Mobile communication device-based check verification

• US 8,639,016 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Frew, David Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Tom Y
• Application Number:
  US13/004,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20120177281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 382/137
• US Class Current: 382/137
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide for mobile communication-based verification of the validity of negotiable checks. By verifying the validity of checks on a mobile communication device, the systems and methods provide for on-the-fly check verification regardless of where and/or at what time the check-related transaction occurs. The systems and methods validate the check in terms of insuring that the check is not fraudulent and, in some instances, providing certainty to the payee that the requisite funds currently exist in the related checking account. Additionally, the systems and methods provide for an efficient and readily identifiable means of conveying the outcome of the check verification process.

Claims

1. A method for verifying a likelihood of validity of a negotiable check on a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

capturing, by a mobile communication device, an image of a negotiable check;

determining, by a computing device processor, a likelihood of validity of the negotiable check by (1) communicating, from the mobile communication device via a wireless network, at least one of the image or data on the image to one or more check verification services and (2) receiving, at the mobile communication device, validity-related information from one or more of the check verification services, wherein the validity-related information is based on comparing data on the check to at least one fraud database;

determining, by a computing device processor, account sufficiency of an amount of the negotiable check by (1) communicating, from the mobile communication device via a wireless network, at least one of the image or data on the image to a financial institution associated with the negotiable check and (2) receiving, at the mobile communication device, account sufficiency information from the financial institution, wherein the account sufficiency information is based on comparing the amount of the negotiable check to a current payment account balance;

providing, by the mobile communication device, an indication to a user of a state of the likelihood of validity of the negotiable check based on the validity-related information and the account sufficiency information, wherein the state is one of (1) likely to be valid, (2) likely to be invalid, or (3) insufficient validity-related information exists to determine the likelihood of validity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more check verification services are further defined as at least one of a financial institution-based check verification service or a third-party-based check verification service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising synthesizing, by a computing device processor, the validity-related information received from two or more check verification systems to determine the likelihood of validity of the negotiable check.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising synthesizing, by a computing device processor, the validity-related information received from one or more check verification systems and the account sufficiency information from the financial institution to determine the likelihood of validity of the negotiable check.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing further comprises providing, by the mobile communication device, a visual display of the state of the likelihood of validity of the negotiable check, wherein the state of the likelihood of validity is color-coded.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing further comprises:

determining, via a computing device processor, a validity score based on the validity related information and the account sufficiency information;

converting, via a computing device processor, the validity score to the state of the likelihood of validity based on one or more validity score thresholds; and

providing, via the mobile communication device, a visual display of the state of the likelihood of validity.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to providing an indication that the negotiable check is likely to be valid, providing, by the mobile communication device, a deposit option configured to allow the user to automatically deposit the negotiable check into a user-designated account.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving, by the mobile communication device, a deposit input that authorizes automatic deposit of the negotiable check to the user-designated account.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising converting, by computing device processor, the negotiable check from image processing to automated clearing house (ACH) transaction processing upon deposit authorization.

10. A mobile communication device, the device comprising:

a computing platform including at least one processor and a memory;

an image capture device in communication with the processor and configured to capture an image of a negotiable check; and

a check verification module stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured to;

determine a likelihood of validity of the negotiable check by (1) communicating, from the mobile communication device via a wireless network, at least one of the image or data on the image to one or more check verification services and (2) receiving, at the mobile communication device, validity-related information from one or more of the check verification services, wherein the validity-related information is based on comparing data on the check to at least one fraud database,

determine account sufficiency of an amount of the negotiable check by (1) communicating, from the mobile communication device via a wireless network, at least one of the image or data on the image to a financial institution associated with the negotiable check and (2) receiving, at the mobile communication device, account sufficiency information from the financial institution, wherein the account sufficiency information is based on comparing the amount of the negotiable check to a current payment account balance, and

provide an indication to a user of a state of the likelihood of validity of the negotiable check based on the validity-related information and the account sufficiency information, wherein the state is one of (1) likely to be valid, (2) likely to be invalid, or (3) insufficient validity-related information exists to determine the likelihood of validity.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the one or more check verification services are further defined as at least one of a financial institution-based check verification service or a third-party-based check verification service.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the check verification module is further configured to synthesize the validity-related information received from two or more check verification systems to provide for the likelihood of validity of the negotiable check.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the check verification module is further configured to synthesize the validity-related information received from one or more check verification systems and the account sufficiency information from the financial institution to provide for the likelihood of validity of the negotiable check.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the check verification module is further configured to provide a visual display of the indication of the state of the likelihood of validity of the negotiable check, wherein the indication of the state of the likelihood of validity is color-coded.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 10, wherein the check verification module is further configured to either receive or determine a validity score based on the validity related information and the account sufficiency information, convert the validity score to the state of the likelihood of validity based on one or more validity score thresholds and provide the indication as a visual display of the state of the likelihood of validity.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 10, further comprising a mobile banking module stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured to, in response to providing an indication that the negotiable check is likely to be valid, provide a deposit option configured to allow the user to automatically deposit the negotiable check into a user-designated account.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 16, wherein the mobile banking module is further configured to receive a deposit input that authorizes automatic deposit of the negotiable check to the user-designated account.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 17, wherein the mobile banking module provides for converting the negotiable check from image processing to automated clearing house (ACH) transaction processing upon deposit authorization.

19. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a mobile communication device to capture an image of a negotiable check;

a second set of codes for causing the mobile communication device, in response to capturing the image, to determine a likelihood of validity of the negotiable check by (1) communicating, from the mobile communication device via a wireless network, at least one of the image or data on the image to one or more check verification services and (2) receiving, at the mobile communication device, validity-related information from one or more of the check verification services, wherein the validity-related information is based on comparing data on the check to at least one fraud database;

a third set of codes for causing the mobile communication device to determine account sufficiency of an amount of the negotiable check by (1) communicating, from the mobile communication device via a wireless network, at least one of the image or data on the image to a financial institution associated with the negotiable check and (2) receiving, at the mobile communication device, account sufficiency information from the financial institution, wherein the account sufficiency information is based on comparing the amount of the negotiable check to a current payment account balance; and

a fourth set of codes for causing the mobile communication device to provide an indication to a user of a state of the likelihood of validity of the negotiable check based on the validity-related information and the account sufficiency information, wherein the state is one of (1) likely to be valid, (2) likely to be invalid, or (3) insufficient validity-related information exists to determine the likelihood of validity.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the one or more check verification services are further defined as at least one of a financial institution-based check verification service or a third-party-based check verification service.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising a fifth set of codes for causing the mobile communication device to synthesize the validity-related information received from two or more check verification systems to provide for the likelihood of validity of the negotiable check.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising a fifth set of codes for the mobile communication device to synthesize the validity-related information received from one or more check verification systems and the financial institution to provide for the likelihood of validity of the negotiable check.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the third set of codes is further configured to cause the mobile communication device to provide a visual display of the indication of the state of the likelihood of validity of the negotiable check, wherein the indication of the state of the likelihood of validity is color-coded.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising a fifth set of codes configured to cause the mobile communication device to provide for a validity score based on the validity related information and the account sufficiency information, convert the validity score to the state of the likelihood of validity based on one or more validity score thresholds and provide a visual display of the state of the likelihood of validity.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising a fifth set of codes for causing the mobile communication device, in response to providing an indication that the negotiable check is likely to be valid, to provide for a deposit option configured to allow the user to automatically deposit the negotiable check into a user-designated account.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising a sixth set of codes for causing the mobile communication device receive a deposit input that authorizes automatic deposit of the negotiable check to the user-designated account.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising a seventh set of codes for causing a computer to convert processing of the negotiable check from image to automated clearing house (ACH) upon deposit authorization.