Mobile Check Image Capture Using Live Video Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote deposit systems using mobile devices face challenges in obtaining accurate images of financial instruments due to difficulties in image capture, requiring improved methods for steadiness and focus assistance to enhance user experience.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses a mobile computing device to instruct users to hold the camera over a financial instrument within visual guides, analyzing live video frames to determine steadiness and automatically capture an in-focus image, with features like accelerometer sampling and virtual endorsement for improved accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users manually capture images of financial instruments using mobile devices, then the remote deposit function is available, but image accuracy and clarity are compromised due to user steadiness and focus difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service image capture by automatically analyzing video frames to detect financial instruments and capturing images without requiring manual user intervention for framing or timing, thereby improving image accuracy while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback by analyzing video frames to determine instrument location and capture timing, using accelerometer data to provide feedback on device steadiness, and autofocus mechanisms to provide feedback on image focus status, enabling automatic capture of high-quality images
2Measurement precision
If the system analyzes multiple video frames to determine instrument location and capture timing, then image capture accuracy improves, but processing time and computational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system analyzes only relevant portions of video frames (areas where financial instruments are detected) rather than processing entire frames, and captures images when specific conditions are met during video playback, reducing overall processing time while maintaining capture accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of video frames to pre-determine optimal capture timing and instrument locations before actual image capture, allowing for efficient processing and reduced latency between video start and image capture
3Manufacturing precision
If the system requires users to hold the device steadily for clear images, then image quality improves, but the ease of use deteriorates due to the difficulty of maintaining steadiness
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by using accelerometer data to detect device movement and compensate for shake before image capture, and by providing real-time feedback to guide users to maintain proper positioning, thereby achieving high image quality without requiring users to manually maintain perfect steadiness
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for remote deposit of financial instruments are disclosed. The method may include using a mobile device such as a tablet computer or smart phone to automatically review live video data to determine a location of a check in the video image, and to obtain a still photo of the check image in response to determining that the mobile device is being held at a desired steadiness. The method may include providing a user with visual feedback that the mobile device is actively tracking the check. The method may further include cropping the captured check image and sending only a portion of the image to a remote server to verify a check MICR line has been captured. The method may further include a virtual endorsement module executable by the mobile device to apply endorsement information to a check image. A mobile device with a processor and memory containing instructions to execute the method is also disclosed.