Method and system for online communication between a check sorter and a check processing system

• US 20040016683A1
• Filed: 07/09/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fidelity Information Services, LLC (Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sterling Commerce (America) Incorporated (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Maloney, Rian R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,924,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/583
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/95 structured as a network, e.g. client-server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/2253 Recognition of characters printed with magnetic ink G06V30/2247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/20 Controlling or monitoring the operation of devices; Data handling
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/28 Setting of parameters; Software updates
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/50 Sorting or counting valuable papers

Abstract

A system for handling checks is provided that includes a sorter operable to retrieve MICR data from a plurality of checks. An emulator is coupled to the sorter. The emulator is operable to access the MICR data, to generate a process buffer based on the MICR data, and to generate a plurality of feature instructions for each check based on the process buffer. A communication engine is coupled between the emulator and a check processing system. The communication engine is operable to communicate between the emulator and the check processing system in real-time. The check processing system is operable to receive the process buffer from the emulator through the communication engine. The emulator is further operable to communicate the feature instructions to the sorter. The sorter is further operable to process the checks based on the feature instructions.

Claims

1. A method for handling checks, comprising:

retrieving MICR data from a check;

performing a search of code line data for a match based on the MICR data;

determining a plurality of feature instructions from the code line data if a match exists;

executing an executable code file to generate results based on the MICR data if no match exists;

determining a plurality of feature instructions from the results; and

communicating with a check processing system in real-time over a TCP/IP connection.

2. The method of claim 1, the MICR data standardized for a plurality of disparate types of check sorters.

3. The method of claim 2, the standardized MICR data comprising a format compatible with a check sorter compatible with the check processing system.

4. The method of claim 1, the MICR data comprising an account number for the check.

5. The method of claim 1, the feature instructions comprising an endorsement instruction operable to control endorsement of the check by the check sorter.

6. The method of claim 1, the feature instructions comprising a microfilm instruction operable to control recording of a microfilm image of the check by the check sorter.

7. The method of claim 1, the feature instructions comprising a digital image instruction operable to control recording of a digital image of the check by the check sorter.

8. The method of claim 7, the digital image instruction further operable to specify at least one of a plurality of digital capture options, the options comprising the recording of a front image of the check and the recording of a back image of the check.

9. The method of claim 8, the options further comprising a black and white image, a gray scale image, and a color image.

10. The method of claim 1, the feature instructions comprising a pocket selection instruction operable to direct the check to a specified pocket.

11. The method of claim 1, the code line data comprising a plurality of identifiers, each identifier identifying a particular check, performing a search of the code line data for a match based on the MICR data comprising matching a check to one of the stored identifiers.

12. The method of claim 11, the code line data comprising more than sixteen identifiers.

13. The method of claim 11, the code line data comprising at least 1,000 identifiers.

14. The method of claim 11, the identifiers comprising an account number for the check.

15. A system for handling checks, comprising:

logic stored on at least one computer-processable medium;

the logic operable to retrieve MICR data from a check, to perform a search of code line data for a match based on the MICR data, to determine a plurality of feature instructions from the code line data if a match exists, to execute an executable code file to generate results based on the MICR data if no match exists, to determine a plurality of feature instructions from the results, and to communicate with a check processing system in real-time over a TCP/IP connection.

16. The system of claim 15, the logic further operable to standardize the MICR data for a plurality of disparate types of check sorters.

17. The system of claim 16, the standardized MICR data comprising a format compatible with a check sorter compatible with the check processing system.

18. The system of claim 15, the MICR data comprising an account number for the check.

19. The system of claim 15, the feature instructions comprising an endorsement instruction operable to control endorsement of the check by the check sorter.

20. The system of claim 15, the feature instructions comprising a microfilm instruction operable to control recording of a microfilm image of the check by the check sorter.

21. The system of claim 15, the feature instructions comprising a digital image instruction operable to control recording of a digital image of the check by the check sorter.

22. The system of claim 21, the digital image instruction further operable to specify at least one of a plurality of digital capture options, the options comprising the recording of a front image of the check and the recording of a back image of the check.

23. The system of claim 22, the options further comprising a black and white image, a gray scale image, and a color image.

24. The system of claim 15, the feature instructions comprising a pocket selection instruction operable to direct the check to a specified pocket.

25. The system of claim 15, the code line data comprising a plurality of identifiers, each identifier identifying a particular check, the logic further operable to match a check to one of the stored identifiers.

26. The system of claim 25, the code line data comprising more than sixteen identifiers.

27. The system of claim 25, the code line data comprising at least 1,000 identifiers.

28. The system of claim 25, the identifiers comprising an account number for the check.

29. A code line data matching system, comprising:

logic stored on at least one computer-processable medium;

the logic operable to receive MICR data for a check and to perform a search of code line data for a match based on the MICR data using a predefined algorithm, the code line data comprising more than sixteen identifiers, each identifier identifying a particular check.

30. The system of claim 29, the logic further operable to modify the predefined algorithm based on the MICR data.

31. The system of claim 29, the MICR data comprising an account number for the check.

32. The system of claim 29, the code line data comprising at least 1,000 identifiers.

33. The system of claim 29, the identifiers comprising an account number for the check.

34. A method for code line data matching, comprising:

receiving MICR data for a check; and

performing a search of code line data for a match based on the MICR data using a predefined algorithm, the code line data comprising more than sixteen identifiers, each identifier identifying a particular check.

35. The method .of claim 34, further comprising modifying the predefined algorithm based on the MICR data.

36. The method of claim 34, the code line data comprising a first specified number of identifiers, the method further comprising modifying the predefined algorithm such that the code line data comprises a second specified number of identifiers.

37. The method of claim 34, the code line data comprising at least 1,000 identifiers.

38. The method of claim 34, the identifiers comprising an account number for the check.

39. A system for handling checks, comprising:

logic encoded in media; and

the logic operable to access MICR data retrieved by a sorter from a plurality of checks, to generate a process buffer based on the accessed MICR data, to communicate the generated process buffer to a check processing system, to generate in real-time a plurality of feature instructions for each check based on the generated process buffer, and to communicate the generated feature instructions to the sorter.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the check processing system is substantially compatible with the sorter using the emulator.

41. The system of claim 39, the logic further operable to store a plurality of identifiers, each identifier identifying a particular check, to match a check to one of the stored identifiers, and to retrieve a portion of the feature instructions for the check based on the identifier.