Systems and methods for mobile image capture and processing of checks

• US 9,842,331 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2012
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitek Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mitek Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Nepomniachtchi, Grisha, Kliatskine, Vitali
• Primary Examiner(s): Motsinger, Sean
• Application Number:
  US13/488,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20130028502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1475 Inclination or skew detection or correction of characters or of image to be recognised
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/162 Quantising the image signal
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/166 Normalisation of pattern dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/413 Classification of content, e.g. text, photographs or tables
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/42 based on the type of document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

Techniques for processing an image of a check captured using a mobile device are provided. The check image is processed to determine whether the check can be deposited at a bank via a mobile deposit process. The system can identify regions of the check—such as the endorsement area—to determine if the check has been properly endorsed. The system can be implemented on a mobile device and/or a server, where the mobile device routes the check image to the server for processing. If the check cannot be deposited, a rejection is forwarded in real time to the mobile device for possible correction.

Claims

1. A mobile check image processing system, comprising:

a preprocessing unit which is configured to;

receive an image purported to be one side of a check from a mobile device;

activate one or more inspections of the check image, wherein a first inspection is to determine whether the received image is actually an image of the other side of the check; and

subsequent to the first inspection, activate a second inspection to;

select a type of content to be detected on the check image;

identify a plurality of regions of interests (ROIs) on the check image that are known to contain the selected type of content; and

transmit a sub-image of the image of the check which contains only the identified plurality of ROIs to a testing unit;

the testing unit which is configured to;

receive the sub-image of the check image from the preprocessing unit; and

perform at least one content detection test on the sub-image which contains the identified plurality of ROIs to detect the selected type of content on the check image; and

a feedback unit which is configured to;

receive a result of the at least one content detection test; and

based on the result, generate a message to notify a user of the mobile device when the selected type of content is not present.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one ROI of the plurality of ROIs corresponds to an endorsement region on a back side of the check.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the selected type of content is an endorsement.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the feedback unit notifies the user in real time if the endorsement is not present.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the content detection test determines whether the endorsement is a signed endorsement or a stamped endorsement.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the testing unit compares a signed endorsement with a signature stored in a database to determine the authenticity of the signed endorsement.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the testing unit compares a stamped endorsement with a stamp stored in a database to determine the authenticity of the stamped endorsement.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the testing unit compares a stamped endorsement with a payee region on a front side of the check to verify the identity of the endorsement.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the one side of the check is the back-side of the check and the other side of the check is the front-side of the check.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein determining whether the image is actually an image of the front-side of a check includes determining if a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)-line is identified on the received image.

9. A method of processing a mobile-captured image of a check, comprising:

receiving an image purported to be one side of a check from a mobile device;

activate one or more inspections of the check image, wherein a first inspection comprising determining whether the received image is actually an image of the other side of the check; and

subsequent to the first inspection, activate a second inspection comprising;

selecting a type of content to be detected on the check image;

identifying a plurality of regions of interests (ROIs) on the check image that are known to contain the selected type of content;

transmitting a sub-image which contains only the identified plurality of ROIs;

performing at least one content detection test on the identified plurality of ROIs to detect the selected type of content on the check image; and

providing, based on a result of the at least one content detection test, a real-time notification to a user of the mobile device when the selected type of content is not present.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one ROI of the plurality of ROIs corresponds to an endorsement region on a back side of the check.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected type of content is an endorsement.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising notifying the user in real time if the endorsement is not present.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the content detection test determines whether the endorsement is a signed endorsement or a stamped endorsement.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing a signed endorsement with a signature stored in a database to determine the authenticity of the signed endorsement.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing a stamped endorsement with a stamp stored in a database to determine the authenticity of the stamped endorsement.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing a stamped endorsement with a payee region on a front side of the check to verify the identity of the endorsement.

22. The method of claim 9, wherein the one side of the check is the hack-side of the check and the other side of the check is the front-side of the check.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein determining whether the image is actually an image of the front-side of a check includes determining if a MICR-line is identified on the received image.

17. A computer-implemented method for processing a mobile-captured image of a check, the computer-implemented method embodied on a computer with a processor and a memory, and comprising:

receiving an image purported to be one side of a check from a mobile device at a preprocessing unit;

preprocessing, using the preprocessing unit by the processor, the image of the check by;

activating one or more inspections of the check image, wherein a first inspection comprising determining whether the received image is actually an image of the other side of the check; and

subsequent to the first inspection, activate a second inspection comprising;

selecting a type of content to be detected on the check image;

identifying a plurality of regions of interests (ROIs) on the check image that are known to contain the selected type of content;

transmitting a sub-image of the image of the check which contains only the identified plurality of ROIs to a testing unit;

receiving the sub-image of the image of the check at a testing unit;

performing, using the testing unit by the processor, at least one content detection test on the sub-image which contains the identified plurality of ROIs to detect the selected type of content on the check image; and

providing, based on a result of the at least one content detection test, a real-time notification to a user of the mobile device when the selected type of content is not present.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the selected type of content is an endorsement.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising notifying the user in real time if the endorsement is not present.