05/04/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lumber Labs, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mettler, Michael, Snyder, Josh Bleecher
• Granted Patent: US 10,402,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0425 the cheque being electronic only
• 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 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

Image-based processing of sources of financial information for financial transactions is provided. A device is enabled to acquire one or more images including a representation of a source of financial information. The device can validate the source, independent of the financial information in a preliminary analysis. If the source is validated, one or more images are used to acquire the financial information. The financial information is then validated. If the financial information is valid, authorization of the financial transaction can be initiated.

Claims

1. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on the one or more processor readable storage devices, the processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of image-based processing for financial transactions, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of images at a first computing device, each image including at least a partial representation of a source of financial information associated with a first transaction;

for each image, determining from the at least partial representation whether the source meets at least one requirement indicating validity;

if the source meets the at least one requirement, sending at least a first image of the source from the first computing device to a second computing device; and

determining the financial information from the at least a first image of the source at the second computing device.

2. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether the financial information is valid at the second computing device.

3. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

if the financial information is determined to be valid, authorizing the first transaction using the financial information at the second computing device.

4. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

if the financial information is determined to be valid, sending a request to a third computing device for authorization of the first transaction using the financial information.

5. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving at the second computing device a response to the request for authorization of the first transaction;

sending an authorization for the first transaction from the second computing device to the first computing device if the response indicates that the first transaction is authorized; and

sending an authorization denial for the first transaction from the second computing device to the first computing device if the response indicates that the first transaction is not authorized.

6. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 2, wherein authorization of the first transaction using the financial information includes authenticating the financial information and authorizing the first transaction if the financial information is authenticated.

7. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

sending the financial information from the second computing device to the first computing device.

8. One or more processor-readable storage devices according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of images includes a plurality of additional representations and for each image, determining from the at least partial representation whether the source meets at least one requirement indicating validity includes:

identifying a first pair of opposing parallel edges and a second pair of opposing parallel edges in the image; and

identifying the representation of the source based on the first and second pair of edges.

9. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 1, wherein for each image, determining from the at least partial representation whether the source meets at least one requirement indicating validity includes:

determining whether the at least partial representation of the source includes at least one predetermined image.

10. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 9, wherein the at least one predetermined image includes an image associated with a credit card processor.

11. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 10, wherein the credit card processor is a credit card issuer.

12. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 9, wherein the at least one predetermined image is a logo.

13. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 9, wherein the at least one predetermined image includes a background image associated with a credit card processor.

14. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the source meets at least one requirement indicating validity for the transaction comprises determining whether the source meets one or more predetermined aspect ratios.

15. A computer-implemented method of image-based processing in financial transactions, comprising:

receiving a plurality of images at a first device, each image including at least a partial representation of a source of financial information that is associated with a first transaction;

for each image, determining from the at least partial representation of the source whether the source meets at least one requirement indicating validity; and

if the source meets the at least one requirement in one or more of the plurality of images, determining financial information based on the representation of the source in each image.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

determining whether the financial information meets at least one requirement indicating validity for the first transaction; and

if the financial information is determined to be valid, sending to a second device an authorization request including the financial information for the first transaction.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving from the second device a response to the authorization request;

providing an authorization for the first transaction at the first device if the response indicates that the first transaction is authorized; and

providing an authorization denial for the first transaction at the first device if the response indicates that the first transaction is not authorized.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein if the source does not meet the at least one requirement indicating validity in one or more of the plurality of images, the method further comprises:

determining not to perform character recognition on any of the plurality of images.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein:

the first device is a client device; and

the second device is a source processor.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein:

the first device is a validation server; and

the second device is a source processor.

21. A method of processing financial transactions, comprising:

receiving financial information associated with a plurality of sources of financial information;

storing the financial information at a client device;

initiating a first transaction at the client device using a first source of the plurality;

receiving a first image of the first source at the client device in response to initiating the first transaction; and

authenticating the financial information using the first image of the first source.

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

sending a request for authorization of the first transaction using the financial information if the financial information is authenticated using the first image.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein authenticating the financial information comprises:

sending the first image of the first source to a validation server;

receiving a response from the validation server including a character analysis of the image of the first source; and

comparing the character analysis from the validation server to the financial information stored at the client device.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein authenticating the financial information comprises:

validating the first source by comparing the first image to a set of predefined criteria for valid sources of financial information at the client device;

performing character recognition on the first image at the client device; and

comparing the character recognition to the financial information stored at the client device;

wherein the client device does not perform character recognition if the first source is not validated.

25. A method according to claim 21, wherein receiving the image of the first source comprises:

capturing the image from a camera on the client device after initiating the first transaction.

26. A method according to claim 21, wherein:

the financial information stored the client device includes at least one pre-acquired image of the first source; and

authenticating the financial information comprises comparing the at least one pre-acquired image to the first image at the client device.