Mobile Remittance Image Capture and Data Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for paying bills, especially those involving remittance coupons, are cumbersome and prone to user error, requiring manual data entry and lacking in convenience and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for capturing and processing images of remittance coupons using a mobile device, which optimizes image capture and processing to extract data for bill payment, involving image correction, content recognition, and data extraction, with real-time feedback and remote server processing to ensure accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual data entry is used for bill payment processing, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to user error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical data entry with automated optical character recognition (OCR) technology. The mobile device camera captures an image of the remittance coupon, and image processing algorithms automatically extract data fields such as account number, amount due, and due date, eliminating human error in data transcription while maintaining accessible device complexity through smartphone integration
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the physical remittance coupon through image capture. The captured image is then processed to extract data, allowing the system to work with a digital representation rather than requiring direct manual entry. This copying approach enables automated processing while preserving the original document for verification
2Productivity
If automated scanning is used for remittance processing, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and initial setup requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universal camera functionality already present in smartphones to capture remittance coupons. Instead of requiring specialized scanning hardware, the system uses the mobile device's existing camera, display, and processing capabilities to perform image capture, quality assessment, and data extraction, thereby achieving automation without adding complex dedicated equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device performs self-service image quality assessment and automatic capture optimization. The system evaluates image quality metrics such as focus, lighting, and composition, and can request retakes if quality is insufficient, all without requiring manual intervention or complex setup procedures from the user
3Ease of operation
If online banking bill payment is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to manual data entry requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms where the mobile device assesses image quality and provides guidance to the user. The system extracts data from the captured image and verifies it against expected formats, providing immediate feedback on accuracy and allowing correction before payment is processed, thus maintaining precision while preserving ease of use
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for capturing and processing images of remittance coupons using a mobile device and obtaining data from the captured image which is used to set up or carry out payment of a bill that corresponds to the remittance coupon. Optimization and enhancement of image capture and image processing are provided on the mobile device to improve the initial quality of the captured image and provide a user with real time feedback. The image is then sent from the mobile device to a remote server, where additional image processing is performed to improve the quality of the image and then extract data from the image that is relevant to paying the bill. The extracted data may be verified through comparisons with databases which store information on billers, bill formats and other relevant content that will appear on the bill.