Method of operating a check depositing terminal and an apparatus therefor

• US 20070138255A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Carreon, Susan, Norris, Donna
• Application Number:
  US11/305,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20070138255A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/00 Devices accepting coins; Devices accepting, dispensing, sorting or counting valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/10 Mechanical details
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/12 Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00

Abstract

A method is provided of operating an image-based check depositing terminal. The method comprises capturing an image of a physical check provided by a user at the check depositing terminal, and perforating the physical check after the image of the check has been captured.

Claims

1. A method of operating an image-based check depositing terminal, the method comprising:

capturing an image of a physical check provided by a user at the check depositing terminal; and

perforating the physical check after the image of the check has been captured.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the perforating includes punching a pattern of openings in the physical check.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the pattern of openings in the physical check is a series of holes in the physical check.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting the image of the check to an institution.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the image of the check comprises a grayscale image of the check.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the image of the check comprises a binary image of the check.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein (i) the institution comprises a back office facility of a bank, and (ii) the image-based check depositing terminal comprises a check depositing automated teller machine (ATM) which is located remote from the back office facility of the bank.

8. An inkless method of endorsing a physical check which has been deposited at an image-based check depositing terminal, the inkless method comprising:

capturing an image of the physical check; and

puncturing at least a portion of the physical check to inklessly endorse the check after the image of the check has been captured.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting the image of the check to an institution.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the image of the check comprises a grayscale image of the check.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the image of the check comprises a binary image of the check.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein (i) the institution comprises a back office facility of a bank, and (ii) the image-based check depositing terminal comprises a check depositing automated teller machine (ATM) which is located remote from the back office facility of the bank.

13. An apparatus for use in an image-based check depositing terminal, the apparatus comprising:

an imaging camera for capturing an image of a physical check which has been deposited at the check depositing terminal; and

a perforator for punching a series of openings in the physical check after the image of the check has been captured.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

means for transmitting the image of the check to an institution.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising (i) a number of check storage bins, and (ii) a check transport mechanism for transporting a physical check to a check storage bin after the imaging camera has captured an image of the check.