Abstract:
A method of operating a publicly-accessible image-based self-service check depositing terminal comprises receiving from a self-service depositor customer a check to be deposited, capturing non-binary image data which is representative of a non-binary image of the check, binarizing the non-binary image data to provide binarized data which is representative of a binary image of the check, determining a check image quality value associated with the binary image of the check, comparing the check image quality value with a first threshold value, transmitting the binarized data to a back office facility of an institution when the check image quality value is outside of the first threshold value, comparing the check image quality value with a second threshold value which is different from the first threshold value, returning the check to the self-service depositor customer when the check image quality value is outside of the second threshold value, and transmitting the non-binary image data to a back office facility of an institution when the check image quality value is between the first and second threshold values.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to self-service check depositing, and is particularly directed to an image-based check depositing automated teller machine (ATM) and method of operating an image-based check depositing ATM. 
         [0002]    A typical check depositing ATM allows an ATM customer to deposit a check (without having to place the check in any deposit envelope) in a public access, unattended environment. To deposit a check, an ATM customer inserts a customer identification card through a user card slot at the ATM, enters the amount of the check being deposited, and inserts the check through a check slot. A check transport mechanism receives the inserted check and transports the check in a forward direction along a check transport path to a number of locations within the ATM to process the check. If the check is not accepted for deposit, the check is returned to the ATM customer via the check slot. If the check is accepted for deposit, the amount of the check is deposited into the ATM customer&#39;s account and the check is transported to and stored in a storage bin within the ATM. An endorser printer prints an endorsement onto the check as the check is being transported to the storage bin. 
         [0003]    Checks stored in the storage bin within the ATM are periodically (usually daily) picked up and physically transported via courier to a back office facility of a financial institution. At the back office facility, the checks are prepared at a document preparation workstation for subsequent processing in an image-based check processing system located at the back office facility. In a first pass of checks through the image-based check processing system, check image data which is representative of images of the checks is captured. Then in a second pass of checks through an image-based check processing system, the checks are encoded and sorted and matched up with their corresponding check image data which was previously captured during the first pass of checks. The second pass of checks may be made through either the same image-based check processing system that the first pass of checks was made or a different image-based check processing system. Checks are processed in the first and second passes through the image-based check processing system(s) for purpose of clearing checks between financial institutions, as is known. 
         [0004]    As an alternative to capturing check image data in a first pass of checks through an image-based check processing system located at the back office facility (which requires the checks to be physically transported from the ATM to the back office facility before the first pass of checks can be performed), check image data may be initially captured at the ATM. An image-based check depositing ATM is needed to capture check image data which is representative of checks deposited at the ATM. In a typical image-based check depositing ATM, check image data is initially captured in a “first pass” of checks through the ATM. The remotely-captured check image data is then sent electronically to the back office facility. Then, in a “second pass” at the back office facility, the check image data received from the ATM is further processed as required to clear checks between financial institutions. 
         [0005]    From time to time, a check image represented by check image data which has been captured in the “first pass” through the image-based check depositing ATM may be of suspect or problematic image quality. For example, after the remotely-captured check image data has been sent electronically to the back office facility, an operator at the back office facility may determine that the quality of the image represented by the check image data is of insufficient quality. If this should occur in known image-based check depositing ATMs, a service operator may need to be dispatched to the particular ATM to retrieve the particular check and process the retrieved check as an exception item through a normal exception processing infrastructure. The cost of dispatching a service operator to an ATM to retrieve a particular check, so that the retrieved check can be processed as an exception item, is usually relatively high. It would be desirable to reduce the number of service trips which need to be made by service operators to remote image-based check depositing ATMs. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating a publicly-accessible image-based self-service check depositing terminal comprises receiving from a self-service depositor customer a check to be deposited, capturing non-binary image data which is representative of a non-binary image of the check, binarizing the non-binary image data to provide binarized data which is representative of a binary image of the check, determining a check image quality value associated with the binary image of the check, comparing the check image quality value with a first threshold value, transmitting the binarized data to a back office facility of an institution when the check image quality value is outside of the first threshold value, comparing the check image quality value with a second threshold value which is different from the first threshold value, returning the check to the self-service depositor customer when the check image quality value is outside of the second threshold value, and transmitting the non-binary image data to a back office facility of an institution when the check image quality value is between the first and second threshold values. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    In the accompanying drawings: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial diagram of an image-based check depositing automated teller machine (ATM); 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic sectional diagram, taken approximately along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 , and showing a part (a check processing module) of the ATM of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the check processing module of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating steps involved in a check depositing operation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The present invention is directed to an image-based check depositing automated teller machine (ATM) and method of operating an image-based check depositing ATM. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an image-based self-service depositing terminal, such as an image-based check depositing ATM  10 , at which a check can be deposited is illustrated. The check depositing ATM  10  comprises a fascia  12  pivotably coupled to a chassis (not shown), an upper panel  14  mounted to the chassis and defining an aperture  16  through which a camera (not shown) images a customer of the ATM  10 , and a lower panel  18  hingeably coupled to the chassis so that the lower panel  18  can be opened to reveal a safe (not shown) mounted in the chassis. When the lower panel  18  is open, the fascia  12  can be pivoted upwards to reveal ATM modules mounted within the chassis. 
         [0014]    The fascia  12  and lower panel  18  provide a user interface  20  for allowing an ATM customer to execute a transaction. The fascia  12  includes a handset  30  and a telephone keypad  32  for allowing an ATM customer to contact a remote operator (not shown) typically located in a call center (not shown). The fascia  12  also includes an encrypting keyboard  34  for allowing an ATM customer to enter transaction details, and a display  36  for presenting screens to an ATM customer. The fascia  12  also defines eight slots for receiving and dispensing media items, and a tray  40  into which coins can be dispensed. The slots include a money order printer slot  42 , a bunch note input slot  44 , a bunch note exit slot  46 , a statement output slot  48 , a cash dispense slot  50 , a card reader slot  52 , a card issue slot  54 , and a check input/output slot  56 . The slots  42  to  56  and tray  40  are arranged so that when the fascia  12  is closed, the slots and tray align with corresponding ATM modules mounted within the ATM&#39;s chassis (not shown). The user interface features described above are all provided on an NCR PERSONAS (trade mark) 5878 financial services center ATM, available from NCR Financial Solutions Group Limited, Discovery Centre, 3 Fulton Road, Dundee, DD2 4SW, Scotland. 
         [0015]    A check processing module (CPM)  60  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic sectional diagram (along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ) showing part of the fascia  12  and lower panel  18 , and the main parts of the CPM  60 .  FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating the main elements in the CPM  60 . The CPM  60  is a modified version of a conventional check processing module, such as the check processing module provided with the PERSONAS (trade mark) 5878 NCR ATM. 
         [0016]    The CPM  60  comprises the following elements: a check input/output transport mechanism  70  including an alignment mechanism for aligning a check; a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) head  72  for reading magnetic details on a code line of a check; an imager  74  including an upper  74 a and lower  74 b imaging camera for capturing non-binary images (front and back) of a check; a printer  76  for endorsing a check; a storage bin  78  for storing processed checks; and a reject bin  82  for storing rejected checks. The transport mechanism  70  includes a divert gate  80  for diverting checks to either the storage bin  78  or the reject bin  82 . The elements are conventional and will not be described in detail herein. The CPM  60  also includes a controller  86  for controlling the operation of the elements within the CPM  60 . The CPM  60  also includes a slot entrance shutter  88  for opening and closing the check input/output slot  56 . 
         [0017]    A typical check depositing transaction will now be described with reference to  FIG. 4  which is a flowchart  100  illustrating steps involved in a check depositing transaction, and also with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . In this transaction, the ATM customer enters a customer identification card into the card reader slot  52  (steps  102  and  104 ), selects “check depositing” from a list of transaction options presented on the display  36 , enters the amount of the check via the keyboard  34 , and inserts the check to be deposited through the check input/output slot  56  (step  106 ). The controller  86  receives the amount of the check (step  108 ), and opens the slot entrance shutter  88 . The transport mechanism  70  receives the check and transports the received check (step  110 ) to the MICR head  72  where the MICR codeline on the check is read (step  112 ). 
         [0018]    A determination is made (step  114 ) as to whether the MICR codeline can be read from the check. If the MICR codeline data from the check is unreadable as determined in step  114 , then a check return operation is initiated. When this occurs, the transport mechanism  70  reverses the direction of transport (step  116 ) to convey the check to the check input/output slot  56  to return the check to the ATM customer via the check input/output slot. The ATM customer is then alerted of an unreadable check (step  118 ). 
         [0019]    However, if the MICR codeline data from the check is readable as determined in step  114 , then the transport mechanism  70  transports the check to the imager  74 , where non-binary images of the check are captured (step  122 ). For example, the non-binary images of the check may be grayscale images of the check. As another example, the non-binary images of the check may be color images of the check. For simplicity of description below, the non-binary images of the check will be assumed to be grayscale images of the check. The printer  76  prints endorsement data onto the check (step  124 ). 
         [0020]    Binary images are derived from the grayscale images of the check (step  132 ). Techniques to derive binary images from grayscale images are known. Accordingly, details of such techniques will not be discussed. The grayscale images of the check are electronically stored in a memory device (not shown) at the ATM  10 , and the binary images of the check are processed further as described hereinbelow. 
         [0021]    A check image quality value is determined for the front binary image of the check (step  134 ). Techniques to determine an image quality value associated with the front binary image of the check are known. Accordingly, details of such techniques will not be discussed. The specific manner in which the image quality value of the front binary image of the check is determined is not important to different embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0022]    A determination is made (step  140 ) as to whether the quality value associated with the front binary image of the check is outside of a first predetermined threshold value. If the determination in step  140  is affirmative (i.e., the image quality value is outside of the first predetermined threshold value), then this is an indication that the quality of the front binary image of the check is bad and unusable. When this occurs, the transport mechanism  70  reverses the direction of transport (step  142 ) to convey the check to the check input/output slot  56  to return the check to the ATM customer via the check input/output slot. The ATM customer is then alerted of a bad quality check (step  144 ). However, if the determination in step  140  is negative (i.e., the image quality value is not outside of the first predetermined threshold value), then the process proceeds to step  150 . 
         [0023]    A determination is then made (step  150 ) as to whether the image quality value associated with the front binary image of the check is outside of a second predetermined threshold value which is different from the first predetermined threshold value. If the determination in step  150  is affirmative (i.e., the image quality value is outside of the second predetermined threshold value), then this is an indication that the quality of the front binary image of the check is good and usable. The binary images (i.e., both the front and back images) derived in step  132  are electronically transmitted to a back office facility of an institution (step  152 ), such as a financial institution in the form of a bank, for further processing at the back office facility. The check is then transported to the storage bin  78  (step  154 ). 
         [0024]    It should be noted that the institution may or may not own the particular ATM  10  at which the check has been deposited. The location of the ATM  10  is remote from the back office facility such that it would be relatively costly for a service operator to be dispatched to the location of the ATM to retrieve a physical check. The ATM  10  is located at the point of presentment of the original check. The point of presentment is distant and away from the check clearing facility (i.e., the back office facility) which processes checks. 
         [0025]    However, if the determination in step  150  is negative (i.e., the image quality value is not outside of the second predetermined threshold value), then the process proceeds to step  156 . In step  156 , the non-binary images of the check (i.e., the grayscale images in this example) are electronically transmitted to the back office facility for further processing at the back office facility. The check is then transported to the storage bin  78  (step  158 ). 
         [0026]    It should be apparent that the grayscale images of the check are electronically transmitted to the back office facility when the image quality of the front binary image is determined to be neither bad enough to be unusable nor good enough to be usable. Such a determination indicates that the usability of the front binary image is either suspect or problematic. Accordingly, it should also be apparent that this determination occurs when the image quality value associated with the front binary image of the check is between the first and second predetermined threshold values. 
         [0027]    It is conceivable that the second predetermined threshold value may be less than the first predetermined threshold value. In this case, the binary images of the check are electronically transmitted to the back office facility (i.e., the check is accepted for deposit) when the check image quality value is above the first predetermined threshold value. Also, in this case, the check is returned to the ATM customer (i.e., the check is not accepted for deposit) when the check image quality value is below the second predetermined threshold value. 
         [0028]    It is also conceivable that the second predetermined threshold value may be greater than the first predetermined threshold value. In this case, the binary images of the check are electronically transmitted to the back office facility (i.e., the check is accepted for deposit) when the check image quality value is below the first predetermined threshold value. Also, in this case, the check is returned to the ATM customer (i.e., the check is not accepted for deposit) when the check image quality value is above the second predetermined threshold value. 
         [0029]    A number advantages result by providing a method and image-based self-service check depositing terminal in accordance with different embodiments of the present invention. One advantage is that a relatively higher percentage of checks are accepted for deposit. This occurs because usable grayscale images of the check are electronically transmitted to the back office facility when usability of the binary images of the check is questionable (i.e., either suspect or problematic). For example, if quality of binary images of checks is determined to be good enough and acceptable 60% of the time, and quality of binary images of checks is determined to be not good enough and unacceptable 5% of the time, then acceptance of the remaining 35% using grayscale images of checks increases the total acceptance level to 95% of the time. It should be noted that in the majority of instances where the image quality of a binary image of a check is determined to be suspect or problematic, the corresponding grayscale image is usable. 
         [0030]    Another advantage is that this increased total acceptance level is provided with minimal impact to ATM network bandwidth and storage requirements. This is because binary images are usually compressed (using known image compression techniques) and require substantially less bandwidth to transmit across a network and substantially less storage memory to store than grayscale images. 
         [0031]    Although the above-description describes a check image quality value being determined for only the front binary image of the check, it is conceivable that a check image quality value may be determined for both the front and back images of the check. Moreover, it is conceivable that a check image quality value may be determined for only the back binary image of the check. 
         [0032]    Also, although the above-description describes only grayscale image data being transmitted to the back office facility when the image quality value associated with the front binary image of the check is between the first and second predetermined threshold values, it is conceivable that both grayscale image data and binary image data be transmitted to the back office facility when the image quality value associated with the front binary image of the check is between the first and second predetermined threshold values. 
         [0033]    Also, although the above-description describes a check being deposited in its entire amount by an ATM customer, it is conceivable that the check may be deposited only in partial amount of the entire amount of the check at the ATM  10 , with the remaining amount of the check being cashed and delivered to the ATM customer. Checks may be of different sizes, different thicknesses, or different weights of paper. 
         [0034]    Further, although the above-description describes the PERSONAS (trade mark) 5878 NCR ATM embodying the present invention, it is conceivable that other models of ATMs, other types of ATMs, or other types of self-service terminals may embody the present invention. Self-service terminals are generally public-access devices that are designed to allow a user to conduct a transaction or to access information in an unassisted manner and/or in an unattended environment. Self-service terminals typically include some form of tamper resistance so that they are inherently resilient. Self-service terminals allow users to obtain information or to conduct a transaction. Self-service terminals include: ATMs; non-cash kiosks that allow users to access information (e.g., to view reward points on a reward card the user inserts into the self-service terminal); and kiosks that accept payment for services (e.g. Web surfing kiosks, kiosks that allow users to buy goods, etc.). The term self-service terminal has a relatively broad meaning and includes vending machines. 
         [0035]    The particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention. From the above description, those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Numerous substitutions and modifications can be undertaken without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art to which the present invention relates are intended to be covered by the appended claims.