Patents by Inventor William J. Jones

William J. Jones has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Systems, apparatus, and methods for currency processing control and redemption
    Patent number: 7980378
    Abstract: A coin processing and redemption system includes a coin processing machine configured to receive a batch of coins in an input region and process the batch of coins to determine a value thereof. A dispensing device is provided and is configured to output a redemption ticket bearing a code. The coin processing machine is configured to associate the redemption ticket code with a coin processing transaction prior to the determination of a value of a batch of coins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell
  • Machine and method for redeeming currency to dispense a value card
    Patent number: 7949582
    Abstract: A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, William J. Jones, Mark C. Munro
  • SELF-SERVICE CURRENCY EXCHANGE MACHINE
    Publication number: 20110099105
    Abstract: A self-service exchange machine is configured to receive currency from a customer and dispense to the customer a card associated with a value relating to the value of the received currency. The self-service exchange machine includes a coin module for receiving bulk mixed coins input by the customer in a coin hopper in association with the exchange transaction, the coin module being configured to substantially simultaneously receive the bulk mixed coins in the coin hopper, to separate the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins using a motor-driven rotary sorting device and, following the separation of the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins, to discriminate between valid and invalid coins using at least one discrimination sensor disposed along the coin path of the single-file stream of coins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, William J. Jones, Mark C. Munro
  • METHOD, BASE STATION AND MOBILE STATION FOR TDD OPERATION IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20110090826
    Abstract: A method, NodeB and User Equipment for TDD operation in a communication system operating in TDD mode in a frequency band allocated for FDD operation. Preferably, operation is in TDD uplink and downlink mode in a first frequency band designated or normally used for FDD uplink communication, and in TDD downlink-only mode in a second frequency band designated or normally used for FDD downlink communication. The invention provides the following advantages: Provides a flexible method to deploy a time division duplex architecture in frequency division duplex spectrum. Allows flexible use of system capacity by adjusting the uplink and downlink capacity split. Removes previous FDD duplex restrictions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: William J. JONES, Joseph C. CHEUNG, Alan E. JONES
  • System and method for saving statistical data of currency bills in a currency processing device
    Patent number: 7929749
    Abstract: A currency processing system data storage arrangement is provided for a currency processing system, which includes a first controller, a communication interface, and a sensor or sensors arranged to output to the first controller raw data associated with a sensed characteristic of processed currency bills. A data storage medium defines a database for storing the raw data, and/or derivative data corresponding to statistical data associated with the raw data, received from the first controller through the communication interface. The data storage medium is accessible by the first controller and/or a second controller through the communication interface and/or another communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: William J. Jones, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell, Charles P. Jenrick
  • Currency bill tracking system
    Patent number: 7903863
    Abstract: A system and method is presented for tracking and tracing currency bills involved in deposit and withdrawal transactions. A transaction identifier is obtained. Currency bills involved in the transaction are scanned in order to obtain their serial numbers. The serial numbers are then linked to the transaction identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Paul A. Jones
  • Document processing system using full image scanning
    Patent number: 7881519
    Abstract: A system for tracking currency bills comprises a currency scanning device. The scanning device includes a sensor that retrieves currency identification characteristic information of each bill processed. The currency identification characteristic information permits the unique identification of each bill processed. The system further comprises a customer identification means and means for associating each processed bill with the customer depositing the bill. Means for identifying the customer (or customer account) associated with a particular processed bill after the deposit transaction has been completed is also included in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Paul A. Jones
  • Financial document processing system
    Patent number: 7873576
    Abstract: A system for processing deposits and/or withdrawals in a financial institution accepts a plurality of documents, including currency bills, at an input receptacle of a document-processing device, converts the image of at least some of the documents to electronic data representing the image. The currency bills are denominated by the document processing device, and the total value of the bills included in each deposit is accumulated. Whenever the total value of the bills in a deposit exceeds a prescribed value, a report may be generated containing at least an identification of the specified account, the total value of the bills in the deposit, and the serial numbers of the bills. The serial numbers may be extracted from images of the bills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, William J. Jones, Frank M. Csultis
  • AUTOMATIC CURRENCY PROCESSING SYSTEM HAVING TICKET REDEMPTION MODULE
    Publication number: 20100276485
    Abstract: An apparatus for currency discrimination comprises first and second stationary scanheads, disposed on opposite sides of a bill transport path, for scanning respective first and second opposing surfaces of a bill traveling along the bill transport path and for producing respective output signals. The bill travels along the transport path in the direction of a predetermined dimension of the bill. A memory stores master characteristic patterns corresponding to associated predetermined surfaces of a plurality of denominations of genuine bills. Sampling circuitry samples the output signals associated with the respective first and second opposing surfaces of the scanned bill. A signal processor is programmed to determine which one of the first and second opposing surfaces corresponds to the associated predetermined surfaces of the plurality of denominations of genuine bills.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corporation
    Inventors: WILLIAM J. JONES, Douglas U. Mennie, Mark C. Munro
  • CURRENCY PROCESSING DEVICE, METHOD AND SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100236892
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a currency processing device for receiving and processing a stack of currency bills is described. The currency processing device comprises an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be processed, a plurality of output receptacles for receiving bills after the bills have been processed, a transport mechanism for transporting the bills from the input receptacle to the output receptacles, and a discriminating unit for examining the bills. The output receptacles are arranged such that a center of at least one output receptacle is laterally offset from a center of the input receptacle. The discriminating unit includes a detector positioned between the input receptacle and the output receptacles and is adapted to determine the denomination of bills.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Ken W. Maier, Marek Baranowski, Yanmei Chen
  • Automatic currency processing system having ticket redemption module
    Patent number: 7778456
    Abstract: An apparatus for currency discrimination comprises first and second stationary scanheads, disposed on opposite sides of a bill transport path, for scanning respective first and second opposing surfaces of a bill traveling along the bill transport path and for producing respective output signals. The bill travels along the transport path in the direction of a predetermined dimension of the bill. A memory stores master characteristic patterns corresponding to associated predetermined surfaces of a plurality of denominations of genuine bills. Sampling circuitry samples the output signals associated with the respective first and second opposing surfaces of the scanned bill. A signal processor is programmed to determine which one of the first and second opposing surfaces corresponds to the associated predetermined surfaces of the plurality of denominations of genuine bills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison, Corp.
    Inventors: William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Mark C. Munro
  • Currency processing device, method and system
    Patent number: 7753189
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a currency processing device for receiving and processing a stack of currency bills is described. The currency processing device comprises an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be processed, a plurality of output receptacles for receiving bills after the bills have been processed, a transport mechanism for transporting the bills from the input receptacle to the output receptacles, and a discriminating unit for examining the bills. The output receptacles are arranged such that a center of at least one output receptacle is laterally offset from a center of the input receptacle. The discriminating unit includes a detector positioned between the input receptacle and the output receptacles and is adapted to determine the denomination of bills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Ken W. Maier, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Marek Baranowski, Yanmei Chen
  • Currency processing device, method and system
    Patent number: 7726457
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a currency processing device for receiving and processing a stack of currency bills is disclosed. The currency processing device comprises an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be processed, a plurality of output receptacles for receiving bills after the bills have been processed, a transport mechanism for transporting the bills from the input receptacle to the output receptacles, and a discriminating unit for examining the bills. The output receptacles are arranged such that a center of at least one output receptacle is laterally offset from a center of the input receptacle. The discriminating unit includes a detector positioned between the input receptacle and the output receptacles and is adapted to determine the denomination of bills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Ken W. Maier, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Marek Baranowski, Yanmei Chen
  • AUTOMATED DOCUMENT PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20100092065
    Abstract: A document processing system includes an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past an image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The image scanner operates to obtain images of the documents and further operates to obtain images of selected portions of the documents, and further can obtain information contained in the selected portions. The discrimination unit operates to determine document authenticity. A system controller directs the flow of documents over the transport mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, Paul A. Jones, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie
  • FINANCIAL DOCUMENT PROCESSING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100063916
    Abstract: A system for processing deposits and/or withdrawals in a financial institution accepts a plurality of documents, including currency bills, at an input receptacle of a document-processing device, converts the image of at least some of the documents to electronic data representing the image. The currency bills are denominated by the document processing device, and the total value of the bills included in each deposit is accumulated. Whenever the total value of the bills in a deposit exceeds a prescribed value, a report may be generated containing at least an identification of the specified account, the total value of the bills in the deposit, and the serial numbers of the bills. The serial numbers may be extracted from images of the bills.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, William J. Jones, Frank M. Csultis
  • FINANCIAL DOCUMENT PROCESSING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100057617
    Abstract: A system for processing deposits and/or withdrawals in a financial institution accepts a plurality of documents, including currency bills, at an input receptacle of a document-processing device, converts the image of at least some of the documents to electronic data representing the image. The currency bills are denominated by the document processing device, and the total value of the bills included in each deposit is accumulated. Whenever the total value of the bills in a deposit exceeds a prescribed value, a report may be generated containing at least an identification of the specified account, the total value of the bills in the deposit, and the serial numbers of the bills. The serial numbers may be extracted from images of the bills.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, William J. Jones, Frank M. Csultis
  • FINANCIAL DOCUMENT PROCESSING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100051687
    Abstract: A system for processing deposits and/or withdrawals in a financial institution accepts a plurality of documents, including currency bills, at an input receptacle of a document-processing device, converts the image of at least some of the documents to electronic data representing the image. The currency bills are denominated by the document processing device, and the total value of the bills included in each deposit is accumulated. Whenever the total value of the bills in a deposit exceeds a prescribed value, a report may be generated containing at least an identification of the specified account, the total value of the bills in the deposit, and the serial numbers of the bills. The serial numbers may be extracted from images of the bills.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, William J. Jones, Frank M. Csultis
  • Document Processing System Using Full Image Scanning
    Publication number: 20100034454
    Abstract: A system for tracking currency bills comprises a currency scanning device. The scanning device includes a sensor that retrieves currency identification characteristic information of each bill processed. The currency identification characteristic information permits the unique identification of each bill processed. The system further comprises a customer identification means and means for associating each processed bill with the customer depositing the bill. Means for identifying the customer (or customer account) associated with a particular processed bill after the deposit transaction has been completed is also included in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Paul A. Jones
  • SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS FOR CURRENCY PROCESSING CONTROL AND REDEMPTION
    Publication number: 20090320106
    Abstract: A coin processing and redemption system includes a coin processing machine configured to receive a batch of coins in an input region and process the batch of coins to determine a value thereof. A dispensing device is provided and is configured to output a redemption ticket bearing a code. The coin processing machine is configured to associate the redemption ticket code with a coin processing transaction prior to the determination of a value of a batch of coins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corportation
    Inventors: William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell
  • Document Processing System Using Full Image Scanning
    Publication number: 20090310188
    Abstract: A system for tracking currency bills comprises a currency scanning device. The scanning device includes a sensor that retrieves currency identification characteristic information of each bill processed. The currency identification characteristic information permits the unique identification of each bill processed. The system further comprises a customer identification means and means for associating each processed bill with the customer depositing the bill. Means for identifying the customer (or customer account) associated with a particular processed bill after the deposit transaction has been completed is also included in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Paul A. Jones