Systems and methods for real-time validation of check image quality

• US 8,433,127 B1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Harpel, Greg Alan, Nuggehalli, R. Bharat Prasad, Morris, Michael Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, Aaron W
• Application Number:
  US11/747,222
• Time in Patent Office: 2,182 Days
• Field of Search: 382/213, 382/310, 382137-140, 705 35- 45
• US Class Current: 382/139
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/993 Evaluation of the quality of the acquired pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/2253 Recognition of characters printed with magnetic ink G06V30/2247 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for real-time validation of check image quality and readability of MICR line data are provided. A check image received by a financial institution can be assessed during a customer on-line session, so that the customer is informed in real-time whether the image is acceptable. Received check images are used to produce images in another format, which are then analyzed for specified requirements.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method for validating that a digital image of a check can be used in a deposit transaction, comprising:

producing, via a processor, from a digital image of a check in a first format, a digital image of said check in a second format;

performing a first digital image analysis on said digital image of said check in said second format, in order to read a string of numbers, said string of numbers corresponding to a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) line on said check, wherein said first digital image analysis is optimized for said second format and for an image comprising a white border;

performing a second digital image analysis on said digital image of said check in said second format, in order to read said string of numbers, wherein said second digital image analysis is optimized for said second format and for an image comprising a black border.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a third digital image analysis, wherein said third digital image analysis operates on said digital image of said check in said first format, and wherein said third digital image analysis is performed in order to read said string of numbers, and wherein said third digital image analysis is optimized for said first format and for an image comprising a white border.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising performing a fourth digital image analysis, wherein said fourth digital image analysis operates on said digital image of said check in said first format, and wherein said fourth digital image analysis is performed in order to read said string of numbers, and wherein said fourth digital image analysis is optimized for said first format and for an image comprising a black border.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising electronically receiving said digital image of said check from a customer computer.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising electronically communicating an approval of said deposit transaction to said customer, wherein said electronically receiving and said electronically communicating are performed in a same online customer session.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising electronically communicating an error of said deposit transaction to said customer, wherein said electronically receiving and said electronically communicating are performed in a same online customer session.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said second format is a Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) image format.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein said second format is a Tag Image File Format (TIFF).

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising electronically receiving said digital image of said check from a financial institution computer.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising electronically communicating an approval of said digital image to said financial institution computer, and wherein said electronically receiving and said electronically communicating are performed during a same online customer session with a financial institution.

11. A system for validating that a digital image of a check can be used in a deposit transaction, comprising:

a memory containing a plurality of processing instructions;

a processor in communication with said memory, and configured to execute the plurality of processing instructions to;

produce, from a digital image of a check in a first format, a digital image of said check in a second format;

perform a first digital image analysis on said digital image of said check in said second format, in order to read a string of numbers, said string of numbers corresponding to a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) line on said check, wherein said first digital image analysis is optimized for said second format and for an image comprising a white border; and

perform a second digital image analysis on said digital image of said check in said second format, in order to read said string of numbers, wherein said second digital image analysis is optimized for said second format and for an image comprising a black border.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the plurality of processing instructions to perform a third digital image analysis, wherein said third digital image analysis operates on said digital image of said check in said first format, and wherein said third digital image analysis is performed in order to read said string of numbers, and wherein said third digital image analysis is optimized for said first format and for an image comprising a white border.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the plurality of processing instructions to perform a fourth digital image analysis, wherein said fourth digital image analysis operates on said digital image of said check in said first format, and wherein said fourth digital image analysis is performed in order to read said string of numbers, and wherein said fourth digital image analysis is optimized for said first format and for an image comprising a black border.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the plurality of processing instructions to electronically receive said digital image of said check from a customer computer.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the plurality of processing instructions to electronically communicate an approval of said deposit transaction to said customer, wherein said electronically receiving and said electronically communicating are performed in a same online customer session.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the plurality of processing instructions to electronically communicate an error of said deposit transaction to said customer, wherein said electronically receiving and said electronically communicating are performed in a same online customer session.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said second format is a Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) image format.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said second format is a Tag Image File Format (TIFF).

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the plurality of processing instructions to electronically receive said digital image of a check from a financial institution computer.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the plurality of processing instructions to electronically communicate an approval of said digital image to said financial institution computer, and wherein said electronically receiving and said electronically communicating are performed during a same online customer session with a financial institution.

21. A computer readable non-transitory medium having stored instructions for validating that a digital image of a check can be used in a deposit transaction, comprising:

instructions for producing, from a digital image of a check in a first format, a digital image of said check in a second format;

instructions for performing a first digital image analysis on said digital image of said check in said second format, in order to read a string of numbers, said string of numbers corresponding to a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) line on said check, wherein said first digital image analysis is optimized for said second format and for an image comprising a white border;

instructions for performing a second digital image analysis on said digital image of said check in said second format, in order to read said string of numbers, wherein said second digital image analysis is optimized for said second format and for an image comprising a black border.

22. The computer readable non-transitory medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions for performing a third digital image analysis, wherein said third digital image analysis operates on said digital image of said check in said first format, and wherein said third digital image analysis is performed in order to read said string of numbers, and wherein said third digital image analysis is optimized for said first format and for an image comprising a white border.

23. The computer readable non-transitory medium of claim 22, further comprising instructions for performing a fourth digital image analysis, wherein said fourth digital image analysis operates on said digital image of said check in said first format, and wherein said fourth digital image analysis is performed in order to read said string of numbers, and wherein said fourth digital image analysis is optimized for said first format and for an image comprising a black border.

24. The computer readable non-transitory medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions for electronically receiving said digital image of said check from a customer computer.

25. The computer readable non-transitory medium of claim 24, further comprising instructions for electronically communicating an approval of said deposit transaction to said customer, wherein said electronically receiving and said electronically communicating are performed in a same online customer session.

26. The computer readable non-transitory medium of claim 24, further comprising instructions for electronically communicating an error of said deposit transaction to said customer, wherein said electronically receiving and said electronically communicating are performed in a same online customer session.

27. The computer readable non-transitory medium of claim 23, wherein said second format is a Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) image format.

28. The computer readable non-transitory medium of claim 23, wherein said second format is a Tag Image File Format (TIFF).

29. The computer readable non-transitory medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions for electronically receiving said digital image of a check from a financial institution computer.

30. The computer readable non-transitory medium of claim 29, further comprising instructions for electronically communicating an approval of said digital image to said financial institution computer, and wherein said electronically receiving and said electronically communicating are performed during a same online customer session with a financial institution.