CLIAMS:We Claim:
1. An image processing method of enabling a financial transaction, the method comprising:
receiving, by processor configured in an image processing system, at least one image of a financial instrument from a sensor;
detecting, by the processor, the presence of the financial instrument in the at least one image;
identifying, by the processor, location of the at least one financial instrument number in the at least one image;
obtaining, by the processor, a binary image of each character of the at least one financial instrument number from the identified location;
segmenting, by the processor, the binary image of each character into one or more segments; and
recognizing, by the processor, each character of the at least one financial instrument number by determining curvature information of the one or more segments for each character based on one or more attributes.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising guiding a user, associated with the financial instrument, to locate the financial instrument within field of view of the sensor when the presence of the financial instrument in the field of view of the sensor is partially detected by the processor.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein identifying the location of the at least one financial instrument number comprises the steps of:
converting the at least one image into a corresponding binary image;
identifying at least one group of characters associated with the at least one financial instrument number from the binary image; and
determining the location of the at least one group of characters based on which the location of the at least one financial instrument number is identified.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein obtaining the binary image of each character in the at least one financial instrument number comprises the steps of:
cropping the at least one image of the at least one financial instrument number from the identified location for each of the at least one image;
converting the cropped image into a corresponding binary image; and
detecting an increase in the count of white color pixels;
detecting a decrease in the count of white color pixels when the increase in the count of white color pixels is detected; and
obtaining the binary image of each character of the at least one financial instrument number when the decrease in the count of white color pixels is detected.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein determining the curvature information of each segment comprising the steps of:
expanding the one of curves and lines and nullifying the gap in the one or more segments, wherein the curvature information is indicative of presence of one of curves and lines in each segment;
determining the length of one of the expanded curve and line;
determining whether the length of the one of the expanded curve and line exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
detecting the presence of one of the expanded curve and line based on the determination.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
recognizing each character of the at least one financial instrument number comprising:
comparing the binary image of each character in the at least one financial instrument number with one or more predefined images; and
determining a matching predefined image of each character having a second accuracy level;
selecting each character having maximum of the first and the second accuracy levels;
determining whether the accuracy level of each selected character exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
displaying the characters of the at least one financial instrument number to a user for confirmation.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising validating the at least one financial instrument number prior to displaying the at least one financial instrument number to the user.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more attributes define the quality of the character’s image and a first accuracy level indicating the probability that the character identification is accurate.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:
receiving at least one character associated with the at least one financial instrument number as an input from the user when at least one character is determined to be incorrect in the at least one financial instrument number being displayed; and
updating the input character along with the corresponding accuracy level into a character repository.

10. An image processing system for enabling a financial transaction, the system comprising:
a sensor configured to capture at least one image of a financial instrument;
a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor;
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores processor-executable instructions, which, on execution, cause the processor to:
receive at least one input image of a financial instrument from the sensor;
detect the presence of the financial instrument in the at least one image;
identify location of the at least one financial instrument number in the at least one image;
obtain a binary image of each character of the at least one financial instrument number from the identified location;
segment the binary image of each character into one or more segments; and
recognize each character of the at least one financial instrument number by determining curvature information of the one or more segments for each character based on one or more attributes.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the instructions, on execution, further cause the processor to guide a user, associated with the financial instrument, to locate the financial instrument within field of view of the sensor when the presence of the financial instrument in the field of view of the sensor is partially detected by the processor, wherein the one or more attributes define the quality of the character’s image and a first accuracy level indicating the probability that the character identification is accurate.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the instructions to identify the location of the at least one financial instrument number, on execution, further cause the processor to:
convert the at least one image into a corresponding binary image;
identify at least one group of characters associated with the at least one financial instrument number from the binary image; and
determine the location of the at least one group of characters based on which the location of the at least one financial instrument number is identified.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the instructions to obtain the binary image of each character in the at least one financial instrument number, on execution, further cause the processor to:
crop the at least one image of the at least one financial instrument number from the identified location for each of the at least one input image;
convert the cropped image into a corresponding binary image; and
detect an increase in the count of white color pixels;
detect a decrease in the count of white color pixels when the increase in the count of white color pixels is detected; and
obtain the binary image of each character of the at least one financial instrument number when the decrease in the count of white color pixels is detected.

14. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the instructions to determine the curvature information of each segment, on execution, further cause the processor to:
expand the one of curves and lines and nullifying the gap in the one or more segments, wherein the curvature information is indicative of presence of one of curves and lines in each segment;
determine the length of one of the expanded curve and line;
determine whether the length of the one of the expanded curve and line exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
detect the presence of one of the expanded curve and line based on the determination.

15. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the instructions, on execution, further cause the processor to:
recognize each character of the at least one financial instrument number comprising:
compare the binary image of each character in the at least one financial instrument number with one or more predefined images; and
determine a matching predefined image of each character having a second accuracy level;
select each character having maximum of the first and the second accuracy levels;
determine whether the accuracy level of each selected character exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
display all the characters of the at least one financial instrument number to a user for confirmation.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium including operations stored thereon that when processed by at least one processor cause a system to perform the acts of:
receiving at least one image of a financial instrument from a sensor;
detecting the presence of the financial instrument in the at least one image;
identifying location of the at least one financial instrument number in the at least one image;
obtaining a binary image of each character of the at least one financial instrument number from the identified location;
segmenting the binary image of each character into one or more segments; and
recognizing each character of the at least one financial instrument number by determining curvature information of the one or more segments for each character based on one or more attributes.

Dated this 26th day of June, 2014

R Ramya Rao
Of K&S Partners
Agent for the Applicant
,TagSPECI:FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present subject matter is related, in general to image processing technique, and more particularly, but not exclusively to an image processing method and system for enabling financial transactions.