초록 ▼

The present invention provides various features for extracting a user's bank account information for use in facilitating the electronic transfer of funds to or from the user's bank account. One feature of the invention involves a method and system for extracting a bank routing number from character

The present invention provides various features for extracting a user's bank account information for use in facilitating the electronic transfer of funds to or from the user's bank account. One feature of the invention involves a method and system for extracting a bank routing number from character strings provided by a user from the face of a bank check. The method involves receiving from the user a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line. A contiguous string of characters within the MICR line that satisfies a checksum test is stored as the bank routing number for the user. A check number and an account number may also be received from the user. A test is performed to verify that the check number, the account number, and the bank routing number all coexist within the MICR line. Another feature of the invention involves a method and system for facilitating the transfer of funds between a buyer and a seller. A bank routing number is determined for the seller as noted above. A credit card account associated with the buyer is then charged to collect funds for purchasing one or more items from the seller, and at least a portion of the collected funds is deposited into the bank account of the seller using the extracted bank routing number.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A computer-implemented method of assisting the transfer of funds between a buyer and a seller, comprising: (a) prompting the seller to enter information, by an interface in communication with one or more processors, from a face of a check associated with a bank account of the

What is claimed is: 1. A computer-implemented method of assisting the transfer of funds between a buyer and a seller, comprising: (a) prompting the seller to enter information, by an interface in communication with one or more processors, from a face of a check associated with a bank account of the seller, through manual input, the information comprising at least a first character string corresponding to a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) line on the check, a second character string corresponding to a bank account number associated with the check, and a third character string corresponding to a check number associated with the check; (b) creating, by the one or more processors, a doubly-marked MICR line from the first character string by identifying and marking out (1) a first portion of the first character string that corresponds to the second character string, and (2) a second portion of the first character string that corresponds to the third character string; (c) determining, by the one or more processors, a routing number for the check by identifying within the doubly-marked MICR line a contiguous string of characters that satisfies a checksum test; (d) causing a credit card of the buyer to be charged to collect funds for one or more items purchased by the buyer from the seller; and (e) depositing at least a portion of the funds into the bank account of the seller using the routing determined in (c). 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to successful completion of (c), displaying, in association with an item posted for sale by the seller, an indication that the seller is enabled to accept payment electronically. 3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the prompting the seller to enter information includes displaying to the user a generalized image of a check with indicators of the locations of the MICR line, check number, and account number. 4. The method as in claim 2, wherein displaying an indication comprises presenting the buyer an option to purchase the item using a default credit card number previously specified by the buyer. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the seller mailing address information previously specified by the buyer. 6. The method as in claim 1, wherein determining a routing number further comprises by the one or more processors to compare the contiguous string that satisfies the checksum test with a database of valid bank routing numbers. 7. A computer-implemented method of assisting the transfer of funds from a buyer to a bank account of a seller, the method comprising: (a) receiving, through an interface in communication with one or more processors, a character string specified by a user through manual input, said character string corresponding to a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) line displayed on a check associated with the seller's account; (b) receiving from the user, via the interface, a first string of digits corresponding to a bank account number associated with the seller's account; (c) receiving from the user, via the interface, a second string of digits corresponding to a check number associated with the check; (d) creating, by the one or more processors, a singly-marked MICR line by identifying and marking out a portion of the MICR line that corresponds to either the first string of digits or the second string of digits; (e) testing, by the one or more processors, each of a plurality of strings of contiguous digits within the singly-marked MICR line for compliance with a checksum test associated with routing numbers to identify one or more candidate routing numbers; (f) creating, by the one or more processors, a set of one or more candidate doubly-marked MICR lines, the candidate doubly-marked MICR lines generated by identifying and marking out a portion of the singly-marked MICR line corresponding to each of the one or more candidate routing numbers identified in (e); (g) identifying, by the one or more processors, within the set of candidate doubly-marked MICR lines, a doubly-marked MICR line that includes whichever of the first and second strings of digits was not used in (d) to create the singly-marked MICR line; (h) storing the candidate routing number associated with the doubly-marked MICR line identified in (g); and (i) causing funds to be deposited into the bank account of the seller using the routing number determined in (h). 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: in response to the successful extraction from the MICR line of a bank routing number for the seller's account, displaying, in conjunction with an item posted for sale by the seller, indicia that the seller accepts electronic payments through a third party payment service. 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising: prompting the user, via the interface, to submit the character string corresponding to the MICR line from a check of the account holder. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: using the interface to provide the user with an image of a check with an indication of the location of the MICR line on the check, to assist the user in identifying the character string associated with the MICR line. 11. The method of claim 7, further comprising prompting the user, via the interface, to submit a check number from a check of the account holder. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: using the interface to provide the user with an image of a check with an indication of the location of the check number on the check, to assist the user in identifying the string of digits associated with the check number. 13. The method of claim 7, further comprising: using the interface to provide the user with an image of a check with an indication of the location of the account number on the check, to assist the user in identifying the string of digits associated with the account number. 14. The method of claim 7, further comprising: storing the string of digits associated with the account number. 15. The method of claim 7, further comprising: prompting the user, via the interface, to submit a bank name corresponding to a banking entity that issued the check of the account holder; receiving from the user, via the interface, in response to said prompting a bank name corresponding to the banking entity; and using the one or more processors to determine, from a database of bank institution routing numbers, a bank routing number associated with the bank name received from the user that corresponds to the contiguous string of digits that satisfies the checksum test. 16. The method of claim 7, further comprising: comparing, by the one or more processors the string of contiguous digits that satisfies the checksum test to a database of valid bank routing numbers having associated bank names. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: using the interface to provide the user with a bank name determined to be associated with the candidate bank routing number; and receiving from the user, via the interface, a selection verifying the validity of the bank name provided to the user. 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: using the comparison of the string of contiguous digits that satisfies the checksum test with the database of bank routing numbers to assist in extracting the routing number from the MICR line. 19. The method of claim 7 wherein the checksum test is applied to a contiguous string of nine digits within the MICR line. 20. A computer system comprising: one or more processors, said one or more processors programmed to perform a method of assisting the transfer of funds from a buyer to a bank account of a seller, the method comprising: (a) receiving a character string specified by a user through manual input, said character string corresponding to a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) line displayed on a check associated with the seller's account; (b) receiving from the user a first string of digits corresponding to a bank account number associated with the seller's account; (c) receiving from the user a second string of digits corresponding to a check number associated with the check; (d) creating, by one or more processors, a singly-marked MICR line by identifying and marking out a portion of the MICR line that corresponds to either the first string of digits or the second string of digits; (e) testing, by the one or more processors, each of a plurality of strings of contiguous digits within the singly-marked MICR line for compliance with a checksum test associated with routing numbers to identify one or more candidate routing numbers; (f) creating, by the one or more processors, a set of one or more candidate doubly-marked MICR lines, the candidate doubly-marked MICR lines generated by identifying and marking out a portion of the singly-marked MICR line corresponding to each of the one or more candidate routing numbers identified in (e); (g) identifying, by the one or more processors, within the set of candidate doubly-marked MICR lines, a doubly-marked MICR line that includes whichever of the first and second strings of digits was not used in (d) to create the singly-marked MICR line; (h) storing the candidate routing number associated with the doubly-marked MICR line identified in (g); and (i) depositing funds into the bank account of the seller using the routing number determined in (h). 21. A computer-readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method of assisting the transfer of funds from a buyer to a bank account of a seller, the method comprising: (a) receiving a character string specified by a user through manual input, said character string corresponding to a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) line displayed on a check associated with the seller's account; (b) receiving from the user a first string of digits corresponding to a bank account number associated with the seller's account; (c) receiving from the user a second string of digits corresponding to a check number associated with the check; (d) creating, by one or more processors, a singly-marked MICR line by identifying and marking out a portion of the MICR line that corresponds to either the first string of digits or the second string of digits; (e) testing, by the one or more processors, each of a plurality of strings of contiguous digits within the singly-marked MICR line for compliance with a checksum test associated with routing numbers to identify one or more candidate routing numbers; (f) creating, by the one or more processors, a set of one or more candidate doubly-marked MICR lines, the candidate doubly-marked MICR lines generated by identifying and marking out a portion of the singly-marked MICR line corresponding to each of the one or more candidate routing numbers identified in (e); (g) identifying, by the one or more processors, within the set of candidate doubly-marked MICR lines, a doubly-marked MICR line that includes whichever of the first and second strings of digits was not used in (d) to create the singly-marked MICR line; (h) storing the candidate routing number associated with the doubly-marked MICR line identified in (g); and (i) causing funds to be deposited into the bank account of the seller using the routing number determined in (h). 22. A computer-implemented method of acquiring a routing number for a bank account from the information displayed on a check of the account holder, the method comprising: (a) receiving, using an interface in communication with one or more processors, through manual input, a character string specified by a user, said character string corresponding to a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) line displayed on a check associated with the account; (b) receiving, via the interface, an account number specified by the user, said account number corresponding to a string of digits within the MICR line; (c) receiving, via the interface, a check number specified by the user, said check number corresponding to a string of digits within the MICR line; (d) creating, by the one or more processors, a doubly-marked MICR line by identifying and marking out (1) a first portion of the MICR line that corresponds to the account number specified by the user, and (2) a second portion of the MICR line that corresponds to the check number specified by the user; (e) testing, by the one or more processors, one or more contiguous strings of digits within the doubly-marked MICR line in order to identify a string of digits that satisfies a checksum test; and (f) storing the contiguous string that satisfies the checksum test of (e) for use as a routing number. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising: (g) in response to the storing of the contiguous string in (f), displaying in conjunction with an item posted for sale by the user indicia that the user accepts electronic payments through a third party payment service. 24. The method of claim 22, further comprising: (g) storing the account number received in (b). 25. The method of claim 22 wherein the checksum test is applied to a contiguous string of nine digits within the MICR line. 26. A computer system comprising: one or more computers, said one or more computers programmed to perform a method of acquiring a routing number for an account holder from the information displayed on a check of the account holder, the method comprising: (a) receiving, via an interface in communication with the one or more computers, through manual input, a character string specified by a user, said character string corresponding to a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) line displayed on a check associated with the account; (b) receiving, via the interface, an account number specified by the user, said account number corresponding to a string of digits within the MICR line; (c) receiving, via the interface, a check number specified by the user, said check number corresponding to a string of digits within the MICR line; (d) creating, by the one or more programmed computers, a doubly-marked MICR line by identifying and marking out (1) a first portion of the MICR line that corresponds to the account number specified by the user, and (2) a second portion of the MICR line that corresponds to the check number specified by the user; (e) testing, by the one or more programmed computers, one or more contiguous strings of digits within the doubly-marked MICR line in order to identify a string of digits that satisfies a checksum test; and (f) storing the contiguous string that satisfies the checksum test of (e) for use as a routing number. 27. A computer-readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method of acquiring a routing number for an account holder from the information displayed on a check of the account holder, the method comprising: (a) receiving, through manual input, a character string specified by a user, said character string corresponding to a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) line displayed on a check associated with the account; (b) receiving an account number specified by the user, said account number corresponding to a string of digits within the MICR line; (c) receiving a check number specified by the user, said check number corresponding to a string of digits within the MICR line; (d) creating, by one or more processors, a doubly-marked MICR line by identifying and marking out (1) a first portion of the MICR line that corresponds to the account number specified by the user, and (2) a second portion of the MICR line that corresponds to the check number specified by the user; (e) testing, by the one or more processors, one or more contiguous strings of digits within the doubly-marked MICR line in order to identify a string of digits that satisfies a checksum test; and (f) storing the contiguous string that satisfies the checksum test of (e) for use as a routing number. 28. A system for acquiring and using a bank routing number for a bank account holder from the information displayed on a check of the account holder, comprising: one or more processors configured to provide a user interface that prompts for and receives a first character string corresponding to a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) line submitted by a user through manual input, that further prompts for and receives a second character string corresponding to a bank account number submitted by the user, and that further prompts for and receives a third character string corresponding to a check number submitted by the user; the one or more processors further configured to provide a check information extraction tool in communication with the user interface that receives the first, second and third character strings and that generates a fourth character string comprising a doubly-marked MICR line by identifying and marking out (1) a first portion of the first character string that corresponds to the second character string and (2) a second portion of the first character string that corresponds to the third character string, the check information extraction tool also testing one or more contiguous strings of digits within the doubly-marked MICR line character string in order to identify a contiguous string of digits that satisfies a checksum test, thereby extracting a user bank routing number from the MICR line character string; and the one or more processors further configured to provide an electronic fund transfer application configured to transfer funds into a bank account associated with the user. 29. The system of claim 28, further comprising: a computer storage in communication with the check information extraction tool, where the computer storage may be used to store a user bank routing number extracted by the check information extraction tool. 30. The system of claim 28, where the user interface further includes a generalized image of a check with an indicator of the location within the check of the MICR line. 31. The system of claim 28, where the user interface further includes a generalized image of a check with an indicator of the location within the check of the check number. 32. The system of claim 28, where the user interface further includes a generalized image of a check with an indicator of the location within the check of the account number. 33. The system of claim 28, where the check information extraction tool further stores the account number in the computer storage. 34. The system of claim 28, further comprising a display of an item posted for sale by the user, where the display includes indicia that the user accepts electronic payments through a third party payment service. 35. The system of claim 28, further comprising a database of valid bank entity routing numbers in communication with the check information extraction tool, where the check information extraction tool utilizes the valid bank entity routing numbers within the database in extracting a user bank routing number from a character string.