Abstract:
A method is provided of operating a remote check image capture system. The method comprises scanning a batch of checks to provide a stream of captured check images, locally storing the captured check images, and transmitting the captured check images to a bank server while other checks are being scanned to enable a human operator to begin balancing checks without having to wait until all checks of the batch of checks have been scanned.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to check image capture, and is particularly directed to a method of operating a remote check image capture system and an apparatus therefor. 
         [0002]    A typical remote check image capture system includes a remote capture client and a check scanner located at the remote capture client. The remote capture client communicates over a communications network with a bank server. When a human operator is processing checks at the remote capture client, each check is scanned using the check scanner to provide check image data which is representative of the check. The check image data is stored in a check image data memory. The operator batches the checks and balances the batched checks before transmitting the work including check images to the bank server for further processing. The operator then waits to receive an acknowledgement from the bank server that the work has been accepted at the bank. 
         [0003]    The amount of check image data transmitted to the bank server is usually quite large. For example, the amount of check data including image data transmitted may be as large as fifty megabytes of data. If the amount of check data including image data being transmitted to the bank server is a large amount, then the amount of time required to complete the transmission is also a large amount. It would be desirable to improve the overall workflow described hereinabove in which check data including image data is initially captured at the remote capture client, and then subsequently transmitted to the bank server. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided of operating a remote check image capture system. The method comprises scanning a batch of checks to provide a stream of captured check images, locally storing the captured check images, and transmitting the captured check images to a bank server while other checks are being scanned to enable a human operator to begin balancing checks without having to wait until all checks of the batch of checks have been scanned. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    In the accompanying drawings: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a remote check image capture system constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating steps invoked by a remote capture client check processing program in the remote check image capture system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating steps invoked by a bank server check processing program in the remote check image capture system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is directed to a method of operating a remote check image capture system and an apparatus therefor. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a remote check image capture system  10  includes a remote capture client  12  which communicates via line  14  with a client program memory  16  and via line  18  with a client check data/check image data memory  20 . The program memory  16  stores a number of application programs including a remote client check processing program  100  to be described in detail later. The client check data/check image data memory  20  stores check data including check image data which is representative of captured images of checks. The remote capture client  12  may comprise a conventional desktop computer with a graphical user interface. Suitable computers and graphical user interfaces are readily available in the marketplace. Their structure and operation are well known and, therefore, will not be described. 
         [0010]    The remote check image capture system  10  further includes a check scanner device  24  for scanning checks and capturing images of the scanned checks. The check scanner device  24  may comprise any type of image scanner in which either the check is moved past the scanner or the scanner is moved past the check. For example, the check scanner device  24  may comprise a table-top check processing terminal located at a bank branch, for example, where bank personnel use the terminal to perform check processing functions. As another example, the check scanner device  24  may be located at a commercial facility where check processing functions are performed. 
         [0011]    During operation, the check scanner device  24  lifts an image of a check when the check is moved past the check scanner device. Lifted check images are stored in the client check data/check image data memory  20 . The process of lifting an image of a check using the check scanner device  24 , and then storing the lifted check image in the client check data/check image data memory  20  is known and, therefore, will not be described. As check images are being lifted and stored in the client check data/check image data memory  20 , the lifted check images are transmitted to a store and forward switch  30 . The store and forward switch  30  transmits check images to a bank server  40  in accordance with program steps of the remote client check processing program  100 . 
         [0012]    After all checks have been scanned in the system  10  of  FIG. 1 , a human operator batches and balances the batched checks, and provides resulting balancing edit data. The operator then invokes the remote client check processing program  100  via the remote capture client  12  to transmit the balancing edit data to a bank server  40  for further processing at the bank server facility. The operator then waits to receive an acknowledgement signal from the bank server  40  to indicate that the bank server facility has accepted the work (i.e., the check images and the balancing edit data) at the bank. 
         [0013]    The bank server  40  communicates via line  42  with a server program memory  44  and via line  46  with a server check data/check image data memory  48 . The server program memory  44  stores a number of application programs including a bank server check processing program  200  to be described in detail later. The server check data/check image data memory  48  stores check image data and balancing edit data received from the remote capture client  12 . 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a flowchart  100  depicts steps performed by the remote client check processing program  100 . In step  110 , the remote capture client  12  receives check image data which has been lifted from scanned checks. After the check image data is received, a unique identification number is assigned and associated with each check image (step  120 ). The check image data and the unique identification number which has just been assigned are stored in the client check data/check image data memory  20  (step  130 ). The check image data and the unique identification number are also transmitted to the bank server  40  via the store and forward switch  30  (step  140 ). 
         [0015]    As an operator performs check balancing functions on the check images and provides balancing edit data, the association of each unique identification number with its corresponding check image is maintained. The remote capture client  12  receives this balancing edit data and identification numbers associated with the balancing edit data (step  150 ). The remote capture client  12  then transmits the balancing edit data along with the associated identification numbers to the bank server  40  for further processing at the bank server facility (step  160 ). After the bank server  40  processes the balancing edit data (as will be described below in the flowchart of  FIG. 3 ), the bank server provides an acknowledgement signal which is transmitted to the remote capture client  12 . The remote capture client  12  receives this acknowledgement signal as shown in step  170 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flowchart  200  depicts steps performed by the bank server check processing program  200 . In step  210 , the bank server  40  receives each check image including the associated unique identification number which has been assigned to the check image and transmitted from the remote capture client  12 , as was described in steps  120  and  140  shown in  FIG. 2 . Each check image including the associated unique identification number are stored in the server check data/check image data memory  48  (step  220 ). At a later time in step  230 , the bank server  40  receives balancing edit data and associated identification numbers from the remote capture client  12 , as was described in step  160  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0017]    After the balancing edit data along with associated identification numbers are received from the remote capture client  12 , the balancing edit data is matched up with check images stored in the server check data/check image data memory  48  (step  240 ). This matching up process is based upon matching the identification numbers which accompanied the balancing edit data with the unique identification numbers assigned to the check images. The balancing edit data is then stored along associated check images in the server check data/check image data memory  48  (step  250 ). Then in step  260 , the bank server  40  sends an acknowledgement signal to the remote capture client  12  to indicate that the bank server has received and stored the check images and the balancing edit data, as was described in step  170  in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0018]    It should be apparent that the remote check image capture system  10  provides an improved workflow in which a stream of check images is transmitted from the remote capture client  12  to the bank server  40  immediately after each check image is captured. More specifically, the process of transmitting check images and the process of scanning checks to capture the check images overlap each other. Accordingly, there is no need for the operator to wait until all check images have been captured and balanced at the remote capture client  12  before transmitting the check images to the bank server  40 . Since the operator does not need to wait until later to transmit check images from the remote capture client  12  to the bank server  40 , the amount of time perceived by the operator to transmit the check images is less. 
         [0019]    It should also be apparent that the unique identification number assigned to each check image allows the particular check image to be matched up with its associated balancing edit data which is provided at a later time with the same unique identification number. The unique identification number may be in any form so long as the identification number assigned to a check image is unique to that particular check image. 
         [0020]    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.