Systems, methods, and apparatus for receiving images of one or more checks

• US 7,900,822 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Prasad, Bharat, Medina, Reynaldo III
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/935,599
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/454, 235/462.01, 235/375, 358/1.18, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1448 based on markings or identifiers characterising the document or the area
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/009 Depositing devices

Abstract

Images of a plurality of checks to be presented for payment may be captured through the use of a check sleeve. The check sleeve includes check-holding mechanism to hold one or more checks in place in the sleeve, and contains various types of markings or other features that allow an image of the sleeve to be oriented, and to allow the portion of the image that represents a check to be distinguished from portions of the image that do not represent a check. One or more algorithms may be used to distinguish check from non-check portions of the image, and to orient the image. The check sleeves may have one or more barcodes imprinted thereon, which may encode various types of information.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining one or more images of a plurality of checks, the system comprising:

a memory;

a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a plurality of processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor issues processor executable instructions to;

receive a first image of a first side of a sleeve providing a view of first sides of a plurality of checks aligned in said sleeve and a plurality of first barcodes, each of the plurality of first barcodes corresponding to each of said plurality of checks, said plurality of first barcodes being printed on said first side of the sleeve;

determine locations of each of the plurality of checks based on positions of said plurality of first barcodes; and

use the plurality of first barcodes to process said image of the first side of the sleeve providing a view of first sides of the plurality of checks and to deposit the plurality of checks.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

orient said first image based on positions or orientations of said first barcodes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of first barcodes encodes an account number of a depositor, and wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

use the account number from at least one of the plurality of first barcodes to determine an account into which the plurality of checks are to be deposited.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of first barcodes differ from each other, and wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

use differences among said first barcodes to distinguish said plurality of checks from each other.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

receive a second image of a second side of said sleeve, there being a plurality of second barcodes corresponding to said plurality of checks; and

use said plurality of second barcodes to distinguish said first side of said sleeve from said second side of said sleeve.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has one or more lines printed thereon, and wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

use said one or more lines to determine a position or orientation of said check.

7. A processor implemented method of obtaining one or more images of a plurality of checks, the method comprising:

receiving a first image of a first side of a sleeve providing a view of first sides of plurality of checks aligned in said sleeve and a plurality of first barcodes, each of the plurality of first barcodes corresponding to each of said plurality of checks, said plurality of first barcodes being printed on said first side of the sleeve;

determining via the processor locations of each of the plurality of checks based on positions of said plurality of first barcodes; and

using the plurality of first barcodes to process said image of the first side of the sleeve providing a view of first sides of the plurality of checks and to deposit the plurality of checks.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said using of the plurality of first barcodes comprises:

orienting said first image based on positions or orientations of said first barcodes.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of first barcodes encodes an account number of a depositor, and wherein said using of the plurality of first barcodes comprises:

using the account number from at least one of the plurality of first barcodes to determine an account into which the plurality of checks are to be deposited.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said plurality of first barcodes differ from each other, and wherein the method further comprises:

using differences among said first barcodes to distinguish said plurality of checks from each other.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a second image of a second side of said sleeve, there being a plurality of second barcodes corresponding to said plurality of checks; and

using said plurality of second barcodes to distinguish said first side of said sleeve from said second side of said sleeve.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said sleeve has one or more lines printed thereon, and wherein the method further comprises:

using said one or more lines to determine a position or orientation of said check.

13. A non transitory-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for obtaining one or more images of a plurality of checks, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions that when executed by a computer:

receive a first image of a first side of a sleeve providing a view of first sides of a plurality of checks aligned in said sleeve and a plurality of first barcodes, each of the plurality of first barcodes corresponding to each of said plurality of checks, said plurality of first barcodes being printed on said first side of the sleeve;

determine locations of each of the plurality of checks based on positions of said plurality of first barcodes; and

use the plurality of first barcodes to process said image of the first side of the sleeve providing a view of first sides of the plurality of checks and to direct deposit of the plurality of checks.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions that:

orient said first image based on positions or orientations of said first barcodes.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of first barcodes encodes an account number of a depositor, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions that:

use the account number from at least one of the plurality of first barcodes to determine an account into which the plurality of checks are to be deposited.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein said plurality of first barcodes differ from each other, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions that:

use differences among said first barcodes to distinguish said plurality of checks from each other.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions that:

receive a second image of a second side of said sleeve, there being a plurality of second barcodes corresponding to said plurality of checks; and

use said plurality of second barcodes to distinguish said first side of said sleeve from said second side of said sleeve.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein said sleeve has one or more lines printed thereon, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions that:

use said one or more lines to determine a position or orientation of said check.