Granted Patent B1

US 7,980,460 · App. 11/900,753 · Granted Jul 19, 2011

Abstract

Claims (77)

1. Apparatus comprising:

a plurality of automated banking machines that operate responsive to data read from data bearing records to cause financial transfers, wherein each automated banking machine includes:

at least one input device wherein the at least one input device includes a card reader operative to read card data from user cards, wherein the card data corresponds to financial accounts;

a cash dispenser;

a check reading device;

at least one output device;

at least one data store;

at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the cash dispenser, the check reading device, the at least one input device, the at least one output device, and the at least one data store, wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the automated banking machine to produce image data corresponding to visual appearance of at least a portion of checks received by the check reading device;

at least one network in operative connection with each of the plurality of automated banking machines;

wherein the at least one processor of each automated banking machine includes software operating therein that is operative to cause image data corresponding to an image of at least one side of a first check received by a first automated banking machine, to be sent through the at least one network to a plurality of other automated banking machines and stored in a plurality of different data pieces each including a portion of the image data, in at least one data store in each of the plurality of other automated banking machines.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1

wherein the at least one processor of the first automated banking machine is operative responsive to at least one input to at least one input device of the first automated banking machine,

wherein the at least one input corresponds to at least one second check,

to receive through the at least one network, data pieces from a plurality of other automated banking machines,

wherein the data pieces include image data corresponding to the at least one second check, and

to output through the at least one output device of the first automated banking machine, at least one image corresponding to the at least one second check.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one second check includes a check received in the first automated banking machine.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one second check includes a check received in an automated banking machine other than the first automated banking machine.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the at least one processor of the first automated banking machine is operative to cause the output of the at least one image corresponding to the at least one second check responsive to first card data read from a first user card through operation of the card reader of the first automated banking machine.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 and further comprising:

a computer, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the at least one network, wherein the computer is not part of an automated banking machine, wherein the computer includes at least one computer input device and at least one computer output device, wherein the computer is operative responsive to at least one input through the at least one computer input device to cause the computer to operate to receive a plurality of data pieces including image data corresponding to the first check, through the at least one network from a plurality of automated banking machines.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the computer is in operative connection with at least one computer data store, wherein the at least one computer data store includes a plurality of data pieces including image data corresponding to a plurality of checks received in a plurality of automated banking machines, wherein responsive to the at least one input to the at least one input device of the first automated banking machine, the at least one processor of the first automated banking machine receives data pieces from the computer data store corresponding to image data for the at least one second check.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein responsive to at least one input to the at least one computer input device corresponding to the at least one second check, the computer is operative to cause the at least one computer output device to output at least one image corresponding to the at least one second check.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the computer is operative to obtain a plurality of data pieces corresponding to the at least one second check from the at least one computer data store.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the computer is operative to communicate with each of the plurality of automated banking machines, wherein communication between the computer and each automated banking machine is operative to cause the respective automated banking machine to carry out cash dispensing transactions.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the computer communicates with each of the automated banking machines through messages in the TCP/IP protocol.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a computer, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the at least one network, wherein the computer is not part of an automated banking machine, and wherein the computer includes at least one computer input device and at least one computer output device, wherein the computer is operative responsive to at least one input to the at least one computer input device to cause the computer to operate to receive a plurality of data pieces including image data corresponding to the first check from data stores in each of a plurality of automated banking machines.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the computer is operative to output through the at least one computer output device, at least one image including an image of at least one side of the first check responsive to the receipt of the plurality of data pieces by the computer.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the computer is in operative connection with a computer data store, wherein the computer data store is not included in an automated banking machine, and wherein responsive to at least one input through the at least one computer input device, the computer is operative to receive a plurality of data pieces including image data corresponding to the first check from the computer data store.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the computer is operative to communicate with the plurality of automated banking machines, wherein communication between the computer and a respective automated banking machine is operative to cause the respective automated banking machine to dispense cash.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a computer in operative connection with the at least one network, wherein the computer is not included in an automated banking machine, and wherein the card reader of the first automated banking machine is operative to read first card data from a first user card, wherein the first card data corresponds to a first financial account, and wherein communication between the computer and the first automated banking machine is operative to cause cash to be dispensed from the first automated banking machine and the first account to be assessed for the dispensed cash.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the card reader of the first automated banking machine is operative to read first card data from a first user card, wherein the first card data corresponds to a first financial account, and wherein the at least one processor of the first automated banking machine, responsive to the image data, is operative to resolve data corresponding to an amount and data corresponding to a plurality of characters in a micr line on the first check.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17

wherein the at least one processor of the first automated banking machine is operative to cause

data corresponding to at least one of the first card data, the amount, and a plurality of characters in a micr line,

to be stored in a plurality of different data pieces, in at least one data store in each of a plurality of other automated banking machines.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 and further comprising a computer in operative connection with at least one network, wherein the computer is not included in an automated banking machine, and wherein communication between the first automated banking machine and the computer is operative to cause the first financial account to be credited the amount on the first check.

20. At least one article including computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one processor associated with a cash dispensing automated banking machine that operates responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records, to carry out a method comprising:

(a) reading a check through operation of a check reader of the automated banking machine, wherein the machine includes at least one reader that is operative to read user data corresponding to financial accounts, and wherein the automated banking machine is operative responsive at least in part to read user data to at least partly cause financial transfers at least one of to and from the financial accounts;

(b) responsive at least in part to (a), producing image data corresponding to visual appearance of at least one side of the check; and

(c) causing different portions of the image data to be respectively stored in other automated banking machines,

wherein the other automated banking machines include a first other automated banking machine and a second other automated banking machine,

wherein a first portion of the image data which is not stored in the second other automated banking machine is stored in the first other automated banking machine,

wherein a second portion of the image data which is not stored in the first other automated banking machine is stored in the second other automated banking machine,

wherein the second portion differs from the first portion.

21. At least one article including computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one processor associated with a cash dispensing automated banking machine that operates responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records, to carry out a method comprising:

(a) receiving with the automated banking machine, respective different portions of a data file from respective other automated banking machines,

wherein the data file includes data corresponding to an image of at least one side of a check,

wherein the at least one processor is operative to at least partly cause the automated banking machine to receive all of the portions needed to produce the data file,

wherein a first portion of the data file is received from a first other automated banking machine,

wherein a second portion of the data file is received from a second other automated banking machine,

wherein the second portion differs from the first portion,

wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one reader that is operative to read user data corresponding to financial accounts, and wherein the automated banking machine is operative responsive at least in part to read user data to at least partly cause financial transfers at least one of to and from the financial accounts;

(b) operating the automated banking machine to produce the data file from the portions received in (a); and

(c) operating the automated banking machine in using the data file produced in (b) to cause the image of at least one side of the check to be output through a display of the automated banking machine.

22. Apparatus comprising:

at least one banking system computer configured with computer executable instructions,

wherein the at least one banking system computer is configured to at least partly cause a check imager of an automated banking machine including at least one data reader, to create at least one check side image that corresponds to a visual appearance of at least one side of a financial account check, wherein the at least one check side image comprises check image data,

wherein the at least one banking system computer is configured to at least partly cause to be stored in at least one other automated banking machine, portions of the check image data which are not to be stored in the machine,

wherein the at least one banking system computer is configured to receive the portions previously stored,

wherein the at least one banking system computer is configured to recreate the at least one check side image using the portions received, and

wherein the at least one banking system computer is configured to at least partly cause the at least one check side image recreated to be output through a display of the machine.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the at least one other automated banking machine includes a first other automated banking machine and a second other automated banking machine,

wherein the at least one banking system computer is configured to cause only a first portion of the check image data to be stored in the first other automated banking machine,

wherein the at least one banking system computer is configured to cause only a second portion of the check image data to be stored in the second other automated banking machine,

wherein the second portion differs from the first portion.

24. At least one article including computer executable instructions configured to instruct at least one banking system computer to:

(a) at least partly cause a check imager of an automated banking machine including at least one data reader, to create at least one check side image that corresponds to a visual appearance of at least one side of a financial account check, wherein the at least one check side image comprises check image data;

(b) at least partly cause to be stored in at least one other automated banking machine subsequent to (a), portions of the check image data which are not to be stored in the machine;

(c) receive subsequent to (b), the portions stored in (b);

(d) recreate the at least one check side image using the portions received in (c); and

(e) at least partly cause the at least one check side image recreated in (d) to be output through a display of the machine.

25. The at least one article according to claim 24 wherein the at least one other automated banking machine includes a first other automated banking machine and a second other automated banking machine,

wherein (b) includes:

(bi) causing only a first portion of the check image data to be stored in the first other automated banking machine; and

(bii) causing only a second portion of the check image data to be stored in the second other automated banking machine, wherein the second portion differs from the first portion.

Assignments (26)