Abstract: Techniques for use of wireless labels to provide information relating to documents in a document processing operation are described. A plurality of document processing trays each have affixed a label for receiving and displaying messages which are received wirelessly from a central communication interface The messages provide information relating to documents to be placed within or contained within the trays. When a group of documents undergoes initial processing, the group of documents is sorted into a plurality of sorting locations. Each of the sorting locations has an associated tray and label and the documents within the sorting location are placed within the tray. Messages relating to the documents within each tray are transmitted and displayed on the label affixed to the tray. The messages provide information such as the large group, such as an entry, and sorting location to which the documents belong and the endpoint of the documents.

Abstract: A method is provided of a retail merchant in a transaction conducted between the retail merchant and a retail consumer. The method comprises receiving an on-line request from the retail consumer to make payment for the transaction, prompting the retail consumer to key in details associated with a check to be used by the retail consumer to make payment for the transaction, receiving check details from the retail consumer, prompting the retail consumer to scan at least one image of the check, prompting the retail consumer to attach the at least one check image to the transaction, and receiving the transaction along with the attached check image.

Abstract: A method of a financial institution monitoring operation of a check return clearing process comprises recording a first date/time value at which a transit check item is being processed at a first service location of the check return clearing process, recording a second date/time value at which a returned check item is being processed at a second service location of the check return clearing process, and storing the first and second date/time values in a data repository to allow an analyst to query the data repository and perform analysis of operation of the check return clearing process based upon the stored date/time values.

Abstract: A method of providing an indication of quality of an image of a document comprises the steps of (a) storing apriori data which is representative of a line contained in at least one field associated with the document, (b) receiving image data which is representative of the image of the document, (c) retrieving the stored apriori data based upon a first portion of the document image data, (d) comparing a second portion of the document image data with the retrieved apriori data, (e) providing an indication of quality of the image of the document based upon the comparison of the second portion of the document image data with the retrieved apriori data, and (f) processing the status signal to alert an operator of quality of the image of the document being below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of operating an electronic check presentment with image interchange system comprises the steps of creating a number of electronic bundle files based upon captured MICR data associated with items, processing cash letter files and captured image data associated with the items to create a first temporary list, processing the cash letter files and the electronic bundle files to create a second temporary list, and merging the first and second temporary lists to create a merged list for creating an image presentment file. An image presentment file is created in a predefined format structure suitable for sending from a sending bank to a receiving bank based upon the merged list.

Abstract: An image replacement document (IRD) is created in a single feed of sheet of material through a feeder. A print file having a MICR portion and a non-MICR portion is built based upon IRD data. The IRD data used to build the print file may be from an external application. At least some information is printed with magnetic ink onto a first portion of the sheet of material based upon the MICR portion of the print file. At least some information is printed with non-magnetic ink onto a second portion of the sheet of material based upon the non-MICR portion of the print file. The first portion of the sheet of material and the second portion of the sheet of material are on the front side of the IRD. Also, at least some information may be printed with non-magnetic ink onto a third portion of the sheet of material based upon the non-MICR portion of the print file. The third portion of the sheet of material is on the back side of the IRD.

Abstract: A method of providing an indication of quality of an image of a document comprises the steps of (a) storing apriori data which is representative of a line contained in at least one field associated with the document, (b) receiving image data which is representative of the image of the document, (c) retrieving the stored apriori data based upon a first portion of the document image data, (d) comparing a second portion of the document image data with the retrieved apriori data, (e) providing an indication of quality of the image of the document based upon the comparison of the second portion of the document image data with the retrieved apriori data, and (f) processing the status signal to alert an operator of quality of the image of the document being below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of certifying checks. A check writer contacts the writer's bank, over the Internet, and requests a certified check. The bank deducts the amount of the check from the writer's account, and issues a validation number to the writer, over the Internet. The writer prints the validation number on the check, in a set of blank spaces designed to accept this number. The check also contains a URL, Uniform Resource Locator, which identifies a web site maintained by the bank. Any interested party, such as a payee of the check, can contact the web site, present the validation number, and learn whether the check is valid. Thus, a certified check can be issued without a visit to a bank, the latter being required under present technology.

Abstract: A method of operating an electronic check presentment with image interchange system comprises the steps of creating a number of electronic bundle files based upon captured MICR data associated with items, processing cash letter files and captured image data associated with the items to create a first temporary list, processing the cash letter files and the electronic bundle files to create a second temporary list, and merging the first and second temporary lists to create a merged list for creating an image presentment file. An image presentment file is created in a predefined format structure suitable for sending from a sending bank to a receiving bank based upon the merged list.

Abstract: Techniques for use of wireless labels to provide information relating to documents in a document processing operation are described. A plurality of document processing trays each have affixed a label for receiving and displaying messages which are received wirelessly from a central communication interface The messages provide information relating to documents to be placed within or contained within the trays. When a group of documents undergoes initial processing, the group of documents is sorted into a plurality of sorting locations. Each of the sorting locations has an associated tray and label and the documents within the sorting location are placed within the tray. Messages relating to the documents within each tray are transmitted and displayed on the label affixed to the tray. The messages provide information such as the large group, such as an entry, and sorting location to which the documents belong and the endpoint of the documents.

Abstract: A system and method for processing image data from a document and for producing a compressed binarized version of the image data for transmission to or use by subsequent users. Processing of the image data is done in parallel after the scanning of the document is started but before the entire document is scanned. A splitter is used to divide a scan line of image data produced by an imager at the scan line into a plurality of channels, with each channel having at least one overlap area of pixels and with the overlap areas of pixels being used to avoid errors between channels. Thresholding and compression are performed by each one of the channels in parallel. The compression is performed in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of scanning and conforms to a standard compression algorithm like CCITT Group 4.

Abstract: In impact printing mechanism for encoding magnetic or optical characters on documents, a hammer energy control is utilized for maintaining constant impact pressure for the various surface areas of such characters. The constant impact pressure is derived by selection of the correct hammer pulse width for the surface area of each character.