Check Processing Method, Check Processing Program Medium, And Check Processing Apparatus

• US 20070205264A1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Murata, Sadao
• Granted Patent: US 7,810,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• 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: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/2253 Recognition of characters printed with magnetic ink G06V30/2247 takes precedence

Abstract

Check processing involves scanning a back of a check having no authorization data printed thereon, electronically generating authorization data indicating that processing a check payment has been completed, and generating an electronic merged image by electronically combining back image data captured during the scanning of the back of the check with generated authorization data, such that, in the electronic merged image, the authorization data appears outside of an endorsement area. Moreover, these operations are performed in a single pass of the check in one direction through a transportation path of a check processing apparatus. No printing of any data is required. The check processing can be embodied in a method, apparatus, or instructions embodied on a machine-readable medium.

Claims

1. A check processing method comprising:

scanning a back of a check having no authorization data printed thereon;

generating authorization data indicating that processing a check payment has been completed, the authorization data being generated electronically and not being printed on the check; and

generating an electronic merged image by electronically combining back image data captured during the scanning of the back of the check with generated authorization data, such that, in the electronic merged image, the authorization data appears outside of an endorsement area, the electronic merged image being generated without printing any data;

wherein the steps of scanning the back of the check, generating authorization data, and generating the electronic merged image are performed in a single pass of the check in one direction through a transportation path of a check processing apparatus.

2. A medium readable by a machine embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a check processing method, the program of instructions comprising:

instructions for scanning a back of a check having no authorization data printed thereon;

instructions for generating authorization data indicating that processing a check payment has been completed, the authorization data being generated electronically and not being printed on the check;

instructions for generating an electronic merged image by electronically combining back image data captured during the scanning of the back of the check with generated authorization data, such that, in the electronic merged image, the authorization data appears outside of an endorsement area, the electronic merged image being generated without printing any data; and

instructions for performing the operations of scanning the back of the check, generating authorization data, and generating the electronic merged image in a single pass of the check in one direction through a transportation path of a check processing apparatus.

3. A check processing apparatus configured to communicate with a host device, the check processing apparatus comprising:

a transportation path for conveying a check from a check insertion opening to an exit opening;

a transportation mechanism that conveys the check through the transportation path;

a back image scanning component that captures a back image of the check conveyed through the transportation path;

an authorization data component that sends a request to the host device for electronic authorization data indicating that processing a check payment has been completed, wherein the authorization data component receives the requested electronic authorization data from the host device if the check is determined to be valid; and

a merged image generating component that generates an electronic merged image by combining the back image data captured by the back image scanning component with the received electronic authorization data, such that, in the electronic merged image, the electronic authorization data appears outside of an endorsement area;

wherein the back image is captured, the authorization data is requested, and the electronic merged image is generated in a single pass of the check in one direction through the transportation path.