US-12626526-B1 - Systems and methods for remote deposit of checks

US12626526B1US 12626526 B1US12626526 B1US 12626526B1US-12626526-B1

Abstract

Remote deposit of checks can be facilitated by a financial institution. A customer's general purpose computer and image capture device may be leveraged to capture an image of a check and deliver the image to financial institution electronics. Additional data for the transaction may be collected as necessary. The transaction can be automatically accomplished utilizing the images and data thus acquired.

Inventors

Charles Lee Oakes, III
Randy Ray Morlen
Michael Frank Morris
Reynaldo Medina, III
Greg Alan Harpel
Gabriel Glenn Gavia
Bharat Prasad
Frank Kyle Major
Jeffrey Neal Pollack

Assignees

UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20200731

Claims (20)

1 . A system for facilitating remote deposit of funds into a user's account with a bank's computing system, said system comprising: a user device comprising a user device processor coupled to a user device memory storing camera software comprising instructions that, when executed by the user device processor, control an image capture device; a processor of the bank's computing system; and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing a plurality of processor executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform first operations comprising: providing a remote deposit processing component to the user device; receiving from the remote deposit processing component on the user device an identification of an account for deposit of a check, and an amount of the check; providing instructions to the remote deposit processing component that cause the user device processor of the user device to perform second operations comprising: displaying instructions on the user device to assist with positioning the check with respect to the image capture device and generating an initial image that comprises an image of a front side of said check, assisting the user with modifying the initial image to meet at least one image criterion and selecting a portion of the initial image that includes the front side of the check, and displaying an interface to receive a user approval of the selected portion of the initial image; receiving, from the user device, the selected portion of the initial image; performing optical character recognition (OCR) on the approved selected portion of the initial image; determining whether the check was previously deposited, and comparing an amount of the check to an amount determined based on the OCR performed on the approved selected portion of the initial image; and in response to a determination that the check has not been previously deposited, initiating deposit of the check into the user's account.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first operations further comprise analyzing the selected portion of the initial image of the check and confirming that the selected portion of the initial image of the check meets the at least one image criterion before initiating the deposit to the user's account.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first operations further comprise detecting whether the image of the back side of the check includes an endorsement.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the first operations further comprise detecting whether the image of the back side of the check includes an endorsement via detection of an indication of handwriting in an endorsement area of the image of the back side of the check.
5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one image criterion comprises one of an image size, an image legibility, or an image orientation.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second operations further comprise displaying instructions to the depositor to input an approval of the selected portion of the initial image indicating that the selected portion of the initial image is in an identified orientation.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first operations further comprise validating user authentication information received from the user device.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the user authentication information comprises a username and password.
9 . A method for facilitating remote deposit of funds into a user's account with a bank's computing system, said method comprising: with a processor of the bank's computing system: providing a remote deposit processing component to a user device having a general purpose image capture device; receiving from the remote deposit processing component on the user device an identification of an account for deposit of a check, and an amount of the check; providing instructions to the remote deposit processing component, the instructions assisting the user of the user device in capturing an image to meet at least one image criterion by causing a user device processor of the user device to execute steps of: displaying instructions on the user device to assist with positioning the check with respect to the image capture device and generating an initial image including an image of a front side of said check, assisting the user with modifying the initial image to meet the at least one image criterion and selecting a portion of the initial image that includes the front side of the check, and displaying an interface configured to receive a user approval of the selected portion of the initial image; receiving, from the user device, the selected portion of the initial image; performing Optical Character Recognition (OCR) on the approved selected portion of the initial image; determining whether the check was previously deposited, and comparing an amount of the check to an amount determined by performing OCR on the approved selected portion of the initial image; and in response to a determination that the check has not been previously deposited, initiating deposit of the check into the user's account.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein providing instructions to the remote deposit processing component further comprises the bank's computing system providing instructions to position the check with respect to the image capture device and generating an image of a back side of the check.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the processor of the bank's computing system analyzing the selected portion of the initial image of the check and confirming that the selected portion of the initial image of the check meets at least one image criterion before initiating the deposit to the user's account.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one image criterion comprises one of an image size, an image legibility, or an image orientation.
13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the bank's computing system detecting whether the image of the back side of the check includes an endorsement.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising the bank's computing system detecting whether the image of the back side of the check includes an endorsement by detecting an indication of handwriting in an endorsement area of the image of the back side of the check.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein providing instructions to approve the selected portion of the initial image further comprises providing instructions for the depositor to input an approval of the selected portion of the initial image indicating that the selected portion of the initial image is in an identified orientation.
16 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the bank's computing system to validating user authentication information received from the user device.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the user authentication information comprises a digital certificate.
18 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the bank's computing system generating a log file comprising a copy of the selected portion of the initial image of the check and data associated with deposit of the check into the user's account user.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the copy of the selected portion of the initial image is stored in bi-tonal image format.
20 . A method for improving the functioning of computer devices for remote mobile check deposit of a check using a user's own handheld mobile device with a digital camera, said method comprising: providing a downloadable application for download by a user's handheld mobile device, the user's handheld mobile device comprising camera software that controls the digital camera, the downloadable application being configured to, when downloaded and executed by the user's handheld mobile device, control the camera software and control submitting a check for deposit by causing the user's handheld mobile device to perform operations comprising: instructing the user to take a photo of the check, using a display of the user's handheld mobile device to assist the user in taking the photo of the check, instructing the user, via a user interface visible on the display of the user's handheld mobile device, in utilizing the digital camera to generate the photo of the check such that the photo of the check meets at least one criterion selected from the group consisting of image size, image legibility, image orientation, and image quality, wherein the downloadable application is configured to control the digital camera via the camera software of the user's handheld mobile device, using a wireless network, transmitting a copy of the photo from the user's handheld mobile device and submitting the check for mobile check deposit; receiving the copy of the photo of the check from the user's handheld mobile device; receiving, from the user's handheld mobile device, a user-entered amount of the check entered by the user; checking for errors before the submitting is performed by the user's handheld mobile device; confirming that mobile check deposit can go forward after optical character recognition is performed on the check in the photo, the optical character recognition determining an amount of the check and reading a MICR line; converting the photo of the check to a bi-tonal format image of the check and performing optical character recognition using the bi-tonal format image of the check including determining an amount indicated on the check; comparing the OCR determined amount indicated on the check with the user-entered amount to determine whether the OCR determined amount indicated on the check matches the user-entered amount; when the OCR determined amount indicated on the check and the user-entered amount do not match, generating an error; when the OCR determined amount indicated on the check and the user-entered amount do match, proceeding with the mobile check deposit; and updating, at a bank computer, a balance of an account to reflect an amount of the check submitted for mobile check deposit by the user's handheld mobile device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/709,071, filed on Sep. 19, 2017, pending, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/225,090, filed on Mar. 25, 2014, abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/590,974, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,708,227, filed on Oct. 31, 2006, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application is related by subject matter to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/591,003, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/591,014, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/590,971, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/591,247, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/590,963, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/591,025, all filed on Oct. 31, 2006 and also entitled “Systems and Methods for Remote Deposit of Checks.” This application is also related by subject matter to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/321,025, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/321,027, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/320,998 all filed on Dec. 29, 2005 and entitled “Remote Deposit of Checks,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/591,131 filed Oct. 31, 2006 also entitled “Remote Deposit of Checks.” BACKGROUND As described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/321,025, checks typically provide a safe and convenient method for an individual to purchase goods and/or services. To use a check, the individual usually must open a checking account, or other similar account, at a financial institution and deposit funds, which are then available for later withdrawal. To pay for goods and/or services with a check, the payor (i.e., the buyer) usually designates a payee (i.e., the seller) and an amount payable on the check. In addition, the payor often signs the check. Once the check has been signed, it is usually deemed negotiable, meaning the check may be validly transferred to the payee upon delivery. By signing and transferring the check to the payee, the payor authorizes funds to be withdrawn from the payor's account on behalf of the payee in return for the goods and/or services provided by the payee. Checks have certain advantages over other forms of payment, such as cash. For example, while often considered the most liquid type of asset, cash also may be the least secure. Unlike a check, cash is usually freely transferable and does not have to be endorsed. Thus, the owner and possessor of cash is most often the same individual. Because cash is freely transferable, cash that is lost or stolen typically cannot be recovered. Therefore, the risks associated with cash transactions are often unacceptable, particularly with respect to transactions not conducted in person (e.g., by mail) and/or involving large sums of money. A check, on the other hand, provides a payor with more security because the check usually requires a payor to specify both the person and amount to be paid. Furthermore, as noted above, the check is usually not valid until it is properly signed by the payor. These safeguards help to reduce the risk that money will be lost and/or stolen and ensure that the proper payee receives the proper amount of money. Cash may have other disadvantages as well. For example, because cash is freely transferable, there may be little or no verifiable transaction history. Itis often desirable for a payor and/or payee to have physical proof that a particular transaction took place. This typically requires that the payor receive a receipt. However, receipts may contain errors and can be easily misplaced. In contrast, a bank processing a check will ordinarily create a transaction history, which may include the identity of the payee, the amount to be paid, the date of the payment, and the signature of the payor. This enables both a payor and payee to independently verify the accuracy of most transactions involving a payment by check. While a check may provide a payor with a convenient and secure form of payment, receiving a check may put certain burdens on the payee, such as the time and effort required to deposit the check. For example, depositing a check typically involves going to a local bank branch and physically presenting the check to a bank teller. In addition to the time commitment that may be required, visiting a bank branch may be problematic for the payee if the bank's hours of operation coincide with the payee's normal hours of employment. Thus, the payee may be required to leave work early and/or change work schedules. A check may pose other burdens for the payee. As noted above, a check may not be freely transferable, thereby limiting the payee's ability to use funds from the check. For example, it is usually difficult to for the payee to purchase goods and/or services using a check issued by the payor. While the check may be endorsed and accepted by a third party, such transactions are often disfavored because the third party may not know the payor and, thus, may not be willing