Verification method and apparatus

• US 20050033587A1
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Talaris Holdings Limited (Glory Limited)
• Original Assignee: Talaris Holdings Limited (Glory Limited)
• Inventors: Armanini, Pietro, Ireland, Philip Michael William, James, Alexander Charles Harold, Calverley, Simon George
• Application Number:
  US10/496,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033587A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/330
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/005 Portable strong boxes, e.g. which may be fixed to a wall or the like E05G1/08, E05G1/14 take precedence; devices to prevent theft or loss of bags, trunks, baskets, or the like A45C13/18; coin boxes for coin freed apparatus G07F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/10 with alarm, signal or indicator E05G1/14 takes precedence; burglar, theft or intruder alarm per se G08B13/00; fire or explosion alarm per se G08B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 7/001 Bank depositories automatic safe-deposit box systems E05G1/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/0096 Accepting paper currency or other valuables in containers, e.g. in code-marked envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/12 Containers for valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/125 Secure containers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/225 for detecting or indicating tampering
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/30 Tracking or tracing valuable papers or cassettes

Abstract

A method of verifying the integrity of an item of value received at a destination location following transfer from a source at location is described. The method comprises carrying out one or more verification steps, at least one of which (26) comprises determining whether the time of arrival (22) of the item of value at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition.

Claims

1. A method of verifying the integrity of an item of value received at a destination location following transfer from a source location, the method comprising carrying out one or more verification steps, at least one of which comprises determining whether the time of arrival of the item of value at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition, characterised in that the predetermined condition is defined by an absolute time period within which the item of value is expected.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises the expected length of time between the item of value leaving the source location and arriving at the destination location.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein details of the predetermined condition are stored in a memory at the destination location.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein details of the predetermined condition are provided in association with the item of value.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the item of value is secured within a package, the method comprising determining whether the time of arrival of the package at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the details of the predetermined condition are provided on or in the package.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the package is tamper evident.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein details relating to the predetermined condition are communicated from the source location to the destination location.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the details comprise one or more of the time of departure from the source location, the expected time of arrival at the destination location, and the length of time between leaving the source location and arriving at the destination location.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the item of value comprises cash, for example coins and/or banknotes.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the source location comprises one of a retail till, retailer back office, cash-in-transit centre, and financial institution such as a bank.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the destination location comprises one of a retail till, retailer back office, cash-in-transit centre, and financial institution such as a bank.

13. Apparatus for verifying the integrity of an item of value received at a destination location following transfer from a source location, the apparatus comprising a verification system for carrying out one or more verification steps, at least one of which comprises determining whether the time of arrival of the item of value at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 for carrying out a method verifying the integrity of an item of value received at a destination location following transfer from a source location, the method comprising carrying out one or more verification steps at least one of which comprises determining whether the time of arrival of the item of value at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition, characterised in that the predetermined condition is defined by an absolute time period within which the item of value is expected.

15. An item of value transfer system comprising apparatus according to claim 13 located at a destination location;

and a source location from which items of value are transferred to the destination location.