Patent ID: 7363290

Claim:
An item capture research system, said system comprising: (a) an item capture subsystem comprising a document processor and an image camera for capturing images and information from each of plurality of items each of which relates to a transaction, wherein the plurality of items are comprised of on-us items and cash letter items; (b) an image archive subsystem comprising an on-us items image database for storing images of the captured on-us items and a cash letter items image database for storing images of the captured cash letter items; and (c) a transaction data archive subsystem for storing the information captured from the plurality of items, said transaction data archive subsystem having a multiple data structures, said multiple structures of said transaction data archive subsystem being comprised of: (i) an on-us items data structure, said on-us items data structure being further comprised of an on-us items archive file that is stored offline and an on-us items archive index, wherein the on-us items archive index is an index to the on-us items archive file and is stored online, (ii) an all items data structure, said all items data structure being further comprised of an all items archive file that is stored offline and an all items archive index, wherein the all items archive index is an index to the all items archive file and is stored online, and (iii) a cash letter items data structure, said cash letter items data structure being further comprised of a cash letter items archive file that is stored offline and a cash letter items archive index, wherein the cash letter items archive index is an index to the cash letter items archive file and is stored online; and (d) a research engine for receiving an item request, said item request comprising a request for information stored in the transaction data archive subsystem, and directing a response to the item request, said research engine comprising a request interpreter, a request director, and a request processor; wherein on-us items are items that are drawn on a financial institution capturing the item, and cash letter items are items that are drawn on a financial institution other than a financial institution capturing the item.