Financial check with an electronic ink display
View Patent ↗A reusable financial check includes an electronic ink display. The electronic ink has magnetic properties enabling magnetic reading of check information, such as an account number and a bank routing number. The check can be read by an ATM and the check amount accepted for deposit. The ATM includes an imaging device that can digitally capture images of the check. The ATM is also able to reconfigure the electronic ink to cancel the check and return it to the customer for reuse. The ATM further includes an electronic check template enabling the generation of reusable electronic ink checks. An electronic pen enables a check holder to write information (e.g., a check amount) on a blank electronic ink check.
1. A method comprising:
a) receiving from a user through operation of an automated banking machine including a card reader operative to read data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts, a check accepting device, at least one optical sensor and at least one processor in operative connection with the card reader, the at least one optical sensor and the check accepting device, a check including changeable electronic ink;
b) reading through operation of the automated banking machine the electronic ink of the received check using the at least one optical sensor; and
c) operating the automated banking machine to perform at least one banking transaction.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
d) changing through operation of the banking machine at least a portion of the electronic ink.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein (d) includes changing a color of the electronic ink of the check.
4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the check includes indicia in a portion typically filled out by a check drafter, and wherein in (d) the indicia in the portion of the electronic check typically filled out by a check drafter is erased.
5. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:
e) subsequent to (d), returning through operation of the banking machine the check as changed in (d) to the user of the banking machine.
6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
f) determining a check number on the check through operation of the banking machine responsive to the electronic ink read in (b);
g) determining a next check number to include on the check, through operation of the banking machine responsive to the determination in (f);
wherein in (d) the check number is changed to the next check number.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser, wherein in (c) the at least one banking transaction includes a cash dispensing transaction wherein cash is dispensed through operation of the cash dispenser.
8. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
d) determining through operation of the automated banking machine responsive to image data read in (b) that the check is valid; and
e) responsive to the determination in (d), accepting the check for deposit through operation of the automated banking machine.
9. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
d) operating the automated banking machine to electronically change the visible appearance of the check.
10. The method according to claim 1
wherein (a) includes receiving a check that includes an electronic ink display,
wherein (b) includes reading image data displayed by the electronic ink display,
wherein (c) includes using image data read in (b) in performing at least one banking transaction with the automated banking machine.
11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one imaging device, and further comprising:
d) operating the at least one imaging device to digitally capture at least one image of at least one side of the check; and
e) operating the automated banking machine to electronically transmit from the machine, the at least one image captured in (d).
12. A method comprising:
a) obtaining with an automated banking machine, a check that includes an electronic ink display,
wherein the electronic ink display is changeable,
wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one processor in operative connection with at least one reading device;
b) reading through operation of the at least one reading device, image data displayed by the electronic ink display;
c) operating the automated banking machine to perform at least one banking transaction using image data read in (b).
13. A method comprising:
a) receiving from a user through operation of an automatic banking machine including a card reader operative to read data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts, at least one magnetic sensor, at least one optical sensor, and at least one processor in operative connection with the card reader, at least one optical sensor, and the at least one magnetic sensor, a check including changeable electronic ink having magnetic properties;
b) reading through operation of the automated banking machine, the electronic ink of the check using the at least one optical sensor;
c) reading through operation of the automated banking machine, the electronic ink of the check using the at least one magnetic sensor; and
d) operating of the automated banking machine to perform at least one banking transaction.
14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
e) changing through operation of the banking machine, at least a portion of the electronic ink on the check.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the check includes indicia in a portion typically filled out by a check drafter, wherein in step (e) indicia in the portion is erased.
16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
f) subsequent to (e), operating the automated banking machine to return the changed check to the user of the automated banking machine.
17. The method according to claim 16 wherein in (d) the at least one banking transaction includes crediting the user a value associated with the check.
18. The method according to claim 16 wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser, and wherein in (d) the at least one banking transaction includes dispensing an amount of cash to the user through operation of the cash dispenser that corresponds to a value of the check.
19. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the check read in (b) includes a check number comprised of electronic ink,
wherein step (e) includes changing the check number on the check;
and further comprising:
(f) subsequent to (e), operating the automated banking machine to return the check to the user.
20. The method according to claim 14 wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser,
and wherein in (d) the at least one banking transaction includes dispensing cash from the machine through operation of the cash dispenser, wherein an amount of cash dispensed corresponds to the check.