Method of detecting a mark on a oraphic icon
First Claim
1. A method of categorizing and/or tracking expenditure transactions comprising the following steps:
- providing a check substrate having a predetermined number of pictographic icons thereon arranged in a two-dimensional array each said icon being representative of a particular expenditure category and being adapted to receive a mark directly thereon; and
detecting the presence of a mark placed directly on one or more of said pictographic icons by;
scanning said substrate to obtain a series of data representative of a bi-level pixel image of said icon array relative to a predetermined PCS level generally above the PCS level of said pictographic icons but generally below the PCS level of a mark placed on one or more of said pictographic icons such that said icons are not detected or are caused to drop out of the resulting pixel image;
locating in said pixel image one or more predetermined reference lines;
detecting in said pixel image the existence of data representative of a mark placed in said icon array relative to said reference lines corresponding to a particular icon position; and
determining the pictographic icon;
icon number and/or expenditure category corresponding to said icon position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved system and method is provided for automatically tracking check transactions and generating an expenditure statement thereof using printed bank checks having a plurality of graphic icons disposed thereon. The customer marks the icon which describes the particular expense for which the check payment is being made. The payor bank or a check processing center scans each check to determine which icon(s) have been marked for each particular check transaction. Recorded expenditures are then automatically recorded in a cumulative transaction record. Periodically, this information is organized into a detailed expenditure statement that can be provided to the bank customer.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A method of categorizing and/or tracking expenditure transactions comprising the following steps:
-
providing a check substrate having a predetermined number of pictographic icons thereon arranged in a two-dimensional array each said icon being representative of a particular expenditure category and being adapted to receive a mark directly thereon; and detecting the presence of a mark placed directly on one or more of said pictographic icons by; scanning said substrate to obtain a series of data representative of a bi-level pixel image of said icon array relative to a predetermined PCS level generally above the PCS level of said pictographic icons but generally below the PCS level of a mark placed on one or more of said pictographic icons such that said icons are not detected or are caused to drop out of the resulting pixel image; locating in said pixel image one or more predetermined reference lines; detecting in said pixel image the existence of data representative of a mark placed in said icon array relative to said reference lines corresponding to a particular icon position; and determining the pictographic icon;
icon number and/or expenditure category corresponding to said icon position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
5. A printed icon for tracking check expenditures, said icon comprising an outer portion generally surrounding a lighter inner portion, said outer portion comprising no more than about 25% of the total surface area of said icon, said light inner portion comprising no more than about 25% shading, the remaining portion thereof being substantially free of any printing.
-
16. A method of categorizing and/or tracking expenditure transactions comprising the following steps:
-
providing a check substrate having a predetermined number of pictographic icons thereon arranged in an array each said icon being representative of a particular expenditure category and being further adapted to receive a mark directly thereon; and detecting the presence of a mark placed directly on at least one of said pictographic icons by; scanning said substrate to obtain a series of data representative of an image of at least a portion of said substrate containing said pictographic icon; establishing within said image a boundary defining an area within which a mark is to be detected, said boundary generally surrounding the area of said substrate containing said pictographic icon; and detecting within the portion of said image defined by said boundary the existence of data representative of a mark on said substrate by detecting portions of said image having a PCS above a predetermined PCS level which is higher than the PCS level of said pictographic icon on said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method for categorizing a financial transaction comprising the following steps:
-
providing a check substrate having an array of pictographic icons thereon representative of expenditure categories, said icons having a PCS of less than about 0.40 measured over a spectral range having a peak spectral response of about 555 nanometers and a one-half peak spectral response of about 510 to 610 nanometers; recording on said substrate information representative of said financial transaction, including the payor'"'"'s name or identification, the amount of the financial transaction, and the name or identification of the payee to whom the amount is to be or has been paid; and placing a mark directly over at least one of said pictographic icons to indicate the appropriate expenditure category representing said financial transaction, said mark having a PCS of greater than about 0.40 measured over a spectral range having a peak spectral response of about 555 nanometers and a one-half peak spectral response of about 510 to 610 nanometers; whereby the presence and/or location of said mark can be detected using a scanner and applying threshold imaging. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification