Systems and methods for alignment of check during mobile deposit

• US 9,177,197 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2014
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Prasad, Bharat, Liang, Minya, Medina, Reynaldo III
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Tom Y
• Application Number:
  US14/516,335
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• 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: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/24 Aligning, centring, orientation detection or correction of the image
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/245 by locating a pattern; Special marks for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

An alignment guide may be provided in the field of view of a camera associated with a mobile device used to capture an image of a check. When the image of the check is within the alignment guide in the field of view, an image may be taken by the camera and provided from the mobile device to a financial institution. The alignment guide may be adjustable at the mobile device. The image capture may be performed automatically by the camera or the mobile device as soon as the image of the check is determined to be within the alignment guide. The check may be deposited in a user'"'"'s bank account based on the image. Any technique for sending the image to the financial institution may be used.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting an image, comprising:

a mobile device having a camera, a display and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to;

display a field of view of the camera on the display;

generate an alignment guide associated with the field of view of the camera, the alignment guide including a shape adjustable to align with an instrument in the field of view;

monitor at least one feature of the instrument that is within the field of view;

determine whether the at least one feature aligns with the alignment guide;

automatically capture an image when the at least one feature is determined to align with the alignment guide; and

transmit the captured image from the mobile device to a server via a communication pathway between the mobile device and the server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the image further comprises at least a portion of a negotiable instrument, a credit instrument, a debit instrument, a financial document, a vehicle accident document, or an insurance document.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain information from the captured image.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive instructions inputted to the mobile device for adjusting the alignment guide, and adjust the alignment guide according to the received instructions.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to crop the image around the alignment guide prior to transmitting the image.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit identification information pertaining to the image.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the image is captured by storing the image in a memory.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one edge of the adjustable shape is more proximate to an exterior edge of the field of view than a center of the field of view.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein an edge of the adjustable shape is parallel to an exterior edge of the field of view.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein an edge of the adjustable shape is configured to align with text on the instrument.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein a part of the adjustable shape is parallel to an exterior edge of the field of view, and wherein the part is more proximate to an exterior edge of the field of view than a center of the field of view.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein an aspect ratio of the shape is adjustable.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for transmitting an image, the instructions being executed by a processor of a mobile device to:

generate an alignment guide associated with a field of view of a camera of the mobile device, the alignment guide including a shape extending a majority of a width or a length of the field of view, and the shape adapted to align with an instrument in the field of view;

monitor at least one feature of the instrument in the field of view of the camera;

determine whether the at least one feature aligns with the alignment guide;

automatically capturing an image when the feature is determined to align with the alignment guide; and

transmit the image from the mobile device to a server.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the image further comprises at least a portion of a negotiable instrument, a credit instrument, a debit instrument, a financial document, a vehicle accident document, or an insurance document.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further executed by the processor to clean the image prior to transmitting the image to the server.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein cleaning the image comprises at least cropping the image around the alignment guide and performing edge detection on the at least one feature of the image.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions are further executed by the processor to adjust the alignment guide according to received inputs corresponding to an adjustment button of the camera.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions are further executed by the processor to adjust the alignment guide so that the image is displayed within the alignment guide.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further executed by the processor to capture the image by storing the image in a memory.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the shape extends at least a majority of a width or a length of the instrument.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the shape is adapted to surround the instrument.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the shape is selectable to match a shape of the instrument.