SAN DIEGO Mitek Systems said it has been issued a U.S. patent for the company’s process measuring signature simplicity and using it to detect fraud.
The patent, “Methods for Applying a Signature Simplicity Analysis for Improving the Accuracy of Signature Validation,” was issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Mitek said its newly-patented method measures signature “simplicity,” the inherent mathematical simplicity of strokes used to create a signature. This allows Mitek to identify patterns of signature style, a key method which recognizes attempts at forgery. A “simplicity” score is used to adjust Mitek’s signature validation on-the-fly, which the company said helps in preventing fraudulent signatures from being accepted. For example, if someone tries to forge a complex signature (a signature with many pen movements) with a relatively simple one, Mitek said its technology is able to evaluate the simplicity of both versions, compare them, and identify fraudulent patterns.
Mitek, a developer of remote deposit capture technology, now has 15 U.S. and international patents issued and 24 patent applications pending in the U.S. and Canada.
