Method and apparatus for use in entering financial data into an electronic device

• US 6,384,844 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2000
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Certegy Payment Solutions LLC (Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Efunds Corporation (Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schmidt, James R., Stewart, Whitney, Godfrey, Neil Clark
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US09/587,738
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 382/137, 382/139, 705/35, 705/45, 345/326, 345/348, 345/339, 345/349, 345/354, 345/962, 345/333, 345/700, 345/835, 345/764, 345/839, 345/840, 235/379
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/084 sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/023 the neutral party being a clearing house
• 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 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/203 Dispensing operations within ATMs dispensing in general G07D11/00

Abstract

An entry system for use in entering financial data, such as magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) characters, to an electronic device. The entry system includes a data input device connected to the electronic device and operable to allow the user to input data to the electronic device. The system also includes a software program for use in connection with the electronic device and being operable to generate computer recognizable financial data characters in response to the input data from the user.

Claims

1. An entry system for use in entering magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) characters to an electronic device, the entry system comprising:

a data input device in communication with the electronic device;

a visual display unit in communication with the electronic device; and

a software program for use in connection with the electronic device, the software program being operable to generate a command signal causing a plurality of virtual entry buttons to be displayed by the visual display unit, each virtual entry button corresponding to a respective MICR character, and the software program being operable to generate a respective computer recognizable data in response to user activation of one of the virtual entry buttons.

2. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the software program is operable to generate a second command signal causing a line display area to be displayed by the visual display unit, and wherein the software program is operable to generate a third command signal causing the MICR character to be displayed in the line display area when the user activates the respective virtual entry button.

3. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a personal computer.

4. An entry system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the electronic device is a hand-held personal computer.

5. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a network computer terminal.

6. An entry system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the network computer terminal is an automated teller machine.

7. An entry system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the network computer terminal is a point of sale terminal.

8. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an Internet appliance.

9. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a wireless device.

10. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data input device is a keyboard.

11. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data input device is a pointing device.

12. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data input device is a mouse.

13. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data input device is a pointing stick.

14. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data input device is a trackball.

15. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data input device is a touchpad.

16. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data input device is a touch screen.

17. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the visual display unit is a digital video monitor.

18. An entry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the visual display unit is an analog video monitor.

19. A system for use in entering magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) characters to an electronic device, the MICR characters including MICR numbers and MICR symbols, the entry system comprising:

a manual data entry device in communication with the electronic device and being operable to allow a user to input the MICR symbols to the electronic device; and

a software program for use in connection with the electronic device and being operable to generate computer recognizable code corresponding to the MICR characters.

22. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the electronic device is a personal computer.

23. A system as set forth in claim 22, wherein the electronic device is a hand-held personal computer.

24. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the electronic device is a network computer terminal.

25. A system as set forth in claim 24, wherein the network computer terminal is an automated teller machine.

26. A system as set forth in claim 24, wherein the network computer terminal is a point of sale terminal.

27. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the electronic device is an Internet appliance.

28. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the electronic device is a wireless device.

29. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the data input device is a keyboard.

30. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the manual data entry device is a pointing device.

31. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the manual data entry device is a mouse.

32. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the manual data entry device is a pointing stick.

33. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the manual data entry device is a trackball.

34. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the manual data entry device is a touchpad.

35. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the manual data entry device is a touch screen.

36. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the visual display unit is a digital video monitor.

37. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the visual display unit is an analog video monitor.

38. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the MICR symbols include an on-us symbol.

39. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the MICR symbols include a transit symbol.

40. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the MICR symbols include a dash symbol.

20. A system for use in entering magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) characters to an electronic device, the entry system comprising:

a manual data entry device in communication with the electronic device and being operable to allow a user to input the MICR characters to the electronic device;

a software program for use in connection with the electronic device and being operable to generate computer recognizable code corresponding to the MICR characters;

a visual display unit in communication with the electronic device; and

wherein the software program is operable to generate a command signal causing a plurality of virtual entry buttons to be displayed by the visual display unit, each virtual entry button displays a respective MICR character, and wherein the software program is operable to generate a respective computer recognizable code when the user activates one of the virtual entry buttons with the manual data entry device.

21. A system as set forth in claim 20, wherein the software program is operable to generate a second command signal causing a line display area to be displayed by the visual display unit, and wherein the software program is operable to generate a third command signal causing the MICR character to be displayed in the line display area when the user activates the respective virtual entry button.

41. A method of entering a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line into an electronic device, the MICR line having a plurality of MICR line characters including at least one MICR symbol, the method comprising:

providing a manual data entry device in communication with the electronic device;

inputting the first MICR line character with the manual data entry device;

converting the first MICR line character into a first computer recognizable code; and

repeating the acts of inputting the MICR line character and converting the MICR line character for the remaining plurality of MICR line characters.

42. A method as set forth in claims 41, the method further comprising:

providing a visual display unit in communication with the electronic device;

displaying the first MICR line character on the visual display unit after the first MICR line character is inputted; and

displaying the remaining MICR line characters on the visual display unit after each MICR line character is inputted, the displayed MICR line characters forming an entered MICR line.

43. A method as set forth in claim 41, wherein the at least one MICR symbol includes an on-us symbol.

44. A method as set forth in claim 41, wherein the at least one MICR symbol includes a transit symbol.

45. A method as set forth in claim 41, wherein the at least one MICR symbol includes a dash symbol.

47. A method as set forth in claim 42, further comprising:

providing a storage device resident in the electronic device; and

storing the converted computer recognizable data in the storage device to form a computer recognizable MICR line.

48. A method as set forth in claim 47, further comprising:

providing a communications port resident in the electronic device;

providing a visual display unit in communication with the electronic device;

displaying a finish virtual entry button on the visual display unit;

activating the finish virtual entry button; and

transmitting the computer recognizable data through the communications port after activating the finish virtual entry button.

49. A method as set forth in claim 47, further comprising:

providing a visual display unit in communication with the electronic device;

displaying a finish virtual entry button on the visual display unit;

activating the finish virtual entry button; and

performing typographical data validation routines on the computer recognizable MICR line.

50. A method as set forth in claim 49, wherein the computer recognizable MICR line comprises two routing symbols and at least nine decimal numbers, and wherein the act of performing typographical data validation routines includes the acts of:

determining whether there are nine decimal numbers between the routing symbols.

46. A method of entering a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line into an electronic device, the MICR line having a plurality of MICR line characters, the method comprising:

providing a manual data entry device in communication with the electronic device;

inputting the first MICR line character with the manual data entry device;

converting the first MICR line character into a first computer recognizable code;

repeating the acts of inputting the MICR line character and converting the MICR line character for the remaining plurality of MICR line characters;

providing a visual display unit in communication with the electronic device;

displaying a plurality of virtual entry buttons on the visual display unit;

displaying respective MICR display characters on each virtual entry button; and

wherein the acts of inputting the MICR line characters includes the act of activating one of the plurality of virtual entry buttons.

51. A method as set forth in claim 46, further comprising:

providing a visual display unit in communication with the electronic device;

displaying a finish virtual entry button on the visual display unit;

activating the finish virtual entry button; and

providing a confirmation area on the visual display unit in response to the activation of the finish virtual entry button, the confirmation area comprising, the entered MICR line, a submit virtual entry button, and a make corrections virtual entry button.

52. A method as set forth in claim 51, further comprising:

activating the submit virtual entry button after the user confirms the entered MICR line is correct.

53. A method as set forth in claim 51, further comprising:

activating the make corrections virtual entry button after the user verifies the entered MICR line is incorrect.

54. A method as set forth in claim 51, further comprising:

providing a communications port resident in the electronic device;

activating the submit virtual entry button; and

transmitting the computer recognizable data through the communications port after activating the correct virtual entry button.

55. A method of providing a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line from a client to a server, the MICR line including a plurality of MICR line characters, the client and server being in communication via a distributed network, and the client including a computer, a display unit, a storage device and a pointer device, the method comprising:

providing a MICR line entry program at the server;

transmitting the MICR line entry program to the client;

displaying a plurality of virtual entry buttons with the display unit, each virtual entry button includes a MICR character and an associated computer recognizable code;

displaying a finish virtual entry button with the display unit;

displaying a pointer with the visual display unit;

controlling the pointer device to move a pointer over one of the virtual entry buttons;

activating the virtual entry button;

storing the associated computer recognizable code after the respective virtual entry button is activated;

displaying the MICR character on the display unit after the respective virtual entry button is activated;

repeating the acts of controlling the pointer device, activating the virtual entry button, storing the associated computer recognizable code and displaying the MICR character on the display unit for the remaining line characters, the repeating act results in a computer recognizable MICR line and an entered MICR line;

controlling the pointer device to move a pointer over the finish virtual entry button;

activating the finish virtual entry button; and

transmitting the computer recognizable MICR line to the server.

56. A method as set forth in claim 55, the method further comprising:

performing typographical validation routines on the computer recognizable MICR line.

57. A method as set forth in claim 56, wherein the computer recognizable MICR line comprises two routing symbols and at least nine decimal numbers, and wherein the act of performing typographical data validation routines includes the acts of:

determining whether there are nine decimal numbers between the routing symbols.

58. A method as set forth in claim 55, wherein after the act of activating the finish virtual entry button and before the act of transmitting the computer recognizable MICR line, the method further comprising:

providing a confirmation area on the visual display unit, the confirmation area comprising, the entered MICR line, a submit virtual entry button, and a correct virtual entry button; and

activating the submit virtual entry button after the user confirms the entered MICR line is correct.