Patent Publication Number: US-11042858-B1

Title: Assessing validity of mail item

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Consumers are bombarded with both postal and electronic mail. A large portion of the mail a consumer receives comprises physical or electronic documents that are easily identified as advertisements offering a product or service for sale; these types of documents typically do not solicit any type of payment from the consumer. However, consumers also receive numerous mail items that do solicit payment. Such items include valid bills from creditors soliciting payment for products or services rendered, or solicitations from valid charities requesting donations. Unfortunately, such items also include fraudulent documents which are made to appear as valid bills or donation requests to the unwary individual in the hopes that unwarranted monies will be returned to the fraudster. Recent trends show that the elderly and those of diminished mental capacity are particularly susceptible to mail fraud with some losing tens of thousands of dollars. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system and method of ascertaining the validity of physical and/or electronic mail items containing monetary solicitations is described herein. 
     One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing data instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive an image of a mail item and analyze the image of the mail item to identify a plurality of data fields within the mail item. The processor is additionally caused to establish a validity of the data, an invalidity of the data, or a warning related to the data within each of the plurality of identified data fields, and to generate a user-interactive image overlay for the image of the mail item that includes a validity indicator for each of the plurality of identified data fields. The validity indicator is representative of the validity the data, the invalidity of the data, or the warning related to the data within each of the identified plurality of data fields. The processor is further caused to send the user-interactive image overlay to a user device displaying the image of the mail item. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing data instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to obtain an image of a mail item and send the image of the mail item for data field analysis, the analysis including identifying a plurality of data fields within the mail item. The processor is additionally caused to receive, and display over the image of the mail item, a user-interactive image overlay that includes: (a) a validity indicator that is representative of whether each of the plurality of identified data fields within the image of the mail contain valid or invalid data; and (b) an action recommendation to pay or not pay a monetary amount to a payee; the monetary amount and the payee each comprising one of the plurality of data fields within the mail item. 
     Still another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method comprising: (a) obtaining an image of a mail item soliciting a monetary payment to a payee; (b) analyzing the image of the mail item to establish one or more data fields that identify at least: a monetary amount requested, a name of the payee, and a remittance address of the payee; (c) determining a validity or invalidity of the monetary amount requested, the payee and the remittance address; and (d) generating an image overlay to display over the obtained image of the mail item, the image overlay including: (i) a validity indicator for each of the amount requested, the payee and the remittance address, the validity indicator representative of the determined validity or invalidity; (ii) an action recommendation to pay or not pay the requested amount; and (iii) a user-interactive action button enabling payment of the requested amount to the payee at the payee remittance address from the user&#39;s bank account. 
     The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation. A more complete understanding will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following detailed description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is schematic of an exemplary system that can be used to implement a method of ascertaining the validity of physical and/or electronic mail containing monetary solicitations as described herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic of an exemplary computing device that can be used to implement aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation of a validity app according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary image of a physical or electronic mail item usable with method and system of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5A  is an exemplary image overlay according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5B  is the exemplary image overlay of  FIG. 5A  atop the image of the mail item of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 5C  is another exemplary image overlay according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation of an analysis module of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation of an advisory module of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The figures are not necessarily to scale. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labeled with the same number. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies through the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth the many possible embodiments for the appended claims. 
     Whenever appropriate, terms used in the singular also will include the plural and vice versa. The use of “a” herein means “one or more” unless stated otherwise or where the use of “one or more” is clearly inappropriate. The use of “or” means “and/or” unless stated otherwise. The use of “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising,” “include,” “includes,” and “including” are interchangeable and not intended to be limiting. The term “such as” also is not intended to be limiting. For example, the term “including” shall mean “including, but not limited to.” 
     A system and method for ascertaining the validity of physical and/or electronic mail items containing monetary solicitations is described herein. The system and method enable a user to obtain an image of the mail item and submit it for analysis. Analysis of the image of the mail item provides the user, in return, with an image overlay that is displayed over, or atop, the image of the mail item and includes one or more validity indicators indicating the valid or fraudulent nature of one or more portions of the mail item. In certain examples, the described system and method include an interactive user-interface wherein a user may select one of the validity indicators for: display of additional information; posing a verbal question; or typing a question related to the validity indicator. In the instance of a posed question, the described system and method can provide a visual or audio response. In certain examples, the system and method work in cooperation with a user&#39;s existing credentials that have been established with the user&#39;s banking services provider, e.g., bank, credit union, credit card company, etc., to enable payment requested by the mail item via the user&#39;s bank account. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic diagram of an exemplary system  10  for ascertaining the validity of physical and/or electronic mail items containing monetary solicitations. The system  10 , in general of terms, includes one or more user devices  11  such as a smart device  12  (e.g., mobile phone  12   a , tablet  12   b , smart watch  12   c , augmented reality glasses  12   d , etc.) or a computer  14  (e.g., desktop computer  14   a  or laptop  14   b ) that can communicate via a wired or wireless network  16  to one or more host servers  18 . In certain examples, the user devices  11  and/or the host servers  18  are communicatively coupled to banking services  20  with access to a user&#39;s bank account(s). 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary architecture of a computing device  200  that can be used to implement aspects of the present disclosure including the smart devices  12 , computers  14  and host servers  18 . The computing device  200  can be in any suitable form including a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a mobile computer device (e.g., smart phone, tablet, smart watch, or other mobile device), or other devices configured to process digital instructions. Accordingly to avoid undue repetition, this description of the computing device  200  will not be separately repeated herein for each smart device  12 , computer  14  and host server  18 . Rather, it is understood that the exemplary computing device  200  may be configured specific to its intended use incorporating various peripherals and programming instructions, as described herein, to achieve desired operations. Further, it is understood that the computing device  200  is an example of programmable electronics, which may include one or more such computing devices, and when multiple computing devices are included, such computing devices can be coupled together with a suitable data communication network so as to collectively perform the various functions, methods, and operations disclosed herein. 
     In general terms, the computing device  200  includes at least one processing device and at least one computer readable storage device. The processing device operates to execute data instructions stored in the computer readable storage device to perform various operations, methods or functions described herein. 
     In more particular terms, and with reference to  FIG. 2 , the computing device  200  includes at least one processing device  202  such as a central processing unit (BPU), as a well as a system memory  204  and a system bus  206 . The system bus  206  couples various system components including the system memory  204  to the processing device  202 . The system bus is one of any number of types of bus structures including a memory bus, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any variety of bus architectures. 
     The system memory  204  includes program memory  208  and random access memory (RAM)  210 . A basic input/output system (BIOS)  212  containing the basic routines that act to transfer information within the computing device  200 , such as during start up, is typically stored in the program memory  208 . In some embodiments, the computing device  200  also includes a secondary storage device  214 , such as a hard disk drive or file server for storing digital data. The secondary storage device  214  is connected to the system bus  206  by a secondary storage interface (NTF)  216 . The secondary storage device  214 , and its associated computer readable media, provides nonvolatile storage of computer readable instructions (including application programs and program modules), data structures, and other data for the computing device  200 . 
     Although the exemplary computing device  200  described herein employs a secondary storage device  214 , in some embodiments the secondary storage device is eliminated or its hard disk drive/file server configuration is replaced with an alternative form of computer readable storage media. Alternative forms of computer readable storage media include, but are not limited to, magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, compact disk memories, digital versatile disk memories and random access memories. Some embodiments of the second storage devices  214  include non-transitory media. Further, the computer readable storage media can include local storage or cloud-based storage. 
     A number of program modules can be stored in the memory, or the secondary storage device  214 . These program modules include an operating system  218 , one or more application programs  220 , other program modules  222  as described herein, and program data  224 . The computing device  200  can utilize any suitable operating system such as Microsoft Windows, Google Chrome, Apple OS, and any other operating system suitable for a computing device. 
     The computing device  200  typically includes at least some form of computer readable media, e.g., computer readable media within the memory  204  or secondary storage device  214 . Computer readable media includes any available media that can be accessed by the computing device  200 . By way of example, computer readable media includes computer readable storage media. 
     Computer readable storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any device configured to store information such as computer readable storage instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer readable storage media includes, but is not limited to, random access memory, read only memory, electrically erasable programmable read only memory, flash memory, or other memory technology, compact disk read only memory, digital versatile disks or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and that can be accessed by the computing device  200 . 
     In some embodiments, a user provides inputs to the computing device  200  through one or more input devices  226 . Examples of input devices include a keyboard  228 , a touch sensor  230  (such as a touchpad or touch sensitive display), a scanner  232  and a camera  234 . Other embodiments include other input devices  226  necessary for fulfilling the operations of the system  10 , see  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, the input devices are incorporated into the computing device  200  itself. In some embodiments, the input devices are external to the computing device  200  and are connected to the processing device  202  through an input interface  236  that is coupled to the system bus  206 . The input devices can be connected by any number of input/output interfaces such as a parallel port, a serial port, a game port, a universal serial bus, or a custom interface. Wireless communication between input device and the input interface  236  is possible as well, and includes infrared, Bluetooth wireless technology, 802.11/a/b/g/n, cellular or other radio frequency communication systems in some possible embodiments. 
     In the example embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the computing device  200  incorporates within or is operably coupled to a display device  238 . Examples of the display device  238  include a monitor, a liquid crystal display device, a projector, or a touch sensitive display device. The display device  238  is also connected to the system bus via an output interface  240 , such as a display controller. In addition to the display device  238 , the computing device  200  can control via output interface  240  various other peripherals such as a printing device  242  or speaker (not shown). As with the input interface  236 , the output interface  240  can comprise any number of input/output interfaces such as those described in the paragraph above. 
     The computing device  200  further includes a network interface  244  that includes a network communication device to communicate digital data across a data communication network  246 . An example of the network interface  244  includes a wireless transceiver for transmitting digital data over a wireless network. The wireless transceiver is configured to work with one or more wireless communication technologies such as cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication (such as that conforming to one of the IEEE802.11 family of communication protocols), Bluetooth communication, and the like. In other embodiments, the network interface  244  is an Ethernet network interface device having an Ethernet port for receiving an Ethernet cable to transmit and receive digital data across the Ethernet cable to a network  246  such as a local area network of the Internet. 
     When configured for operation as the user device  11 , the computing device  200  includes an application program  220  and/or various program modules  222  such as a “validity app”  300  to enable the operations illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 3 . As shown, upon launching the validity app  300  on the user device  11 , the user is prompted to enter their credentials to establish themselves a valid user of the app, S 302 . Such user-entered credentials may include a user name and password, biometric credentials or other suitable forms of identifying the user. In certain examples, the validity app  300  is independently hosted. In other examples, the validity app  300  is hosted by the user&#39;s banking services provider. Accordingly, the credentials used to establish the user as a valid user of the banking services can also be used to establish them as a valid user of the validity app  300 . In still other examples, the validity app  300  is hosted by a different type of service provider to the user and the user may use the credentials established with that service provider to log-in or establish themselves as a valid user of the validity app. 
     Upon activating the validity app  300  and establishing themselves as a valid user [YES; S 303 ], the user utilizes the user device  11  to obtain an image of a physical and/or electronic mail item containing a monetary solicitation that the user wishes to be validated, S 304 . The image of the mail item can be obtained through any convenient means. For example, the image of the mail item can be obtained: by using the camera  234  of the user device  11 ; by scanning the mail item with a peripheral scanner; by retrieving an image from memory in the user device  11 ; by taking a screen shot of the display of the user device  11 ; etc. In certain examples, the image of the mail item is in a common image format, e.g., PDF, TIFF, GIF, JPEG, FPX, PCD, PNG, etc. while in other examples the image of the mail item is in a proprietary image format that can be exclusive to the host of the validity app  300 . 
     An example of an image of a mail item  400  containing a monetary solicitation is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As shown, the exemplary mail item  400  includes various fields including: (a) user/payor name  402 ; (b) user/payor address  404 ; (c) user/payor account number  406 ; (d) payee name and/or payee logo  408 ; (d) charges to the account  410 ; (e) amount owed by the user/payor  412 ; and (f) physical or electronic address for remittance of payment  414 . Other fields not shown can also be included in the mail item, for example, a web address for the user/payor to review their bill, one or more fields to enter additional personal information such as a social security number or telephone number, “fine print” language fields that include terms, limitations and/or commitments that may be binding on the user, etc. 
     Referring once again to the system of  FIG. 1  and the flowchart of  FIG. 3 , upon obtaining an image of the mail item, the image is sent by the user from the user device  11  over the wired or wireless network  16  to an analysis module  600  at the host server  18 , S 306 , wherein the image will be analyzed and an image overlay will be produced as described in further detail below. Upon analysis, the image overlay is returned from the host server  18  to the user device  11 , and displayed atop the image of the mail item, S 308 . An example of an image overlay  500  is illustrated in  FIG. 5A  and described in further detail below. The image overlay  500  provides an interactive user interface on the user device  11  from which the user may request the display of additional information from the application host, S 310 , pose a typed or verbal question to the application host, S 312 , and/or initiate a desired action, S 314 . 
     When configured for operation as the host server  18 , the computing device  200  includes an application program  220  and/or various program modules  222  such as the analysis module  600  to enable the operations illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 6  and an advisory module  700  to enable the operations illustrated in the flowchart of  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the analysis module  600  of the host server  18  operates in conjunction with an analysis database  602  to receive the image of the mail item (e.g., mail item  400 ), S 604  and to diagram the image of the mail item to identify the data fields of the image, S 606 . The identified data fields of the image of the mail item generally correspond to the fields with respect to the exemplary image of the mail item  400 . For example, the identified data fields of the image of the mail item can include: (a) user/payor name  402 ; (b) user/payor address  404 ; (c) user/payor account number  406 ; (d) payee name and/or payee logo  408 ; (d) charges to the account  410 ; (e) amount owed by the user/payor  412 ; and (f) physical and/or electronic address for remittance of payment  414 . Other elements of the image can, of course, be identified relative to the specific configuration of the mail item, e.g., a web address for the user/payor to review their bill, one or more fields to enter additional personal information such as a social security number or telephone number, “fine print” language fields that include terms, limitations and/or commitments that may be binding on the user, etc. The identified data fields can remain in image format or can be extracted into a text format or an audio playback format. In certain examples, the analysis module  600  may be unable to identify all data fields of the mail item and can message the user at the user device  11  to enter additional information, S 607 , about the unidentified data field or ignore the unidentified data field, S 608 . 
     With all possible data fields of the image of the mail item identified, the analysis module  600  enables comparison of the identified data fields against similar reference elements, S 610  that have previously been identified and stored within the analysis database  602 . The reference elements, in text, image or audio format, can be elements that were obtained from: previous mail item images obtained from the user, previous mail item images that were obtained from users different from the current user, legitimate billing formats obtained directly from the payee or third party organizations, lists of known fraudulent payees or addresses associated with fraudulent payees, lists or data patterns of common fraudulent characteristics of text or image, etc. In certain examples, the comparison can also include a comparison of redundant identified elements from the image of the mail item for consistency. In addition to the comparison, or in lieu of the comparison, the analysis module  600  can perform a contextual analysis of the mail item to discern the various fields noted above as well as, for example, the use of unusual grammar, misspellings, odd fonts, odd formats, etc. via image analysis, text analysis or audio analysis of the mail item. In certain examples, the contextual analysis is performed using, for example, artificial intelligence, deep learning, cognitive computing and/or other advanced computer-based analysis techniques. 
     Based on the comparison, the analysis module  600  enables the generation of the image overlay, e.g., image overlay  500 , which includes indicators to indicate the validity of the data fields and/or of the overall mail item, S 612  and the generated image overlay  500  is sent to the user device  11 , S 614 , for display thereon. 
     Referring once again to  FIG. 5A , an exemplary image overlay  500  is illustrated. As noted above, the image overlay  500  provides an interactive user interface on the user device  11  from which the user may request the display of additional information and/or pose a typed or verbal question; the image overlay includes at least one validity indicator  502  indicating the validity or lack of validity of the mail item  400 . In the present example the image overlay  500  includes a plurality of validity indicators  502  including, but not limited to: a) user/payor name  502   a ; (b) user/payor address  502   b ; (c) user/payor account number  502   c ; (d) payee name and/or payee logo  502   d ; (e) charges to the account  502   e ; (f) amount owed by the user/payor  502   f ; and (g) address for remittance of payment  502   g . Each of the validity indicators  502  may be in the form of one or more of: a text indicator (e.g., “VALID,” “INVALID”, “WARNING,” etc.), a color indicator (e.g., green=valid, red=invalid, yellow=warning), an outline indicator (e.g., a first shape (rectangle)=valid, a second shape (oval)=invalid, a third shape (triangle)=warning; or line thickness/type—thin line=valid, bold line=invalid, dashed line=warning), or an audio indicator. In certain examples, there are at least two validity indicators statuses, e.g. VALID and INVALID. In certain examples, there are at least three validity indicator statuses, e.g., VALID, INVALID, WARNING. The WARNING indicator can be used as an initial indicator for various purposes. For example, the WARNING indicator can be the initial indicator notifying/advising the user of the presence terms or conditions that may adversely affect the user such as charges to the user account, excess fees, consenting to automatic withdrawals, etc. The WARNING indicator can also be the initial indicator for account health status warnings, e.g. the user account does not contain sufficient funds to pay the requested amount, etc. Selection of the WARNING indicator can provide the user with additional information related to the warning, see description below related to the interactive features of the image overlay  500 . Additional indicator statuses may be used as appropriate to the mail item image under analysis. In the example of  FIG. 5A , both text and shape are used to indicate VALID status (e.g. rectangle and word “VALID”) and to indicate an INVALID status (e.g., oval and word “INVALID”).  FIG. 5B  illustrates the image overlay  500  in place atop the image of the mail item  400 . 
     In certain examples, the image overlay  500  provides additional information beyond that described above with reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B . In  FIG. 5C , an example of an image overlay  500  is provided with an information bar  510 . In this example the information bar  510  is located at the bottom of the image overlay  500  be can included anywhere within the confines of the image overlay  500 . The information bar  510  can include additional information such as a legend of field descriptors  512  (e.g., “name”, “address”, “name of payee”, etc.), an action recommendation  514  (e.g., “pay” or “do not pay”), a listing of prior/historical user payments or actions made relative to the payee  516  by the payor/user, and/or an action button  518  providing the options of “PAY” or “DO NOT PAY”. In the instance that the validity app  300  is hosted by the user&#39;s banking services provider and the user has established themselves as a valid user of the validity app  300 , the action button  518  can be configured with access to the user&#39;s bank account. Such that a selection of “PAY” from the action button  518  results in remittance of the amount owed, e.g., amount  412 , to the payee, e.g. payee  408 , identified in the image of the mail item from the user&#39;s associated bank account. A selection of “DO NOT PAY” at the action button  518  results in non-payment. In certain examples, the action button  518  is customized by the analysis module  600  in a manner that is specific to the actions that the image of the mail item has requested as determined by the analysis module  600 . For example, the action button  518  can include an option to pay a different amount, to pay an amount to a third party, to reject or accept a binding condition, etc. 
     As noted above with respect to the flowchart of  FIG. 3 , the image overlay  500  provides an interactive user interface on the user device  11  from which the user may request the display of additional information from the application host, S 310 , S 312 , S 314 . More specifically, each of the validity indicators  502  and/or items within the information bar  510  may be selected by the user. In certain examples, upon selection of one of the validity indicators  502  or item within the information bar  510 , the user is presented with a pop-up menu  519  (see example in  FIG. 5A ) to select from at least one, and more preferably, two or more informational options  520 , e.g., to display additional information  520   a , to enter a typed question  520   b , and/or to state a verbal question  520   c ; other and/or additional informational options may be provided. 
     Selection of one of the informational options  520  from the image overlay  500  invokes utilization of the advisory module  700  by the host server  18 . The advisory module  700  operates in conjunction with an advisory database  702  to provide the information requested, see the flowchart of  FIG. 7 . In the instance of responding to the selection for display of additional information S 704 , the advisory module  700  enables the host server  18  to search the advisory database  702  for information related to the corresponding selected item (e.g. the validity indicator  502  or the item from the information bar  510 ), S 706 , and sends the information to user device  11  for display and/or read-back, S 708 . Such additional information found in the advisory database  702  may include, but is not limited to: the corresponding field name of the selection, historical information about the selection, fraud alerts related to the selection, and/or user warnings related to the selection. User warnings can include, for example, notifying/advising the user of the presence terms or conditions that may adversely affect the user such as charges to the user account, excess fees, consenting to automatic withdrawals, etc. User warnings can also include account health status warnings, e.g. the user account does not contain sufficient funds to pay the requested amount. 
     In the instance of responding to the selection for entering a typed question, S 710 , the advisory module  700  initiates the generation of a question box, see example question box  522  in  FIG. 5A , for presentation to the user at the user device  11  and receives the user&#39;s typed question, S 712 . Upon the typed entry of the user&#39;s question, the advisory module  700  operates to search for an identical or similar question previously stored in the advisory database  702  and its corresponding response, S 714 ; the corresponding response can then be sent, S 716 , to the user device  11  for display and/or verbal read-back by the user device  11 . In certain examples, alternatively or in addition to searching based on the whole question, S 714 , the typed question is parsed by the advisory module  700  for keywords that may be searched within the advisory database  702  to obtain corresponding response(s), S 716 , for display and/or verbal read-back by the user device  11 . In certain examples, alternatively or in addition to searching the advisory database  702 , the advisory module  700  can operate to establish a connection with an individual (e.g. a human advisory support representative), S 718 , who can provide a typed and/or verbal response to the question for display and/or read-back at the user device  11 . Further, alternatively or in addition to searching the advisory database  702 , the advisory module  700  can use advanced computing techniques, for example, artificial intelligence, deep learning, cognitive computing, etc., to determine an appropriate response to any user questions. 
     In the instance of response to the selection for posing a verbal question, S 720 , the advisory module  700  initiates the opening of a microphone of the user device  11  and directs the host server  18  to receive the user&#39;s verbal question, S 722 . As with the typed question, the advisory module  700  operates to search for an identical or similar question previously stored in the advisory database  702  and its corresponding response. S 714 ; the corresponding response can then be sent, S 716 , to the user device  11  for display and/or verbal read-back by the user device  11 . In certain examples, alternatively or in addition to searching based on the whole question, S 714 , the typed question is parsed by the advisory module  700  for keywords that may be searched within the advisory database  702  to obtain corresponding response(s), S 716 , for display and/or verbal read-back by the user device  11 . In certain examples, alternatively or in addition to searching the advisory database  702 , the advisory module  700  can use advanced computing techniques, for example, artificial intelligence, deep learning, cognitive computing, etc., to determine an appropriate response to any user questions. In certain examples, alternatively or in addition to searching the advisory database  702 , the advisory module can operates establish a connection with an individual (e.g. a human advisory support representative or a designated trusted party), S 718 , who can provide a typed and/or verbal response to the question for display and/or read-back at the user device  11 . In certain examples, the user is notified at the user device  11  of the connection with the representative. Any combination of text and speech may be used to pose and/or respond to a user question. A user may continue to select various informational options  520  for the various validity indicators  502  and/or items within the information bar  510  as desired. 
     In certain examples, additional functionality is provided to the various systems and methods described above. For example, in addition to selecting various informational options  520  for the various validity indicators  502  and/or items within the information bar  510 , the validity app  300  can allow the user to highlight and/or zoom in on an area on the image of the mail item for specific consideration by the analysis module  600  and/or advisory module  700 . Further, the validity app  300  can provide the user with the functionality to move the image of the mail item and overlay onto another display device such as a connected television, smartphone, or augmented reality headset whereby the user may then utilize the user device  11  as the control mechanism for the display. 
     It should be noted that while the above-described system and method reference a mail item containing a monetary solicitation, the system and method can additionally or alternatively be applied to other types of documents such as legal documents, (e.g. purchase agreement, rental agreement, will, business contract) or financial statements (e.g., income statement, expense statement) in single page or multi-page form. The system and method of the present disclosure can essentially be applied to any document about which a user may wish to pose a question. As such the action button, e.g. action button  518 , can be configured to initiate different types of actions based on the type of document. For example, the action button can be configured to enable an electronic signature. 
     The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following claims.