Methods and systems for validating negotiable instruments

• US 8,074,871 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Certegy Payment Solutions LLC (Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Certegy Check Services Incorporated (Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bates, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US11/520,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20070205262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,917 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/383, 705/14, 705/16, 705/44, 705/35, 705/39, 705/45, 382/137
• 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 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency

Abstract

Methods and systems for validating a negotiable instrument. One method can include obtaining an electronic image of the negotiable instrument, electronically determining a first value and a second value of the negotiable instrument based on the electronic image, and automatically validating the negotiable instrument if the first value is substantially equal to the second value.

Claims

1. A method of validating a negotiable instrument, the method comprising:

obtaining an electronic image of the negotiable instrument;

electronically determining a first value and a second value of the negotiable instrument based on the electronic image;

automatically validating the negotiable instrument when the first value is substantially equal to the second value; and

when the first value is not substantially equal to the second value;

determining whether an authorized transaction amount is available; and

if the authorized transaction amount is available, automatically validating the negotiable instrument and using the authorized transaction amount as an amount of the negotiable instrument.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising automatically queuing the negotiable instrument for manual review if the authorized transaction amount associated with the negotiable instrument is not available.

3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising determining a total of a plurality of negotiable instruments, the plurality of negotiable instruments including the negotiable instrument.

4. The method of claim 3 and further comprising obtaining an expected amount of the plurality of negotiable instruments.

5. The method of claim 4 and further comprising automatically queuing the negotiable instrument for manual review if the total of the plurality of negotiable instruments is not substantially equal to the expected amount of the plurality of negotiable instruments.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the negotiable instrument includes a check.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first value includes a courtesy amount received of the negotiable instrument and the second value includes a legal amount received of the negotiable instrument.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronically determining a first value and a second value of the negotiable instrument based on the electronic image includes determining the first value and the second value of the negotiable instrument using optical character recognition.