System and method for processing electronically deposited checks

• US 7,344,064 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Reichelsheimer, Jay, Wilk, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US11/413,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20070251991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 382137-139, 705/44, 705/45
• US Class Current: 235/379
• 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 20/0425 the cheque being electronic only
• 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

Abstract

A method of processing a check prior to electronically depositing the check includes receiving the check, determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks, if any, that are present on the check, determining whether the number is less than a pre-set maximum number, discontinuing the processing of the check if it is determined that the number is not less than the pre-set maximum number, and printing a new check submission indicating mark onto the check and continuing the processing of the check if it is determined that the number is less than the pre-set maximum number. The existing check submission indicating marks may be printed with an energy emitting ink, such as, without limitation, a luminescent ink. Also provided is an apparatus adapted to implement the method just described.

Claims

1. A method of processing a check prior to electronically depositing the check, comprising:

(a) receiving said check;

(b) determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks that are present on said check;

(c) determining whether said number is less than a pre-set maximum number;

(d) discontinuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is not less than said pre-set maximum number; and

(e) printing a new check submission indicating mark onto said check and continuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is less than said pre-set maximum number,

wherein said existing check submission indicating marks, if any, are printed with an energy emitting ink,

wherein said step of determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks comprises

(i) radiating first energy toward said check,

(ii) receiving second energy, if any, emitted from said check as a result of said radiated first energy impinging upon said existing check submission indicating marks, if any, present on said check, said second energy, if any, indicating the presence of one or more existing check submission indicating marks, and

(iii) determining said number based upon said second energy or lack thereof, and wherein said printing step comprises printing the new check submission indicating mark with said energy emitting ink.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said energy emitting ink is a luminescent ink.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said first energy is UV energy.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising informing an operator that the processing of said check cannot continue if it is determined that said number is not less than said pre-set maximum number.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether a proper cancellation marking is present on said check prior to said step of determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks, and printing a proper cancellation marking onto said check if it is determined that a proper cancellation marking is not present on said check.

6. A method of processing a check prior to electronically depositing the check, comprising:

(a) receiving said check;

(b) determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks that are present on said check;

(c) determining whether said number is less than a pre-set maximum number;

(d) discontinuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is not less than said pre-set maximum number; and

(e) printing a new check submission indicating mark onto said check and continuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is less than said pre-set maximum number,

further comprising determining whether a proper cancellation marking is present on said check prior to said step of determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks, and printing a proper cancellation marking onto said check if it is determined that a proper cancellation marking is not present on said check,

wherein steps (b) through (e) are performed only if it is determined that a proper cancellation marking is present on said check.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the proper cancellation marking that is printed onto said check includes a first check submission indicating mark.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the proper cancellation marking that is printed onto said check does not include a check submission indicating mark.

9. A method of processing a check prior to electronically depositing the check, comprising:

(a) receiving said check;

(b) determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks that are present on said check;

(c) determining whether said number is less than a pre-set maximum number;

(d) discontinuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is not less than said pre-set maximum number; and

(e) printing a new check submission indicating mark onto said check and continuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is less than said pre-set maximum number,

further comprising determining whether a proper cancellation marking is present on said check prior to said step of determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks, and printing a proper cancellation marking onto said check if it is determined that a proper cancellation marking is not present on said check,

wherein said step of printing a proper cancellation marking onto said check comprises printing the proper cancellation marking using an energy emitting ink.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising scanning said check to create an electronic image of said check.

11. A method of processing a check prior to electronically depositing the check, comprising:

(a) receiving said check;

(b) determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks that are present on said check;

(c) determining whether said number is less than a pre-set maximum number;

(d) discontinuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is not less than said pre-set maximum number; and

(e) printing a new check submission indicating mark onto said check and continuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is less than said pre-set maximum number,

wherein said existing check submission indicating marks, if any, and said new check submission indicating mark each comprise a vertically oriented bar.

12. An apparatus for electronically depositing a check, comprising:

a controller;

a scanner in electronic communication with said controller for generating an electronic image of said check;

a print head in electronic communication with said controller;

a sensor device in electronic communication with said controller; and

a memory in electronic communication with said controller, said memory having one or more routines executable by said controller, said one or more routines including instructions for;

(a) causing the sensor device to obtain a signal from a surface of said check;

(b) determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks that are present on said surface of said check based upon said signal;

(c) determining whether said number is less than a pre-set maximum number;

(d) discontinuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is not less than said pre-set maximum number; and

(e) causing said print head to print a new check submission indicating mark onto said check and continuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is less than said pre-set maximum number,

wherein said existing check submission indicating marks, if any, are printed with an energy emitting ink,

wherein said sensor device includes a radiant energy source for radiating first energy,

wherein said instructions for causing the sensor device to obtain a signal from a surface of said check comprise instructions for causing said radiant energy source to radiate said first energy toward said check,

wherein said signal comprises second energy, if any, received by said sensor device that is emitted from said check as a result of said radiated first energy impinging upon said existing check submission indicating marks, if any, present on said check, said second energy, if any, indicating the presence of one or more existing check submission indicating marks,

wherein said instructions for determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks comprise instructions for determining said number based upon said second energy or lack thereof, and wherein said instructions for printing comprise instructions for printing the new check submission indicating mark with said energy emitting ink.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said energy emitting ink is a luminescent ink, wherein said radiant energy source comprises a UV LED, and wherein said first energy is UV energy.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said sensor device includes a photodetector for converting said second energy, if any, into a voltage profile and wherein the instructions for determining said number based upon said second energy or lack thereof is based on said voltage profile.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said instruction further comprise instructions for informing an operator of said apparatus that the processing of said check cannot continue if it is determined that said number is not less than said pre-set maximum number.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising instructions for determining whether a proper cancellation marking is present on said check based upon said signal prior to instructions (b) being performed, and instructions for causing said print head to print a proper cancellation marking onto said check if it is determined that a proper cancellation marking is not present on said check.

17. An apparatus for electronically depositing a check, comprising:

a controller;

a scanner in electronic communication with said controller for generating an electronic image of said check;

a print head in electronic communication with said controller;

a sensor device in electronic communication with said controller; and

a memory in electronic communication with said controller, said memory having one or more routines executable by said controller, said one or more routines including instructions for;

(a) causing the sensor device to obtain a signal from a surface of said check;

(b) determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks that are present on said surface of said check based upon said signal;

(c) determining whether said number is less than a pre-set maximum number;

(d) discontinuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is not less than said pre-set maximum number; and

(e) causing said print head to print a new check submission indicating mark onto said check and continuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is less than said pre-set maximum number;

further comprising instructions for determining whether a proper cancellation marking is present on said check based upon said signal prior to instructions (b) being performed, and instructions for causing said print head to print a proper cancellation marking onto said check if it is determined that a proper cancellation marking is not present on said check,

wherein instructions (b) through (e) are performed only if it is determined that a proper cancellation marking is present on said check.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the proper cancellation marking that is printed onto said check includes a first check submission indicating mark.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the proper cancellation marking that is printed onto said check does not include a check submission indicating mark.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said proper cancellation marking is printed with an energy emitting ink.

21. An apparatus for electronically depositing a check, comprising:

a controller;

a scanner in electronic communication with said controller for generating an electronic image of said check;

a print head in electronic communication with said controller;

a sensor device in electronic communication with said controller; and

a memory in electronic communication with said controller, said memory having one or more routines executable by said controller, said one or more routines including instructions for;

(a) causing the sensor device to obtain a signal from a surface of said check;

(b) determining a number of existing check submission indicating marks that are present on said surface of said check based upon said signal;

(c) determining whether said number is less than a pre-set maximum number;

(d) discontinuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is not less than said pre-set maximum number; and

(e) causing said print head to print a new check submission indicating mark onto said check and continuing the processing of said check if it is determined that said number is less than said pre-set maximum number,

wherein said existing check submission indicating marks, if any, and said new check submission indicating mark each comprise a vertically oriented bar.