Abstract: This patent concerns a method of enhancing the security of the check cashing operation at locations remote from the issuing bank. A key suitable for cryptographic purposes is encoded onto the check stock in the form of a graphic where the style of the graphic and its means of interpretation are customisable. This permits the decryption of data without the need for online key retrieval. Typical usage occurs when a check is issued and the payee and amount at least are hashed or encrypted using the key decoded from the graphic, the hashed value being added to the check, possibly on the MICR line. At POS or a bank teller the key is decoded from the graphic, the check data is rehashed and compared with the hash value on the MICR line. The key encoded within the graphic may also be a PIN.

Abstract: A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of visible element printed on the document. The outline of this element is used for synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the element. In prior art systems, synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the element requires large scale arrangement of the graphical symbols (e.g. a horizontal line of glyphs which are all forward facing and which intersect a vertical line of glyphs which are all rearward facing). This considerably mars the appearance of a printed document. This negative impact on appearance has been one of the major causes inhibiting the uptake of graphical symbol technology for encoding information.