Selective Imaging of Financial Instrument Data

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing check processing systems struggle to differentiate between data that should be visible on physical checks and data that should not be reproducible in captured images, leading to potential errors in electronic clearing and archiving.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that uses specific ink and image capture technologies to print data on checks, where certain data is visible to humans but not reproducible in electronic images, such as using ink that is invisible to scanners or printers, and employing a combination of ink spray components and image cameras to ensure that unique sequence numbers and endorsements are visible only to humans and not in captured images.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all data is printed visible on physical checks using standard ink, then human readability is maintained, but all data becomes reproducible in electronic images causing clearing errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectronic clearing accuracyVSAvoiddata visibility control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different ink properties to different data elements on the check. Critical data such as sequence numbers and endorsements are printed with invisible ink that humans can see but scanners cannot detect, while other data uses standard visible ink. This local differentiation of ink quality resolves the contradiction by allowing selective control over which data appears in electronic images versus physical checks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the optical parameters of the ink used for printing specific data elements. By using ink with properties that make it invisible to scanner devices but visible to human eyes, the system alters the reproduction characteristics of printed data. This parameter change enables critical data to remain visible on physical checks while being excluded from electronic image reproduction, thereby improving clearing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If invisible ink is used to prevent data reproduction in electronic images, then electronic clearing accuracy improves, but human readability of that data is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectronic clearing accuracyVSAvoidhuman data readability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different ink properties to different data elements on the check. Critical data such as sequence numbers and endorsements are printed with invisible ink that humans can see but scanners cannot detect, while other data uses standard visible ink. This local differentiation of ink quality resolves the contradiction by allowing selective control over which data appears in electronic images versus physical checks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If standard printing methods are used for all data, then printing simplicity is maintained, but inability to differentiate between image-reproducible and non-reproducible data causes processing errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting process simplicityVSAvoiddata processing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the optical parameters of the ink used for printing specific data elements. By using ink with properties that make it invisible to scanner devices but visible to human eyes, the system alters the reproduction characteristics of printed data. This parameter change enables critical data to remain visible on physical checks while being excluded from electronic image reproduction, thereby improving clearing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a specialized invisible ink as an intermediary substance between the printing process and the imaging process. This intermediary ink layer allows the system to print data that serves dual purposes: visible to humans for verification but invisible to scanners for electronic processing. The ink acts as a mediator that reconciles the conflicting requirements of human readability and machine exclusivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution ensures accurate and secure processing by ensuring that critical data like unique sequence numbers remains visible only on physical checks, preventing errors in electronic clearing and archiving while maintaining human readability.

Implementation Method 1

The ink reservoir contains ink selected such that data printed with the ink is visible to a human but is substantially non-reproducible when the financial instruments including data printed with the ink are captured by the scanner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical absorption/reflectivity difference: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS8098922B2Selective imaging of data printed on financial instruments

Publication Date: 2012.01.17 BANK OF AMERICA CORP

AI summary

Systems and processes for processing financial instruments include receiving a physical financial instrument, printing data on the received physical financial instrument, and capturing an image of the physical financial instrument to produce an electronic image. At least a portion of the data printed on the physical financial instrument is printed in a manner that substantially precludes reproduction in the electronic image. The electronic image is transmitted across a network, for example, to perform electronic processing, such as posting or clearing.