Printing apparatus, reading apparatus, and processing system for checks

• US 6,305,604 B1
• Filed: 03/24/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Ono, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/275,665
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 735/379, 735/380, 735/375, 283/70
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/125 by magnetic means
• 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

Abstract

A check processing system that prints a payment amount on a personal check comprising a POS terminal installed at the shop where the check is tendered, and a symbol reading/MIC printing apparatus installed only at a processing facility. At the shop, the payment amount is input to the POS terminal where this amount is encoded and printed on the check with a two-dimensional symbol. The check is then sent to the processing facility after it is signed by the customer. Checks are processed all together at the processing facility. The symbol reading/MIC printing apparatus reads the payment amount from the two-dimensional symbol and prints that amount on the check with magnetic ink characters.

Claims

1. A check processing system, comprising:

an encoder that encodes transaction data to a symbol;

a symbol printing unit that prints on a check the symbol encoded by the encoder;

a reader/interpreter that interprets the symbol printed on the check by the symbol printing unit, and reads the transaction data therefrom; and

a magnetic ink character printing unit that prints on the check with magnetic ink characters the transaction data read by the reader/interpreter;

wherein the reader/interpreter and the magnetic ink character printing unit are physically located in a first location and the encoder and symbol printing unit are physically located in a second location remote from the first location.

2. A check processing system according to claim 1, wherein the symbol is a two-dimensional symbol.

3. A check processing system according to claim 1, wherein the transaction data comprises at least a payment amount.

4. A check processing system according to claim 1, wherein the encoder and symbol printing unit are incorporated in a point-of-sale terminal.

5. A recording apparatus for recording transaction data on a check, the transaction data including at least a payment amount, the recording apparatus comprising:

an input unit for inputting the transaction data;

an encoder that encodes the transaction data to a symbol; and

a symbol printing unit that prints on the check the symbol encoded by the encoder such that a reader/interpreter can interpret the symbol and read therefrom the transaction data;

wherein the input unit, the encoder, and the symbol printing unit are incorporated in a point-of-sale terminal.

6. A recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a character printing unit that prints characters on the check indicative of the transaction data input by the input unit.

7. A recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an endorsing unit that prints endorsement information on the check.

8. A recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the symbol is a two-dimensional symbol.

9. A method of processing a check, comprising the steps of:

(a) encoding transaction data to a symbol;

(b) printing the symbol on the check;

(c) interpreting the symbol printed on the check in step (b), and reading the transaction data therefrom; and

(d) printing on the check with magnetic ink characters the transaction data read in step (c);

wherein steps (c) and (d) are performed at a first location and steps (a) and (b) are performed at a second location remote from the first location.

10. A method of processing a check according to claim 9, wherein the symbol is a two-dimensional symbol.

11. A method of processing a check according to claim 9, wherein the transaction data comprises at least a payment amount.

12. A method of processing a check according to claim 9, wherein characters indicative of the transaction data are also printed on the check in step (b).

13. A method of processing a check according to claim 9, wherein endorsement information is also printed on the check in step (b).

14. A method of recording information on a check, comprising the steps of:

(a) inputting transaction data including at least a payment amount;

(b) encoding the transaction data to a symbol; and

(c) printing on a check the symbol encoded by the encoder such that the symbol can be interpreted and the transaction data read therefrom;

wherein steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed in a single point-of-sale terminal.

15. A method of recording information on a check according to claim 14, wherein the symbol is a two-dimensional symbol.

16. A machine readable medium embodying a program of instructions for execution by a machine to perform a method of processing a check, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) encoding transaction data to a symbol;

(b) printing the symbol on a check;

(c) interpreting the symbol printed on the check in step (b), and reading the transaction data therefrom; and

(d) printing on the check with magnetic ink characters the transaction data read in step (c);

wherein steps (c) and (d) are performed at a first location and steps (a) and (b) are performed at a second location remote from the first location.

17. A machine readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the symbol is a two-dimensional symbol.

18. A machine readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the transaction data comprises at least a payment amount.

19. A machine readable medium according to claim 16, wherein characters indicative of the transaction data are also printed on the check in step (b).

20. A machine readable medium according to claim 16, wherein endorsement information is also printed on the check in step (b).

21. A machine readable medium embodying a program of instructions for execution by a machine to perform a method of recording information on a check, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) inputting transaction data including at least a payment amount;

(b) encoding the transaction data to a symbol; and

(c) printing on a check the symbol encoded by the encoder such that the symbol can be interpreted and the transaction data read therefrom;

wherein steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed in a single point-of-sale terminal.

22. A machine readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the symbol is a two-dimensional symbol.

23. A check processing system, comprising:

means for encoding transaction data to a symbol;

means for printing on a check the symbol encoded by the encoding means;

means for interpreting the symbol printed on the check by the symbol printing means, and for reading the transaction data from the symbol; and

means for printing on the check with magnetic ink characters the transaction data read by the interpreting/reading means;

wherein the reading and interpreting means and the magnetic ink character printing means are physically located in a first location and encoding means and the symbol printing means are physically located in a second location remote from the first location.

24. A check processing system according to claim 23, wherein the encoding means and the symbol printing means are incorporated in a point-of-sale terminal.