SERIALIZED SYSTEM FOR IMAGE REPLACEMENT DOCUMENTS

• US 20040118909A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Kallin, Fredrik L.N.
• Granted Patent: US 6,860,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/023 the neutral party being a clearing house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/389 Keeping log of transactions for guaranteeing non-repudiation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

An improved process for clearing bank checks. Paper bank checks are digitized, and the paper checks are placed into storage. The digitized versions are used in the check-clearing process. When paper versions of the checks are required, as when a check is needed for evidence in a lawsuit, a paper version is printed from the corresponding digitized version, each paper version bearing a unique serial number, wherein no two serial numbers are alike. At that time, selected data from the printed check is stored in a database. A recipient of the printed check is allowed access to the database, to verify authenticity of the printed check.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

a) distributing digitized versions of bank checks to banks in a check-clearing process;

b) using some digitized versions to print paper versions;

c) delivering paper versions to recipients; and

d) in response to requests from recipients, or transferees of recipients, verifying content of paper versions.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of verifying content comprises providing access to a database which stores information printed on the paper versions.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of verifying content comprises transmitting to recipients data files which store information printed on the paper versions.

4. Method according to claim 1, and further comprising the step of

e) printing a serial number on all paper versions.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein no two serial numbers are alike.

6. A method of operating a clearing system for bank checks, comprising:

a) digitizing bank checks, drawn on multiple banks, into respective digital counterparts;

b) generating a table containing selected information from each check; and

c) distributing the digitized checks to banks on which the checks are drawn.

7. Method according to claim 6, and further comprising:

d) generating paper versions of selected checks based on their digital counterparts, all paper versions having unique serial numbers; and

e) sending the paper versions to recipients.

8. Method according to claim 7, and further comprising:

e) making data available from the table to a recipient, thereby allowing the recipient to ascertain validity of a paper version.

9. A method, comprising:

a) maintaining a check-clearing system which collects paper bank checks after initial deposit, each paper bank check being drawn on a drawee-bank,

b) for each paper check collected, creating a data version from which an accurate representation of the paper check is recoverable;

c) placing the paper checks into storage;

d) sending the data versions to respective drawee-banks;

e) using some of the data versions,

i) recovering accurate paper representations of the corresponding paper checks;

ii) causing each paper representation to bear a unique serial number, wherein no two serial numbers are alike;

iii) sending the recovered paper representations to recipients, some of which comprises drawee banks of the respective checks; and

f) storing selected information contained in the paper representations into a database.

10. Method according to claim 9, and further comprising:

f) making information stored in the database available to predetermined parties.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein information in the database relating to a check is only made available to recipients of the corresponding paper representation of the check.

12. Method according to claim 9, and further comprising:

f) sending the information selected from a check to the recipient of the recovered paper representation of the check.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the selected information is transmitted to the recipient prior to sending the paper representations.

14. In a system wherein a check clearing system (A) collects deposited bank checks, (B) creates digital images of collected checks, and (C) distributes the digital images to banks, a method comprising:

a) generating a paper representation of a check from its corresponding digital image, and sending the paper representation to a requesting party;

b) maintaining a record of information printed on the paper representation; and

c) when the paper representation is identified by a party, transmitting the information to the party.

15. Improvement according to claim 14, wherein

c) the paper representation is identified by a serial number.

16. In a check-clearing system, the improvement comprising:

a) digitizing paper checks into digitized versions;

b) printing some paper checks from the corresponding digitized versions;

c) storing in a database information printed onto the paper checks; and

d) making the database available to holders of the printed checks.