Method and apparatus for managing valuable documents

• US 20020026425A1
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Original Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Inventors: Fahraeus, Christer
• Application Number:
  US09/813,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20020026425A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/128 Viewing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/2033 Matching unique patterns, i.e. patterns that are unique to each individual paper

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing valuable documents may be carried out in a computer that is connected to a computer network. The method may include receiving an order via the computer network relating to a valuable document, and, in response to the order, creating the valuable document. The document creation may include associating the valuable document with a subset of a position-coding pattern. When used, the valuable document may be checked by a scanner to generate a control signal that includes at least one pair of coordinates. These coordinates may then be used to check the acceptability of the valuable document. A corresponding computer program, system, products, and arrangements are also described.

Claims

1. A method for managing valuable documents, the method being carried out using a computer connected to a computer network, the method comprising:

receiving an order via the computer network relating to a valuable document; and

creating the valuable document in response to the order by associating with the valuable document a subset of a position-coding pattern.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position-coding pattern codes coordinates of points on an imaginary surface and wherein the subset of the position-coding pattern codes coordinates within one coordinate area of a plurality of coordinate areas that are defined in the computer.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein creating the valuable document includes storing information to reserve the one coordinate area.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein creating the valuable document includes storing information to render usable the one coordinate area.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein creating the valuable document includes associating an address with the one coordinate area.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein creating the valuable document includes associating a monetary amount with the one coordinate area.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein creating the valuable document includes associating an identifier, which identifies a user unit that is authorized to read the subset of the position-coding pattern, with the one coordinate area.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein creating the valuable document includes storing an indication of a payment recipient, to whom the payment for the valuable document is to be transferred.

9. The method according to claim 2, further including forwarding the valuable document.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the document is forwarded electronically via the computer network.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein the valuable document is associated with a unique subset of the position-coding pattern.

12. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a control signal comprising at least one pair of coordinates recorded from the valuable document;

determining a coordinate area of a plurality of coordinates to which the pair of coordinates is a subset; and

checking, on the basis of the determined coordinate area, whether the valuable document is acceptable.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising marking the valuable document as used.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising forwarding a message included in the control signal to an address associated with the determined coordinate area.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising transmitting a signal to the computer network to indicate an acceptability of the valuable document.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising marking the determined coordinate area as used.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising identifying a signature in the received control signal and associating the signature with the determined coordinate area.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising identifying, in the control signal, a payment amount, and comparing the payment amount with a total amount associated with the determined coordinate area.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising identifying, in the control signal, an identifier which indicates the identity of a user unit used for reading the position coding pattern on the valuable document, wherein checking comprises comparing the identifier in the control signal with an identifier associated with the determined coordinate area.

15. A method for managing valuable documents, the method being carried out using a computer connected to a computer network, wherein a plurality of coordinate areas is defined in the computer, the method comprising:

receiving a control signal from the computer network, wherein the control signal comprises at least one pair of coordinates that has been recorded by reading a position-coding pattern on a valuable document;

determining a coordinate area of the plurality of coordinate areas to which the pair of coordinates belongs; and

checking, with the aid of the determined coordinate area, whether the valuable document is acceptable.

21. An apparatus managing valuable documents in a computer connected to a computer network, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving an order via the computer network relating to a valuable document; and

means for creating the valuable document in response to the order and for associating the valuable document with a subset of a position-coding pattern.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising means for carrying out the order for a valuable document.

25. The computer of claim 24, wherein the data structure further comprises a fourth field for storing data indicating a user unit authorized to determine a position in the coordinate area on the position-coding surface.

26. The computer of claim 24, wherein the data structure further comprises a fourth field for storing data indicating a value associated with the document.

27. The computer of claim 24, wherein the data structure further comprises a fourth field for storing data indicating a validity date of the document.

28. The computer of claim 24, wherein the data structure further comprises a fourth field for storing data indicating an address.

29. The computer of claim 24, wherein the data structure further comprises a fourth field for storing data indicating a signature.

30. The computer of claim 24, wherein the data structure further comprises a fourth field for storing data indicating a message.

31. The computer of claim 26, wherein the data structure further comprises a fifth field for storing data indicating a validity date of the document.

32. The computer of claim 31, wherein the data structure further comprises a sixth field for storing data indicating a signature.

23. An apparatus for managing valuable documents using a computer connected to a computer network, wherein a plurality of coordinate areas are defined in the computer, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a control signal from the computer network, which control signal includes at least one pair of coordinates, which have been recorded by reading of a position-coding pattern on a valuable document;

means for determining to which coordinate area of the plurality of coordinate areas the pair of coordinates belongs; and

means for checking, on the basis of the determined coordinate area, if the valuable document is acceptable.

24. A computer with a memory having a data structure, wherein the data structure comprises:

a first field for storing two-dimensional coordinates that define a coordinate area that is a subset of a position-coding pattern surface;

a second field for storing data indicating whether a document associated with the coordinate area is reserved; and

a third field for storing data indicating whether the document has been used.

33. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method of operating a processor, the method comprising:

receiving an order from the computer network relating to a valuable document; and

creating the valuable document in response to the order by associating the valuable document with a subset of a position-coding pattern.

34. The computer-readable medium according to claim 33, wherein the position-coding pattern codes coordinates of points on an imaginary surface and wherein the subset of the position-coding pattern codes coordinates within one coordinate area of a plurality of coordinate areas that are defined in the computer.

35. The computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein creating the valuable document comprises storing information to reserve the one coordinate area.

36. The computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein creating the valuable document comprises storing information to render usable at least one coordinate area.

37. The computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein creating the valuable document includes associating an address with the at least one coordinate area.

38. The computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein creating the valuable document includes associating a monetary amount with the at least one coordinate area.

39. The computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein creating the valuable document comprises associating an identifier, which identifies a user unit that is authorized to read the subset of the position-coding pattern, with the one coordinate area.

40. The computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein creating the valuable document comprises storing an indication of a payment recipient to whom the payment for the valuable document is to be transferred.

41. The computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the method further comprises forwarding the valuable document.

42. The computer-readable medium according to claim 41, wherein the document is forwarded electronically via the computer network.

43. The computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the valuable document is associated with a unique subset of the position-coding pattern.

44. The computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a control signal comprising at least one pair of coordinates recorded from the valuable document;

determining a coordinate area of a plurality of coordinates to which the pair of coordinates belongs; and

checking, on the basis of the determined coordinate area, whether the valuable document is acceptable.

45. The computer-readable medium according to claim 44, wherein the method further comprises marking the valuable document as used.

46. The computer-readable medium according to claim 44, wherein the method further comprises forwarding a message included in the control signal to an address associated with the determined coordinate area.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 47, wherein the method further comprises transmitting a signal to the computer network to indicate the acceptability of the valuable document.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 47, wherein the method further comprises marking the determined coordinate area as used.

50. The computer-readable medium according to claim 47, wherein the method further comprises identifying a signature in the received control signal and associating the signature with the determined coordinate area.

51. The computer-readable medium according to claim 47, wherein the method further comprises identifying, in the control signal a payment amount, and comparing the payment amount with a total amount associated with the determined coordinate area.

52. The computer-readable medium according to claim 47, further comprising identifying in the control signal, an identifier which indicates an identity of a user unit used for reading the position coding pattern on the valuable document, wherein the checking includes comparing the identifier in the control signal with an identifier associated with the determined coordinate area.

47. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method of operating a processor for management of valuable documents, wherein the method is carried out in the computer connected to a computer network, wherein a plurality of coordinate areas is defined in the computer, the method comprising:

receiving a control signal from the computer network, wherein the control signal includes at least one pair of coordinates that has been recorded by reading a position-coding pattern on a valuable document;

determining a coordinate area of the plurality of coordinate areas to which the pair of coordinates belongs; and

checking, with the aid of the determined coordinate area, whether the valuable document is acceptable.

53. A method for authenticating paper currency, the method comprising:

printing on the currency a subset of a position coding pattern;

associating in a database the subset of the position coding pattern with an indicator reflective of a currency characteristic;

imaging the subset of the position coding pattern on the currency to generate a signal reflective thereof;

transmitting the signal to the database; and

comparing information reflected by the signal with information in the database to thereby confirm the currency characteristic.