Coin-discriminator voucher anti-counterfeiting method and apparatus

• US 7,931,304 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2008
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Coinstar Incorporated (Outerwall Inc.)
• Inventors: Beach, Kirk, Gerrity, Daniel A., Geiger, Steven, Scherer, Scott, Brown, David J., Manion, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross; Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis; Justin V
• Application Number:
  US12/235,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20090096205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 194/206, 194/207, 194/217, 194/317, 194/346, 194/347, 194/348, 194/350, 232/7, 232/15, 232/16, 235/381, 235/383, 283/17, 283/48.1, 283/60.1, 283/62, 283/67, 283/70, 283/72, 283/73, 283/74, 283/105, 283/117, 283/901, 283/57, 283/102, 453/3, 453/5, 453/8, 453/17
• US Class Current: 283/57
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/0053 Forms specially designed for commercial use, e.g. bills, receipts, offer or order sheets, coupons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3437 the counter having non-monetary units, e.g. trips
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/14 using chemical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/901 Concealed data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/902 Anti-photocopy

Abstract

Vouchers and methods for providing vouchers configured to assist in distinguishing unauthorized duplicate or counterfeit vouchers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a voucher can include a substrate, a first indicia on the substrate, and a thermally responsive second indicia on the substrate. At least one of the first indicia and the second indicia can indicate a value of the voucher. A system which assists in detecting alteration of value documents or transmissions, such as a coin counter voucher is provided. Voucher information such as the voucher value is included in the voucher in an encrypted or otherwise modified form. When the voucher is presented for redemptions, the encrypted information is decrypted and compared to independently available voucher information. Failure of the information to match indicates that the voucher has been altered or should otherwise be further checked.

Claims

1. A method of providing a voucher in a coin counting machine, the method comprising:

loading a supply of voucher substrate into the coin counting machine, wherein the voucher substrate includes a plurality of preprinted serial numbers printed on the voucher substrate prior to loading into the coin counting machine;

counting a plurality of coins in the coin counting machine to determine a total;

printing a value related to the total on a portion of the voucher substrate in the coin counting machine, wherein the portion of voucher substrate includes at least one of the preprinted serial numbers;

printing an identifier number on the portion of voucher substrate in the coin counting machine, wherein the identifier number is printed proximate to the at least one preprinted serial number, and wherein the identifier number matches the at least one preprinted serial number; and

dispensing the portion of voucher substrate from the coin counting machine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the preprinted serial numbers are preprinted at preset intervals along the length of the voucher substrate.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one preprinted serial number is a first preprinted serial number, wherein the identifier number is a first identifier number, wherein the voucher substrate includes a second preprinted serial number different from the first preprinted serial number, and wherein the method further comprises:

printing a second identifier number on the portion of voucher substrate proximate to the second preprinted serial number, wherein the second identifier number matches the second preprinted serial number.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one preprinted serial number is a first preprinted serial number, and wherein the voucher substrate includes a plurality of additional preprinted serial numbers different from the first preprinted serial number at preset intervals along the length of the voucher substrate.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one preprinted serial number is a first preprinted serial number, wherein the voucher substrate includes a plurality of additional preprinted serial numbers, and wherein the plurality of additional preprinted serial numbers change in a preset manner along the length of the voucher substrate.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of coins is a first plurality of coins, wherein the total is a first total, wherein the portion of voucher substrate is a first portion of voucher substrate, wherein the at least one preprinted serial number is a first preprinted serial number, and wherein the method further comprises:

counting a second plurality of coins in the coin counting machine to determine a second total;

printing a value related to the second total on a second portion of voucher substrate in the coin counting machine, wherein the second portion of voucher substrate includes a second preprinted serial number different from the first preprinted serial number;

printing a second identifier number on the second portion of voucher substrate proximate to the second preprinted serial number, wherein the second identifier number matches the second preprinted serial number; and

dispensing the second portion of voucher substrate from the coin counting machine.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

encrypting transaction-identifying information, wherein the transaction-identifying information is associated with the coin counting transaction; and

printing the encrypted transaction-identifying information on the portion of voucher substrate.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

encrypting the value by permuting the digit order of a number which includes the value to provide a first permuted number;

printing the encrypted value on the portion of voucher substrate;

decrypting the encrypted value; and

redeeming the substrate for at least one of cash and merchandize up to the value.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein permuting the digit order is performed with a permutation vector.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein encrypting the value includes adding a selected number to the permuted number.

11. A coin counting machine comprising:

a computer;

a coin discriminator operably connected to the computer, wherein the coin discriminator is configured to count a plurality of coins to determine a total;

a voucher printer operably connected to the computer; and

a voucher substrate loaded into the voucher printer;

wherein the voucher substrate includes a plurality of preprinted serial numbers preprinted along the length of the voucher substrate;

wherein the plurality of preprinted serial numbers includes at least a first preprinted serial number;

wherein the computer controls the voucher printer to print an identifier number on a portion of the voucher substrate proximate to the first preprinted serial number prior to dispensing the portion of voucher substrate from the coin counting machine; and

wherein the identifier number matches the first preprinted serial number.

12. The coin counting machine of claim 11:

wherein the plurality of preprinted serial numbers further includes a second preprinted serial number different than the first preprinted serial number;

wherein the identifier number is a first identifier number;

wherein the computer controls the voucher printer to print a second identifier number on the portion of voucher substrate proximate to the second preprinted serial number prior to dispensing the portion of voucher substrate from the coin counting machine; and

wherein the second identifier number matches the second preprinted serial number.

13. The coin counting machine of claim 11 wherein the plurality of preprinted serial numbers change in a preset manner along the length of the voucher substrate.

14. The coin counting machine of claim 11:

wherein the computer is configured to encrypt a value related to the total of coins counted by permuting the digit order of a number which includes the value to provide a first permuted number; and

wherein the computer further controls the voucher printer to print the encrypted value in machine-readable form on the portion of voucher substrate prior to dispensing the portion of voucher substrate from the coin counting machine.

15. The coin counting machine of claim 14 wherein the computer is configured to permute the digit order with a permutation vector, and wherein the computer is further configured to encrypt the value by adding a selected number to the permuted number.

16. A method for providing a voucher in a coin counting machine having a printer, the method comprising:

determining a value related to a total of coins counted;

encrypting the value by permuting the digit order of a number which includes the value to provide a first permuted number;

printing the encrypted value on a portion of voucher substrate with the printer;

dispensing the portion of voucher substrate;

decrypting the encrypted value; and

redeeming the portion of voucher substrate for at least one of cash and merchandize up to the decrypted value.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

comparing the decrypted value to an unaltered form of the value also printed on the portion of voucher substrate with the printer; and

redeeming the portion of voucher substrate for at least one of cash and merchandize up to the decrypted value when the decrypted value matches the unaltered form of the value.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

encrypting transaction-identifying information; and

printing the encrypted transaction-identifying information on the portion of voucher substrate.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the method further comprises:

decrypting the transaction-identifyng information;

comparing the decrypted transaction-identifyng information to an unaltered form of the transaction-identifyng information also printed on the portion of voucher substrate with the printer; and

redeeming the portion of voucher substrate for at least one of cash and merchandize up to the decrypted value when the decrypted transaction-identifyng information matches the unaltered form of the transaction-identifyng information.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the encrypted transaction-identifying information includes a transaction time.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein permuting the digit order is performed with a permutation vector, and wherein encrypting the value includes adding a selected number to the permuted number.