Image-based check depositing automated teller machine (ATM) and method of operating an image-based check depositing ATM
View Patent ↗A method of operating an image-based self-service check depositing terminal comprises receiving from a customer a check to be deposited, capturing image data which is representative of a first check image, binarizing the captured image data to provide a second check image which is a binary form of the first image, determining a check image quality value associated with the second image, comparing the quality value with a first threshold, transmitting the second image to a back office facility when the quality value is outside of the first threshold, comparing the quality value with a second threshold which is different from the first threshold, returning the check to the customer when the quality value is outside of the second threshold, and transmitting the first image to a back office facility when the quality value is between the first and second thresholds.
1. A method of operating a publicly-accessible image-based self-service check depositing terminal, the method comprising:
receiving from a self-service depositor customer a check to be deposited;
capturing image data which is representative of a first check image;
electronically by a computer binarizing the captured image data to provide binarized data which is representative of a second check image which is different from the first check image and which second check image is a binary form of the first check image;
electronically by a computer determining a check image quality value associated with the second check image which is different from the first check image;
electronically by a computer comparing the check image quality value with a first threshold value;
electronically by a computer transmitting the second check image which is different from the first check image to a back office facility of an institution when the check image quality value is outside of the first threshold value;
electronically by a computer comparing the check image quality value with a second threshold value which is different from the first threshold value;
returning the check to the self-service depositor customer when the check image quality value is outside of the second threshold value; and
electronically by a computer transmitting the first check image which is different from the second check image to a back office facility of an institution when the check image quality value is between the first and second threshold values.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein (i) the second threshold value is less than the first threshold value, and (ii) the second check image which is different from the first check image is transmitted to the back office facility of the institution when the check image quality value is above the first threshold value, and (iii) the check is returned to the self-service depositor customer when the check image quality value is below the second threshold value.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein (i) the second threshold value is greater than the first threshold value, and (ii) the second check image which is different from the first check image is transmitted to the back office facility of the institution when the check image quality value is below the first threshold value, and (iii) the check is returned to the self-service depositor customer when the check image quality value is above the second threshold value.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein (i) the first check image comprises a grayscale check image, and (ii) the second check image comprises a binary image which is a binary form of the grayscale check image.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein (i) the first check image comprises a color check image, and (ii) the second check image comprises a binary image which is a binary form of the color check image.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the image-based self-service depositing terminal comprises an image-based check depositing automated teller machine (ATM).
7. A method of operating an image-based check depositing automated teller machine (ATM), the method comprising:
receiving from an ATM customer a check to be deposited;
capturing image data which is representative of a first check image;
electronically by a computer binarizing the captured image data to provide binarized data which is representative of a second check image which is different from the first check image and which second check image is a binary form of the first check image;
electronically by a computer determining a check image quality value associated with the second check image which is different from the first check image;
electronically by a computer comparing the check image quality value with a first threshold value and a second threshold value which is different from the first threshold value; and
electronically by a computer transmitting the first check image which is different from the second check image to a back office facility of an institution when the check image quality value is between the first and second threshold values.
8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein (i) the second threshold value is less than the first threshold value, and (ii) the second check image which is different from the first check image is transmitted to the back office facility of the institution when the check image quality value is above the first threshold value, and (iii) the check is returned to the ATM customer when the check image quality value is below the second threshold value.
9. A method according to claim 7 , wherein (i) the second threshold value is greater than the first threshold value, and (ii) the second check image which is different from the first check image is transmitted to the back office facility of the institution when the check image quality value is below the first threshold value, and (iii) the check is returned to the ATM customer when the check image quality value is above the second threshold value.
10. A method according to claim 7 , wherein (i) the first check image comprises a grayscale check image, and (ii) the second check image comprises a binary image which is a binary form of the grayscale check image.
11. A method according to claim 7 , wherein (i) the first check image comprises a color check image, and (ii) the second check image comprises a binary image which is a binary form of the color check image.
12. An image-based self-service check depositing terminal, the image-based self-service check depositing terminal comprising:
a transport mechanism for receiving from a self-service depositor customer a check to be deposited;
an imaging camera for capturing image data which is representative of a first check image; and
an electronic controller for (i) electronically binarizing the captured image data to provide binarized data which is representative of a second check image which is different from the first check image and which second check image is a binary form of the first check image, (ii) electronically determining a check image quality value associated with the second check image which is different from the first check image, (iii) electronically comparing the check image quality value with a first threshold value, (iv) electronically transmitting the second check image which is different from the first check image to a back office facility of an institution when the check image quality value is outside of the first threshold value, (v) electronically comparing the check image quality value with a second threshold value which is different from the first threshold value, (vi) providing an electronic control signal to control the transport mechanism to return the check to the self-service depositor customer when the check image quality value is outside of the second threshold value, and (vii) electronically transmitting the first check image which is different from the second check image to a back office facility of an institution when the check image quality value is between the first and second threshold values.
13. An image-based self-service check depositing terminal according to claim 12 , wherein (i) the second threshold value is less than the first threshold value, and (ii) the second check image which is different from the first check image is transmitted to the back office facility of the institution when the check image quality value is above the first threshold value, and (iii) the check is returned to the self-service depositor customer when the check image quality value is below the second threshold value.
14. An image-based self-service check depositing terminal according to claim 12 , wherein (i) the second threshold value is greater than the first threshold value, and (ii) the second check image which is different from the first check image is transmitted to the back office facility of the institution when the check image quality value is below the first threshold value, and (iii) the check is returned to the self-service depositor customer when the check image quality value is above the second threshold value.
15. An image-based self-service check depositing terminal according to claim 12 , wherein (i) the imaging camera comprises a grayscale imaging camera which captures a grayscale check image of the check, (ii) the grayscale check image is binarized to provide a binary check image which is a binary form of the grayscale check image.
16. An image-based self-service check depositing terminal according to claim 12 , wherein (i) the imaging camera comprises a color imaging camera which captures a color check image of the check, (ii) the color check image is binarized to provide a binary check image which is a binary form of the color check image.
17. An image-based self-service check depositing terminal according to claim 12 , wherein the image-based self-service depositing terminal comprises an image-based check depositing automated teller machine (ATM).