Patent ID: 12260697

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a cash handling system and a cash handling method according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG.1is a schematic diagram illustrating cash handling performed with the cash handling system according to the present embodiment. The cash handling system performs the cash handling by using identification numbers with which cash can be uniquely identified one by one. The identification numbers may be printed on banknotes, or stored in memory chips embedded in banknotes. If coins have identification numbers, these identification numbers may be used in the cash handling system. Although the kinds of cash and the kinds of identification numbers are not particularly limited, the description will be continued for the case where cash to be transferred is banknotes and the serial numbers of the banknotes are used as identification numbers.

As shown inFIG.1, a commercial bank12notifies a central bank11that the commercial bank12will load banknotes (A11). and the commercial bank12performs loading of banknotes (B11). In the present embodiment, “loading” includes a process for clarifying identification numbers and a location of cash, and a process for transferring an amount of the cash from the commercial bank12to the central bank11. Specifically, banknotes owned by the commercial bank12are handled by a cash handling apparatus300that is authenticated by the central bank11or a cash handling apparatus300that is under the management of the central bank11to clarify the serial numbers and whereabouts (locations) of the respective banknotes. Then, the amount of the banknotes with the clarified serial numbers and the clarified whereabouts is deposited from the commercial bank12to the central bank11, that is, the ownership of the banknotes is transferred from the commercial bank12to the central bank11. A notification on a loading is exchanged between, for example, a predetermined communication terminal installed in the commercial bank12and a predetermined communication terminal installed in the central bank11, but the exchange of the loading notification may be omitted.

The cash handling apparatus300and a management apparatus100are managed by the central bank11or a management company entrusted by the central bank11. Therefore, the banknotes handled by the cash handling apparatus300are regarded to be under the management of the central bank11. Alternatively, a cash handling apparatus owned by a commercial bank may be kept under the management of a central bank only for a predetermined period and used as the cash handling apparatus300.

FIG.1shows an example in which the cash handling apparatus300is installed in the commercial bank12. The cash handling apparatus300installed in the commercial bank12makes it unnecessary to carry out banknotes from the commercial bank12. However, the place where the cash handling apparatus300is installed is not particularly limited. For example, the cash handling apparatus300may be installed in a predetermined cash management facility, which is described later in detail with reference toFIG.2.

The cash handling apparatus300handles banknotes to be loaded from the commercial bank12into the central bank11. The handled banknotes are stored inside the cash handling apparatus300. After the banknote handling, the cash handling apparatus300transmits, to the management apparatus100, cash data in which information on the handled banknotes is registered (C11). The cash data includes: a loading amount of the banknotes to be loaded; and the serial numbers of the respective banknotes. The cash data is obtained by handling the banknotes by the cash handling apparatus300. The cash data further includes attribute information indicating the whereabouts (location) of the loaded banknotes.

For example, positional information indicating the installation place of the cash handling apparatus300is used as the attribute information. For example, apparatus information including ID information of the cash handling apparatus300is used as the attribute information. The whereabouts of the banknotes can be clarified based on that the apparatus information of the cash handling apparatus300having handled the banknotes to be loaded is that of an apparatus authenticated by, or under the management of, the central bank11. The cash data including the serial numbers and the attribute information will be described in detail with reference toFIG.2.

The banknotes loaded from the commercial bank12into the central bank11, i.e., the banknotes handled by the cash handling apparatus300and being under the management of the central bank11, are strictly managed. For example, preferably, the loaded banknotes are managed such that no one can touch them, or managed such that only a person having a predetermined authority can touch them.

For example, if the cash handling apparatus300is installed in the commercial bank12, the cash handling apparatus300is installed in a room such as an anti-theft vault room, the door of which is usually locked to prevent people from entering the room. Only a person having a predetermined authority is allowed to unlock the door, enter the room, and perform a loading operation by using the cash handling apparatus300. Similarly, when the cash handling apparatus300is installed in a cash management facility, the place where the cash handling apparatus300is installed is subjected to anti-theft measures as described above, and only a person having a predetermined authority is allowed to enter the place. The cash handling apparatus300may include a safe unit, and handled banknotes, i.e., loaded banknotes, may be stored in a storage disposed inside the safe unit. However, the loaded banknotes may be managed by another method as long as the banknotes can be strictly managed. For example, the cash handling apparatus300installed outside a vault room may handle banknotes to be loaded and store them in a dedicated storage container, and a person in charge having a predetermined authority may carry the storage container in which the loaded banknotes are stored, to the vault room. Approval of the central bank11may be required for a dispensing of the banknotes stored in the cash handling apparatus300, i.e., an unloading of the banknotes. For example, the cash handling apparatus300may perform the dispensing process, on the condition that the management apparatus100has transmitted, to the cash handling apparatus300, information indicating that the dispensing has been approved by the central bank11. After the dispensing process has been performed by the cash handling apparatus300, history information including information on an operator who has performed the dispensing process, the amount of dispensed banknotes, etc., may be recorded in at least one of the cash handling apparatus300and the management apparatus100.

The management apparatus100receives the cash data from the cash handling apparatus300, and recognizes that the banknotes are deposited in the cash handling apparatus300, i.e., that the banknotes are placed under the management of the central bank11, based on the attribute information included in the cash data. After receiving the cash data, the management apparatus100transmits loading information to the central bank11(D11). The loading information includes: information indicating that the banknotes which have been owned by the commercial bank12were loaded and are currently under the management of the central bank11; and a loaded amount that is the amount of these loaded banknotes.

The central bank11receives the loading information, and performs a process regarding the loaded banknotes. For example, a process of transferring the ownership of the loaded banknotes from the commercial bank12to the central bank11is performed by transferring the loading amount from an account of the commercial bank12to an account of the central bank11. Specifically, a predetermined department of the central bank11confirms the pieces of information included in the loading information and approves them to complete loading of the banknotes and then, a credit operation for transferring the loading amount between the accounts is performed.

The management apparatus100may transmit, to the central bank11, loading information including the serial numbers of the loaded banknotes, and the central bank11may perform a process of confirming authenticity of the banknotes. For example, if the serial number of a banknote loaded from the commercial bank12matches the serial number of a banknote loaded from another commercial bank, the central bank11can deal with this matching as an abnormal situation including a possibility that either banknote is a counterfeit note.

The management apparatus100may perform the account process of transferring the loading amount from the account of the commercial bank12to the account of the central bank11. In this case, the management apparatus100may transmit, to the central bank11, loading information including a completion report of the account process. For example, the management apparatus100installed in the central bank11may perform the process of approving the pieces of information included in the cash data and the account process, and notify the predetermined department of the central bank11of the results of these processes as the loading information.

The management apparatus100may perform the process of confirming authenticity of the banknotes, based on the serial numbers of the banknotes. In this case, when abnormality is detected, the management apparatus100may perform the notification process for the abnormality. In order to notify the abnormality, the management apparatus100may cause the communication terminal used in the central bank11to display information indicating the abnormality, or make a sound.

As described above, in the cash handling system, the cash handling apparatus300authenticated by the central bank11or the cash handling apparatus300under the management of the central bank11handles banknotes to be loaded from the commercial bank12into the central bank11, and generates cash data including the serial numbers and the attribute information. In the cash handling system, the process of transferring the ownership of the loaded banknotes from the commercial bank12to the central bank11is performed on the condition that the serial numbers and whereabouts of the loaded banknotes have been clarified by using the cash handling apparatus300. The commercial bank12can complete the loading operation by handling the banknotes to be loaded in the central bank11, with the cash handling apparatus300installed in the commercial bank12or the cash management facility. Therefore, the commercial bank12need not transport the banknotes from the commercial bank12to the central bank11.

The commercial bank12can also perform unloading of banknotes from the central bank11, by using the cash handling apparatus300in a similar manner as the case of loading. The commercial bank12notifies the central bank11of the unloading of banknotes (A12). In the present embodiment, “unloading” includes a process for transferring an amount of cash from the central bank11to the commercial bank12, and a process for clarifying identification numbers of the cash. Specifically, a process of dispensing banknotes from the central bank11to the commercial bank12, i.e., a process of transferring the ownership of the banknotes corresponding to the dispensing amount from the central bank11to the commercial bank12, is performed. These banknotes to be transferred between the central bank11and the commercial bank12are handled by the cash handling apparatus300authenticated by the central bank11or the cash handling apparatus300under the management of the central bank11, so that the serial numbers of the banknotes whose ownership is transferred are clarified. As in the case of loading, a notification on an unloading may be exchanged between a predetermined communication terminal installed in the commercial bank12and a predetermined communication terminal installed in the central bank11, but the exchange of the unloading notification may be omitted.

The cash handling apparatus300authenticated by the central bank11or the cash handling apparatus300under the management of the central bank11performs the dispensing process to discharge the banknotes therefrom, whereby the banknotes are unloaded from the central bank11to the commercial bank12(B12). The cash handling apparatus300transmits, to the management apparatus100, cash data in which information on the unloaded banknotes is registered (C12)). The cash data includes: an unloading amount of the banknotes to be unloaded; and attribute information indicating the whereabouts of these banknotes at the time of handling. The cash data is obtained by handling the banknotes by the cash handling apparatus300. The cash data further includes the serial numbers of the unloaded banknotes.

The management apparatus100recognizes, based on the cash data, that the banknotes are dispensed from the cash handling apparatus300, i.e., that the ownership of the banknotes is transferred from the central bank11to the commercial bank12. The management apparatus100transmits unloading information to the central bank11(D12). After receiving the unloading information, the central bank11can perform a process regarding the unloaded banknotes. For example, a process of transferring the ownership of the unloaded banknotes from the central bank11to the commercial bank12is performed. The account process of transferring the ownership may be performed by the management apparatus100.

As described above, in the cash handling system, the process of transferring the ownership of banknotes from the central bank11to the commercial bank12is performed based on that the banknotes are dispensed from the cash handling apparatus300authenticated by the central bank11or the cash handling apparatus300under the management of the central bank11. The process of transferring the ownership of banknotes is performed when a management condition of the central bank11indicating that the banknotes are under the management of the central bank11is no longer satisfied. Since the commercial bank12can unload the banknotes by using the cash handling apparatus300installed in the commercial bank12or the cash management facility, the commercial bank12need not transport the banknotes from the central bank11to the commercial bank12.

Next, an exemplary case where cash owned by the central bank11is managed in a place different from the commercial bank12, will be described.FIG.2is a schematic diagram showing an outline of cash handling performed in the cash handling system. The cash management facility13shown inFIG.2manages cash owned by the central bank11by using a cash handling apparatus300.

At the time of loading, banknotes to be transferred are transported from the commercial bank12to the cash management facility13, and the ownership of the loaded banknotes is transferred from the commercial bank12to the central bank11. At the time of unloading, banknotes to be transferred are transported from the cash management facility13to the commercial bank12, and the ownership of the unloaded banknotes is transferred from the central bank11to the commercial bank12.

As shown inFIG.2, at the time of loading, the commercial bank12notifies the central bank11of the loading of banknotes (A21). Upon receiving the notification, the central bank11instructs the cash management facility13to receive the banknotes transported from the commercial bank12(A22). The banknotes to be loaded are transported from the commercial bank12to the cash management facility13(B21). For example, a cash-in-transit (CIT) company transports the banknotes to be transferred, from the commercial bank12to the cash management facility13. For example, a loading notification is exchanged between a predetermined communication terminal installed in the commercial bank12and a predetermined communication terminal installed in the central bank11, but the exchange of the loading notification may be omitted.

Before transporting the banknotes from the commercial bank12, these banknotes to be loaded are handled by a cash handling apparatus200installed in the commercial bank12. After the banknotes to be loaded have been transported to the cash management facility13, these banknotes are handled by a cash handling apparatus300installed in the cash management facility13.

The cash handling apparatus200of the commercial bank12handles the banknotes to be loaded into the cash management facility13to generate cash data. The cash handling apparatus200transmits the cash data to the management apparatus100(C21). The commercial bank12only needs to put the banknotes handled in the cash handling apparatus200into a storage container such as a bag, a cassette, etc., and pass the storage container to the CIT company. For example, the commercial bank12need not perform an operation of attaching a tag representing the commercial bank12to a storage container, and an operation of preparing a storage medium in which information on the commercial bank12or banknotes is stored.

The cash handling apparatus300of the cash management facility13handles the banknotes loaded into the cash management facility13from the commercial bank12to generate cash data. The cash handling apparatus300transmits the cash data to the management apparatus100(C22). The cash management facility13only needs to take out the banknotes from the storage container received from the CIT company, and handle the banknotes with the cash handling apparatus300. For example, the cash management facility13need not perform an operation of checking a tag attached to a storage container, and an operation of reading information from a storage medium attached to a storage container.

The cash data generated by the cash handling apparatus200,300includes banknote information obtained by handling each banknote in the cash handling apparatus200,300. The banknote information includes a currency, a denomination, a serial number, recognition information, and an image of each banknote. However, these pieces of information included in the banknote information are merely examples. Some of the pieces of information may not necessarily be included in the banknote information, or information other than these pieces of information may be included in the banknote information. For example, the banknote information may include date and time when each banknote was handled, the total amount of banknotes, and the like. For example, the banknote information may not necessarily include the recognition information, the image, and the like.

The cash data generated by the cash handling apparatus200includes attribute information for specifying the commercial bank12that is the installation place of the cash handling apparatus200. The cash data generated by the cash handling apparatus300includes attribute information for specifying the cash management facility13that is the installation place of the cash handling apparatus300. The attribute information includes positional information indicating the installation place of the cash handling apparatus200,300. The attribute information may include apparatus information of the cash handling apparatus200,300, and information on cash handling performed by the cash handling apparatus200,300, which will be described later in detail.

The cash handling apparatus200,300registers, in the cash data, the banknote information of each banknote obtained by handling the banknote to be transferred between the commercial bank12and the cash management facility13. The cash handling apparatus200,300also registers, in the cash data, the attribute information. Thus, cash data, in which data of each banknote including the banknote information and the attribute information is registered, is generated.

The management apparatus100compares the cash data obtained from the cash handling apparatus200in the commercial bank12with the cash data obtained from the cash handling apparatus300in the cash management facility13, thereby confirming that the banknotes are loaded from the commercial bank12into the cash management facility13.

Specifically, upon receiving the cash data generated in the cash handling apparatus300, the management apparatus100searches the serial number of a banknote included in the cash data received from the cash handling apparatus300, from among the serial numbers included in other cash data already received from. For example, the management apparatus100searches the serial number from the cash data received within a predetermined period before the time point when the cash data including the search target serial number was received from the cash handling apparatus300. The management apparatus100may search the serial number only from the cash data received from the commercial bank12.

If the serial number is found in the cash data generated in the cash handling apparatus200, the management apparatus100refers to user data in which information on users of the cash handling system1is registered, and specifies the transfer source and the transfer destination of the banknote. In the user data, account information is registered in association with the attribute information, and an account process of transferring the amount of banknotes from the specified transfer source to the specified transfer destination is performed based on the account information, which will be described later.

The user data is prepared in the management apparatus100in advance. In the user data, each attribute information to be registered in the cash data, information indicating the installation place of the cash handling apparatus200,300specified based on the attribute information, and information required for the process to be performed by the management apparatus100with respect to banknotes in each installation place, are registered in association with each other.

The management apparatus100can specify the cash management facility13as the transfer destination of banknotes by referring to the user data, based on the attribute information included in the cash data generated by the cash handling apparatus300. Likewise, the management apparatus100can specify the commercial bank12as the transfer source of the banknotes, based on the attribute information in the cash data generated by the cash handling apparatus200and the user data.

The management apparatus100may have a data sheet (data group) that associates the attribute information of the cash handling apparatus300with a specific bank branch (store). The attribute information may be positional information of the cash handling apparatus300, or apparatus information that is ID information of the cash handling apparatus300. In addition to the above data sheet, the management apparatus100may have a data sheet that associates the attribute information with a specific commercial bank12. With reference to the data sheet, the management apparatus100may transfer the amount of banknotes to the account of the specific commercial bank12, based on the attribute information transmitted from each cash handling apparatus300.

The management apparatus100has one feature that it can use information other than the serial numbers, for the process of determining matching between the banknote data registered in the cash data of the cash handling apparatus300and the banknote data registered in the other cash data.

There may be a situation that the cash handling apparatus200,300cannot read a part or entire of the serial number. In such a case, a serial number that matches a serial number obtained in the cash handling apparatus300as the transfer destination cannot be found in the cash data generated in the cash handling apparatus200as the transfer source. Even in this case, the management apparatus100can specify that a banknote handled in the cash handling apparatus300is identical to a banknote handled in the cash handling apparatus200by using the banknote information other than the serial number included in the cash data.

For example, the management apparatus100can specify that a banknote handled in the cash handling apparatus300is identical to a banknote handled in the cash handling apparatus200by comparing the images of the banknote. For another example, the management apparatus100can specify that a banknote handled in the cash handling apparatus300is identical to a banknote handled in the cash handling apparatus200by comparing the recognition information of the banknotes. That is, the management apparatus100can confirm matching between a banknote whose information is registered in the cash data of the transfer source and a banknote whose information is registered in the cash data of the transfer destination, based on at least one of the recognition information and the image of the banknote. The method of specifying the transfer source and the transfer destination by using the cash data will be described later in detail.

As shown inFIG.2, the management apparatus100, which has confirmed the loading of the banknotes from the commercial bank12to the cash management facility13, transmits loading information to the central bank11(D21). The loading information includes: information indicating that banknotes have been loaded from the commercial bank12into the cash management facility13; and a loading amount obtained by counting the banknotes by the cash handling apparatus200,300. Upon receiving the loading information from the management apparatus100, the central bank11can perform a process regarding the banknotes loaded into the cash management facility13. For example, a process of transferring the ownership of the loaded banknotes from the commercial bank12to the central bank11is performed. Specifically, the predetermined department of the central bank11confirms and approves the pieces of information included in the loading information to complete loading of the banknotes and then, a credit operation for transferring the loading amount between the accounts is performed.

The management apparatus100may perform a process regarding the banknotes loaded from the commercial bank12into the cash management facility13. For example, in the user data, information on the accounts is registered in association with the attribute information in advance, so that the management apparatus100can perform an account process of transferring the loading amount from the account of the commercial bank12to the account of the central bank11. After the account process, the management apparatus100may transmit, to the central bank11, loading information including a completion report of the account process.

Although one commercial bank12is shown inFIG.2, in actuality, many commercial banks12load banknotes into the central bank11. The cash management facility13may be installed in any place as long as the cash handling apparatus300capable of handling banknotes can be installed in the facility and the handled banknotes can be stored and managed inside the facility. Therefore, if a plurality of cash management facilities13are appropriately placed taking into consideration the locations of the commercial banks12, security regarding the transport of banknotes can be enhanced while avoiding long-distance transport of banknotes carried out from each commercial bank12.

Although the cash management facility13is shown separately from the commercial bank12inFIG.2, the cash handling apparatus300may be installed inside the commercial bank12with the cash handling apparatus200. If the aforementioned loading operation is performed with the cash handling apparatus300installed inside the commercial bank12being regarded as the cash management facility13, banknotes need not be carried out from the commercial bank12, thereby further enhancing the security regarding the banknotes.

As described above, in the cash handling system1, the cash data including the serial numbers and the attribute information of the banknotes handled by the cash handling apparatuses200,300are transmitted to the management apparatus100. The management apparatus100compares the information included in the cash data to specify the transfer source and the transfer destination of the banknotes, and performs the process of transferring the ownership of the transferred banknotes from the transfer source to the transfer destination. By only loading the banknotes handled in the cash handling apparatus200of the commercial bank12into the cash management facility13and then handling the loaded banknotes in the cash handling apparatus300of the cash management facility13, the ownership of the loaded banknotes can be transferred from the commercial bank12to the central bank11. This facilitates transfer of the ownership of the banknotes between the commercial bank12and the central bank11.

Unloading of banknotes, in which the commercial bank12dispenses the banknotes from the central bank11, is performed in a similar manner as the case of loading. As shown inFIG.2, at the time of unloading, the commercial bank12notifies the central bank11of unloading of banknotes (A23). Upon receiving the notification, the central bank11instructs the cash management facility13to perform unloading of banknotes to be passed to the commercial bank12(A24). Specifically, the predetermined department of the central bank11confirms and approves the pieces of information included in the unloading notification to instruct unloading, and banknotes are dispensed from the cash handling apparatus300. The unloaded banknotes are transported from the cash management facility13to the commercial bank12(B22). The unloading notification is exchanged between a predetermined communication terminal installed in the commercial bank12and a predetermined communication terminal installed in the central bank11, but the exchange of the unloading notification may be omitted.

The cash handling apparatus300in the cash management facility13handles the banknotes to be unloaded toward the commercial bank12to generate cash data, and transmits the cash data to the management apparatus100(C22). The cash handling apparatus200in the commercial bank12handles the banknotes unloaded and transported from the cash management facility13to generate cash data, and transmits the cash data to the management apparatus100(C21).

The management apparatus100confirms transfer of the banknotes from the cash management facility13to the commercial bank12based on the cash data generated in the cash handling apparatus200and the cash data generated in the cash handling apparatus300. The management apparatus100transmits unloading information to the central bank11(D22). The central bank11can perform post-processing regarding the unloading, based on the unloading information. For example, a process of transferring the ownership of the unloaded banknotes from the central bank11to the commercial bank12is performed by transferring an unloading amount from the account of the central bank11to the account of the commercial bank12. Specifically, the predetermined department of the central bank11confirms the pieces of information included in the unloading information and approves them to complete the unloading and then, an account process of transferring the unloading amount between the accounts is performed. The management apparatus100may perform the account process of transferring the unloading amount from the account of the central bank11to the account of the commercial bank12, and may transmit the unloading information including the result of the account process to the central bank11.

As described above, in the case where banknotes are transferred from the cash management facility13to the commercial bank12, by only handling the banknotes to be transferred, by using the cash handling apparatuses200,300, the management apparatus100recognizes the transfer of the banknotes, and performs the process of transferring the ownership of the banknotes from the central bank11to the commercial bank12. This facilitates transfer of the ownership of the banknotes between the central bank11and the commercial bank12. Moreover, when the cash management facility13is located near the commercial bank12or the cash handling apparatus300installed inside the commercial bank12is used as the cash management facility13, the banknote transport distance can be reduced, thereby ensuring the security regarding transportation of banknotes.

Next, the configuration and operation of the cash handling system1for realizing the above-described transfer of banknotes will be described.FIG.3illustrates an example of the configuration of the cash handling system1. The cash handling system1includes a management apparatus100, a cash handling apparatus200installed in a banknote transfer source20, and a cash handling apparatus300installed in a banknote transfer destination30. The management apparatus100and the cash handling apparatus200are communicably connected to each other wirelessly or via wires. The management apparatus100and the cash handling apparatus300are also communicably connected to each other wirelessly or via wires.

The transfer source20and the transfer destination30are a transfer source and a transfer destination of the ownership of banknotes, respectively. That is, the “transfer” is not limited to the case where actual banknotes are transported between the transfer source20and the transfer destination30. For example, there is a case where the cash handling apparatus300is installed in the commercial bank12and only transfer of the ownership of banknotes is performed while transport of actual banknotes, i.e., physical transfer of banknotes, is not performed, as described above.

Although two transfer sources20,12and one transfer destination30are shown inFIG.3, the numbers of transfer sources20and the number of transfer destinations30are not particularly limited. The cash handling system1may include a plurality of bases serving as banknote transfer destinations30, and banknotes may be transferred from one or a plurality of bases serving as banknote transfer sources20to the respective transfer destinations30. A plurality of cash handling apparatuses200may be installed in one transfer source20, and a plurality of cash handling apparatuses300may be installed in one transfer destination30. In either case, the cash handling apparatus200in the transfer source20and the cash handling apparatus300in the transfer destination30perform similar processes, and therefore, the description will be continued for the configuration shown inFIG.3. In the example described with reference toFIG.2, the commercial bank12serves as the transfer source20and the cash management facility13serves as the transfer destination30at the time of loading, while the cash management facility13serves as the transfer source20and the commercial bank12serves as the transfer destination30at the time of unloading, thereby performing processes described below.

The management apparatus100may be a computer device including a controller and a memory. The management apparatus100may be a management server. The management apparatus100may be operated through an operation unit and a display unit disposed therein, or may be operated with an operation terminal communicably connected thereto.

The cash handling apparatus200,300receives a plurality of banknotes, recognizes and counts the banknotes, and generates cash data. For example, the cash handling apparatus200,300performs a depositing process including: taking a plurality of banknotes placed in an inlet one by one into the apparatus; recognizing and counting the banknotes; and storing the banknotes for each denomination into a plurality of storage units disposed in the apparatus. For another example, the cash handling apparatus200,300performs a dispensing process including: feeding out the stored banknotes from the storage units; recognizing and counting the banknotes; and discharging the banknotes from an outlet. The cash handling apparatus200,300may be provided with a banknote storage container detachably attached thereto. In this case, banknotes fed out one by one from the attached storage container can be deposited in the apparatus by the depositing process. In the dispensing process, banknotes fed out from the storage units can be stored in the storage container. The cash handling apparatus200,300may be able to handle coins in addition to banknotes. Since the configuration and operation of an apparatus for depositing and dispensing banknotes and coins have conventionally been known, detailed description thereof is omitted. As described by referring toFIG.1, banknotes having been handled by the cash handling apparatus300and being under the management of the central bank11are strictly managed such that no one can touch them, or only a person having a predetermined authority can touch them.

As shown inFIG.3, the cash handling apparatus200in the transfer source20recognizes a currency, denomination, authenticity, and fitness of each of the banknotes to be transferred, to generate cash data (step S101). The cash data generated in each of the plurality of transfer sources20is transmitted to the management apparatus100to be managed in the management apparatus100(step S102). The banknotes, whose cash data have been generated, are transported from the transfer source20to the transfer destination30(step S103). In the transfer destination30, the cash handling apparatus300recognizes a currency, denomination, authenticity, and fitness of each of the banknotes transported from the transfer source20, to generate cash data (step S104).

The cash handling apparatus200,300has attribute information including: apparatus information for specifying each apparatus; and positional information for specifying the installation place of each apparatus. In cash handling, the cash handling apparatus200,300obtains a captured image of each banknote, and recognition information including a recognition result of each banknote and a recognition cause that the recognition result is obtained. The cash data, in which the cash handling apparatus200,300has registered therein data of each banknote, includes the attribute information for specifying the apparatus and the installation place, and the banknote information obtained through the cash handling.

FIG.4shows an example of cash data. As shown inFIG.4, information on each of banknotes handled by the cash handling apparatus200,300is registered in the cash data. For example, the cash data includes “currency”, “denomination”, “serial number”, “recognition information”, “image”, “handling number”, “handling date and time”, “positional information”, “branch information”, and “apparatus information” as shown inFIG.4. However,FIG.4is merely an example. The cash data may not necessarily include some of the information items shown inFIG.4, or may include information other than the information items shown inFIG.4. For example, the cash data may not include the item “currency”, and information indicating currency and denomination may be registered under the item “denomination”. The cash data may not necessarily include the item “handling number”.

The currency, denomination, serial number, recognition information, and image are included in the banknote information obtained by the cash handling apparatus200,300from each banknote through the banknote handling. Meanwhile, the handling number, handling date and time, positional information, branch information, and apparatus information are included in the attribute information. A process of determining matching between the data registered in the cash data of the transfer source20and the data registered in the cash data of the transfer destination30is performed based on the banknote information. A process of specifying the transfer source20and the transfer destination30of each banknote is performed based on the attribute information.

A currency and a denomination of the cash data are obtained through a recognition process of a banknote performed by the cash handling apparatus200,300. In the recognition process, the cash handling apparatus200,300recognizes the kind of the banknote, based on optical characteristics, magnetic characteristics, thickness, etc., of the banknote. The recognition process includes: a process of recognizing the currency and denomination of a banknote; a process of recognizing the authenticity of a banknote; and a process of recognizing the fitness, i.e., the degree of damage, of a banknote.

A serial number of the cash data is obtained through a character recognition process performed on a serial number portion in an image obtained by capturing a banknote by the cash handling apparatus200,300. If a character recognition result cannot be obtained for a certain digit of the serial number consisting of a plurality of digits, information in which a predetermined character such as a question mark or an exclamation mark is assigned to this digit is registered as a serial number in the cash data. When comparing serial numbers, as for the unreadable digit to which the predetermined character is assigned, this digit is determined not to match any character used for this digit. Alternatively, this digit to which the predetermined character is assigned may be determined to match all characters used for this digit. If a character recognition result of a serial number cannot be obtained, cash data including “unreadable” under the item “serial number” may be generated.

Recognition information of the cash data is obtained through a recognition process performed for a banknote by the cash handling apparatus200,300. The recognition information includes a recognition result, and a recognition cause for the recognition result. For example, when recognizing fitness of a banknote, if the banknote is recognized as an unfit note due to stain on the surface of the banknote, the recognition information includes: information indicating that the banknote is an unfit note; and information indicating that the banknote is recognized as an unfit note due to the stain. If a banknote is recognized as an unfit note due to wrinkle, the recognition information includes: information indicating that the banknote is an unfit note; and information indicating that the banknote is recognized as an unfit note due to the wrinkle. If a banknote has a plurality of causes for being recognized as an unfit note, recognition information of this banknote includes the plurality of causes.

An image of the cash data is obtained by capturing a banknote by the cash handling apparatus200,300. For example, inside the cash handling apparatus200,300, sensors opposing each other are disposed across a banknote transportation path, and the sensors capture an image of a banknote being transported along the transportation path, thereby obtaining an image of the entire banknote surface of both the face side and the back side. The image to be registered in the cash data is not limited to the image of the entire surfaces of banknote, and may be a partial image obtained by capturing a part of the banknote. The image of the cash data is not limited to the image including both faces of the banknote, and may be an image of either face.

A handling number of the cash data is an identification number that is assigned to each handling when the cash handling apparatus200,300handles banknotes to be transferred. If plural times of cash handling are performed by the same cash handling apparatus200(300), the respective times of cash handling can be distinguished from each other based on the handling numbers. Handling date and time of the cash data indicates when the cash handling apparatus200,300performed the banknote handling.

Positional information of the cash data indicates the installation place of the cash handling apparatus200,300. As the positional information, information indicating geographic coordinates of the installation place, such as a latitude and a longitude or a predetermined code indicating a position on a map, can be used. For example, the positional information is stored in the cash handling apparatus200,300in advance, whereby the cash handling apparatus200,300generates cash data including the positional information. The cash handling apparatus200,300may be communicably connected to a mobile terminal such as a smartphone having a function of specifying the present position, and may use the positional information obtained from the mobile terminal. The cash handling apparatus200,300may have a function of specifying the present position, and use the specified positional information. Since the method for specifying the present position has conventionally been known, detailed description thereof is omitted. For example, the present position is specified by using global positioning satellite information or network information.

Branch information of the cash data indicates a branch (store) where the cash handling apparatus200,300is installed. The content of the branch information is not particularly limited as long as the branch where the cash handling apparatus200,300is installed can be specified based on the branch information. For example, if the cash handling apparatus200is installed in one of a plurality of branches of the commercial bank12, a combination of information indicating the bank name of the commercial bank12and information indicating the branch name may be used as the branch information. If the installation place of the cash management facility13can be specified from the name of the cash management facility13, information indicating the name of the cash management facility13may be used as the branch information. Since both the positional information and the branch information indicate the installation place of the cash handling apparatus200,300, one of the positional information and the branch information may be registered in the cash data, or the positional information and the branch information may be integrated into one piece of information.

Apparatus information of the cash data indicates each cash handling apparatus200,300. The content of the apparatus information is not particularly limited as long as the cash handling apparatus200,300can be specified based on the apparatus information. For example, a combination of information indicating the model number of the cash handling apparatus200,300and information indicating the product serial number of the apparatus may be used as the apparatus information.

The management apparatus100specifies the transfer source20of banknotes, based on the cash data received from each transfer source20and the cash data received from the transfer destination30(step S105inFIG.3).FIG.5is a flowchart illustrating a process of specifying the transfer source20of banknotes by the management apparatus100, based on the cash data.

Upon receiving the cash data generated by the cash handling apparatus300in the transfer destination30, the management apparatus100compares the serial numbers included in the received cash data with the serial numbers included in the cash data received from the cash handling apparatus200of each transfer source20(step S201). As for the cash data of the transfer source20to be compared, all the cash data received within a predetermined period before the time point when the cash data was received from the cash handling apparatus300, may be set as a comparison target, or the comparison target may be narrowed down in advance through setting. In the case of narrowing down the comparison target, the cash data of a transfer source20, whose number of data matches the number of data included in the cash data of the transfer destination30, is set as the comparison target, for example. That is, a transfer source20having handled the same number of banknotes as the number of banknotes handled in the transfer destination30, is subjected to the respective processes for determining the transfer source.

If a serial number included in the cash data received from the cash handling apparatus300is found in the cash data already received from any of the cash handling apparatuses200, the management apparatus100determines that there is a banknote transfer source20(step S202; Yes). That is, the management apparatus100determines that the cash data received from the cash handling apparatus300is generated in the transfer destination30from banknotes transported from a transfer source and the transfer source20was specified. For example, if the same serial number as the serial number obtained in the cash handling apparatus300is found from the cash data of a transfer source A, among the cash data already received from a plurality of transfer sources A, B, . . . , the management apparatus100determines the transfer source A as the transfer source20of the banknotes handled in the transfer destination30.

If a serial number included in the cash data received from the cash handling apparatus300is not found in the cash data already received from the cash handling apparatuses200(step S202; No), the management apparatus100compares information, other than the serial number, included in the cash data (step S203).

Specifically, the management apparatus100compares at least one of the recognition information and the image, among the information items included in the cash data shown inFIG.4, between the cash data already received from each cash handling apparatus200and the cash data just received from the cash handling apparatus300. For example, a process of comparing at least one of the recognition information and the image is performed for data of banknotes whose serial numbers do not match but whose currencies and denominations match, among the plurality of data registered in the cash data.

If banknotes, whose serial numbers do not match but whose images match, are found between the cash data of the transfer destination30and the cash data of the transfer source20(step S204; Yes), the management apparatus100determines the transfer source20, based on the images.

For example, if the image obtained by the cash handling apparatus300in the transfer destination30matches the image in the cash data of the transfer source A among the plurality of transfer sources A, B, . . . , the management apparatus100determines the transfer source A as the banknote transfer source20. Since the method of comparing images to determine whether there is a match has conventionally been known, detailed description thereof is omitted. For example, an evaluation value indicating a similarity of the images may be calculated by using a predetermined image comparison technology, and matching of the images may be determined when the evaluation value exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

If banknotes, whose serial numbers do not match but whose recognition information matches, are found between the cash data of the transfer destination30and the cash data of the transfer source20, the management apparatus100determines the transfer source20, based on the recognition information.

If recognition information includes a plurality of recognition causes, the method of determining whether there is a match in recognition information may be changed through setting. For example, it may be determined that there is a match in recognition information when the recognition causes obtained in the transfer destination30completely match the recognition causes obtained in the transfer source20. With this setting, for example, it is determined that data of a banknote recognized as an unfit note due to wrinkle and stain in the transfer destination30does not match data of a banknote recognized as an unfit note due to only wrinkle in the transfer source20. Alternatively, for example, it may be determined that there is a match in recognition information when all the recognition causes obtained in the transfer source20are included in the recognition causes obtained in the transfer destination30. With this setting, it is determined that data of a banknote recognized as an unfit note due to wrinkle and stain in the transfer destination30matches data of a banknote recognized as an unfit note due to wrinkle in the transfer source20. Thus, for example, even if a banknote gets a new stain after the banknote has been handled in the transfer source20and before it is handled in the transfer destination30, it can be determined that the data of this bank obtained in the transfer source20matches the data of this banknote obtained in the transfer destination30.

For example, if the recognition information obtained by the cash handling apparatus300in the transfer destination30matches the recognition information of the transfer source A among the plurality of transfer sources A, B, . . . , the management apparatus100selects the transfer source A as a candidate for the banknote transfer source20. As for recognition information, there is a possibility that a plurality of banknotes have the same recognition result and the same recognition cause. Therefore, even when there is a match in recognition information, the management apparatus100just selects the corresponding transfer source as a candidate for the transfer source20, and continues searching for banknotes having a match in recognition information. If the transfer source A becomes the only one candidate for the transfer source20selected based on the recognition information, the management apparatus100determines that the transfer source20can be specified (step S204), and determines the transfer source A as the banknote transfer source20.

Meanwhile, when there are a plurality of candidates for the transfer source20, the management apparatus100determines that the transfer source20cannot be specified (step S204; No). In this case, an operation of specifying the banknote transfer source20is performed by using a terminal apparatus that is placed in the transfer destination30and is communicable with the management apparatus100. The terminal apparatus used for the operation and an operator of this terminal apparatus are not particularly limited. For example, the operation may be performed by using the management apparatus100. However, hereinafter, the description will be continued for the case where an operator who operates the cash handling apparatus300in the transfer destination30performs the operation for specifying the banknote transfer source20by using the operation unit and the display unit included in the cash handling apparatus300.

The management apparatus100displays a screen for specifying the banknote transfer source20, on the display unit of the cash handling apparatus300(step S205).FIG.6shows an example of the screen displayed when the operator needs to specify the banknote transfer source20. As for a banknote whose transfer source20cannot be specified from its serial number, information on this banknote registered in the cash data of the transfer destination30is displayed on the screen. In the example shown inFIG.6, an image, currency, denomination, serial number, and recognition information, of the banknote whose transfer source is unknown, are displayed at the top of the screen. In the example, the recognition information includes a recognition result indicating that the banknote is an unfit note, and a recognition cause indicating that the banknote is recognized as an unfit note due to a crease on the right side.

In addition to the banknote whose transfer source is unknown, pieces of information on banknotes that the management apparatus100has selected as candidates for the transfer source20are listed on the screen of the display unit.FIG.6shows the example that there are two banknotes each recognized as an unfit note due to a crease on the right side, i.e., one banknote handled in the transfer source A and another banknote handled in the transfer source B. Since the management apparatus100cannot specify one transfer source20, the pieces of information on these two banknotes are listed on the screen.

As shown inFIG.6, pieces of information registered in the cash data are displayed for each banknote selected as a candidate when specifying the transfer source. By visually confirming the displayed content, the operator can specify which of the transfer source A and the transfer source B is the transfer source20of the banknote whose transfer source is unknown. For example, the operator specifies the transfer source20by visually comparing the images of the banknotes and the serial numbers included in the images.

For example, there is a case where a crease, wrinkle, or stain, which is newly applied to a banknote after generation of cash data in the transfer source A and before generation of cash data in the transfer destination30, may cause a mismatch in banknote images or prevent the serial number from being accurately read. For another example, there is a case where differences in function and performance between the cash handling apparatus200and the cash handling apparatus300may cause generation of cash data having a mismatch in images or serial numbers.

In the example shown inFIG.6, since a new crease is applied to a banknote having been handled in the transfer source20, it was determined that an image obtained in the transfer source20may not match an image obtained in the transfer destination30. Even in such a case, as shown inFIG.6, the management apparatus100displays, on the screen, a list of pieces of information on banknotes as candidates for the transfer source20, so that the operator can easily specify the banknote transfer source20.

On the screen of the display unit, check boxes corresponding to the respective listed banknotes are displayed. The operator, who has confirmed that the banknote transfer source20is the transfer source A, checks the check box for the transfer source A as shown inFIG.6and presses an OK button on the screen of the operation unit. The management apparatus100receives the selection result on the transfer source20by the operator (FIG.5, step S206).

The management apparatus100performs a process of specifying the transfer source20with respect to the data of each banknote included in the cash data generated by the cash handling apparatus300in the transfer destination30. If there remain data of banknotes having not yet been handled (step S207; No), the management apparatus100returns to step S201and starts the processes for data of the next banknote. Upon completing data handling for all the data of banknotes (step S207; Yes), the management apparatus100ends the data handling.

As described above, the management apparatus100automatically specifies the transfer source20of the banknotes handled by the cash handling apparatus300in the transfer destination30, based on the cash data received from each cash handling apparatus200in the transfer source20and on the cash data received from the cash handling apparatus300in the transfer destination30.

When the banknote transfer source20has been specified, the management apparatus100performs a process that is set in advance with respect to the specified transfer source20and the transfer destination30(FIG.3, step S106). For example, the management apparatus100transmits loading information to a predetermined transmission destination. For another example, the management apparatus100performs an account process of transferring the amount of banknotes transported from the transfer source20to the transfer destination30, from the account of the transfer source20to the account of the transfer destination30. Specifically, the management apparatus100transmits, to a predetermined external apparatus, information indicating the account of the transfer source20, information indicating the account of the transfer destination30, and the amount to be transferred between the set accounts, and instructs the external apparatus to perform the account process, whereby the external apparatus performs the account process.

The content of the data comparison process in step S203shown inFIG.5, i.e., the process of specifying the banknote transfer source20based on the information other than the serial numbers, can be changed through setting.FIG.7illustrates setting regarding a method for specifying a banknote transfer source by the management apparatus100. The comparison process in step S203shown inFIG.5is performed based on the setting as described below.

FIG.7shows a comparison result obtained when data of banknotes P, Q, R, S, T, . . . registered in the cash data generated by the cash handling apparatus300in the transfer destination30, are compared with data registered in the cash data of the transfer source A, and a determination result of the transfer source20based on the comparison result. InFIG.7, “match” indicates that the data match, and the mark “x” indicates that the data do not match.

For example, as for the banknote P, all the currency, denomination, serial number, recognition information, and image obtained in the cash handling apparatus300in the transfer destination30match the data registered in the cash data of the transfer source A. In this case, by only performing determination based on the serial number, the transfer source20of the banknote P is specified to be the transfer source A, as shown under the item “determination result” inFIG.7.

When comparing the data registered in the cash data of each transfer source20with the data registered in the cash data of the transfer destination30, the management apparatus100may be set so as to determine that both the data match as long as there are matches in both the recognition information and the image even if there is no match in the serial number. In this case, in the comparison process in step S203shown inFIG.5, among the banknotes Q to T which do not match in serial number as indicated by “x” under the item “serial number” inFIG.7, data of the banknote Q of the transport destination30is determined to match the data of the transfer source A. Meanwhile, data of the banknotes R to T of the transfer destination30, which do not match in at least one of the recognition information and the image with the data of the transfer source A, are determined not to match the data of the transfer source A. If other data that matches the data of the banknote Q is not found in the cash data of the other transfer sources20, the transfer source20of the banknote Q is specified to be the transfer source A. If such other data is found, the transfer source20is specified by the operator of the cash handling apparatus300as explained by referring toFIG.6.

If the management apparatus100is set so as to determine that both the data match as long as there is a match in the recognition information even if there is no match in the serial number, data of the banknotes Q and R, among the banknotes Q to T of the transfer destination30, are determined to match the data of the transfer source A. Meanwhile, data of the banknotes S and T are determined not to match the data of the transfer source A because there is no match in the recognition information.

If the management apparatus100is set so as to determine that both the data match as long as there is a match in the image even if there is no match in the serial number, data of the banknotes Q and S, among the banknotes Q to T of the transfer destination30, are determined to match the data of the transfer source A. Meanwhile, data of the banknotes R and T are determined not to match the data of the transfer source A because there is no match in the image.

If the management apparatus100is set so as to determine that both the data match as long as there is a match in at least one of the recognition information and the image even if there is no match in the serial number, data of the banknotes Q to S, among the banknotes Q to T of the transfer destination30, are determined to match the data of the transfer source A. Meanwhile, data of the banknote T is determined not to match the data of the transfer source A because there is no match in both the recognition information and the image.

As described above, when comparing the data of each banknote registered in the cash data of the transfer source20and the data of each banknote registered in the cash data of the transfer destination30, it can be set that both the data are determined to match as long as there is a match in at least one of the recognition information and the image even if there is no match in the serial number. Thus, management of banknotes can be performed without depending on only the reading result of the serial numbers.

The management apparatus100is not limited to perform only one of the matching determination processes including: the process of determining a match in the recognition information; the process of determining a match in the image; the process of determining a match in both the recognition information and the image; and the process of determining a match in the recognition information or the image. The matching determination processes may be given priority levels, and when the transfer source20is not specified, the management apparatus100may perform the matching one or more determination processes based on the priority levels as follows.

For example, if the processing load of the matching determination process based on the image is high, the matching determination process based on the recognition information is preferentially performed, and only when the transfer source20cannot be specified based on the recognition information, the matching determination process based on the image may be performed. For example, if the number of data including the same recognition information is large and therefore the number of candidates for the transfer source20is too large in the matching determination process based on the recognition information, the matching determination process based on the image is preferentially performed, and only when the transfer source20cannot be specified based on the image, the matching determination process based on the recognition information may be performed.

In the present embodiment, the process of determining the transfer source20is performed with respect to the data of banknotes included in the cash data generated in the transfer destination30. However, determination of the transfer source20may be performed based on a part of the data of banknotes. For example, when the same transfer source20has been specified with respect to a predetermined number of data after starting the comparison of the data included in the cash data of the transfer destination30, the transfer source20may be determine without handling the remaining data. Specifically, for example, even when data of 100 banknotes are included in the cash data of the transfer destination30, if the transfer source20of the banknotes can be specified to be the transfer source A with respect to data of a preset number of (e.g.,10) banknotes, the management apparatus100may determine the transfer source20to be the transfer source A without performing the comparison for specifying the transfer source20for the data of the remaining 90 banknotes.

In the present embodiment, the banknote transfer source20is specified by comparing the serial numbers, and if the transfer source20cannot be specified based on the serial numbers, the transfer source20is specified based on information other than the serial numbers. However, even when the transfer source20has been specified based on the serial numbers, the process of specifying the transfer source20based on information other than the serial numbers may be performed.

For example, even when the transfer source20has been specified to be the transfer source A because the serial number of a banknote obtained in the transfer destination30matches the serial number of a banknote obtained in the transfer source A, the management apparatus100may perform the process of specifying the transfer source20based on the recognition information, images, etc., of banknotes If the transfer source20specified based on the serial numbers does not match the transfer source20specified based on the other information, the data for comparison may be presented to the operator as shown inFIG.6so that the operator can determine the transfer source20. Even when the serial numbers obtained in the transfer source20match the serial numbers obtained in the transfer destination30, the matching determination process based on the recognition information, images, etc., being further performed realizes more reliable specification of the transfer source20.

In the present embodiment, transfer of banknotes is specified based on that a serial number obtained in the transfer destination30matches a serial number obtained in the transfer source20. However, transfer of banknotes may be specified by other methods.

For example, in the example shown inFIG.1, the management apparatus100makes a serial number list of the serial numbers of banknotes obtained through handling in the cash handling apparatus300when the banknotes are unloaded to the commercial bank12, and stores the serial number list corresponding to the commercial bank12therein. The commercial bank12does business by using the unloaded banknotes, and after the business hours, loads the remaining banknotes into the cash handling apparatus300. Upon receiving the cash data of the loaded banknotes from the cash handling apparatus300, the management apparatus100compares the serial numbers included in the cash data with the serial numbers in the serial number lists of the commercial banks. The management apparatus100finds the same serial numbers in the serial number list of the commercial bank12and recognizes the banknotes are loaded from the commercial bank12based on the comparison result, and handles the loaded banknotes as described above.

For example, in the example shown inFIG.2, when banknotes are unloaded from the central bank11to the commercial bank12, the management apparatus100makes a serial number list of the serial numbers of banknotes obtained through handling in the cash handling apparatus300of the cash management facility13, and stores the serial number list corresponding to the commercial bank12therein. The commercial bank12does business by using the unloaded banknotes, and after the business hours, loads the remaining banknotes in the cash management facility13. Upon receiving the cash data of the loaded banknotes from the cash handling apparatus300of the cash management facility13, the management apparatus100compares the serial numbers included in the cash data with the serial numbers in the serial number list. The management apparatus100specifies the transfer source20of the loaded banknotes to be the commercial bank12, and handles the loaded banknotes as described above.

In the above embodiment, actual banknotes to be transferred are a handling target, but the cash handling system1may perform handling of digital currency. For example, in the example shown inFIG.1andFIG.2, it is assumed that the central bank11issues digital currency, and transaction using the digital currency is conducted in the market. When transmitting a loading notification to the central bank11, the commercial bank12requests the central bank11to convert the banknotes to be loaded into digital currency. Thereafter, the banknotes are loaded and the loading information is transmitted from the management apparatus100to the central bank11as described above. Based on the loading information, the central bank11confirms the amount of the banknotes loaded from the commercial bank12, and issues, for the commercial bank12, digital currency equivalent to the amount of the loaded banknotes. Thus, the commercial bank12can use the digital currency into which the banknotes loaded in the cash management facility13have been converted.

The central bank11may issue the digital currency for the commercial bank12at a timing before transmission of the loading information from the management apparatus100to the central bank11. The digital currency issuance timing is not particularly limited. For example, at a timing when the cash data is transmitted from the commercial bank12to the management apparatus100, the central bank11may issue, for the commercial bank12, digital currency equivalent to the amount of the banknotes whose data are stored in the cash data. In the example shown inFIG.2, the digital currency is issued while the banknotes are not loaded from the commercial bank12into the cash management facility13. However, with the issuance of the digital currency, the banknotes having the serial numbers included in the cash data may be regarded and handled as having no banknote values. For example, the central bank11notifies the commercial banks of the serial numbers of the invalidated banknotes to make the banknotes unusable in the market. In addition, for example, the management apparatus100may transmit the serial numbers of the invalidated banknotes to the cash handling apparatuses200,300. Then, the cash handling apparatuses200,300may regard these banknotes as invalid, and may reject the banknotes without adding the amount of the banknotes to the amount at the time of cash handling. The invalid banknotes may be loaded in the cash management facility13as described above, or may be discarded in the commercial bank12or a dedicated facility.

In the present embodiment, the above processes have been described for examples of financial facilities. However, the user of the cash handling system1is not limited to financial facilities. For example, when proceeds from sales are transferred from a plurality of commercial stores such as retail stores that perform commodity transactions with customers, to a predetermined base called a cash center, processes regarding the proceeds from sales can be performed as described above. Also, when banknotes are transferred between a commercial store and a commercial bank12, between a commercial store and a CIT company, or between a commercial bank12and a CIT company, processes regarding cash can be performed as described above. As for commercial stores, the above processes may be performed not only for cash handling apparatuses installed in the commercial stores but also for cash handling apparatuses, etc., that are installed in a shopping mall, etc., and are used by a plurality of commercial stores.

In the present embodiment, banknotes are physically transferred by being transported by the CIT company. However, the banknote transport method is not particularly limited. For example, an automatic machine may interconnect bases or apparatuses, and banknotes may be transported by the automatic machine. In the example shown inFIG.2, an automatic machine may interconnect the cash handling apparatus200and the cash handling apparatus300, and at least one of loading and unloading may be performed via the automatic machine. Also, in the example shown inFIG.1, for example, an automatic machine may interconnect the cash handling apparatus300and another cash handling apparatus, and at least one of loading and unloading may be performed between the cash handling apparatus300and the other cash handling apparatus via the automatic machine. For another example, if a belt conveyer type automatic machine interconnects the apparatuses, transport of banknotes at loading and at unloading can be automated by using the belt conveyer type automatic machine. The type of the automatic machine is not particularly limited. For example, an unmanned machine, such as an unmanned ground vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle such as a drone, may transport banknotes. An unmanned machine being remotely controlled may transport banknotes, or an autonomous unmanned machine may transport banknotes.

In the present embodiment, the cash handling system1includes the management apparatus100and the cash handling apparatuses200,300. However, this configuration is functionally schematic, and the configuration of the cash handling system1is not physically limited to this configuration. The management apparatus100may realize some of the functions and operations of the cash handling apparatuses200,300. For example, the management apparatus100may generate cash data. The cash handling apparatuses200,300may realize some of the functions and operations of the management apparatus100. For example, the cash handling apparatus300in the transfer destination30may obtain cash data of the cash handling apparatus200in the transfer source20to perform a process of determining whether data match. Alternatively, some of the functions and operations of the cash handling apparatuses200,300may be performed by another terminal apparatus connected to the cash handling apparatuses200,300. The cash handling system1may be a distributed type system in which a plurality of management apparatuses100perform processes in cooperation with each other. The distributed or integrated forms of each apparatus are not limited to the forms described above, and all or some of the forms may be distributed or integrated functionally or physically in any unit depending on various loads, use statuses, or the like.

A cash handling system according to the present disclosure includes: a cash handling apparatus configured to handle banknotes whose ownership is to be transferred between a first owner and a second owner, and generate cash data including serial numbers of the banknotes and attribute information regarding whereabouts of the banknotes; and a management apparatus configured to obtain the cash data from the cash handling apparatus, and perform a process of transferring the ownership of the banknotes from the first owner to the second owner on condition that the attribute information satisfies a condition that allows the second owner to own the banknotes.

In the above configuration, the cash handling apparatus may generate the cash data by handling the banknotes whose ownership is transferred between a commercial bank and a central bank. If the attribute information indicates that the banknotes are present in a place where cash owned by the central bank is managed, the management apparatus may perform a process of transferring the ownership of the banknotes from the commercial bank to the central bank.

In the above configuration, the attribute information may include positional information indicating geographic coordinates of a base where the cash handling apparatus is installed.

In the above configuration, the cash handling apparatus may obtain the positional information from a mobile terminal having a function of specifying a present position.

In the above configuration, the attribute information may include apparatus information indicating the cash handling apparatus.

In the above configuration, each of cash handling apparatuses installed in a plurality of bases may generate the cash data. The management apparatus may obtain the cash data from each cash handling apparatus, specify a first owner that is a transfer source of the ownership of the banknotes and a second owner that is a transfer destination of the ownership, based on attribute information included in each cash data, and on data that is prepared in advance and indicates correspondence between each attribute information and information on the owners. The management apparatus may further perform a process of transferring the ownership of the banknotes from the first owner to the second owner.

In the above configuration, based on the cash data generated in the cash handling apparatuses of a plurality of commercial banks, and on the cash data generated in the cash handling apparatus of a cash management facility that manages cash owned by a central bank, the management apparatus may specify a commercial bank that is a transfer source of the ownership of banknotes handled in the cash management facility, and perform a process of transferring the ownership of the banknotes from the commercial bank to the central bank.

In the above configuration, the management apparatus may have stored therein correspondence data in which serial numbers of banknotes, whose ownership has been transferred from the central bank to each commercial bank, is associated with information indicating the commercial bank. The cash handling apparatus in the cash management facility may handle banknotes whose ownership is transferred to the central bank and generate the cash data including serial numbers of the banknotes. If the cash data includes a serial number that is included in the correspondence data, the management apparatus may specify a commercial bank associated with the serial number in the data, as a transfer source of the ownership of the banknotes.

In the above configuration, the cash handling apparatus may generate the cash data further including at least one of recognition information obtained by recognizing each banknote and an image obtained by capturing each banknote. If the cash data of the first owner includes a serial number that does not match serial numbers in the cash data of the second owner, the management apparatus may confirms, based on at least one of the recognition information and the image of the banknote having the mismatching serial number, matching between banknotes whose information is registered in the cash data of the transfer source and banknotes whose information is registered in the cash data of the transfer destination.

In the above configuration, the recognition information may include a recognition result of a banknote recognized by the cash handling apparatus, and a recognition cause indicating a cause for the recognition result.

In the above configuration, the management apparatus may perform an account process of transferring the amount of the banknotes from an account of a first owner that is a transfer source of the ownership of the banknotes to an account of a second owner that is a transfer destination of the ownership of the banknotes. For example, the management apparatus may be installed in the central bank, and may be configured to perform a credit operation including: obtaining cash data including serial numbers of banknotes handled by the cash handling apparatus; and performing an account process after confirming and approving the content of the cash data before the banknotes arrives at the central bank.

A cash handling system according to the present disclosure includes: a handling apparatus configured to handle cash in a store, and transmit first serial number information of the handled cash, and first attribute information related to the store; and a management apparatus configured to receive, from the handling apparatus, the first serial number information of the cash and the first attribute information related to the store. The management apparatus may have a data group including information on the store, associate the first serial number information of the cash and the first attribute information received from the handling apparatus, with the information on the store included in the data group. The management apparatus may further deposit, into a first account related to the store, the amount of the cash handled by the handling apparatus, if the first serial number information and the first attribute information satisfy a predetermined condition.

In the above configuration, the management apparatus may have an attribute information list in which a predetermined standard is described. If the attribute information transmitted from the handling apparatus satisfies the predetermined standard described in the attribute information list, the management apparatus may perform a control to transfer a corresponding amount of cash to a first account corresponding to the attribute information list.

A cash handling method according to the present disclosure includes: handling cash with a handling apparatus configured to handle cash, and transmitting first serial number information of the handled cash, and first attribute information related to the handling apparatus; receiving, from the handling apparatus, the first serial number information of the cash, and the first attribute information related to the handling apparatus; and associating, based on a data group including information on the handling apparatus, the first serial number information of the cash and the first attribute information received from the handling apparatus, with the information on the handling apparatus included in the data group. If the first serial number information and the first attribute information satisfy a predetermined condition, the cash handling method further includes depositing, into a first account, an amount of cash handled by the handling apparatus.

As described above, in the cash handling system, cash whose ownership is desired to be transferred is handled by the cash handling apparatus to generate cash data including information on the cash, and a process of transferring the ownership of the cash is automatically performed based on the cash data. Even when transporting actual cash, the cash is handled by the cash handling apparatus in the transfer source and by the cash handling apparatus in the transfer destination, whereby processes regarding the transport of the actual cash and the transfer of the ownership of the cash can be automatically performed. Since it is only required to handle the cash to be transferred with the cash handling apparatuses, the ownership of a huge amount of cash can be easily transferred.

As described above, the cash handling system and the cash handling method according to the present disclosure are useful in easily transferring the ownership of cash.