Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Banking systems
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-28
2004-09-07
Lee, Diane I. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Banking systems
C235S380000, C705S043000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06786398
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The invention relates to check cashing.
At present, a substantial portion of the working population does not have a bank account and, for this reason, lacks access to a bank for purposes of cashing paychecks. A number of companies provide check cashing services to this portion of the population.
In some instances check cashing services are provided from a bullet-proof enclosure. An employee within the enclosure determines whether to cash a customer's paycheck by referencing a computer database that includes information about the customer (“the payee”) and the customer's employer (“the payor”). The employee also may contact the payor's bank in some circumstances. If the employee decides to cash the paycheck, the employee collects an appropriate amount of cash from a cash drawer within the enclosure and provides the cash to the customer.
In other instances check cashing services are provided by an employee using a computer that is connected to a cash-dispensing machine. The employee determines whether to cash the customer's paycheck in the manner described above. If the employee decides to cash the check, the employee uses the computer to cause the cash-dispensing machine to dispense an appropriate amount of cash. The employee then provides the cash to the customer. Security provided by the cash-dispensing machine reduces the risk of theft and permits elimination of the bullet-proof enclosure.
SUMMARY
The invention provides automated check cashing through an unmanned check-cashing apparatus. Automation of the check-cashing process promises to provide tremendous cost advantages, because an employee no longer will be needed to operate each check-cashing apparatus. Automation of the check-cashing process also promises to increase the level of privacy associated with the check-cashing transaction. For example, there no longer will be any need for an employee to count out the amount of cash provided to the customer while others, such as people waiting in line behind the customer, can overhear the amount.
In one aspect, generally, the invention features an automated check-cashing apparatus that includes an input device configured to generate input signals in response to inputs from a customer presenting a check to be processed, a storage device including a database of customer information and a database of payor information, a check reader configured to receive and read the check to be processed, a cash dispenser, and an electronic processor connected to the input device, the storage device, the check reader, and the cash dispenser. The processor is configured to receive input signals from the input device that identify the customer presenting the check to be processed, and to receive information about the check to be processed from the check reader, the information identifying the payor of the check to be processed. The processor uses the input signals to access the database of customer information to obtain data about the customer, confirm the identity of the customer based on biometric information about the customer, and, after confirming the identity of the customer, determine automatically whether to accept or reject the check based on the received information about the check, and the data about the customer. Upon accepting the check, the processor signal the cash dispenser to dispense cash to the customer.
Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The biometric information may be an image of the customer's face, and the apparatus may include a camera configured to obtain the image of the customer's face. The database of customer information stored on the storage device may include images of customers' faces, and the processor may compare an image of the customer's face from the database of customer information to the image of the customer's face produced by the camera to confirm the identity of the customer. The processor may obtain the image of the customer's face from the database of customer information based on input signals generated by the input device in response to information supplied by the customer. The camera may be a digital video camera. The apparatus may include a second camera that obtains a second image of the customer's face, and the processor may compare the two images when confirming the identity of the customer. The apparatus also may include lights positioned to illuminate the customer's face to improve an image obtained by the camera The biometric information also may be the customer's fingerprint.
The processor may determine automatically whether to accept or reject the check by applying a set of business rules. The business rules may be defined generally to permit the processor to accept the check if the customer has used the apparatus previously to cash a previous check for a similar amount from a payor associated with the check.
The processor may accept the check when the database of customer information includes a record for the customer, criteria stored in the record for the customer are met, the database of payor information includes a record for a payor of the check, and criteria stored in the record for the payor are met. The processor may reject the check when a criterion stored in the record for the customer is not met or a criterion stored in the record for the payor is not met.
The apparatus may include an automated teller machine that itself includes the input device, the check reader, and the cash dispenser. The automated teller machine also may include a card reader, and the apparatus may be configured to perform banking transactions associated with an account identified by a card inserted into the card reader.
The apparatus may include an output device for providing information to the customer. For example, the input device and the output device may be provided by a touch screen display. The output device may be a speaker, and the apparatus may include a voice synthesizer connected to the speaker and configured to provide spoken information to the customer through the speaker. The input device may be a numeric keypad.
The apparatus may be included in a check-cashing system that also includes a remotely-located service center. For example, several check-cashing apparatuses may be located in convenience stores or other locations, and may be served by a single service center located in a central location. The check-cashing apparatus may include a communications device connected to the processor, and the service center may include a communications device configured to communicate with the communications device of the check-cashing apparatus using, for example, a public telephone network.
The processor of the check-cashing apparatus may be configured to contact the remotely-located service center for assistance when the database of customer information does not include a record for the customer presenting a check, or the database of payor information does not include a record for the payor of the check. The processor also may contact the service center for assistance when the processor is unable to confirm the identity of the customer.
The service center may include a storage device including a central database of customer information and an electronic processor connected to the communications device and the storage device. The processor may be configured to receive information about a customer and a check from the communications device, access the central database of customer information to obtain data about the customer, determine automatically whether to accept or reject the check based on the received information and the data about the customer, and control the communications device to transmit an indication of whether the check should be accepted or rejected.
The processor of the service center may be configured to accept the check when the central database of customer information includes a record for the customer and criteria stored in the record for the customer are met, and to contact a human operator at the service center
Clower Dyron
Stinson Michael C.
Templer, Jr. John W.
ATC Realty FIfteen, Inc.
Bellamy Glenn D.
Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC
Lee Diane I.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for automatic cashing of a negotiable... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for automatic cashing of a negotiable..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for automatic cashing of a negotiable... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3240573