Verification method and apparatus
A method of verifying the integrity of an item of value received at a destination location following transfer from a source at location is described. The method comprises carrying out one or more verification steps, at least one of which ( 26 ) comprises determining whether the time of arrival ( 22 ) of the item of value at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition.
1 . A method of verifying the integrity of an item of value received at a destination location following transfer from a source location, the method comprising carrying out one or more verification steps, at least one of which comprises determining whether the time of arrival of the item of value at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition, characterised in that the predetermined condition is defined by an absolute time period within which the item of value is expected.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition comprises the expected length of time between the item of value leaving the source location and arriving at the destination location.
3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein details of the predetermined condition are stored in a memory at the destination location.
4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein details of the predetermined condition are provided in association with the item of value.
5 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the item of value is secured within a package, the method comprising determining whether the time of arrival of the package at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition.
6 . A method according to claim 5 , wherein the details of the predetermined condition are provided on or in the package.
7 . A method according to claim 5 , wherein the package is tamper evident.
8 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein details relating to the predetermined condition are communicated from the source location to the destination location.
9 . A method according to claim 8 , wherein the details comprise one or more of the time of departure from the source location, the expected time of arrival at the destination location, and the length of time between leaving the source location and arriving at the destination location.
10 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the item of value comprises cash, for example coins and/or banknotes.
11 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the source location comprises one of a retail till, retailer back office, cash-in-transit centre, and financial institution such as a bank.
12 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the destination location comprises one of a retail till, retailer back office, cash-in-transit centre, and financial institution such as a bank.
13 . Apparatus for verifying the integrity of an item of value received at a destination location following transfer from a source location, the apparatus comprising a verification system for carrying out one or more verification steps, at least one of which comprises determining whether the time of arrival of the item of value at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition.
14 . Apparatus according to claim 13 for carrying out a method verifying the integrity of an item of value received at a destination location following transfer from a source location, the method comprising carrying out one or more verification steps at least one of which comprises determining whether the time of arrival of the item of value at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition, characterised in that the predetermined condition is defined by an absolute time period within which the item of value is expected.
15 . An item of value transfer system comprising apparatus according to claim 13 located at a destination location; and a source location from which items of value are transferred to the destination location.