Document processing system

• US 8,380,573 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2008
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Jones, John E., Jones, Paul A., Jones, William J., Mennie, Douglas U.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zare, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Masud, Rokib
• Application Number:
  US12/177,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20080285838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 194/206, 194/210, 235/379, 235/380, 235/449, 235/487, 235/381, 705/1, 705/14, 705/17, 705/26, 705/28, 705/41, 705/43, 705/44, 705/40, 713/179, 380/25, 380/51, 380/55
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• 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 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/127 with the intervention of an operator
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/274 Syntactic or semantic context, e.g. balancing
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/50 Sorting or counting valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/04 Testing magnetic properties of the materials thereof, e.g. by detection of magnetic imprint G07D7/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/06 using wave or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/12 Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/1205 Testing spectral properties
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/20 : Testing patterns thereon G07D7/004, G07D7/005 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 : Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 : by paper currency

Abstract

A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past an image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the image scanner and the discrimination unit. The image scanner obtains an image of the documents, obtains an image of a selected area of the documents, and obtains information contained in the selected area of the document. The discrimination unit determines the authenticity of the document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.

Claims

1. An automated teller system for processing documents including checks and currency bills, the automated teller system comprising:

an imaging sensor;

a discrimination unit including one or more sensors;

a transport system configured to convey checks past the imaging sensor and to convey currency bills past the one or more sensors for the discrimination unit, the imaging sensor configured to generate image data representing an image of at least a portion of each passing check, the one or more sensors of the discrimination unit configured to generate denomination and authentication data for determining a denomination and authenticity of each passing currency bill; and

one or more processors configured to

control actuation of the transport system,

extract amount and account number information from the image data of the conveyed checks,

determine denominations and authenticate the conveyed currency bills from the denomination an authentication data,

determine a total value of the conveyed checks and currency bills, the total value based on the extracted amount from the image data of the conveyed checks and the determined denomination of the conveyed currency bills,

control communication of the check image data through a communications port associated with a network, and

transfer a value relating to the total value through the communications port.

2. The automated teller system of claim 1, wherein the imaging sensor and the one or more sensors of the discrimination unit are part of a single unit configured to generate image data of checks and denomination and authentication data of currency bills.

3. The automated teller system of claim 1, wherein the transport system comprises a single transport path configured to convey the checks and currency bills.

4. The automated teller system of claim 1, further comprising a communications panel configured to communicate operational instructions to a user.

5. The automated teller system of claim 1, wherein the checks and currency bills each include a wide edge and a narrow edge, the wide edge having a dimension greater than the narrow edge, the checks and currency bills being conveyed by the transport system with their narrow dimension parallel to the direction of conveyance.

6. The automated teller system of claim 1, wherein the checks and currency bills each include a wide edge and a narrow edge, the wide edge having a dimension greater than the narrow edge, the checks and currency bills being conveyed by the transport system with their wide dimension parallel to the direction of conveyance.

7. The automated teller system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display configured to display an image of a check to a user of the automated teller system; and

a data entry device configured to receive user input of information related to the check.

8. The automated teller system of claim 1, wherein the communications port is configured to connect to an outside accounting system and the transfer of the value is configured to occur in real-time with the outside accounting system such that the value associated with the processed documents is available substantially immediately to the outside accounting system for updating a funds balance of an account associated with the outside accounting system.

9. The automated teller system of claim 8, wherein the communications port is configured to receive in real-time a confirmation that the account associated with the outside accounting system has been credited.

10. The automated teller system of claim 8, wherein the communications port is configured for exporting the check image data in real-time to a network associated with a financial institution.

11. The automated teller system of claim 1, further comprising a secure housing defining an outer insecure area and an inner secure area, wherein the image sensor, discrimination unit, and transport system are located in the inner secure area such that a currency bill and check after being conveyed are generally inaccessible to an operator of the system.

12. The automated teller system of claim 11, wherein the documents are transported, the check image data are generated, and the currency bill denominations are determined at a rate of at least 800 currency documents per minute.

13. The automated teller system of claim 11, wherein the documents are transported, the check image data are generated, and the currency bill denominations are determined at a rate of at least 1000 currency documents per minute.

14. The automated teller system of claim 11, wherein the currency bills and checks have a wide edge and a narrow edge, and wherein the transport system is configured to transport the currency bills and checks with a wide edge of each currency bill and check being generally perpendicular to the direction of conveyance by the transport system.

15. The automated teller system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one of more sensors of the discrimination unit is an electrical conductivity sensor.

16. The automated teller system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one of more sensors of the discrimination unit is a magnetic sensor.

17. An automated teller machine for accepting documents including currency bills and financial institution documents, the document processing device comprising:

an image scanner;

one or more discrimination sensors, the one or more discrimination sensors configured to generate denomination and authentication data for each transported currency bill;

a transport system configured to receive currency bills and financial institution documents, the transport system further configured to transport the financial institution documents past the image scanner and to transport the currency bills past the one or more discrimination sensors, the image scanner being configured to generate electronic image data from each financial institution document that represents an image of at least a portion of the financial institution document; and

a first processor associated with the image scanner or a second processor, the first processor or the second processor configured to

recognize character fields within the financial institution document image data,

extract character information from the fields within the financial institution document image data including amount and account number information,

determine denominations and authenticity of the transported currency bills based on the denomination and authentication data,

determine a total value of the received currency bills and financial institution documents,

control communication of the financial institution document image data through a communications port associated with a network, and

transfer a value relating to the total value through the communications port.

18. The automated teller machine of claim 17, further comprising:

a display configured to display an image of a transported financial institution document; and

a data entry device configured to receive user input of information associated with a displayed image of one or more financial institution documents.

19. The automated teller machine of claim 17, wherein the communications port is configured to connect to an outside accounting system and the transfer of the value is configured to occur in real-time with the outside accounting system such that the value associated with the processed documents is available substantially immediately to the outside accounting system for updating a funds balance of an account associated with the outside accounting system.

20. The automated teller machine of claim 19, wherein the communications port is configured to receive in real-time a confirmation that the account associated with the outside accounting system has been credited.

21. The automated teller machine of claim 19, wherein the communications port is configured for exporting the financial institution document image data in real-time to a network associated with a financial institution.

22. The automated teller machine of claim 17, further comprising a secure housing defining an outer insecure area and an inner secure area, wherein the image scanner, discrimination sensor, and transport system are located in the inner secure area such that a currency bill and financial institution document after being transported are generally inaccessible to an operator of the device.

23. The automated teller machine of claim 22, wherein the documents are transported, the electronic image data for each financial institution document are generated, and the currency bill denominations are determined at a rate of at least 800 documents per minute.

24. The automated teller machine of claim 22, wherein the documents are transported, the electronic image data for each financial institution document are generated, and the currency bill denominations are determined at a rate of at least 1000 documents per minute.

25. The automated teller machine of claim 22, wherein the currency bills and financial institution documents have a wide edge and a narrow edge, and wherein the transport system is configured to transport the currency bills and financial institution documents with a wide edge of each currency bill and financial institution document being generally perpendicular to the direction of transport by the transport system.

26. An automated teller machine for processing checks and currency bills, the system comprising:

an image scanner configured to scan at least one side of a paper check and generate image data reproducible as an image of at least a portion of the paper check, the image scanner associated with a processor configured to extract character information from the image data;

a discrimination unit configured to obtain currency bill characteristics from a currency bill, the discrimination unit associated with the processor or another processor configured to determine a denomination and authenticity of the currency bill from the obtained currency bill characteristics;

one or more interfaces configured to transmit the generated image data, the extracted character information, and the denomination to a network associated with the automated teller machine; and

a secure housing defining an outer insecure area and an inner secure area, wherein the image scanner, discrimination unit, and transport mechanism are located in the inner secure area such that the currency bill and the paper check are generally inaccessible to an operator of the device after having characteristics obtained or being scanned.

27. The automated teller machine of claim 26, wherein the paper check has a wide edge and a narrow edge, the system further comprising a transport mechanism operable to convey the paper check along a transport path past the image scanner with the wide edge leading.

28. An automated teller machine for processing checks and currency bills, the system comprising:

an image scanner configured to scan at least one side of a paper check and generate image data reproducible as an image of at least a portion of the paper check, the image scanner associated with one or more processors configured to extract character information from the image data including amount and account information;

a discrimination unit configured to obtain currency bill characteristics from a currency bill, the discrimination unit associated with at least one of the one or more processors configured to determine a denomination and authenticity of the currency bill from the obtained currency bill characteristics, the at least one of the one or more processors further configured to determine a total value of the paper check and currency bill from the extracted character information and determined denomination; and

one or more interfaces configured to transmit the total value of the paper check and currency bill, the generated image data, the extracted character information, and the determined denomination to a network associated with the automated teller machine.

29. The automated teller machine of claim 28, further comprising at least one of the one or more interfaces configured to receive an updated funds balance from the network, the updated funds balance including the total value associated with the scanned paper check and the denominated currency bill.

30. The automated teller machine of claim 29, wherein at least one of the one or more interfaces is configured to transmit the total value, generated image data, and extracted character information and to receive the updated funds balance in real-time over the network in association with a remote accounting system.

31. The automated teller machine of claim 28, wherein the automated teller machine includes a user input panel configured to accept user commands.

32. The automated teller machine of claim 31, wherein the automated teller machine includes a dispensing unit configured to dispense funds to a user of the machine.

33. The automated teller machine of claim 28, wherein access to the automated teller machine is controlled by an identification card inserted by a user into a slot in the system.

34. The automated teller machine of claim 28, wherein the automated teller machine includes a video monitor configured to display the image of the paper check.

35. The automated teller machine of claim 28, wherein the automated teller machine includes a printer configured to print the image of the paper check.

36. The automated teller machine of claim 28, wherein the extracted character information includes one or more of MICR data, CAR data, or LAR data.

37. The automated teller machine of claim 28, wherein the check has a wide edge and a narrow edge, the system further comprising a transport mechanism operable to convey the check along a transport path past the image scanner with the wide edge leading.

38. The automated teller machine of claim 28, wherein the check has a wide edge and a narrow edge, the system further comprising a transport mechanism operable to convey the check along a transport path past the image scanner with the narrow edge leading.

39. The automated teller machine of claim 28, further comprising a secure housing defining an outer insecure area and an inner secure area, wherein the image scanner and discrimination unit are located in the inner secure area such that a currency bill and paper check are generally inaccessible to an operator of the device after being scanned or denominated.

40. The automated teller machine of claim 39, wherein the currency bill and the paper check have a wide edge and a narrow edge, and wherein a transport mechanism is configured to transport the currency bill and the paper check past the image scanner and discriminator unit with a wide edge of each currency bill and paper check being generally perpendicular to the direction of transport by the transport mechanism.