Image check content estimation and use

• US 9,070,010 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2012
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Williams, Geoffrey R., Gauvin, Timmy L., Sandoz, Eric S., Cantley, Kerry M., LaRock, Leslie M., Barrett, James F. II, Ronca, James G., Bennett, Deborah N., Beaudry, Joshua A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORRES, JOSE
• Application Number:
  US13/567,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20140037182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1452 based on positionally close symbols, e.g. amount sign or URL-specific characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/226 of cursive writing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/412 Layout analysis of documents structured with printed lines or input boxes, e.g. business forms or tables
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/416 Extracting the logical structure, e.g. chapters, sections or page numbers; Identifying elements of the document, e.g. authors

Abstract

Apparatus, methods and media for deriving a transaction record based on handwritten check content. The apparatus may include, and the methods and media may involve, a receiver device that is configured to receive a check image. The apparatus may include, and the methods and media may involve, a processor device. The processor device may be configured to define a check segment within the check image; translate content from the segment from handwriting to estimated block text; and store the block text in a transaction record in machine readable memory. The apparatus may include, and the methods and media may involve, a transmitter that is configured to transmit the block text to a financial institution product engine.

Claims

1. Apparatus for processing a transaction record based on handwritten check content, wherein each check is associated with a separate transaction record and each transaction record comprises a plurality of fields corresponding to content of one of a plurality of segments on the face of the check, the apparatus comprising:

a processor device that is configured to present to a customer actual handwritten check segment content from a check signed by the customer or by an associated signatory party and estimated check segment content based on the handwritten check segment content; and

a receiver that is configured to receive from the customer revised estimated check segment content;

wherein the processor is configured to associate the revised estimated check segment content with a transaction field and store the revised estimated check segment content in the transaction record;

wherein, when the check segment is a comment segment, the processor is further configured to;

associate a phrase in the comment segment revised estimated check content with a comment family;

populate a comment family field in the transaction record with the comment family associated with the phrase; and

store the transaction record in an electronic folder associated with the comment family, wherein, in response selection of the folder by the customer, the processor is configured to present to the customer one or more transaction records associated with the comment family.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the receiver is further configured to receive from the customer a handwriting sample that corresponds to a reference phrase, the handwriting sample comprising handwritten check segment content associated with a first check; and

the processor is further configured to;

derive the reference phrase from handwritten check segment content associated with a second check;

formulate an objective function that defines a relationship between the handwriting sample and the reference phrase; and

use the objective function to formulate the estimated check segment content.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the objective function includes a neural network model.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receiver is further configured to receive from the customer an instruction to present a sorted list of transaction record fields that include the estimated check segment content.

5. A method for processing a transaction record based on handwritten check content, wherein each check is associated with a separate transaction record and each transaction record comprises a plurality of fields corresponding to the content of one of a plurality of segments on the face of the check, the method comprising:

presenting to a customer actual handwritten check segment content from a check signed by the customer or by an associated signatory party, and estimated check segment content associated with the check; and

receiving from the customer revised estimated check segment content, wherein the revised estimated check content is associated with a transaction field and stored in the transaction record;

wherein, when the check segment is a comment segment, the processor is further configured to;

associate a phrase in the comment segment revised estimated check content with a comment family;

populate a comment family field in the transaction record with the comment family associated with the phrase; and

store the transaction record in an electronic folder associated with the comment family, in response to selection of the folder by the customer, the processor is configured to present to the customer one or more transaction records associated with the comment family.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the receiving further comprises receiving, from the customer, a handwriting sample that is based on a reference phrase; and

the presenting further comprises presenting to the customer, the reference phrase.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

formulating an objective function defining a relationship between the handwriting sample and the reference phrase; and

formulating the estimated check segment content using the objective function.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the objective function includes a neural network model.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the receiving further comprises receiving, from the customer, an instruction to present a sorted list of transaction record fields that include the estimated check segment content.