System and method for check fraud detection using signature validation

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for validating the authenticity of a signature on a document by providing a document from an account, the document including an actual signature and a machine-readable identifier, wherein the machine-readable identifier contains a string of data representing the integral characteristics of all valid account signatures and a person-specific confidence threshold. When the document is presented at a point of presentment, the document is scanned into a document-processing machine and the actual signature is compared against all valid account signatures.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A method of locating one or more signatures on a check, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving an original or preprocessed check bitmap;    dividing the check bitmap into fixed-size tiles;    sorting the tiles into predefined classes;    identifying handwriting tiles;    adjusting the signature positions using a connected components analysis; and    generating final signature locations.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of sorting the tiles into predefined classes includes the step of applying neural network classifiers to the tiles.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the predefined classes include printed text, cursive text, handwritten text, graphics, picture and icon.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of calculating a confidence score corresponding to the classification of each tile.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of grouping the identified handwriting tiles using a cluster analysis technique, wherein clusters of handwriting represent potential signature locations.  
   
   
       16 . A method of locating one or more signatures on a check, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving an original or preprocessed check bitmap having a predetermined signature default area;    determining the location of one or more check layout elements;    using the location of the one or more check layout elements to determine potential signature locations; and    employing a handwriting detection technique to detect the present or absence of handwriting in the potential signature locations.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the check layout elements comprise MICR lines, signature underlines and micro-print inscriptions.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of employing a handwriting detection technique comprises the steps of dividing the check bitmap into fixed-size tiles and sorting the tiles into predefined classes;  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of identifying handwriting tiles.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of adjusting the signature positions using a connected components analysis.