Remote automated document processing system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automated point-of-sale document processing system comprising:
- a document scanner located at a site of a customer transaction comprising;
a slot adapted to accept a document associated with the customer transaction;
means for presenting an authorization agreement to a customer, the authorization agreement authorizing the document to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process;
an image scanner acquiring at least one image of the document; and
means for tagging the document image with an indication of customer acceptance of the authorization agreement; and
a communication interface coupled to a central document clearinghouse and adapted to communicate the tagged document image following customer authorization of the agreement to the central document clearinghouse for automated account clearing processing of the document.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated check processing system for accepting and processing checks from a customer, having a plurality of document scanners. The document scanners are adapted to obtain full images of checks fed into the document scanners and to obtain images of selected portions of the checks. A printer may be included for printing an authorization agreement on the checks and for inscribing a transaction amount on the checks. The system also utilizes a conveyor for returning the checks with the agreement to the customer for signing. The image scanned is then communicated to a central clearinghouse via a communication link.
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Citations
104 Claims
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1. An automated point-of-sale document processing system comprising:
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a document scanner located at a site of a customer transaction comprising; a slot adapted to accept a document associated with the customer transaction; means for presenting an authorization agreement to a customer, the authorization agreement authorizing the document to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process; an image scanner acquiring at least one image of the document; and means for tagging the document image with an indication of customer acceptance of the authorization agreement; and a communication interface coupled to a central document clearinghouse and adapted to communicate the tagged document image following customer authorization of the agreement to the central document clearinghouse for automated account clearing processing of the document. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of processing a document at the site of a customer transaction comprising the steps of:
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presenting an authorization agreement to a customer, the authorization agreement authorizing the document to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process; scanning the document to acquire an image thereof; tagging the document image with an indication of customer acceptance of the authorization agreement; and communicating the tagged image of the document following customer authorization of the agreement to a central document clearinghouse for automated account clearing processing of the document. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An automated check processing system for accepting and processing checks from a customer comprising:
a document scanning system including; means for presenting an authorization agreement to a customer, the authorization agreement authorizing a check to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process; an image scanner adapted to obtain images of checks; means for extracting MICR data from the check image; means for tagging the check image with an indication of customer acceptance of the authorization agreement and the extracted MICR data; and a communication interface coupled to a central check clearinghouse and adapted to communicate the tagged check images following customer authorization of the authorization agreement to the central check clearinghouse where automated check clearing processing is preformed. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A method of accepting and processing checks from a customer comprising the steps of:
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presenting an authorization agreement to a customer, the authorization agreement authorizing a check to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process; obtaining images of checks fed into the document scanner; extracting MICR data from the check images; tagging the check images with the extracted MICR data; and communicating tagged check images following customer authorization of the authorization agreement to a central check clearinghouse where automated check clearing processing is performed. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. An automated check processing system for accepting and processing checks from a customer comprising:
a document scanning containing; a document image scanner for obtaining images of the checks that are fed into the document scanning device; a printer adapted to print an authorization agreement on the checks, the authorization agreement authorizing processing of the checks in accordance with an automated check clearing process, and inscribe a transaction amount on the checks in response to a customer purchase; a transport mechanism for returning the checks with the imprinted agreement to the customer; means for obtaining MICR field data from the check images and tagging the check images with the obtained MICR field data; and a communication interface for coupling the document scanning device to a central check clearinghouse and communicating the tagged check images and field data to the central check clearinghouse for automated check clearing processing of the checks. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80, 81)
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82. An automated point of sale processing system for processing customer transactions, comprising:
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a video screen for displaying an authorization agreement to a customer, the authorization agreement authorizing a document to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process; an electronic signature pad and an electronic pen, the electronic signature pad adapted to receive a signature from a customer approving the authorization agreement; a document scanner located at a site of a customer transaction comprising a slot adapted to accept the document, the document scanner acquiring at least one image therefrom following customer approval of the authorization agreement and tagging the document image with the indicia of the customer'"'"'s signature approving the authorization agreement; and a communication link coupled to a central clearinghouse and adapted to communicate information represented by the at least one tagged image to the central clearinghouse for processing of the document in accordance with the automated account clearing process.
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83. An automated point of sale processing system for processing customer transactions, comprising:
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means for presenting an authorization agreement to a customer, the authorization agreement authorizing a document to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process; means for customer authorizing the authorization agreement for the document to be processed in accordance with the automated account clearing process; a document scanner located at a site of a customer transaction comprising a slot adapted to accept the document, the document scanner acquiring at least one image therefrom, after having obtained the authorization agreement from the customer and tagging the document image with the indicia of the customer'"'"'s approving the authorization agreement; a printer adapted to inscribe the document with indicia of cancellation; and a communication link coupled to a central clearinghouse and adapted to communicate information represented by the at least one tagged image to the central clearinghouse for processing of the document in accordance with the automated account clearing process.
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84. A method of processing a document at the site of a customer transaction comprising the steps of:
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presenting an authorization agreement to a customer, the authorization agreement authorizing a document to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process when executed by the customer; obtaining an executed authorization agreement from the customer; scanning the document and acquiring an image therefrom; tagging the document image with the indicia of the customer'"'"'s executed approval of the authorization agreement; checking the document for indicia of cancellation; and communicating information represented by the tagged image of the document to a central clearinghouse for processing of the document in accordance with the automated account clearing process.
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85. A method of processing a document at the site of a customer transaction comprising the steps of:
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obtaining an executed authorization agreement from a customer by; displaying the authorization agreement to the customer on a video screen, the authorization agreement authorizing a document to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process when executed by the customer; and providing an electronic signature pad and electronic pen for receiving a signature from the customer to execute the authorization agreement; scanning the document and acquiring an image therefrom; tagging the document image with an indication of customer execution of the authorization agreement; and communicating information represented by the tagged image of the document to a central clearinghouse for processing of the document in accordance with the automated account clearing process.
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86. A method of processing a document at the site of a customer transaction comprising the steps of:
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presenting an authorization agreement to a customer, the authorization agreement authorizing a document to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process when executed by the customer; obtaining an executed authorization agreement from the customer; scanning the document and acquiring an image therefrom; tagging the document image with an indication of customer execution of the authorization agreement; inscribing the document with indicia of cancellation; and communicating information represented by the tagged image of the document to a central clearinghouse for processing of the document in accordance with the automated account clearing process.
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87. A method of processing a document at the site of a customer transaction comprising the steps of:
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presenting an authorization agreement to a customer, the authorization agreement authorizing a document to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process when executed by the customer; obtaining an executed authorization agreement from the customer; scanning the document and acquiring an image therefrom; tagging the document image with an indication of customer execution of the authorization agreement; adding a transaction amount to the document; and communicating information represented by the tagged image of the document to a central clearinghouse for processing of the document in accordance with the automated account clearing process.
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88. An automated check processing system for accepting and processing checks from a customer comprising:
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a printer adapted to inscribe a transaction amount on checks; means for presenting an authorization agreement to a customer, the authorization agreement authorizing the checks to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process; a plurality of document scanners, the document scanners adapted to obtain images of checks and extract MICR data from the imaged checks, wherein the checks are fed into the document scanners; means for tagging the document image with an indication of customer acceptance of the authorization agreement and the extracted MICR data; and a communication link coupled to a central clearinghouse and adapted to communicate the tagged images to the central clearinghouse for processing of the checks in accordance with the automated account clearing process.
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89. An automated check processing system for accepting and processing checks from a customer purchasing merchandise having a transaction amount, the system comprising:
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a plurality of document scanners, the document scanners adapted to obtain images of checks having a first side and a second side, the checks being fed into the document scanners, wherein the scanners obtain images of a first side of the checks and extract MICR data therefrom, a transport mechanism for transporting the checks to and from the customer, a printer adapted to print an authorization agreement and inscribe the transaction amount of the checks, and a controller coupled to the transport mechanism and the document scanners and operable to tag check images with the extracted MICR data; means for presenting the authorization agreement to the customer, the authorization agreement authorizing the checks to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process; a processor for storing the MICR data and check images in a memory; and a communication link coupled to a central clearinghouse and adapted to communicate the tagged image files to the central clearinghouse for processing of the checks in accordance with the automated account clearing process.
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90. A check clearing system, comprising:
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a point of sale processing unit including; a slot into which a check used by a customer in connection with a purchase is deposited; means for presenting an authorization agreement to the customer, the authorization agreement authorizing the check used for the purchase to be processed in accordance with an automated account clearing process; an imager operable to obtain an image of the deposited check; a transport mechanism that conveys the deposited check from the slot past the imager; a processor operable to extract MICR data from the check image and tag the check image with the MICR data and an indication of customer acceptance of the authorization agreement; and an interface through which the point of sale processing unit outputs the tagged check images; a communications link connected to the interface; a central check clearinghouse connected to the communication link and operable to process the output tagged check images and implement the automated check clearing process for the purchase. - View Dependent Claims (91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104)
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Specification