Patent ID: 8783558

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