Check accepting and cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method

1. A method comprising:

a) reading card data from a user card through operation of a card reader in an automated banking machine;

b) determining responsive to operation of the automated banking machine, that the card data read in (a) corresponds to an authorized user;

c) accepting a check into the machine;

d) producing image data through operation of the machine, wherein the image data corresponds to optical characteristics in a first area of the check;

e) selecting first data from the image data through operation of the machine using an electronic template;

f) analyzing the selected first data through operation of the machine to determine whether the selected first data represents indicia from a predetermined area of the check;

g) if step (f) results in a negative determination, then carrying out the additional steps of:

h) selecting through operation of the machine, second data from the image data produced by the machine in (d) using the electronic template, wherein the second data corresponds to optical characteristics in a second area of the check, wherein at least a portion of the second area differs from the first area;

i) analyzing the selected second data through operation of the machine to determine whether the selected second data represents indicia from the predetermined area of the check;

j) including through operation of the machine, data corresponding to optical indicia in the predetermined area in a transaction message sent by the machine to a remote computer located remotely from the machine and adapted to authorize a transaction at the machine involving the check.

2. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

k) operating the machine to store the check in a compartment in the machine.

3. The method according to claim 2 and further comprising:

l) subsequent to (c) and prior to (k), operating the machine to print at least one character on the check through operation of a printer in the machine.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein (f) includes analyzing the selected first data using character recognition software;

wherein in (j) the data corresponding to optical indicia includes data corresponding to at least one character determined through operation of the machine using the character recognition software.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein (i) includes analyzing the selected second data using character recognition software;

wherein in (j) the data corresponding to optical indicia includes data corresponding to at least one character determined through operation of the machine using the character recognition software.

6. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

k) prior to (j), reading magnetic indicia from the check through operation of the machine.

7. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein in (f) the analyzing is operative to determine if the selected first data corresponds to at least a portion of a micr line on the check;

and further comprising:

k) prior to (j), reading magnetic indicia on the check through operation of the machine;

l) prior to (j), determining through operation of the machine whether magnetic indicia read in (k) corresponds to the at least a portion of the micr line determined in (f).

8. The method according to claim 7 and further comprising:

m) dispensing cash through operation of a cash dispenser of the machine to the authorized user responsive to the determination in (l).

9. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein in (i) the analyzing is operative to determine if the selected second data corresponds to at least a portion of a micr line on the check;

and further comprising:

k) prior to (j), reading magnetic indicia on the check through operation of the machine;

l) prior to (j), determining through operation of the machine whether magnetic indicia read in (k) corresponds to the at least a portion of the micr line determined in (i).

10. The method according to claim 9 and further comprising:

m) dispensing cash through operation of a cash dispenser of the machine to the authorized user responsive to the determination in (l).

11. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

(k) prior to (e), determining through operation of the machine, the electronic template from among a plurality of electronic templates determinable through operation of the machine.

12. The method according to claim 11 and further comprising:

(l) receiving from the authorized user at least one input through operation of the machine;

wherein in (k) the electronic template is determined responsive to the at least one input received in (l).

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein (h) includes reformatting the image data.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein in (h) the reformatting corresponds to changing an orientation of the image data.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein in (h) the reformatting corresponds to changing the orientation of the image data 180°.

16. The method according to claim 13 wherein in (h) the reformatting corresponds to aligning the image data in an imposed coordinate system.

17. The method according to claim 1

wherein (f) includes determining if the selected first data represents at least one predetermined indicia character.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein in (f) the at least one predetermined indicia character includes a micr character.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein in (f) the at least one predetermined indicia character comprises a currency type character.

20. The method according to claim 1 wherein (f) includes determining if the indicia corresponds to known characters with at least a predetermined level of assurance.

21. The method according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine includes a display, and further comprising:

k) reproducing an image of at least a portion of the check on the display.

22. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

k) receiving with the banking machine a further transaction message from the remote computer, the further transaction message including data authorizing the machine to accept the check;

l) moving the check to a storage location in the machine through operation of the machine responsive to the further transaction message received in (k).

23. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

(k) receiving with the banking machine a further transaction message from the remote computer;

(l) dispensing cash from the machine to the authorized user responsive to the further transaction message received in (k), through operation of a cash dispenser of the machine.

24. A method comprising:

a) reading card data from a user card through operation of a card reader in an automated banking machine, wherein the card data corresponds to at least one financial account;

b) receiving a financial check through operation of the machine;

c) producing image data through operation of the machine, wherein the image data corresponds to visual appearance of at least a portion of the check;

d) determining data corresponding to a first electronic template configuration from among a plurality of electronic template configurations, through operation of the machine;

e) selecting data from the image data using the data corresponding to the first electronic template configuration determined in (d), through operation of the machine;

f) analyzing the data selected in (e) through operation of the machine to determine if the data elected corresponds to characters recognized through operation of at least one computer in the machine; and

g) either

(gi) responsive to a positive determination in (f), operating the machine to include data corresponding to at least some of the characters that correspond to the data selected, in at least one message sent by the machine to a remote computer;

or

(gii) responsive to a negative determination in (f), repeating (e) and (f) to select and analyze data that includes at least some image data not previously selected in (e), and responsive to a positive determination in repeated (f), operating the machine to include data corresponding to at least some of the characters that correspond to the data selected, in at least one message sent by the machine to a remote computer.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein (gii) includes repeating (e) and (f) a plurality of times, and further comprising:

h) after repeating (e) and (f) a plurality of times without a positive determination in (f), determining data corresponding to a second electronic template configuration different from the first electronic template configuration through operation of the machine;

i) selecting data from the image data using the data corresponding to the second electronic template configuration determined in (h) through operation of the machine;

j) analyzing the data selected in (i) through operation of the machine to determine if the data selected corresponds to characters recognized through operation of the at least one computer in the machine;

k) responsive to a positive determination in (j), operating the machine to include at least some of the machine recognized characters corresponding to the data, in at least one message sent by the machine to a remote computer;

responsive to a negative determination in (j), repeating steps (i) and (j), wherein in each repeated (i) the data selected from the image data includes at least some image data not selected in a previous (i), and stopping the repeating of (i) and (j) responsive to a positive determination in (j), whereby (k) is carried out.

26. At least one article including computer readable media bearing computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one computer of an automated banking machine to carry out a method comprising:

a) reading card data from a user card through operation of the machine, wherein the card data corresponds to at least one financial account;

b) receiving a financial check through operation of the machine;

c) producing image data through operation of the machine, wherein the image data corresponds to visual appearance of at least a portion of the check;

d) determining data corresponding to a first electronic template configuration from among a plurality of electronic template configurations, through operation of the machine;

e) selecting data from the image data using the data corresponding to the first electronic template configuration determined in (d), through operation of the machine;

f) analyzing the data selected in (e) through operation of the machine to determine if the data selected corresponds to characters recognized through operation of the machine; and

g) either

(gi) responsive to a positive determination in (f), operating the machine to include data corresponding to at least some of the characters that correspond to the data selected, in at least one message sent by the machine to a remote computer;

or

(gii) responsive to a negative determination in (f), repeating (e) and (f) to select and analyze data that includes at least some image data not previously selected in (e), and responsive to a positive determination in repeated (f), operating the machine to include data corresponding to at least some of the characters that correspond to the data selected, in at least one message sent by the machine to a remote computer.