Check accepting and cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method

• US 7,314,163 B1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Crews, Tim, Graef, H. Thomas, Blackson, Dale H., Laskowski, Edward L., Galloway, Todd, Carpenter, Keith, Barnett, Robert W., Ryan, Mike, Ward, Mark A., Brown, Martin J., Peters, David A., Kay, James R., Drozda, Laura, McCarthy, William, Pahl, Matthew, Warren, Wayne, Bell, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haupt; Kristy A.
• Application Number:
  US11/787,406
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 705 44- 45, 382137-140, 902/18, 232/1.D
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• 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: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00

Abstract

An automated banking machine system includes ATMs that can accept checks. Cash may be dispensed from an ATM to the user in exchange for a check. Cancellation indicia can be marked on the check by the ATM. The ATM can acquire image data and magnetic data from a received check to determine the genuineness of the check and the authority of the user to cash the check. A check imaging device of the ATM can generate a digital image of a received check. The check image data can be stored in correlated relation with the related transaction data. The ATM can also modify the check image data to produce a modified check image that excludes sensitive check information, such as the user'"'"'s account number in the micr line. The ATM can then print this modified check image on the user'"'"'s transaction receipt.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) operating a machine to generate check image data corresponding to at least one side of a check, wherein the at least one side includes visual features, wherein the check image data includes visual feature data corresponding to the visual features, wherein the machine includes a check imaging device and at least one processor in operative connection with the check imaging device; and

(b) operating the machine to modify the check image data generated in step (a) to produce modified check image data, wherein at least some visual feature data included in the check image data is not included in the modified check image data.

2. The method according to claim 1

wherein step (a) includes operating the check imaging device to image the at least one side.

3. The method according to claim 2 and further comprising

(c) prior to step (a), operating the machine to receive at least one check;

wherein step (a) includes operating the check imaging device to image at least one side of a check received in step (c).

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the machine comprises an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser, wherein step (c) includes operating the automated banking machine to receive the at least one check from a user of the automated banking machine during a check cashing transaction, and further comprising

(d) operating the machine to dispense cash during the check cashing transaction.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein the machine includes at least one marking device operative to mark indicia on a check, wherein the indicia on a check indicates that the check has been cancelled, and further comprising

(d) operating the machine to mark indicia on a check received in step (c).

6. The method according to claim 2 wherein the at least one side includes a visual feature comprising a signature, wherein the check image data includes original signature image data corresponding to the signature, wherein step (b) includes modifying the original signature image data to produce modified signature image data, wherein the modified signature image data differs from the original signature image data.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the machine includes a printer, and further comprising

(c) printing a check image that corresponds to the modified check image data, wherein the printed check image includes the modified signature image data, wherein at least a portion of the original signature image data is not visible in the printed check image.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein step (b) includes producing the modified signature image data by masking the original signature image data.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein step (b) includes masking the original signature image data by having at least one masking image overly the original signature image data.

10. The method according to claim 9 and further comprising

(c) modifying the modified signature image data by removing the at least one masking image from the modified signature image data.

11. The method according to claim 6 wherein the signature comprises a check writer signature,

wherein the check image data includes original check writer signature image data corresponding to the check writer signature, wherein step (b) includes modifying the original check writer signature image data to produce modified check writer signature image data, wherein the modified check writer signature image data differs from the original check writer signature image data.

12. The method according to claim 6 wherein the signature comprises a check endorser signature,

wherein the check image data includes original check endorser signature image data corresponding to the check endorser signature, wherein step (b) includes modifying the original check endorser signature image data to produce modified check endorser signature image data, wherein the modified check endorser signature image data differs from the original check endorser signature image data.

13. The method according to claim 2 wherein the at least one side includes a visual feature comprising a micr line, wherein the check image data includes original micr line image data corresponding to the micr line, wherein step (b) includes modifying the original micr line image data to produce modified micr line image data, wherein the modified micr line image data differs from the original micr line image data.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the machine includes a printer, and further comprising

(c) printing a check image that corresponds to the modified check image data, wherein the printed check image includes the modified micr line image data, wherein at least a portion of the original micr line image data is not visible in the printed check image.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the micr line includes account number data, wherein in step (c) the account number data is not included in the printed check image.

16. The method according to claim 13 wherein step (b) includes producing the modified micr line image data by masking the original micr line image data.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein step (b) includes masking the original micr line image data by having at least one masking image overly the original micr line image data.

18. The method according to claim 17 and further comprising

(c) modifying the modified micr line image data by removing the at least one masking image from the modified micr line image data.

19. The method according to claim 2 wherein the at least one side includes a visual feature comprising characters,

wherein step (a) includes operating the check imaging device to image the characters, wherein the check image data includes original character image data corresponding to the characters,

wherein step (b) includes changing at least one character in the original character image data to produce modified character image data.

20. A method comprising:

(a) operating a check imaging device of a cash dispensing machine to image check data on a check, wherein the check data includes micr line data and signature data, wherein the machine includes least one processor in operative connection with the check imaging device;

(b) generating check image data corresponding to check data imaged in step (a), wherein the check image data includes micr line image data representative of the micr line data, wherein the check image data includes signature image data representative of the signature data; and

(c) modifying the check image data generated in step (b) to produce modified check image data, wherein at least a portion of the micr line image data included in the check image data is not included in the modified check image data.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the micr line data includes an account number, wherein the check image data includes an account number area including account number data representative of the account number, wherein step (c) includes modifying the account number data in the account number area to produce a modified account number area, wherein the modified check image data includes the modified account number area.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the machine includes at least one printer, and further comprising

(d) operating the at least one printer to print on a receipt, a check image corresponding to the modified check image data.

23. The method according to claim 22 and further comprising

(e) operating the at least one printer to print check cancellation indicia on the check.

24. An article of computer readable media bearing instructions that are operative to cause at least one processor in a cash dispensing machine to carry out the method steps recited in claim 20.