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

• US 8,235,284 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US13/010,644
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454
• 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

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 an image of a check, 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 instructions to;

receive a first image of a first side of a sleeve that holds the check, said sleeve having a first barcode printed on said first side, wherein said first barcode was encoded without using information associated with the check;

obtain information from said first barcode to direct deposit of said check; and

present the obtained information and said first image to a banking system for depositing the check.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first barcode encodes an account number of a depositor, and wherein processor further issues instructions to:

use said first barcode to determine an account into which to deposit the check.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first barcode encodes a customer number of a depositor, and wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

use said first barcode to determine that the check is to be deposited to an account associated with said depositor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first barcode comprises a two-dimensional data matrix code.

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

use said first barcode to determine an orientation of said first image.

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

use said first barcode to determine a location of the check in said image.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first barcode encodes luminance properties of the sleeve, and wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

use said first barcode to determine an image processing technique for processing said first image.

8. A processor-implemented method of obtaining an image of a check, the method comprising:

receiving a first image of a first side of a sleeve that holds the check, said sleeve having a first barcode printed on said first side, wherein said first barcode was encoded without using information associated with the check;

obtaining via a processor, information from said first barcode to direct deposit of said check; and

presenting the obtained information and said first image to a banking system for depositing the check.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said first barcode encodes an account number of a depositor, and wherein the method further comprises:

using said first barcode to determine an account into which to deposit the check.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said first barcode encodes a customer number of a depositor, and wherein the method further comprises:

using said first barcode to determine that the check is to be deposited to an account associated with said depositor.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said first barcode comprises a two-dimensional data matrix code.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

using said first barcode to determine an orientation of said first page.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

using said first barcode to determine a location of the check in said image.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said first barcode encodes luminance properties of the sleeve, and wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

use said first barcode to determine an image processing technique for processing said first image.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for obtaining an image of a check, the computer-readable instructions executable by a processor to:

receive a first image of a first side of a sleeve that holds the check, said sleeve having a first barcode printed on said first side, wherein said first barcode was encoded without using information associated with the check;

obtain information from said first barcode to direct deposit of said check; and

present the obtained information and said first image to a banking system for depositing the check.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said first barcode encodes an account number of a depositor, and wherein the computer-readable instructions further comprise instructions that:

use said first barcode to determine an account into which to deposit the check.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said first barcode encodes a customer number of a depositor, and wherein the computer-readable instructions further comprise instructions that:

use said first barcode to determine that the check is to be deposited to an account associated with said depositor.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said first barcode comprises a two-dimensional data matrix code.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable instructions further comprise instructions that:

use said first barcode to determine an orientation of said first page.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said first barcode encodes luminance properties of the sleeve, and wherein the processor further issues instructions to:

use said first barcode to determine an image processing technique for processing said first image.