JP2003150800A - Method and device for processing recording medium, method and device for controlling this device, program for executing this processing method on computer, and computer readable recording medium with this program recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the situation that required information cannot be read from picture data which has the data volume compressed and is preserved with respect to a recording medium having data visibly recorded. SOLUTION: A CPU 40 of a check processing device 10 discriminates whether a prescribed part of an inserted check can be represented with binarized picture data or not on the basis of 256-gradation picture data obtained by scanning the prescribed part with a scanner part 50. In the case that it is discriminated that the prescribed part can be represented with binarized picture data, the 256-gradation picture data obtained by scanning the check with the scanner part 50 is binarized and is sent to a host computer 28 and is recorded in a storage device 30. In the case that it is discriminated that the prescribed part cannot be represented with binarized picture data, the 256-gradation picture data is sent to the host computer 28 as it is and is recorded in the storage device 30.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium processing method, a recording medium processing apparatus, and a recording medium processing apparatus control method suitable for processing a recording medium on which a visible recording such as a check or a bill is made. A method for controlling a recording medium processing device, a program for causing a computer to execute the recording medium processing method,
Also, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium recording this program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a check is settled at a store, the store receives a check from a customer who is a buyer and confirms its validity. If it is confirmed to be valid, a check or endorsement will be given to the check if necessary, and the check will be brought to a settlement institution such as a bank. At the clearing house, payment is performed by performing a transfer process from the sender's account to the store's account based on the check brought in. As described above, in the conventional check settlement, the bill itself is brought from the store to the settlement organization, and the bill is settled accordingly.

On the other hand, in recent years, electronic settlement of payments by checks has been advanced, and data such as account numbers recorded on checks are read by a terminal device installed in a store.
It has become possible to send this data to the server of the payment institution to make a payment. By digitizing check payments in this way, it is not necessary to bring checks into a clearing house, which improves work efficiency. And in this case,
Checks that are no longer required to be brought into a clearing house will be returned from the store to the buyer on the spot. However, if the check used in the transaction is returned without leaving any records, there is no evidence that the check was carried out by the check, and the difference in the amount of money and the purchase with the buyer later. We cannot deal with troubles such as discrepancy of not buying. Therefore, when electronically making a check payment, the store stores the image data obtained by scanning the check with a scanner as proof of the transaction.

Image data obtained by scanning a check usually has a relatively large number of gradations such as 8 bits (256 gradations), and its data size becomes large.
In addition, the store side needs to store the images of checks drawn out by various buyers for a considerable period of time, so that the number of image data to be stored also increases. Therefore, if the image data obtained by scanning is stored with the same number of gradations, the capacity of the storage device required to store the data becomes enormous,
In addition, it also takes a long time to transfer the image data.

[0005]

In order to avoid such an inconvenience, it is effective to save the data after binarizing the image data to reduce the data amount. However, in order to use the saved image data as evidence that a check was purchased, items such as the check number recorded on the check, the buyer's (drawer's) signature, and the amount of money are represented by the image data. Need to be present. There are various types of check patterns, and in the case of a check with a dark color or when the ink of a signature is thin, these necessary items may be confused with the check pattern. Therefore, if the image data is binarized in such a case,
The necessary items cannot be read, and even if the binarized image data is saved, it cannot be used as proof that shopping was done by check.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a situation in which necessary information cannot be read from image data stored by compressing the data amount of a recording medium on which visible recording is performed An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium processing method, a recording medium processing apparatus, and a recording medium processing apparatus control method that can be prevented.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing a recording medium on which visible recording is made, the receiving step of receiving the recording medium by a predetermined receiving section, A first acquisition step of obtaining image data of a first compression degree that represents a predetermined portion of the received recording medium;
Based on the acquired image data, it is determined whether or not the information represented by the image of the predetermined portion can be reproduced by the image data of the second compression degree having a compression degree higher than the first compression degree. And a reproducible image data of the second compression degree that represents at least a part of the received recording medium while the reproducible image is not reproducible in the determination step. If it is determined that, the second acquisition step of obtaining the image data of the first compression degree representing at least a part of the accepted recording medium, and the recording step of recording the image data obtained in the second acquisition step. And are provided.

The invention described in claim 2 is the recording medium processing method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the receiving step, a check is accepted as the recording medium.

Further, the invention described in claim 3 is the recording medium processing method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of receiving an input as to whether or not the settlement based on the received recording medium can be electronically performed. If the input is made that it is not possible to make the payment electronically in the step, the accepted recording medium is ejected from a predetermined ejecting section without executing the first acquisition step. Is characterized by.

The invention described in claim 4 is, in the recording medium processing method according to claim 2 or 3, payment information that attempts to read payment information including payer account information recorded on the recording medium. A reading step, wherein when the payment information cannot be read in the payment information reading step, the accepted recording medium is discharged from a predetermined discharge section without executing the first acquisition step. To do.

Further, in the invention described in claim 5, in the recording medium processing method according to claim 4, when the payment information can be read in the payment information reading step, the read payment information is added to the read payment information. It is characterized by comprising a step of outputting a signal for performing electronic payment processing based on the above.

The invention described in claim 6 is the recording medium processing method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the recording medium is invalid as a check in the accepted recording medium. It is characterized by comprising a step of printing a message to the effect.

The invention described in claim 7 is the recording medium processing method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein predetermined items required as a check are printed on the accepted recording medium. A printing step is provided.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 8, in the recording medium processing method according to claim 7, whether or not the predetermined item is already recorded on the accepted recording medium before executing the printing step. The method further comprises a step of receiving an input as to whether or not the predetermined item is already recorded, and when the input indicating that the predetermined item is already recorded is made, the execution of the printing step is prohibited.

Further, in the invention described in claim 9, in the recording unit processing method according to claim 7 or 8, when the printing step is executed, the second acquisition step is performed after the printing step. It is characterized by executing.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for processing a recording medium on which visible recording is performed, wherein the recording medium received by a predetermined receiving means is scanned to obtain image data. A first obtaining step of obtaining image data of a first compression degree representing the predetermined portion by causing a scanner unit that generates the image to scan the predetermined portion of the received recording medium, and based on the obtained image data A determination step of determining whether or not the information represented by the image of the predetermined portion can be reproduced by image data of a second compression degree having a compression degree higher than the first compression degree; If it is determined that the step can be reproduced,
While the image data of the second compression degree is obtained by causing the scanner unit to scan at least a part of the recording medium, when the determination step determines that the image data cannot be reproduced, the scanner unit causes the recording medium to be recorded. A second obtaining step of obtaining image data of the first compression degree by scanning at least a part of the image data.

According to the invention described in claim 11, in the recording medium processing method according to claim 10, the scanner means generates image data of the first compression degree, and in the second acquisition step, When it is determined in the determination step that the image can be reproduced, the image data having the first compression degree acquired by scanning with the scanner unit is converted into the image data having the second compression degree. .

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for processing a recording medium on which a visible recording is made, the receiving means receiving the recording medium, and scanning the received recording medium. And a first obtaining means for obtaining image data of a first compression degree by causing the scanner means to scan a predetermined portion of the received recording medium, and the predetermined image data based on the obtained image data. Determination means for determining whether or not the information represented by the partial image can be reproduced with image data of a second compression degree having a compression degree higher than the first compression degree, and reproducible by the determination means When it is determined that the image data of the second compression degree is obtained by causing the scanner unit to scan at least a part of the recording medium, When it is determined that the image data cannot be reproduced, the scanner unit scans at least a part of the recording medium to obtain the image data having the first compression degree. The second acquisition unit is provided. .

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium processing apparatus according to the twelfth aspect, the scanner means generates image data of the first compression degree, and the second acquisition means The image data having the first compression degree acquired by scanning with the scanner means is converted into the image data having the second compression degree when the determination means determines that the image data can be reproduced. .

Further, the invention described in claim 14 is, receiving means for receiving a recording medium on which visible recording is made, scanner means for scanning the received recording medium to generate image data, and the scanner. A method for controlling a recording medium processing device, comprising: a control means for controlling the means, wherein the control means causes the scanner means to scan a predetermined portion of the recording medium accepted by the acceptance means. Sending an instruction to obtain image data of a first degree of compression representing a portion;
Based on the obtained image data, the information represented by the predetermined portion is reproduced by the control means as image data having a second compression degree higher than the first compression degree. Based on the received determination result, a step of transmitting an instruction to determine whether it is possible, a step of receiving the result of the determination made according to the transmitted instruction,
When the predetermined portion can be reproduced by the image data of the second compression degree, the control means causes the scanner means to scan at least a part of the recording medium, thereby the image of the second compression degree. When the instruction to obtain the data is transmitted and the predetermined portion cannot be reproduced with the image data having the second compression degree, at least a part of the recording medium is instructed to the scanner means to the control means. Transmitting an instruction to obtain the image data having the first compression degree by scanning, and receiving from the control means the image data obtained by the control means in accordance with the instruction transmitted in the step. And a step of recording the received image data in a storage means.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium processing method according to any one of the first to eleventh and fourteenth aspects, the image data of the first compression degree is the first image data. Image data represented by a gradation number, wherein the image data having the second compression degree is image data represented by a second gradation number smaller than the first gradation number. And

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording medium processing apparatus according to the twelfth and thirteenth aspects.
The image data with the first compression degree is image data represented by a first gradation number, and the image data with the second compression degree is a second gradation value smaller than the first gradation number. The image data is represented by the number of gradations.

The invention described in claim 17 relates to a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 10, 11 or 14.
The invention described in (1) relates to a computer-readable recording medium in which the program according to (17) is recorded.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an external view of the entire system which is an embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of the system of the present embodiment. The system of the present embodiment is installed at a checkout counter or the like of a store, and is composed of a check processing device 10 and a register device 20 communicably connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the check processing apparatus 10 is covered with, for example, a resin cover 12, an insertion port 14 for inserting a check is provided on the front surface thereof, and a check is provided on the upper surface portion thereof. A discharge port 16 for discharging the is provided. Further, behind the upper surface of the check processing device 10, there is a roll paper discharge port 18 for discharging the roll paper stored in a roll paper storage unit (not shown) and printed by a roll paper printing unit 48 described later. It is provided. On the other hand, the register device 20 includes a display unit with a touch panel function 22, a receipt printing unit 24, a credit card reader unit 26, a customer display 27, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the check processing device 10 includes:
A central processing unit (CPU) 40 is provided. Further, the register device 20 includes a host computer 28 and a storage device 30. CPU 4 of check processing device 10
0 and the host computer 28 of the register device 20 can communicate with each other by wire or wirelessly, and can exchange various data.

In the register device 20, the above-mentioned display unit 22, credit card reader unit 26,
The storage device 30 is connected to the host computer 28. Furthermore, the host computer 28 is connected to a server (payment institution server) 34 of the payment institution via a communication line 32.

The settlement organization may be a settlement agency such as a so-called clearing house (an agency that performs settlement processing in response to a request from a store or the like).
It may be the financial institution itself. Such a clearing house has the function of determining the validity of a check based on the check issuer's account number, etc., and the function of executing payment for the check, but in the case of a clearinghouse, depending on its authority, Can only determine the validity of the check,
In some cases, it does not have the function of performing payment processing. In such a case, an inquiry about the validity of a check may be sent to the server of the clearing house, and a payment execution instruction may be sent to a financial institution (or a clearing house having a payment function). , The payment institution has both of these functions.

As shown in FIG. 2, the check processing device 10 is
Further, a MICR reading unit 42, a front cover printing unit 44, an endorsement printing unit 46, a roll paper printing unit 48, which are connected to the CPU 40,
It includes a scanner section 50, a check transport section 52, a check position detection section 54, and the like.

The MICR reader 42 reads magnetic ink characters recorded on the surface of the check (MICR: Magnet).
ic Ink Character Recognition), and supplies the read data to the CPU 40. As will be described later, the CPU 40 inquires of the clearing house server 34 about the validity of the check based on the data read by the MICR reading unit 42. .

FIG. 3 shows a check processing device 10 of this embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a check processed by the method. The magnetic ink characters are recorded in the MICR recording area 60 on the surface of the check shown in FIG. 3, and the recorded data includes the account number of the check issuer. The account number here means a number that can uniquely identify an account including a bank code and a store code.

The front cover printing section 44 and the endorsement printing section 46 are
Each of them is configured to include a print head of an appropriate method such as a dot impact method. The book print unit 44 is a CP
According to instructions from U40, payee,
According to instructions from the CPU 40, the endorsement printing unit 46 prints out front matter items such as the date and the amount of money, and the endorsement items necessary for the shop side such as the shopper's authentication number, the date, and the amount spent on the back of the check according to the instruction from the CPU 40. Is printed. The endorsement matter is printed in the endorsement area 62 shown in FIG. 3, and the endorsement matter is printed in the endorsement area 64 on the back of the check.

The roll paper printing unit 48 is configured to include a print head of an appropriate system such as a thermal transfer system, and has a CPU.
According to the instruction from 40, after printing a consent form (a consent document for electronically processing a check), a receipt, a coupon, a receipt, etc. on the roll paper pulled out from the roll paper storage unit, it is not shown. Cut the printed roll paper with the auto cutter.

The scanner section 50 is configured to include an appropriate image sensor such as a contact image sensor,
The surface of the check is scanned according to the instruction from the CPU 40, and the obtained image data is supplied to the CPU 40. In this embodiment, each pixel of the image data generated by the scanner unit 50 has, for example, 8-bit 256 gradations (0 to 25).
It shall be represented by the gray scale of 5).

The check transport unit 52 is for transporting a check along the transport path, and is composed of several sets of transport rollers and a roller driving unit.

The check position detecting section 54 is for detecting the position of the check on the above-mentioned conveyance path, and the position where the check is inserted from the insertion opening 14 by a predetermined amount, the check print section 44 and the endorsement. Printing start position by printing unit 46, MIC
Reading start position by R reading unit 42, scanner unit 5
The CPU 40 sends a signal indicating whether or not the scan start position by 0, the pre-scan start position described later, etc. have been reached
Supply to.

Next, the contents of the processing performed in this embodiment will be described.

4 to 6 are flowcharts showing the flow of the entire processing executed in this embodiment. Note that FIG.
The processing shown in FIG. 6 is realized by the CPU 40 and the host computer 28 reading and executing the programs stored in the memory device, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the cashier process is completed for a shopper, the host computer 28
The payment amount for the shopper is determined (S10).
0). Next, a selection screen for selecting a payment method (cash or credit card check) is displayed on the display unit 22 (S102), and it is determined which payment method is selected on this selection screen (S104). . As a result, when cash or credit card is selected, payment by cash or credit card is performed according to the selection (S106), and the process ends. on the other hand,
When the check is selected as the payment method, a confirmation screen for confirming whether or not the check payment may be performed electronically is displayed on the display unit 22 (S108). The clerk asks the shopper for approval to electronically make check payments, and if approval is obtained, selects the “Confirm” button on the confirmation screen above, but if approval is not obtained To select the "Conventional processing" button. The host computer 28 determines which button is selected on the confirmation screen (S110), and when the "confirm" button is selected, a screen for inputting whether or not the check has already been booked. Is displayed (S112). The presence / absence of a book input on this screen is used when the check processing device 10 determines whether or not to print a book, as described later. The process when the “conventional process” button is selected will be described later.

When the presence / absence of a book is input, a message prompting the user to insert a check is then displayed (S114). In response to this, the store clerk inserts the check received from the shopper into the inserting section 14 of the check processing apparatus 10. The CPU 40 of the check processing device 10 determines whether or not a check has been inserted based on the detection signal from the check position detection unit 54 (S116), and when inserted, sends a signal to that effect to the host computer 28 ( S118). In response to this signal, the host computer 28 sends an instruction to read the magnetic ink characters of the check to the CPU 40 (S).
120).

In response to this instruction, the CPU 40 conveys the check to the reading position of the MICR reading unit 42 by the check conveying unit 52, and then the MICR reading unit 42.
To read magnetic ink characters on check (S12
2). Then, when the magnetic ink characters are correctly read, the data such as the account number obtained by the reading is read, and when the magnetic ink characters are not read, the data to that effect is read as the reading result, respectively. 28 (S124).

In the host computer 28, the CPU 40
It is determined whether or not the magnetic ink characters have been correctly read based on the reading result transmitted from (S12).
6). As a result, if it has not been read, a message indicating that the magnetic ink characters cannot be read is displayed (S128), and an instruction to eject the check is displayed.
After the transmission to the PU 40, the process ends. CPU40
When this instruction is received, the check transport unit 52 discharges the check from the discharge port 16 (S131). This can prevent the process from proceeding if an unauthorized check (or a piece of paper other than the check) without the recording of magnetic ink characters is inserted, or if the check is inserted face down.

On the other hand, when the magnetic ink characters are read, the host computer 28 determines whether the account number included in the read data is correct (that is, whether the account with the account number exists). Inquiry to the server 34 (S132, S134). As a result, if the account number is incorrect, a message indicating that the check cannot be handled is displayed (S136), and the check discharge command is sent to the CPU 40 (S130 above), after which the process ends. . On the other hand, if the account number is correct, the CPU
A pre-scan start instruction is transmitted to 40 (S
138).

When the CPU 40 receives the prescan start instruction, the CPU 40 prescans the check and executes a series of threshold value determination processing until the threshold value for binarizing the image data is determined (S140).

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the principle of threshold value determination in the threshold value determination processing of this embodiment, and shows an example of the gray level frequency distribution of each pixel forming the check image. In the threshold value determining process of the present embodiment, the gray level frequency distribution is determined by determining the peak P1 of a portion having a small gray level value (that is, a dark portion) corresponding to the printed or handwritten character portion of the check, and the background of the check. It is separated into a peak P2 of a portion having a large gray level value (that is, a portion having a bright color) corresponding to the portion and a peak P1 on the dark side.
An intermediate value between the value PMin of the upper limit of Pm and the value PMax of the lower limit of the bright peak P2 is determined as the threshold TH.

FIG. 8 shows the CPU 40 based on the above principle.
5 is a flowchart showing an outline of a threshold value determination process executed by the. As shown in FIG. 8, first, image data is acquired by prescanning for a specific portion of the check (S2).
00). FIG. 9 shows the portion of the check that is the target of image acquisition by prescanning. As shown in FIG. 9, in the prescan, a portion (hereinafter, referred to as an MICR portion) SMIC that overlaps with the MICR recording area 60 in which magnetic ink characters are recorded is
Image data is acquired for R and portions (hereinafter, referred to as non-MICR portions) Sb1 to Sb3 other than the magnetic ink character portion. In this embodiment, the MICR section Sm and the non-MI
The CR sections Sb1 to Sb3 are selected to be arranged side by side in the width direction of the check. When scanning a check, the scanner unit 50 reads the image while sending the check in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, as described above, the MICR part S
By selecting MICR and non-MICR parts Sb1 to Sb3,
If the check is sent by the length of these portions (L shown in FIG. 9), the prescan ends, and the time required for the prescan can be shortened.

However, the target portion of the prescan is not limited to the above-mentioned one, and may be appropriately selected so that a more appropriate threshold value can be determined. For example, the number of MICR portions may be two or more, not limited to one, and the number of non-MICR portions may be one, two or four or more, and the positions and dimensions of each may be appropriately determined. You can choose.

When the above prescan is completed, next,
A frequency distribution representing the appearance frequency of gray levels is created for the image data obtained by the prescan (S20).
2).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of the frequency distribution creating process. As shown in FIG.
Frequency distribution Hm from image data of CR part SMICR
(G) is determined (S202A). However, g is a gray level (0 to 255 in this embodiment) of the pixel,
A larger value indicates brighter (closer to white). In creating the frequency distribution Hm (g), the MICR unit SMICR is a part that represents settlement information such as an account number, which is particularly important among checks, so the frequency value is weighted by doubling, for example. That is, Hm (g) = 2 · Hm (g).

Next, from the respective image data of the non-MICR portions Sb1 to Sb3, the frequency distributions Hb1 (g) and Hb2 of each portion are obtained.
(G) and Hb3 (g) are obtained (S202B).

Next, the frequency distribution Hm obtained as described above
(G), Hb1 (g), Hb2 (g) and Hb3 (g) are as follows, respectively, H'm (g), H'b1 (g) and H'b2.
(G) and H'b3 (g) are corrected (S202C).

When g≤BGth, H'm (g) = Hm (g) H'bi (g) = Hbi (g) (i = 1,2,3) When g> BGth, H'm (g) = 0 H'bi (g) = 0 (i = 1, 2, 3) Here, BGth is detected when there is no scan target in front of the light receiving unit of the scanner unit 50 and a background image is captured. Is a lower limit value of the gray level, and is set to a value of about 254, for example. That is, with the above modification, even if the image of the back of the check is included in the image data, the frequency for that image part is cleared to zero, and the frequency distribution for only the check part is correctly obtained. Will be done.

Next, the respective frequency distributions H'm (g), H'b1 (g), H'b2 (g) and H'b3 (g) corrected as described above.
For each gray level g of, the frequency of the gray level g and the frequencies of adjacent 2 · K gray levels (K on the side larger than the gray level g and K on the side smaller than the gray level g) are summed (( The averaging process of each frequency distribution is performed by taking the average value of 2 · K + 1) frequencies. (S20
2D).

That is, regarding the MICR section SMICR: [Equation 1] H ″ m (g) is calculated by
About 1 ~ Sb3

[Equation 2] By this, H ″ b1 (g), H ″ b2 (g), and H ″ b3 (g) are calculated. For example, 4 is used as the value of K.

By this averaging process, the noise portion of the frequency distribution is removed, and the characteristics of the image of each portion are more accurately represented by the frequency distribution.

Then, the frequency distribution H ″ b1 of the non-MICR part
(G), H ″ b2 (g), and H ″ b3 (g) are summed as in the following equation to calculate the integrated frequency distribution H ″ b (g) for the non-MICR part. (S202E).

H ″ b (g) = H ″ b1 (g) + H ″ b2
(G) + H ″ b3 (g) (g = 0 to 255) With the above, the frequency distribution creating process ends.

Next, processing for determining the parameters PMin and PMax for calculating the threshold value is performed from the frequency distributions H ″ m (g) and H ″ b (g) created as described above. (S204 of FIG. 8).

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the details of the process of determining the parameters PMin and PMax. As shown in FIG. 11, first, the frequency distribution H ″ m of the MICR section SMICR
The parameter PMin is determined from (g) (S204).
A). This parameter PMin is a cumulative value of g = 0 to PMin for the relative frequency r (g) (ratio to the total frequency) of the frequency distribution H ″ m (g) of the MICR part SMICR, and is a predetermined value R.
The value is calculated to be (for example, 0.1) (see the left side portion of FIG. 7). That is, PMin is

[Equation 3] As

[Equation 4] Is obtained as the maximum value of g that satisfies

Next, the frequency distribution H ″ m of the MICR part Sm
The parameter PmMax is obtained from (g) (S204
B). Specifically, the value of g that maximizes the frequency of the frequency distribution H ″ m (g) is set as the mode value nmod, and the frequency distribution H ″ m (g) is calculated.
In the above, when the value of g is decreased from nmod by one, the value of H ″ m (g) becomes the predetermined value M (eg, 3) for the first time.
The value of g at the point below 0) is PmMax (see the right part of FIG. 7).

Next, the frequency distribution Hb (g) of the non-MICR part
From this, the parameter PbMax is obtained (S204C).
As for the parameter PbMax, similarly to the case of obtaining the above-mentioned parameter PmMax, the value nmod of g that maximizes the frequency distribution H ″ b (g) is obtained, and the value of g is decreased by 1 from nmod. In this case, the value of g at the point where the value of H ″ b (g) falls below M for the first time is defined as PbMax.

Then, P for the MICR part SMICR
mMax is compared with PbMax for the non-MICR part Sb, and the smaller value is adopted as PMax (S204
D).

When the parameters PMin and PMax are obtained as described above, it is next determined whether or not the threshold for binarization can be determined (S206 in FIG. 8).
Specifically, when the value of PMax is 0, it is determined that the threshold value cannot be determined, and in other cases, it is determined that
It is determined that it is possible to determine the threshold. That is, the fact that the value of PMax is 0 means that the MICR part SM
At least one of the frequency distribution H ″ m (g) of the ICR and the frequency distribution H ″ b (g) of the character portion of the non-magnetic ink portion,
It means that the frequency does not fall below the predetermined value M on the lower side of the maximum peak (the side on which the gray level is smaller). In such a case, the peak P2 on the bright side of the color corresponding to the background portion on which no check character is recorded does not clearly appear in the frequency distribution, and thus the threshold cannot be determined ( That is, it is determined that the information represented by the original image data cannot be reproduced when binarized).

As a result of the above determination processing, when it is determined that the threshold can be determined, the threshold TH is calculated using Pmin and Pmax (S208 in FIG. 8). Specifically, the threshold value R is a value of T percent (for example, 58%) from the PMin side between PMin and PMax. That is, the threshold value TH is calculated by TH = PMin + (PMin−PMax) · T / 100.

However, when PMin ≧ PMax (that is, when the peak P1 on the dark side of the color and the peak P2 on the bright side of the color overlap each other), the value of PMin is set as the threshold value TH.

When the threshold value determining process is completed, the CPU 40 transmits the process result indicating whether or not the threshold value has been determined to the host computer 28 (S142). For example, when the threshold value cannot be determined, the host computer 28 displays a message to that effect (for example, the fact that binarization is not performed when saving the image data) based on the transmitted processing result. (S143 of FIG. 5). However, such a display may be omitted, and in that case, the above S14
In 2, the CPU 40 need only transmit to the host computer 28 that the threshold value determination process has been completed.

Upon receipt of the above processing result from the CPU 40, the host computer 28 transmits an endorsement printing instruction to the CPU 40 (S144). In response to this, the CPU
The check conveying unit 52 conveys the check to the endorsement printing start position, and then the endorsement printing unit 46 performs endorsement printing on the back side of the check (S146). If it is not desired to read the check invalid print in the image data, the check invalid print may be performed as another process.

Next, the host computer 28 is a CPU
When the endorsement print completion notification is received from the CPU 40, an instruction for invalid check printing is transmitted to the CPU 40 (S148). In response to this, the CPU 40 causes the check transport unit 52 to transport the check to the invalid print start position, and then causes the book print unit 44 to perform invalid print check such as "VOID" on the surface of the check (S150). If the check invalid print is not to be read as image data, the check invalid print may be performed as another process.

Further, the host computer 28 uses the CP
Upon receipt of the check invalid printing completion notification from U40, it is determined whether or not the check is printed on the basis of the result of the above-described input / non-display of the book (S112).
2). As a result of this determination, if the book is not printed, it is judged that the book printing is necessary, and
The instruction to print the book items including the payee, the date, the amount of money, etc. is transmitted (S154). In response to this, the CPU
In step 40, the check conveying section 52 conveys the check to the book print start position, and the book print section 44 prints the check on the check (S156). Host computer 2
8 receives the notification from the CPU 40 that the printout of the book is completed, S
Proceed to 158. On the other hand, if the check has already been printed in S152, it is determined that printing of the book is unnecessary, and the book printing command is not transmitted and the process proceeds to S158.

The payee, the amount of money included in the book item,
Of the dates, etc., the payee is the name of the store in which this system is installed and is preset for each system, the amount of money is the value of the settlement amount determined in S100, and the date is from the system clock. To be acquired. That is, it is not necessary to input the book item again when printing the book. The endorsement item is set in advance for each system. For example, when there are a plurality of cash registers in the store, the cashier number can be included as an endorsement item. It is also possible to set the host computer 28 or the check processing device 10 so that the endorsement printing is not performed. In that case, the endorsement printing instruction in S144 above is omitted (when the endorsement printing is set by the host computer 28). Alternatively, even if an endorsement printing instruction is received in S146, this instruction is ignored (when set by the check processing device 10).

In S158, the host computer 28 sends to the CPU 40 an instruction to perform a main scan of the check. Upon receiving this instruction, the CPU 40 causes the scanner 50 to perform an image scan while the check conveyance unit 52 conveys the check, and ejects the check after scanning from the ejection port 16 (S16).
0). It should be noted that the acquisition of the image data by the main scan in S160 may be performed on the entire surface of the check, or a part including matters necessary for specifying the check such as the check number, the account number, the sender signature, and the amount. You may go about.

Next, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the threshold value has been determined in the threshold value determination process of S140 (S).
162). As a result, when the threshold value can be determined, it is determined that the necessary items for specifying the check can be reproduced even if the image data is binarized. In this case, since the binarized image data can be used as evidence of the transaction, the binarization processing of the image data is performed using the determined threshold TH (S164), and this image data is stored in the host. It is transmitted to the computer 28 (S166). On the other hand, if the threshold value cannot be determined in the threshold value determination process, binarizing the image data makes it impossible to reproduce the necessary items for specifying the check. Therefore, the binarization process is not performed and the scan is performed. Obtained by 256
The gradation image data is transmitted as it is to the host computer 28 (S166).

That is, when a check-based payment is made electronically, the check itself is returned from the store to the buyer. Therefore, the store stores the image data of the check as proof that the check has been transacted. At this time, it is desirable to store the image data after binarizing the image data in order to compress the data amount. However, in order to use the binarized image data as evidence of a transaction, it is essential to be able to read from the image data necessary items for specifying a check such as a check number, a sender account number, and a sender signature. Therefore,
If the threshold could not be determined, the check could not be identified from the binarized image data, and it could not be used as evidence of a transaction, so it was displayed in grayscale without binarization. The original image data as it is is delivered to the host computer 28 and stored.

The host computer 28 records the image data transmitted from the CPU 40 in the storage device 30 together with the settlement data including information such as the account number and the amount of the check (S168).

The host computer 28 also sends to the CPU 40 an instruction to print a consent form (a consent form for electronically processing a check) (S170). In response to this, the CPU 40 directs the roll paper printing unit 48
A general consent document is printed (S172).

At the store, the check that was scanned and ejected in S160 is printed with the two consent documents printed on the roll paper in S172 and the receipt printing section 24 during the register operation. Give it to the shopper along with the receipt. Of these, the positive consent document is signed by the shopper, collected, and stored at the store side. And, as described below,
Host computer 28 and settlement institution server 3 at night
The settlement processing is electronically performed by communication with the communication terminal 4.

In addition, in S110 (FIG. 4), if the consent to computerize the settlement process is not obtained,
The host computer 28 causes the display unit 22 to display a message to the effect that a check should be inserted to print a front cover / endorsement, etc. (S180), and then S1 shown in FIG.
The processing after 82 is executed.

That is, S144 and S15 of FIG.
Similarly to 2, S154, the endorsement print instruction (S182), the presence / absence of a front cover (S186), and the front cover print instruction (S188) are issued to the CPU 40, and the CPU 4 responds to the instruction.
0 is endorsement printing (S184) and front end printing (S190)
To execute. The host computer 28 is a CPU
A check ejection instruction is transmitted to the check 40 (S192), and in response thereto, the CPU 40 ejects the check from the ejection opening 16 (S194). When the check is discharged, only the detailed receipt is handed to the shopper, and the check is stored at the store side to perform the conventional non-electronic check settlement process.

The host computer 28 transmits a settlement request to the settlement institution server 34 based on the settlement data recorded in the storage device 30 at an appropriate timing such as every night at every day. In response to the settlement request, the clearing house server 34 performs processing for transferring the specified amount of money from the check account number account to the account of the requesting store, whereby the check settlement is completed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the threshold value for binarizing the image data based on the image data of 256 gradations obtained by prescanning the MICR portion and the non-MICR portion of the check. Is determined. Then, when the threshold value can be determined, it is determined that the information necessary for specifying the check is not lost even if the image data is binarized and the data amount is compressed, and the image data is converted into the binary data.
Quantize and record. On the other hand, if the threshold value cannot be determined, it is determined that the information necessary for specifying the check is lost if the data amount is binarized and the data amount is compressed.
The image data of 256 gradations is recorded as it is without being binarized.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when electronically making a check settlement, even if the check image data is binarized and can be used as proof of the transaction, the image data is converted into a small data. While storing in quantity, if binarization makes it unusable as proof of transaction, by saving it as image data represented in gray scale, after returning the check to the buyer (drawer), It is possible to prevent a situation in which it becomes clear that the saved image data cannot be used as evidence that a transaction has been made by a check. Further, in order to avoid such a situation, it is not necessary to display a binarized image on the screen so that a store clerk or the like visually judges whether or not the binarization is possible, which improves work efficiency and makes an artificial decision. You can prevent mistakes.

As described above, the image data is binarized when it can be determined that the necessary items can be read even if the image data is binarized and compressed, and otherwise stored as grayscale data. It is possible to prevent a situation in which necessary information cannot be read from the device.

Further, in the present embodiment, before the prescan, it is inputted whether or not the shopper has consented to electronically perform the check settlement (S110), and the prescan is performed only when the consent is given. Threshold value determination processing. For this reason,
When the shopper does not want electronic payment, it is not necessary to perform unnecessary processing such as prescan and threshold value determination processing.

If the magnetic ink characters are read before the prescan and the magnetic ink characters cannot be read from the check, the check is immediately ejected. Therefore, as described above, the check is inserted face down. It is possible to prevent the processing from proceeding in the case where it has been lost. On the other hand, when the magnetic ink characters are read, the electronic settlement can be automatically performed by communicating with the settlement institution server 34 by identifying the account number from the read data.

If the threshold value can be determined in the threshold value determining process, the check is invalidly printed, so that the used check can be prevented from being reused and the reuse thereof can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of handwriting the invalid display. On the other hand, if electronic settlement is not performed because the threshold value cannot be determined, invalid printing is not performed, and thus it is possible to prevent invalid printing from being performed on a check before settlement processing.

Further, a check can be written and endorsed regardless of whether or not the threshold can be determined by the threshold determination processing (that is, regardless of whether or not the image data is binarized). You can save the trouble of handwriting a book or endorsement. In this case, the check processing device 10 does not print the front cover if the front cover is already made on the check (S112). , It is possible to prevent a book from being overlaid on a check that has been completed.

Further, in the case of electronic processing for check settlement, the check is scanned after printing the book, and the image data is binarized and stored. Therefore, the saved image data will also include the contents of the book,
The certainty as transaction evidence of image data can be further enhanced.

In the above-described embodiment, the original image data of the check is acquired in the gray scale of 256 gradations, which is binarized to compress the data amount. However, the original image data is not limited to 256 gradations, and may have higher gradations such as 512 gradations, or may have lower gradations such as 126 gradations.
Further, the reduction of the data amount is not limited to binarization, but may be performed by converting to a low gradation number such as 4 gradations (2 bits).

Further, the compression of the image data amount is not limited to the reduction of the number of gray scale gradations of the image data, and another appropriate image data compression method may be used.
In short, the image data compressed by the compression method may be stored only when necessary items can be read from the image data compressed by some compression method.

In the above embodiment, the scanner unit 5
The image data of 256 gradations generated by scanning a check with 0 is binarized by the CPU 40, but the scanner unit 50 creates the binarized image data by the threshold value instructed by the CPU 40. May be provided and the binary data may be supplied to the CPU 40. In this case, when the check scan instruction is issued from the host computer 28 in S158, it is first determined whether or not the threshold value can be determined, and if the threshold value can be determined, the CPU
40 sends an instruction to the scanner unit 50 to generate image data binarized by the threshold value TH, and on the other hand, if the threshold value cannot be determined, an instruction to generate image data of 256 gradations. You can send.

In the above embodiment, the check processing device 10 performs each process according to the instruction from the host computer 28, and the display and input are performed on the host computer 28 side. The host computer 28 may be configured as an integrated device.

Further, in the above embodiment, the endorsement printing, the invalid printing, and the front-side printing are performed in this order. However, the printing order is not limited to this, and the printing may be performed in accordance with the positional relationship of each printing unit. For example, it may be appropriately determined so that the check conveyance distance is the shortest.

In the above embodiment, the image data is set to 2
Although the threshold value determination process for binarization is performed by the process shown in FIG. 8, the threshold value determination is not limited to this, and another appropriate threshold value determination method may be used.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to checks, but is widely applied to the case where image data is compressed and stored in a recording medium on which various documents, documents, etc. are printed or visually recorded by handwriting. Is possible.

[0098]

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a situation in which necessary information cannot be read from image data stored by compressing the data amount of a recording medium on which visible recording is performed. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an entire system that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a check processed by a check processing device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (No. 1) showing the flow of the entire processing executed in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (No. 2) showing the flow of the entire processing executed in this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (No. 3) showing the flow of the entire processing executed in this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the principle of threshold value determination in the threshold value determination processing of the present embodiment, showing an example of the gray level frequency distribution of each pixel forming a check image.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an outline of threshold value determination processing executed by the CPU of the check processing device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a portion of a check targeted for image acquisition by prescanning.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of frequency distribution creation processing.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the detailed content of a process of determining parameters PMin and PMax.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Check processing equipment 14 Insertion port 16 outlet 22 Display 30 storage devices 34 Settlement Institution Server 40 Central Processing Unit (CPU) 42 MICR reader 44 Book print part 46 Endorsement printing section 50 Scanner

Continued front page    (54) [Title of Invention] Recording medium processing method, recording medium processing apparatus, control method of recording medium processing apparatus, control of recording medium processing apparatus                     Apparatus, a program that causes a computer to execute the recording medium processing method, and a program that records the program                     Computer-readable recording medium

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A method of processing a recording medium on which visible recording is performed, the receiving step of receiving the recording medium by a predetermined receiving section, and a first compression representing a predetermined portion of the received recording medium. Acquisition step of obtaining image data of a predetermined degree, and based on the acquired image data, information represented by the image of the predetermined portion is compressed to a second compression degree having a compression degree higher than the first compression degree. Determination step for determining whether or not reproducibility is possible based on the image data of the second degree, and, if reproducible in the determination step, the second step indicating at least a part of the accepted recording medium.
While obtaining the image data having the compression degree of 1, the second obtaining step obtaining the image data having the first compression degree, which represents at least a part of the received recording medium, when the determination step determines that the image data cannot be reproduced. And a recording step of recording the image data obtained in the second acquisition step, the recording medium processing method. 2. The recording medium processing method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving step receives a check as the recording medium. 3. The recording medium processing method according to claim 2, further comprising a step of receiving an input as to whether or not the settlement based on the received recording medium can be performed electronically. When it is input that it cannot be performed in step 1, the received recording medium is ejected from a predetermined ejection part without executing the first acquisition step. 4. The recording medium processing method according to claim 2, further comprising a payment information reading step that attempts to read payment information including payer account information recorded on the recording medium, the payment information reading step. In the case where the payment information cannot be read in step 1, the accepted recording medium is ejected from a predetermined ejection part without executing the first acquisition step. 5. The recording medium processing method according to claim 4, wherein when the payment information can be read in the payment information reading step, electronic payment processing is performed based on the read payment information. A method comprising: outputting a signal of 6. The recording medium processing method according to claim 2, further comprising a step of printing on the received recording medium that the recording medium is invalid as a check. How to characterize. 7. The recording medium processing method according to claim 2, further comprising a printing step of printing a predetermined item required as a check on the received recording medium. . 8. The recording medium processing method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of receiving an input as to whether or not the predetermined item is already recorded on the received recording medium before executing the printing step. A method for prohibiting execution of the printing step when an input indicating that the predetermined item has already been recorded is made. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein when the printing step is executed, the second acquisition step is executed after the printing step. 10. A method for processing a recording medium on which a visible recording is performed, said scanner means for scanning the recording medium accepted by a predetermined acceptance means to generate image data. A first obtaining step of obtaining image data of a first compression degree representing the predetermined portion by scanning a predetermined portion of the recording medium; and displaying the image of the predetermined portion based on the obtained image data. Determination information that can be reproduced with image data having a second compression degree that is greater in compression degree than the first compression degree, and if it is determined that the information can be reproduced in the determination step, By causing the scanner unit to scan at least a part of the recording medium, the image data having the second degree of compression is obtained, while the image data cannot be reproduced in the determining step. If determined, a second acquisition step of causing the scanner means to scan at least a portion of the recording medium to obtain image data of the first degree of compression. 11. The recording medium processing method according to claim 10, wherein the scanner means generates image data having the first compression degree, and in the second acquisition step, it is determined that the image data can be reproduced in the determination step. In this case, the image data of the first compression degree acquired by scanning with the scanner means is converted into the image data of the second compression degree. 12. An apparatus for processing a recording medium on which a visible recording is made, said receiving means for receiving said recording medium, scanner means for scanning the received recording medium, and said scanner means. A first acquisition unit that obtains image data having a first compression degree by scanning a predetermined portion of the received recording medium; and, based on the obtained image data, information represented by the image of the predetermined portion, Determination means for determining whether or not reproducibility is possible with image data of a second compression degree having a greater degree of compression than the first compression degree; and if the determination means determines reproducibility, the scanner means When the image data of the second compression degree is obtained by scanning at least a part of the recording medium with the image data and the image data is determined to be unreproducible by the determination means. , The recording medium processing device characterized by comprising a, a second obtaining means for obtaining image data of the first compression degree by scanning at least a portion of the recording medium to the scanner unit. 13. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the scanner unit generates image data having the first compression degree, and the second acquisition unit is determined to be reproducible by the determination unit. In this case, the apparatus converts the image data of the first compression degree acquired by scanning the scanner means into the image data of the second compression degree. 14. A recording device comprising: a receiving unit that receives a recording medium on which visible recording is performed; a scanner unit that scans the received recording medium to generate image data; and a control unit that controls the scanner unit. A method of controlling a medium processing device, wherein the control unit causes the scanner unit to scan a predetermined portion of the recording medium received by the reception unit, and an image of a first compression degree representing the predetermined portion. Transmitting an instruction to obtain data, to the control means, based on the obtained image data, compressing the information represented by the predetermined portion from the first compression degree. A step of transmitting an instruction to determine whether or not reproducible with image data of a second compression degree having a large degree, and a result of determination made according to the transmitted instruction If the predetermined portion can be reproduced with the image data of the second compression degree based on the receiving step and the received determination result, at least a part of the recording medium in the scanner means is instructed to the control means. By sending an instruction to obtain image data of the second compression degree by scanning, and if the predetermined portion cannot be reproduced by the image data of the second compression degree, the control means is instructed. And transmitting an instruction to obtain the image data of the first compression degree by causing the scanner means to scan at least a part of the recording medium; and the control means according to the instruction transmitted in the step. Receiving the image data obtained from the control means, and recording the received image data in the storage means. How to. 15. A recording comprising: a receiving unit that receives a recording medium on which a visible recording is made; a scanner unit that scans the received recording medium to generate image data; and a control unit that controls the scanner unit. A method of controlling a medium processing device, wherein the control unit causes the scanner unit to scan a predetermined portion of the recording medium received by the reception unit, and an image of a first compression degree representing the predetermined portion. Means for transmitting an instruction to obtain the data, and the control means for compressing the information represented by the predetermined portion based on the obtained image data, by a compression degree higher than the first compression degree. Means for transmitting an instruction to determine whether or not reproducibility can be performed with the image data of the second compression degree having a high degree, and a result of the determination made according to the transmitted instruction And a means for scanning at least a part of the recording medium by the scanner means, when the predetermined portion can be reproduced with image data having the second compression degree based on the received determination result. By transmitting an instruction to obtain the image data of the second compression degree, and if the predetermined portion cannot be reproduced by the image data of the second compression degree, Means for transmitting an instruction to obtain the image data of the first compression degree by causing the scanner means to scan at least a part of the recording medium; and the control means for obtaining the instruction according to the instruction transmitted by the means. An apparatus comprising: a means for receiving the received image data from the control means; and a means for recording the received image data in a storage means. 16. The recording medium processing method according to claim 1, wherein the image data of the first compression degree is image data represented by a first gradation number. And the image data having the second compression degree is image data represented by a second gradation number smaller than the first gradation number. 17. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the image data of the first compression degree is
The image data is represented by a first gradation number, and the image data having the second compression degree is image data represented by a second gradation number smaller than the first gradation number. A device characterized by the above. 18. A program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 10, 11, or 14. 19. A computer-readable recording medium in which the program according to claim 18 is recorded.