Abstract: In a specified pattern detection apparatus, a first filter detects a partial image included in a specified pattern in input image data, and a memory device stores bi-level data on the existence of the partial image based on output signals of said first filter. Then, a detector detects the specified pattern from the bi-level data stored in said memory device. In a different way, in a specified pattern detection apparatus, a first resolution converter converts input image data to image data of first resolution. A processor performs a predetermined processing on the image data of first resolution, and a second resolution converter converts the processed image data of first resolution to image data of second resolution lower than the first resolution. Then, a detector detects a specified pattern based on the image data of second resolution.

Abstract: The coin-type determining device, for determining the presence or absence of inclined notches formed on the circumferential surface of the coin transferred through a coin transfer path, comprises: a plurality of notch detecting devices provided separately from each other with respect to an axis of the coin; a determining device for determining the presence or absence of inclined notches based on the difference between the notch detection results by the notch detecting devices.

Abstract: A bearer document processing system includes preparation, verification, redeeming and depositing of the document. An encrypted symbol is imprinted on the document using ink that is not visible in invisible light. The symbol includes information used to authenticate the document and to identify the bearer of the document. The document is scanned at a transaction point. The symbol can be decoded at transaction points or at a remote central processing station. Accounts involved in transactions are credited and debited using information contained in the encoded symbol and other information provided by the bearer and the acceptor of the document. Transactions are performed in essentially real-time, and the bearer is provided with evidence of a successful transaction. Although applicable to any type of bearer document such as stock certificates, money orders, the system is particularly applicable to processing bank checks in real-time and with the possibility of fraudulent transactions being minimized.

Abstract: A valuable paper is provided which comprises on a surface of the paper 50 a characteristic pattern 51 detectable by a sensor 16 of a validator 10 to discriminate authenticity of a bill inserted into the validator 10. The bill has at least a distinctive portion detectable by the sensor 16. The paper 50 has its width W substantially same as the width of the bill. The characteristic pattern 51 of the paper 50 is formed on substantially same position in width W as that of the distinctive portion in the bill. The paper 50 is inserted into the validator 10 to detect the characteristic pattern 51 of the paper 50 by the sensor 16 for discrimination of the paper 50 by the validator 10.

Abstract: A method and machine for preparing and dispensing documents relating to financial transactions. The machine contains an ink jet printer for printing the documents and a bar code reader mounted for movement with the print head of the printer for reading bar codes on each document before or during printing. The machine includes a control unit having personal computer architecture including a CPU, memories and input/output devices. One of the devices is a modem allowing communication with a remote supervisory location. Operation of the machine is controlled from the remote supervisory location, which provides periodic authorization to continue to prepare and dispense documents in response to transaction reports transmitted from the machine to the remote supervisory location. A wide variety of documents can be prepared and dispensed under control of software in the control unit.

Abstract: A method of processing documents in an image-based document processing system to associate recognition results from a primary source results list with corresponding recognition results from a secondary source results list to improve assistance to an operator of the image-based document processing system during, operation of the image-based document processing system comprises the steps of (a) scanning a first type of document to obtain scanned data representative thereof, (b) scanning a second type of document to obtain scanned data representative thereof, (c) processing scanned data representative of the first type of document to provide recognition results associated with the first type of document, (d) processing scanned data representative of the second type of document to provide recognition results associated with the second document, (e) storing recognition results associated with the first type of document in a primary list, (f) storing recognition results associated with the second type of document i

Abstract: A point of sale terminal includes an input device, for reading information to be stored as part of a financial transaction, and a storage device in which data derived from the information is stored, with the amount of data stored being determined by the financial value of the transaction. The terminal may include a document scanner providing an image of a check or of another form of identification associated with a check, and a digitizing tablet, which provides an indication of movement of a pen or stylus to form a signature. The terminal may also include optical character recognition, which is used to obtain a name and address from the check, which is also stored according to the value of the check.

Abstract: The coin-type determining device, for determining the presence or absence of inclined notches formed on the circumferential surface of the coin transferred through a coin transfer path, comprises: a plurality of notch detecting devices provided separately from each other with respect to an axis of the coin; a determining device for determining the presence or absence of inclined notches based on the difference between the notch detection results by the notch detecting devices.

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.

Abstract: A document processing system includes an image capture system, a multiple engine recognition system, and an application system. The image capture system generates a first electronic image of a first region of a document, where the first electronic image has a first image format. The image capture system also generates a second electronic image of a second region of a document, where the second electronic image has a second image format. The multiple recognition system transmits the first electronic image to a first recognition engine and a second recognition engine. The multiple engine recognition system also transmits the second electronic image to the second recognition engine. The first recognition engine generates a first recognition result, and the second recognition engine generates a second recognition result. The recognition system further combines the first recognition result and the second recognition result into a final recognition result.

Abstract: An image processing network for processing image files and coupled to an outside data communication network comprising a plurality of remote image capture units, the units scanning documents and creating a plurality of image files of said documents; the image processing means is coupled to said plurality of remote image capture units for processing the image files; the accounting means is coupled to the image processing means for immediately updating accounts associated with said image processing means; and the plurality of remote capture units are coupled to the outside network, the outside data communication network is connected to outside financial institutions, the image processing means transmits said image files to the outside financial institutions via the data communication network and receives image files from the outside financial institutions over the network.

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.

Abstract: The authenticity of an item which is one of a group of such items can be determined by attaching to or incorporating into each such item an authentication marker, all such markers interacting substantially identically with a given magnetic field. A field generating apparatus is provided which incorporates a reference sample that interacts with the given magnetic field in the same way as the authentication markers do. The field generating apparatus subjects both the reference sample and a candidate authentication marker to substantially identical magnetic search fields.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a plurality of customized documents having at least one portion of common information and at least one portion of variable information where the common information is generated using a first computing platform and the variable information is generated using a second computing platform include generating and storing data representing an electronic image of the common information, generating a mail merge file using the second computing platform to position variables representing the variable information within a page, electronically combining the image of the common information with the mail merge file generated using the second computing platform by overlaying the common information and variable information based on position of the variables within the page for each of the plurality of customized documents, and printing each of the customized documents.

Abstract: Arrangement for lifting image of checks, with Xenon lamp, Fluorescent lamp or like source of stable-wavelength-output and CCPD Camera means selected to exhibit “close-to-human” spectral response plus a photopic filter, disposed upstream of the Camera and adapted to shift its received image-light spectrum in the direction of that which is optimal for the human-eye.

Abstract: A method for detecting the most likely source of an error in a document image processing system which processes sets of related documents. A set of characteristics is selected as being indicative that the document image, or item, is the source of the error. Each of the characteristics is assigned a weight, wherein the weight is in proportion to the likelihood that an item exhibiting the characteristic is the source of error. The items are ranked according to the characteristics exhibited by each item.

Abstract: A security system and method by which customers may be readily identified prior to cashing of checks, other cash-out transactions, or other business transactions, wherein each customer is issued an individualized customer identification card having at least a personalized multidigit customer identification number encoded thereon and, optionally, also encoded with additional personal data identifying the customer. To cash a check or conduct another form of business transaction, whether at an attended customer service station or at an automated machine, the encoded data on the identification card is read and the customer is required to input the personalized identification number assigned to the card. The transaction is not approved unless the customer correctly inputs the assigned identification number. In contemplated embodiments, the encoded data along with data regarding the transaction requested by the customer, e.g.

Abstract: An improved method and system for verifying the correctness of data entered from document images. Images are sorted according to their entered values, and are then presented to an adjudication operator, who verifies that the values shown in the images are correctly ordered. Images violating the sorted order are marked for correction. The marking of images is ergonomically advantageous in requiring only a simple pointing device used infrequently. Input can be by voice command. In one preferred embodiment, images are presented in rows and columns upon a video screen, and the operator uses controls similar to the "forward" and "back" buttons of a web browser to navigate through a set of images. In another preferred embodiment, images scroll automatically upwards through an attention zone, within which the operator verifies correct pairwise ordering.

Abstract: An automated self service method of and system for cashing checks, typically without human intervention. The system includes a check cashing database that contains customer records for registered customers. A plurality of administration modules are provided with which individuals may register themselves and their checks and communicate with customer service representatives. A check cashing server communicates with the check cashing transaction modules. The check cashing server receives check cashing requests from the check cashing transaction modules. The check cashing server processes check requests by comparing information in the request with criteria derived from the check cashing database. If the check request satisfies the criteria, the check cashing server, without human action or intervention, instructs the check cashing transaction module to dispense cash to the customer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing and retrieving images of documents, e.g. checks.

Abstract: An automated document cashing system includes a reader for capturing an image of a negotiable instrument and recognizing the authorized signature as well as the amount written thereon. The system then can transfer monies in the amount of the instrument to a savings account, a checking account, a smart card, or the like. The system can cash money orders as well as write money orders. The system will also wire transfer money. The image capture apparatus also can capture an image of a utility bill or the like that is presented by a user. By supplying monies in the form of cash, credit card authorization, smart card balance, or the like, the user can pay bills such as a utility bill through the system or purchase items dispensed by the system.

Abstract: A method and system for simultaneously recognizing contextually related images is disclosed. The image of two separate fields is captured to form two captured data images such as a word and numerical amount. Each captured image is cut to form a segmentation graph based on the cuts. The shortest path in each segmentation graph is found wherein the additive length corresponds to a score and is associated with each directed arc of the segmentation graph. The segmentation graphs are combined into a joint segmentation graph and the highest scoring mutually consistent interpretations are found.

Abstract: A document to be processed is scanned into a machine readable image. The image is segmented into a plurality of fields. Predetermined characteristics are measured for each field and the set of characteristics is correlated with a predetermined set of characteristics derived from a reference image. The fields with the highest degree of correlation to the characteristics from the reference document are selected for further processing, e.g., optical character recognition.

Abstract: An electronic document-imaging arrangement wherein imaging means generates imaging-bits representing a given document and transfers these bits on a "per-document basis" to various successive electronic processing stages and, finally, to a data base storage unit (DBS); this arrangement also including a tag stage for creating tag bits unique for each such imaged document; these tag bits to be transferred with the imaging bits for each document to each such processing stage that handles the imaging bits, on a per document basis, and finally to DBS interface means for final matching and removal of the tag bits.

Abstract: A method for separating integer and fractional portions of a financial amount preparatory to recognition of the financial amount. This separating is accomplished based on determining the presence of at least one of a plurality of possible distinguishing separation characteristics, such as the presence of a period (decimal point), superscripted characters, or a fraction. The separated fractional portion is then categorized into one of a plurality of categories based on the nature of the fractional portion representation. The characters making up this fractional portion are then extracted based on this categorizing.

Abstract: Arrangement for lifting image of checks, with Xenon lamp, Fluorescent lamp or like source of stable-wavelength-output and CCPD Camera means selected to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response plus a photopic filter, disposed upstream of the Camera and adapted to shift its received image-light spectrum in the direction of that which is optimal for the human-eye.

Abstract: An assisted character recognition process is described which utilizes the relative position of an amount from a negotiable instrument, such as a check or credit card receipt, in a sequence of such amounts and compares its relative position to the relative position of an identical amount in a sequence of amounts on a second source, such as an adding machine tape, in order to determine the order of the items; the process also establishes matching elements which may be varied in stringency during sequential iterations of the matching process whereby the relaxation of the matching criteria will sequentially result in increased matches to allow the largest possible number of matches between the "courtesy" amounts on the checks and the amounts or entries on the second source or adding machine tape. This process is especially useful for matching handwritten entries to similar entries on a second source list such as an adding machine tape, or other such printout.

Abstract: Arrangement for lifting image of checks, with Xenon lamp, Fluorescent lamp or like source of stable-wavelength-output and CCPD Camera means selected to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response plus a photopic filter, disposed upstream of the Camera and adapted to shift its received image-light spectrum in the direction of that which is optimal for the human-eye.

Abstract: An image-based transaction processing system employing automatic reading of machine-printed and handwritten financial amounts on transaction documents to enhance transaction balancing by reducing the number of transactions which have to be balanced by an operator. The automatic reader provides a second choice as well as a first choice for one or more digits. When an out-of-balance transaction is detected, one or more second choice digits are substituted for corresponding first choice digits in order to obtain automatic transaction balancing even through an automatically read amount is incorrect.

Abstract: A method of locating a monetary amount in a binary image, with a binary 1 representing a black pixel and a binary 0 representing a white pixel. An examining window is positioned over a portion of the binary image and a list of objects is generated, with an object being defined as a set of contiguous black pixels. The objects are classified into classes of parts depending on predetermined criteria. The classes of parts are then examined to determine whether or not they fit into a certain sequence which is indicative of a monetary amount. For example, for US currency, one sequence is "character, dot, character, character" which might stand for $2.46. The next step is to examine the classes of parts to determine whether or not they conform to certain geometric criteria to be indicative of a monetary amount.