Method and system for online communication between a check sorter and a check processing system

• US 6,924,450 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fidelity Information Services, LLC (Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: VECTORsgi, Inc. (Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Maloney, Rian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Joseph C
• Application Number:
  US10/616,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20040016683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 382/137, 382/138, 382/139, 382/140, 209/583, 700/223, 700/224, 700/226, 703 24- 27
• US Class Current: 209/583
• 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: G06V 10/95 structured as a network, e.g. client-server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/2253 Recognition of characters printed with magnetic ink G06V30/2247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/20 Controlling or monitoring the operation of devices; Data handling
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/28 Setting of parameters; Software updates
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/50 Sorting or counting valuable papers

Abstract

A system for handling checks is provided that includes a sorter operable to retrieve MICR data from a plurality of checks. An emulator is coupled to the sorter. The emulator is operable to access the MICR data, to generate a process buffer based on the MICR data, and to generate a plurality of feature instructions for each check based on the process buffer. A communication engine is coupled between the emulator and a check processing system. The communication engine is operable to communicate between the emulator and the check processing system in real-time. The check processing system is operable to receive the process buffer from the emulator through the communication engine. The emulator is further operable to communicate the feature instructions to the sorter. The sorter is further operable to process the checks based on the feature instructions.

Claims

1. A method for handling checks, comprising:

retrieving MICR data from a check;

performing a search of code line data for a match based on the MICR data by matching a check to one of a plurality of stored identifiers, the code line data comprising more than sixteen identifiers and each identifier identifying a particular check;

determining a plurality of feature instructions from the code line data if a match exists;

executing an executable code file to generate results based on the MICR data if no match exists;

determining a plurality of feature instructions from the results; and

communicating with a check procesing system in real-time over a TCP/IP connection.

2. The method of claim 1, the MICR data standardized for a plurality of disparate types of check sorters.

3. The method of claim 1, the standardized MICR data comprising a format compatible with a check sorter compatible with the check processing system.

4. The method of claim 1, the MICR data comprising an account number for the check.

5. The method of claim 1, the feature instructions comprising an endorsement instruction operable to control endorsement of the check by the check sorter.

6. The method of claim 1, the feature instructions comprising a microfilm instruction operable to control recording of a microfilm image of the check by the check sorter.

7. The method of claim 1, the feature instructions comprising a digital image instruction operable to control recording of a digital image of the check by the check sorter.

8. The method of claim 7, the digital image instruction further operable to specify at least one of a plurality of digital capture options, the options comprising the recording of a front image of the check and the recording of a back image of the check.

9. The method of claim 8, the options further comprising a black and white image, a gray scale image, and a color image.

10. The method of claim 1, the feature instructions comprising a pocket selection instruction operable to direct the check to a specified pocket.

11. The method of claim 1, the identifiers comprising an account number for the check.

12. A system for handling checks, comprising logic stored on at least one computer-processable medium, the logic operable to:

retrieve MICR data from a check;

perform a search of code line data, with the code line data comprising more than sixteen identifiers and each identifier identifying a particular check, for a match based on the MICR data by matching a check to one of the stored identifiers;

determine a plurality of feature instructions from the code line data if a match exists;

execute an executable code file to generate results based on the MICR data if no match exists;

determine a plurality of feature instructions from the results; and

communicate with a check processing system in real-time over a TCP/IP connection.

13. The system of claim 12, the logic further operable to standardize the MICR data for a plurality of disparate types of check sorters.

14. The system of claim 13, the standardized MICR data comprising a format compatible with a check sorter compatible with the check processing system.

15. The system of claim 12, the MICR data comprising an account number for the check.

16. The system of claim 12, the feature instructions comprising an endorsement instruction operable to control endorsement of the check by the check sorter.

17. The system of claim 12, the feature instructions comprising a microfilm instruction operable to control recording of a microfilm image of the check by the check sorter.

18. The system of claim 12, the feature instructions comprising a digital image instruction operable to control recording of a digital image of the check by the check sorter.

19. The system of claim 18, the digital image instruction further operable to specify at least one of a plurality of digital capture options, the options comprising the recording of a front image of the check the recording of a back image of the check.

20. The system of claim 19, the options further comprising a black and white image, a gray scale image, and a color image.

21. The system of claim 12, the feature instructions comprising a pocket selection instruction operable to direct the check to a specified pocket.

22. The system of claim 12, the identifiers comprising an account number for the check.