Check processing method, check processing program medium, and check processing apparatus

• US 8,960,538 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Murata, Sadao
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, SONJI N
• Application Number:
  US13/900,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20130251236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 705/43, 705/45, 705/35, 705/38, 902/18, 382/182
• 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 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/2253 Recognition of characters printed with magnetic ink G06V30/2247 takes precedence

Abstract

Check processing involves scanning a back of a check having no printed authorization data to capture a back image; scanning a front of the check to capture a front image of the check, the front of the check being preprinted with magnetic ink characters; generating authorization data indicating that the check is valid based on a reading of the magnetic ink characters and a response from an external analysis source, the authorization data being generated electronically; generating an electronic merged image by electronically combining the back image with the authorization data in a predetermined area, the electronic merged image being generated without printing the authorization data on the check; and storing the electronic merged image with the front image. The check processing can be embodied in a method, apparatus, or instructions embodied on a machine-readable medium.

Claims

1. A check processing method using a check processing apparatus, the method comprising:

scanning a back of a check to capture a back image of the check, which has no authorization data printed thereon, by the check processing apparatus;

scanning a front of the check to capture a front image of the check using the check processing apparatus, the front of the check being preprinted with magnetic ink characters;

generating authorization data indicating that the check is valid based on a reading of the magnetic ink characters and a response from an external analysis source, the authorization data being generated electronically;

generating an electronic merged image by electronically combining the back image with the authorization data in a predetermined area, the electronic merged image being generated such that at least a portion of the authorization data overlaps the back image, the electronic merged image being generated without printing the authorization data on the check by the check processing apparatus; and

storing the electronic merged image with the front image.

2. A non-transitory medium readable by a machine embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a check processing method using a check processing apparatus, the program of instructions comprising:

instructions for causing the check processing apparatus to scan a back of a check to capture a back image of the check, which has no authorization data printed thereon, by the check processing apparatus;

instructions for causing the check processing apparatus to scan a front of the check to capture a front image of the check by the check processing apparatus, the front of the check being preprinted with magnetic ink characters;

instructions for causing the check processing apparatus to generate authorization data indicating that the check is valid based on a reading of the magnetic ink characters and a response from an external analysis source, the authorization data being generated electronically;

instructions for causing the check processing apparatus to generate an electronic merged image by electronically combining the back image with the authorization data in a predetermined area, the electronic merged image being generated such that at least a portion of the authorization data overlaps the back image, the electronic merged image being generated without printing the authorization data on the check by the check processing apparatus; and

instructions for causing the check processing apparatus to store the electronic merged image with the front image.

3. A check processing apparatus which is connectable to a host device, the check processing apparatus comprising:

a transportation path for conveying a check from a check insertion opening to an exit opening;

a transportation mechanism that conveys the check through the transportation path;

a scanning component that captures both a back image of the check and a front image of the check conveyed through the transportation path;

an authorization data component that sends a request to the host device for electronic authorization data indicating that the check is valid based on a response from an external analysis source, wherein the authorization data component receives the requested electronic authorization data from the host device if the check is determined to be valid;

a merged image generating component that generates an electronic merged image by combining the back image with the received electronic authorization data in a predetermined area without printing the authorization data on the check, the electronic merged image being generated such that at least a portion of the authorization data overlaps the back image;

a memory that stores the electronic merged image with the front image; and

a controller that sends the electronic merged image with the front image to the host device.