Systems and methods of check re-presentment deterrent

• US 8,422,758 B1
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Bueche, Michael Patrick Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAH, UTPAL D
• Application Number:
  US12/202,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 382137-140, 382/284
• US Class Current: 382/139
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/20 Image preprocessing

Abstract

A user or a device may separate a check into two or more portions prior to generating a digital image of the check for remote deposit of the check. The user or a device may separate the check by cutting or tearing the check. After separating the check into the portions, the user may generate a digital image of the portions of the check using a scanner for example. The digital image may be transmitted to an institution for deposit of the check. The institution may retrieve the images of the portions of the check and generate an image of the check based on the portions, by combining the images of the portions for example. The image of the check that may be generated based on the images of the portions may be processed for deposit.

Claims

1. A method for depositing a negotiable instrument, comprising:

with a processor in communication with a financial institution;

receiving an image of a plurality of portions of the negotiable instrument, wherein the received image depicts the negotiable instrument physically separated into the plurality of portions;

processing the image of the plurality of portions to combine the plurality of portions into an image of the negotiable instrument; and

depositing funds of the negotiable instrument into an account based on the image of the negotiable instrument.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the image of the plurality of portions of the negotiable instrument is received via an Internet connection or a cellular transmission from a user, the account being associated with the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the image of the plurality of portions of the negotiable instrument comprises receiving a digital image file comprising the image of the plurality of portions, the digital image file being created by the user using a scanner or a camera.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the negotiable image comprises a check and one of the plurality of portions of the negotiable instrument comprises a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) number of the check.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the image of the plurality of portions comprises identifying the portions, isolating the portions, and combining the portions into the image of the negotiable instrument.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the image of the plurality of portions comprises identifying at least one feature of the negotiable instrument in at least one of the portions, and aligning the portions based on the at least one feature.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the image of the plurality of portions comprises using edge detection to identify at least one edge of each of the portions and combining the portions based on the at least one edge of each of the portions.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for depositing a negotiable instrument, said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions that cause an image processor to:

electronically receive an image of a plurality of portions of the negotiable instrument, wherein the received image depicts the negotiable instrument physically separated into the plurality of portions;

electronically process the image of the plurality of portions to combine the plurality of portions into an image of the negotiable instrument; and

electronically identify funds of the negotiable instrument to deposit into an account based on the image of the negotiable instrument.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the image of the plurality of portions of the negotiable instrument is received via an Internet connection or a cellular transmission from a user, the account being associated with the user.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions that cause the image processor to receive the image of the plurality of portions of the negotiable instrument comprise instructions that cause the image processor to receive a digital image file comprising the image of the plurality of portions, the digital image file being created by the user using a scanner or a camera.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the negotiable image comprises a check and one of the plurality of portions of the negotiable instrument comprises a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) number of the check.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions that cause the image processor to process the image of the plurality of portions comprise instructions that cause the image processor to identify the portions, isolate the portions, and combine the portions into the image of the negotiable instrument.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions that cause the image processor to process the image of the plurality of portions comprise instructions that cause the image processor to identify at least one feature of the negotiable instrument in at least one of the portions, and align the portions based on the at least one feature.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions that cause the image processor to process the image of the plurality of portions comprise instructions that cause the image processor to use edge detection to identify at least one edge of each of the portions and combine the portions based on the at least one edge of each of the portions.

15. A system for depositing a negotiable instrument, comprising:

a memory; and

an image processor in communication with the memory, the image processor configured to;

electronically receive an image of a plurality of portions of the negotiable instrument, wherein the received image depicts the negotiable instrument physically separated into the plurality of portions;

electronically process the image of the plurality of portions to combine the plurality of portions into an image of the negotiable instrument; and

electronically identify funds of the negotiable instrument to deposit into an account based on the image of the negotiable instrument.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the image of the plurality of portions of the negotiable instrument is received via an Internet connection or a cellular transmission from a user, the account being associated with the user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein electronically receiving the image of the plurality of portions of the negotiable instrument comprises electronically receiving a digital image file comprising the image of the plurality of portions, the digital image file being created by the user using a scanner or a camera.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the negotiable image comprises a check and one of the plurality of portions of the negotiable instrument comprises a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) number of the check.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein electronically processing the image of the plurality of portions comprises electronically identifying the portions, electronically isolating the portions, and electronically combining the portions into the image of the negotiable instrument.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein electronically processing the image of the plurality of portions comprises electronically identifying at least one feature of the negotiable instrument in at least one of the portions, and electronically aligning the portions based on the at least one feature.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein electronically processing the image of the plurality of portions comprises electronically using edge detection to identify at least one edge of each of the portions and electronically combining the portions based on the at least one edge of each of the portions.