Automated document processing system with document imaging and value indication
First Claim
1. A document processing device, comprising:
- an input receptacle for receiving a stack of documents including checks and currency bills;
a document imager;
a currency bill denomination scanner;
one or more output receptacles;
a transport mechanism that conveys the documents, one at a time, from the input receptacle past both the document imager and the denomination scanner to the one or more output receptacles, whereby the document imager obtains an image of each document and the denomination scanner obtains reflective scan data for each currency bill;
a processing device operable to;
evaluate the obtained document images and attempt a determination of the imprinted value of each check from those document images; and
evaluate the obtained reflective scan data and attempt a determination of the imprinted value of each currency bill from the reflective scan data;
a value indication input that allows an operator of the system to enter the imprinted value of any check or currency bill for which the processing device fails to determine value; and
a counter that accumulates the processing device determined imprinted values along with the operator input imprinted values for the checks and currency bills.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
567 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A document processing device, comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving a stack of documents including checks and currency bills;
a document imager;
a currency bill denomination scanner;
one or more output receptacles;
a transport mechanism that conveys the documents, one at a time, from the input receptacle past both the document imager and the denomination scanner to the one or more output receptacles, whereby the document imager obtains an image of each document and the denomination scanner obtains reflective scan data for each currency bill;
a processing device operable to;
evaluate the obtained document images and attempt a determination of the imprinted value of each check from those document images; and
evaluate the obtained reflective scan data and attempt a determination of the imprinted value of each currency bill from the reflective scan data;
a value indication input that allows an operator of the system to enter the imprinted value of any check or currency bill for which the processing device fails to determine value; and
a counter that accumulates the processing device determined imprinted values along with the operator input imprinted values for the checks and currency bills. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A document processing method, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a stack of documents which include checks and currency bills;
conveying the documents, one at a time, along a transport path;
imaging each document as it is conveyed along the transport path to obtain a document image;
reflectively scanning each document as it is conveyed along the transport path to obtain reflective scan data;
collecting the conveyed documents;
determining the imprinted value of each check from an evaluation of the obtained document image;
determining the imprinted value of each currency bill from an evaluation of the obtained reflective scan data;
receiving operator input of the imprinted value of any check or currency bill for which the foregoing determining steps fail to determine value; and
accumulating the determined imprinted values along with the operator input imprinted values for the checks and currency bills. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25)
storing the document images in memory;
retrieving the document images from memory; and
reviewing the retrieved document images to confirm the determined imprinted values and/or operator input imprinted values for the checks and currency bills.
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17. The method of claim 15 further including the steps of:
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delivering individual documents whose value is determined by the foregoing determining steps to a first output receptacle; and
delivering all other documents to a second output receptacle.
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18. The method of claim 15 further including the steps of:
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temporarily suspending conveyance of the documents when either of the foregoing determining steps fails to identify the imprinted value of a certain document; and
resuming conveyance following operator entry of the imprinted value of the certain document.
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19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of temporarily suspending comprises the step of delivering the certain document to an inspection station for operator review prior to suspension of conveyance.
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20. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of receiving operator input comprises the step of allowing keyed entry of the imprinted value.
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23. The method of claim 15 wherein the image of each document is a full document image, and the steps of determining each including the step of evaluating that full document image to identify the imprinted value.
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24. The method of claim 15 wherein the currency bills have wide and narrow dimensions and the step of conveying includes the step of conveying the currency bills with their narrow dimension parallel to the transport path.
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25. The method of claim 15 further including the step of re-stacking the documents following conveyance.
- 21. The method of claim further including the step of prompting the operator to enter the imprinted value of a certain document in response to a failure of the foregoing determining steps to identify the imprinted value.
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26. A document processing device, comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving a stack of documents;
a document imager;
a document authenticator;
one or more output receptacles;
a transport mechanism that conveys the documents, one at a time, from the input receptacle past both the document imager and the document authenticator to the one or more output receptacles, whereby the document imager obtains an image of each document and the document authenticator obtains authentication data for each document;
a processing device operable to;
evaluate the obtained document images and attempt a determination of the imprinted value of each document from those document images; and
evaluate the obtained authentication data and attempt an authentication of each document from the authentication data;
a value indication input that allows an operator of the system to enter the imprinted value of any document for which the processing device fails to determine value; and
a counter that accumulates the processing device determined imprinted values for authenticated documents along with the operator input imprinted values for the documents. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A document processing method, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a stack of documents;
conveying the documents, one at a time, along a transport path;
imaging each document as it is conveyed along the transport path to obtain a document image;
scanning each document as it is conveyed along the transport path to obtain authentication data;
collecting the conveyed documents;
determining the imprinted value of each document from an evaluation of the obtained document image;
authenticating each document from an evaluation of the obtained authentication data;
receiving operator input of the imprinted value of any document which is not obtained through the foregoing determining step; and
accumulating the determined imprinted values along with the operator input imprinted values for the documents. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
storing the document images in memory;
retrieving the document images from memory; and
reviewing the retrieved document images to confirm the determined imprinted values and/or operator input imprinted values for the documents.
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46. The method of claim 44 further including the step of receiving operator input confirming the authenticity of any document which was not authenticated by the authenticating step.
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47. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of accumulating comprises the step of additionally accumulating the imprinted values for operator authenticated documents.
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48. The method of claim 44 further including the steps of:
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delivering individual documents whose value and authentication have been determined to a first output receptacle; and
delivering all other documents to a second output receptacle.
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49. The method of claim 46 further including the steps of:
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temporarily suspending conveyance of the documents when either value or authentication has not been determined with respect to a certain document; and
returning to conveying following operator entry of the imprinted value of the certain document or confirmation of authenticity.
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50. The method of claim 49 wherein the step of temporarily suspending comprises the step of delivering the certain document to an inspection station for operator review prior to suspension of conveyance.
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51. The method of claim 44 wherein the step of receiving operator input comprises the step of allowing keyed entry of the imprinted value.
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52. The method of claim 44 further including the step of prompting the operator to enter the imprinted value of a certain document in response to a failure of the foregoing determining step to identify the imprinted value.
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53. The method of claim 52 wherein the step of prompting includes the step of suggesting a possible imprinted value for that certain document.
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54. The method of claim 44 wherein the image of each document is a full document image, and the step of determining includes the step of evaluating that full document image to identify the imprinted value.
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55. The method of claim 44 wherein the documents have wide and narrow dimensions and the step of conveying includes the step of conveying the documents with their narrow dimension parallel to the transport path.
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56. The method of claim 44, further including the step of re-stacking the documents following conveyance.
Specification