Automated payment system and method

• US 8,126,793 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Jones, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamilton, Lalita
• Application Number:
  US12/973,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20110087599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/39, 705/40
• US Class Current: 705/35
• 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 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

An automated payment system for processing payment by a customer to a company. The payment system includes a document scanning system which has an input receptacle adapted to accept a document. After receiving an authorization agreement from the customer, the scanner acquires at least one image from the document. Also provided is a first computer adapted to receive images from the document scanning system. Adapted to communicate information represented by the image, a first communication link couples the document scanning system and the first computer. The payment system also includes a second computer adapted to receive images which is in communication with the first computer via a second communication link. The second communication link is adapted to communicate images and payment information.

Claims

1. An automated payment system for processing payment of an invoice sent from a payee to a customer, wherein the customer has a bank account at a payor bank, the automated payment system comprising:

a document processing system including;

an input receptacle for receiving the invoice,

an image scanner configured to generate image data from the received invoice, the image data reproducible as a visually readable image of the invoice,

a transport mechanism configured to transport the invoice from the input receptacle and past the image scanner, and

at least one processor associated with the image scanner, the at least one processor configured to extract field information from the image data of the invoice, the field information including an amount due on the invoice; and

an interface coupled to the document processing system, the interface configured to transmit the image data and extracted field information to a network, the transmitted image data and field information formatted for processing by a computer associated with a payor bank and for debiting of the customer bank account for the extracted amount due.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a personal computer coupled to the document processing system and configured to receive the invoice image data and the extracted field information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the document processing system further includes a value entry device configured to receive a transaction amount.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the document processing system is further configured to compare the extracted amount due on the invoice with the transaction amount received via the value entry device.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the value entry device is a numeric keypad.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the value entry device is a touch screen.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the document processing system further includes at least one control panel configured to display information to one of an operator or a customer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the image scanner further includes multiple scan heads.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the document processing system is configured to transport and scan the invoice with a longer edge of the invoice perpendicular to the direction of transport.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the generated image data is reproducible as a full image of at least one side of the invoice.

11. An automated payment system for processing payment of an invoice sent from a payee to a customer, wherein the customer has a bank account at a payor bank and the payee has a bank account at a payee bank, the automated payment system comprising:

a payor bank computer configured to receive invoice image data, the invoice image data reproducible as a visually readable image of the invoice, the payor bank computer or a processor configured to extract field information from the invoice image data, the field information including an amount due on the invoice; and

a communications interface associated with the payor bank computer or the processor, the communications interface configured to transmit funds for the extracted amount due on the invoice from the payor bank computer to a network, wherein the transmitted funds are formatted for processing by a payee bank computer to credit the payee bank account the amount of the transmitted funds.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the payor bank and the payee bank are different banks.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the payor bank and the payee bank are the same bank.

14. A method of debiting a first financial account and crediting a second financial account, the first financial account belonging to a customer and the second financial account belonging to a payee, the method comprising:

receiving an invoice in the input receptacle of a document scanning system, the received invoice referencing the second financial account;

transporting the invoice past an image scanner of the document scanning system;

scanning the invoice with the image scanner to generate electronic image data of the invoice, the electronic image data being reproducible as a visually readable image of the invoice;

extracting account information and an amount due from the electronic image data of the invoice;

transmitting the image data, the obtained account information, and the amount due to an interface connected to a network, wherein the image, the account information, and the amount due are formatted for processing by a payor financial institution associated with the first financial account and debiting of the first financial account for the amount due; and

transmitting funds equal to the transaction amount via the interface or another interface configured to transmit the funds to a network, the transmitted funds formatted for processing by a payee financial institution associated with the second financial account.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the received invoice image data is reproducible as a full image of at least one side of the invoice.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the payor financial institution and the payee financial institution are different financial institutions.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the payor financial institution and the payee financial institution are the same.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a transaction amount via a value entry device, and comparing the extracted amount due with the transaction amount received via the value entry device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the invoice is transported and scanned with a longer edge of the invoice perpendicular to the direction of transport.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the generated electronic image data is reproducible as a full image of at least one side of the invoice.