Method and apparatus for automatic check cashing

• US 6,145,738 A
• Filed: 05/12/1997
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ATC Realty Fifteen Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mr. Payroll Corp. (FirstCash Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clower, Dyron, Templer, John W. Jr., Stinson, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Diane I.
• Application Number:
  US08/854,321
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/385, 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 235/492, 902/3, 902/4, 902/5, 902/6, 902/14, 902/20, 705/42, 705/43, 705/44, 705/45, 382/115, 382/116, 382/118
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data

Abstract

An automated check-cashing unit includes an input device configured to generate input signals in response to inputs from a customer, a storage device including a database of customer information, a check reader configured to receive and read a check to be processed, a cash dispenser, and an electronic processor. The processor is configured to receive the input signals from the input device, receive information about the check to be processed from the check reader, access the database of customer information to obtain data about the customer, and determine automatically whether to accept or reject the check based on the input signals, the received information about the check, and the data about the customer. Upon accepting the check, the processor signals the cash dispenser to dispense cash to the customer. The processor may be further configured to confirm the identity of the customer based on biometric information about the customer. Examples of suitable biometric information include the customer'"'"'s fingerprint or an image of the customer'"'"'s face.

Claims

1. A check-cashing system, comprising:

a remote service center comprising a communications device; and

at least one check-cashing unit coupled to the remote service center, wherein the at least one check-cashing unit comprises,

a storage device including a database of customer information;

a check reader configured to receive and read a check to be processed;

a cash dispenser;

a communications device configured to communicate with the communications device of the service center; and

an electronic processor connected to the storage device, the check reader, the cash dispenser, and the communications device, and configured to,

receive information about a check to be processed from the check reader;

access the database of customer information to obtain data about a customer presenting the check to be processed;

confirm the identity of a customer based on biometric data stored in the database of customer information;

after confirming the identity of the customer, determine automatically whether to accept or reject a check by applying a set of business rules; and

upon accepting the check, signal the cash dispenser to dispense cash to the customer presenting the check, wherein the business rules comprise accepting a check if the customer has used the system previously to cash a previous check for a similar amount from a payor associated with the check to be processed.

2. The check-cashing system of claim 1, wherein the remote service center further comprises a remote database of customer information, and wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:

collect biometric data about the customer;

perform the confirmation of the identity of the customer by comparing the collected biometric data with the biometric data stored in the database of customer information;

if the identity of the customer cannot be confirmed, transmit at least the collected biometric data to the remote service center; and

request the remote service center to confirm the identity of the customer.

3. The check-cashing system of claim 2, wherein the remote database of customer information comprises biometric data about customers, and wherein the at least one check-cashing unit is further configured to communicate with the remote service center to transmit data regarding previous complete and incomplete transactions with users, the transmitted data comprising collected biometric data.

4. The check-cashing system of claim 3, wherein the biometric data is stored in the database of customer information and the biometric data stored in the remote database of customer information comprise facial images of user.

5. The check-cashing system of claim 4, wherein the at least one check-cashing unit is further configured to, if the at least one check-cashing unit cannot determine whether to accept or reject a check by applying the set of business rules, transmit the received information about the check and the obtained data about the customer to the remote service center with a request for a determination.

6. The check-cashing system of claim 5, wherein at least one check-cashing unit further comprises at least one user communication device, and wherein the at least one check-cashing unit is further configured to, if the remote service center cannot make the determination, communicate with the user to instruct the user to communicate with a human operator at the remote service center.

7. The check-cashing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one check-cashing unit is coupled to the remote service through a public telephone network.