Methods of Constructing a Paper Check

• US 20170076257A1
• Filed: 09/15/2015
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: EFT Network, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EFT Network, Inc.
• Inventors: Davis, Steven, Oestreicher, Seth, Northrop, Robert, Klamen, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 10,289,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3221 Access to banking information through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/128 Check-book balancing, updating or printing arrangements

Abstract

For a consumer having a bank checking account but who is without a preprinted paper check, a paper check is electronically constructed for the consumer on a transaction basis.

Claims

1. A method of constructing a check, comprising:

generating, performed by a computer, a transaction number for a new transaction in which a payor is expected to pay a payee by check;

receiving, performed by a computer, a set of data that has been entered by a human into data input fields and associating, performed by, a computer, the set of data with the transaction number, wherein the data set comprises;

a Name of the Payor;

a Name of the Payee;

an Amount to be paid by check by the Payor to the Payee;

a number proffered by the payor as being a Routing Number of a bank account of the Payor;

at least one selected from the group consisting of a Telephone Number of the Payor and an email of the Payor;

processing and formatting, performed by a computer, the data set into at least one webpage specific to the transaction number, wherein the webpage comprises an image of a front of a check payable to the Payee for the Amount and in which the Routing Number displays at a bottom of the check;

transmitting, performed by a computer, an electronic communication to a payor-associated electronic device having an IP address or a payor-associated computer having an IP address, wherein the electronic communication comprises a link to a website, wherein when the link is clicked-on, the at least one webpage specific to the transaction number is displayed on the payor-associated electronic device or the payor-associated computer;

receiving, performed by a computer, a digital signature from the payor-associated electronic device or the payor-associated computer;

after receiving the digital signature, constructing an image of a payor-signed check signed by the Payor payable to the Payee for the Amount and in which the Routing Number displays at the bottom of the check.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising printing, in MICR toner ink, the image of the payor-signed check onto paper.

4. The check-constructing method of claim 1, wherein the data set further comprises an expiration date setting when the link to be sent to the payor is to expire.

7. The check-constructing method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting an electronic communication to a payor-associated smart phone.

18. The check-constructing method of claim 1, further comprising computer-performed processing on the number proffered by the payor as being a Routing Number, wherein the computer-processing is selected from the group consisting of:

hash total processing for whether the proffered number is impossible as an actual routing number;

comparing the proffered number against a Federal Reserve list of actual routing numbers.

19. The check-constructing method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a table of routing numbers in which a respective routing number has associated therewith a bank name;

for the proffered routing number, retrieving the associated bank name;

displaying onscreen the associated bank name for the proffered routing number.

20. The check-constructing method of claim 1, further comprising capturing, performed by a computer, the IP address in usage when the webpage is being accessed.

21. The check-constructing method of claim 1, further comprising storing, as permanent records, an identity of an IP address from which the webpage is accessed and a date and time of the webpage access from that IP address.

22. The check-constructing method of claim 1, further comprising, when the webpage is accessed via a smart phone, capturing a GPS location of the smart phone.

23. The check-constructing method of claim 22, further comprising, after capturing the GPS location of the smart phone, printing the captured GPS location onto the check.

24. The check-constructing method of claim 23, wherein the printing step comprises printing, in MICR toner ink, the captured GPS location onto the check.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising, after the step of printing, in MICR toner ink, the captured GPS location onto the check, scanning the check.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the link is a one-time-use link.

3. (canceled)

5-6. -6. (canceled)

8-17. -17. (canceled)

26-28. -28. (canceled)

30-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A method of constructing a consumer check, comprising:

prompting a user to take a certain photograph;

prompting the user to email the photograph to a system comprising at least one computer;

upon receiving the photograph by the system, if the photograph was sent via smart phone, capturing, performed by the system, a GPS location of the smart phone;

processing the received photograph, along with other received data, into a signed consumer check, wherein the processing is performed by the system.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising printing onto paper, in MICR toner ink, the signed check.

37. The check-constructing method of claim 35, further comprising, after capturing the GPS location of the smart phone, printing the captured GPS location onto the check.

38. The check-constructing method of claim 37, wherein the printing step comprises printing, in MICR toner ink, the captured GPS location onto the check.

39. (canceled)

40. A method of constructing a check, comprising:

receiving, by a system comprising at least one computer, a data set from a payee or payor contemplating a check to be constructed in which the payor pays the payee;

constructing a webpage specific to the to-be-constructed check;

prompting the payor to view a certain webpage specific to the to-be-constructed check;

upon the certain webpage being accessed, capturing an IP address from which the webpage was accessed.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising printing onto paper, in MICR toner ink, a signed check.

42. The check-constructing method of claim 40, further comprising, capturing a GPS location of a smart phone, and printing the captured GPS location onto the check.

43-50. -50. (canceled)