Systems and methods to use a digital camera to remotely deposit a negotiable instrument

• US 8,290,237 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Oakes, Charles Lee III, Morlen, Randy Ray, Prasad, Bharat, Morris, Michael Frank, Burks, Rickey Dale, Hua, Xia
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Jon
• Application Number:
  US11/931,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,812 Days
• Field of Search: 382/137, 382/138, 382/139, 382/140, 382/168, 382/169, 382/171, 382/172, 382/293, 705/35
• 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 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device

Abstract

To deposit a negotiable instrument electronically, a digital image may be used. Systems and methods are described herein that facilitate the use of a digital camera to provide the digital image. A user may capture an image of a negotiable instrument to create a digital image. The digital image may be compressed and saved as a digital image file. The user may then transmit the digital image file to a financial institution, such as a bank, to deposit funds drawn from the account of the negotiable instrument into the user'"'"'s account. A financial institution may receive digital image files created by a digital camera from account holders and process a deposit request using the digital image file.

Claims

1. A method for depositing funds of a negotiable instrument, the method executable by a computing device having a processor and memory, comprising:

accessing a digital picture of the negotiable instrument, the digital picture captured with a digital camera in communication with the computing device;

warping, by the processor, the digital picture to remove a distortion by;

determining a histogram of the digital picture, wherein the histogram comprises a plurality of values of pixels of the digital picture;

flooring at least one value of the plurality of values of the pixels;

filtering at least a portion of the digital picture;

determining at least one corner of the digital picture; and

mapping the pixels of the digital picture into an output image based on the at least one determined corner;

creating a digital image file with the computing device, wherein the digital image file comprises the output image;

transmitting the digital image file; and

transmitting, by the computing device, a request to deposit the funds of the negotiable instrument using the digital image file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the negotiable instrument comprises a check.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital camera is integrated into a cellular telephone, a personal data assistant, or a web camera.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein mapping the pixels of the digital picture removes skew of the digital picture, aligns the digital picture, or enhances features of the digital picture.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising extracting information from the digital picture.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the information is magnetic ink character recognition information, an account number, a routing number, or a deposit amount.

7. A system for depositing funds of a negotiable instrument, comprising:

a processor and a memory, the processor configured to access a digital picture of the negotiable instrument captured with a digital camera in communication with the processor and saved in the memory;

wherein, to warp the digital picture to remove a distortion, the processor is further configured to;

determine a histogram of the digital picture, wherein the histogram comprises a plurality of values of pixels of the digital picture;

floor at least one value of the plurality of values of the pixels;

filter at least a portion of the digital picture;

determine at least one corner of the digital picture; and

map the pixels of the digital picture into an output image based on the at least one determined corner; and

wherein the processor is further configured to;

create a digital image file with the output image;

transmit the digital image file; and

transmit a request to deposit the funds of the negotiable instrument using the digital image file.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the negotiable instrument comprises a check.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the digital camera is integrated into a cellular telephone, a personal data assistant, or a web camera.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to remove skew of the digital picture, align the digital picture, or enhance features of the digital picture.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising at least one subsystem that extracts information from the digital picture.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the information is magnetic ink character recognition information, an account number, a routing number, or a deposit amount.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions executable by a processor and memory for depositing funds of a negotiable instrument, the computer-readable instructions comprising instructions to direct the processor to:

access a digital picture of the negotiable instrument saved in the memory, the digital picture captured with a digital camera in communication with the processor;

warp the digital picture to remove a distortion by directing the processor to;

determine a histogram of the digital picture, wherein the histogram comprises a plurality of values of pixels of the digital picture;

floor at least one value of the plurality of values of the pixels;

filter at least a portion of the digital picture;

determine at least one corner of the digital picture; and

map the pixels of the digital picture into an output image based on the at least one determined corner;

create a digital image file comprising the output image;

transmit the digital image file; and

transmit a request to deposit the funds of the negotiable instrument using the digital image file.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the negotiable instrument comprises a check.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the digital camera is integrated into a cellular telephone, a personal data assistant, or a web camera.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer-readable instructions to map the pixels of the digital picture further comprise computer-readable instructions to direct the processor to remove skew of the digital picture, align the digital picture, or enhance features of the digital picture.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising computer-readable instructions to extract information from the digital picture.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the information is magnetic ink character recognition information, an account number, a routing number, or a deposit amount.