Apparatus and method for processing a check, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a check processing control method

• US 20030126082A1
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Naoki, Omura, Kunio
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/389 Keeping log of transactions for guaranteeing non-repudiation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00

Abstract

A check processing method involves capturing at a first compression rate certain portions of a received check, and evaluating, based on that captured image data, whether certain information of the check can be reproduced by image data at a second compression rate that is greater than the first compression rate. If so, then image data representing the subject portions of the check is captured at the second compression rate image data, stored, and used to electronically process a corresponding check payment transaction. If not, then a specific process is executed without using image data at the second compression rate. This processing step outputs a specific signal or stores image data containing representing the subject portions of the received check at the first compression rate. Such process may be embodied in a check processing apparatus and may be carried out in response to a program of instructions.

Claims

1. A method for processing a check payment transaction, comprising:

capturing at a first compression rate image data representing at least specific parts of a check received from a customer;

evaluating, based on the image data captured at the first compression rate, whether information contained in the specific parts of the check can be reproduced by image data at a second compression rate that is greater than the first compression rate;

if it is determined in the evaluating step that the information in the specific parts of the check can be reproduced by image data at the second compression rate, then

capturing at the second compression rate image data representing at least the specific parts of the check,

storing the check image data captured at the second compression rate, and

electronically processing the check payment transaction using the check image data captured at the second compression rate; and

if it is determined in the evaluating step that the information in the specific parts of the check image cannot be reproduced by image data at the second compression rate, then

processing the check payment transaction using the check received from the customer without capturing check image data at the second compression rate.

2. A check processing method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether or not to electronically process the check payment transaction; and

executing the first compression rate capturing step only if it is determined to electronically process the check payment transaction.

3. A check processing method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

reading payment information including payer account information pre-recorded on the check;

executing the first compression rate capturing step only if the payment information is recognized in the payment information reading step; and

interrupting further processing when the payment information is not recognized.

4. A check processing method as described in claim 1, further comprising printing check voiding information on the check if the specific parts of the check image are determined reproducible by the evaluating step.

5. A check processing method as described in claim 1, further comprising printing specific items required on a check on a front side of the check.

6. A check processing method as described in claim 5, further comprising:

determining whether the required specific items are already recorded on the check before executing the printing step; and

skipping the printing step if it is determined that the required specific items are already recorded on the check.

7. A check processing method as described in claim 6, wherein, when the printing step is executed, it precedes the second compression rate capturing step.

8. A check processing method as described in claim 1, wherein the image data at the first compression rate is image data containing a first number of gradations, and the image data at the second compression rate is image data containing a second number of gradations that is less than the first number of gradations.

9. A check processing method as described in claim 8, wherein the image data at the second compression rate is a binary image;

the evaluating step includes determining a threshold value for obtaining the binary image, and determining that the information contained in the specific parts of the check image is not reproducible at the second compression rate if the threshold value cannot be determined.

10. A check processing method as described in claim 1, wherein the second compression rate capturing step includes converting image data at the first compression rate to image data at the second compression rate.

11. An apparatus for processing a check, comprising:

an image data capturing unit configured to scan a check inserted in the apparatus and to capture image data of a scanned check at a first compression rate and at a second compression rate that is greater than the first compression rate;

an evaluation unit configured to determine, based on check image data captured at the first compression rate, whether information contained in specific parts of the check is reproducible by image data at the second compression rate; and

a storage unit configured to store check image data captured at the second compression rate;

wherein check image data is captured at the second compression rate, stored in the storage unit, and used for processing a payment transaction in connection with the check only if the evaluation unit determines that the information contained in the specific parts of the check is reproducible by image data at the second compression rate;

otherwise, if the evaluation unit determines that the information contained in the specific parts of the check is not reproducible by image data at the second compression rate, the payment transaction is processed without capturing image data of the check at the second compression rate.

12. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 11, further comprising a check transportation unit configured to eject the check from the apparatus.

13. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 11, further comprising a notification unit configured to inform an operator if the evaluation unit determines that the information contained in specific parts of the check is not reproducible by image data at the second compression rate.

14. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 11, wherein the image data capturing unit is adapted to convert image data captured at the first compression rate to image data at the second compression rate.

15. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 11, wherein the image data at the first compression rate is image data containing a first number of gradations, and the image data at the second compression rate is image data containing a second number of gradations that is less than the first number of gradations.

16. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein the image data at the second compression rate is a binary image, and the evaluation unit determines that the information contained in the specific parts of the check image is not reproducible at the second compression rate when a threshold value for obtaining the binary image cannot be determined.

17. A check processing apparatus for capturing a check image and sending the captured check image to a host device, comprising:

an image data capturing unit configured to scan a check inserted in the apparatus and to capture image data of a scanned check at a first compression rate and at a second compression rate that is greater than the first compression rate;

an evaluation unit configured to determine, based on check image data captured at the first compression rate, whether information contained in specific parts of the check is reproducible by image data at the second compression rate; and

a transmission unit configured to send image data captured at the second compression rate to the host device if the evaluation unit determines that the information contained in the specific parts of the check is reproducible by image data at the second compression rate, and configured to notify the host device if the evaluation unit determines that the information contained in the specific parts of the check is not reproducible by image data at the second compression rate.

18. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 17, further comprising a check transportation unit configured to eject the check from the apparatus.

19. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 17, wherein the image data capturing unit is configured to convert image data captured at the first compression rate to image data at the second compression rate.

20. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 17, wherein the image data at the first compression rate is image data containing a first number of gradations, and the image data at the second compression rate is image data containing a second number of gradations that is less than the first number of gradations.

21. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 17, wherein the image data at the second compression rate is a binary image, and the evaluation unit determines that the information contained in the specific parts of the check image is not reproducible at the second compression rate when a threshold value for obtaining the binary image cannot be determined.

22. A method for processing check payment transaction, comprising:

capturing at a first compression rate image data representing at least specific parts of a check received from a customer;

evaluating, based on the image data captured at the first compression rate, whether information contained in the specific parts of the check can be reproduced by image data at a second compression rate that is greater than the first compression rate; and

performing one of the following;

capturing at the second compression rate image data representing at least the specific parts of the check if is determined by the evaluating step that the information contained in the specific parts of the check is reproducible at the second compression rate, and then storing the check image data captured at the second compression rate for processing the check payment transaction electronically, or

storing the check image data captured at the first compression rate for processing the check payment transaction electronically if is determined by the evaluating step that the information contained in the specific parts of the check is reproducible.

23. A check processing method as described in claim 22, wherein the image data at the first compression rate is image data containing a first number of gradations, and the image data at the second compression rate is image data containing a second number of gradations that is less than the first number of gradations.

24. A check processing method as described in claim 23, wherein the image data at the second compression rate is a binary image, and wherein the evaluating step includes determining a threshold value for obtaining the binary image, and determining that the information contained in the specific parts of the check image is not reproducible at the second compression rate when the threshold value cannot be determined.

25. A check processing method as described in claim 22, image data at the second compression rate is obtained by converting image data captured at the first compression rate to image data at the second compression rate.

26. An apparatus for processing a check, comprising:

an image data capturing unit configured to scan a check inserted in the apparatus and to capture image data of scanned check at a first compression rate and at a second compression rate that is greater than the first compression rate;

an evaluation unit configured to determine, based on check image data at the first compression rate, whether information contained in specific parts of the check is reproducible by image data at the second compression rate; and

a storage unit configured to store check image data captured at the second compression rate when the evaluation unit determines that the information contained in the specific parts of the check is reproducible at the second compression rate, and configured to store check image data captured at the first compression rate when the evaluation unit determines that the information contained in the specific parts of the check is not reproducible at the second compression rate.

27. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 26, wherein the image data capturing unit converts image data captured at the first compression rate to image data at the second compression rate.

28. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 26, wherein the image data at the first compression rate is image data containing a first number of gradations, and the image data at the second compression rate is image data containing a second number of gradations that is less than the first number of gradations.

29. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 28, wherein the image data at the second compression rate is a binary image, and the evaluation unit determines that the information contained in the specific parts of the check image is not reproducible at the second compression rate when a threshold value for obtaining the binary image cannot be determined.

30. A check processing apparatus for capturing a check image and sending the captured check image to a host device, comprising:

an image data capturing unit configured to scan a check inserted in the apparatus and to capture image data at a first compression rate and at a second compression rate that is greater than the first compression rate;

an evaluation unit configured to determine, based on check image data captured at the first compression rate, whether information contained in specific parts of the check is reproducible by image data at the second compression rate; and

a transmission unit configured to send image data captured at the second compression rate to the host device when the evaluation unit determines that the information contained in the specific parts of the check is reproducible at the second compression rate, and configured to send the image data at the first compression rate when the evaluation unit determines that the information contained in the specific parts of the check is not reproducible at the second compression rate.

31. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 30, wherein the image data capturing unit is configured to convert image data captured at the first compression rate to image data at the second compression rate.

32. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 30, wherein the image data at the first compression rate is image data containing a first number of gradations, and the image data at the second compression rate is image data containing a second number of gradations that is less than the first number of gradations.

33. A check processing apparatus as described in claim 32, wherein the image data at the second compression rate is a binary image, and the evaluation unit determines that the information contained in the specific parts of the check image is not reproducible at the second compression rate when a threshold value for obtaining the binary image cannot be determined.

34. A method for processing checks using a check processing apparatus for capturing check images, comprising:

sending to the check processing apparatus a command for capturing at a first compression rate image data representing at least specific parts of a check received from a customer;

receiving from the check processing apparatus a result indicating whether or not information contained in the specific parts of the check can be reproduced by image data at a second compression rate that is greater than the first compression rate;

if the received result indicates that that the information in the specific parts of the check can be reproduced by image data at the second compression rate, then

sending to the check processing apparatus a command for capturing at a second compression rate image data representing at least the specific parts of the check image data,

receiving from the check processing apparatus check image data captured at the second compression rate,

and storing the image data captured at the second compression rate; and

if the received result indicates that that the information in the specific parts of the check cannot be reproduced by image data at the second compression rate, then

sending to the check processing apparatus a command to eject the check without capturing check image data at the second compression rate.

35. A check processing method as described in claim 34, further comprising displaying a message indicating that check image data cannot be captured at the second compression rate if the received result indicates that that the information in the specific parts of the check cannot be reproduced by image data at the second compression rate.

36. A device-readable medium containing a program of instructions for directing a check processing apparatus to perform check processing, the program of instructions comprising instructions for:

capturing at a first compression rate image data representing at least specific parts of a check received from a customer;

determining whether or not information contained in the specific parts of the check can be reproduced by image data at a second compression rate that is greater than the first compression rate;

capturing at a second compression rate image data representing at least the specific parts of the check image data, obtaining from the check processing apparatus check image data captured at the second compression rate, and storing the image data captured at the second compression rate, if the received result indicates that that the information in the specific parts of the check can be reproduced by image data at the second compression rate; and

ejecting the check without capturing check image data at the second compression rate, if the received result indicates that that the information in the specific parts of the check cannot be reproduced by image data at the second compression rate.

37. A device-readable medium as described in claim 36, further comprising instructions for displaying a message indicating that check image data cannot be captured at the second compression rate if the received result indicates that that the information in the specific parts of the check cannot be reproduced by image data at the second compression rate.