RU71178U1 - AUTOMATIC BANK OFFICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Scope: The claimed utility model relates to the field of text recognition, in particular recognition of payment documents, and can be used for automatic payment transactions.

The essence of the utility model: Automatic bank cash desk, containing interconnected banknote verification device and banknote receiver, as well as a card reader, control panel, information display device, receipt printing device, data storage and communication device connected to the control unit a remote computer in which an image forming apparatus, a banknote counter, and a change dispenser are connected to the control unit.

Description

The claimed utility model relates to the field of text recognition, in particular recognition of payment documents, and can be used for automatic payment transactions.

A known ATM selected as the closest analogue is one that contains interconnected ones that perform the functions of a control unit — a controller, a card reader, a banknote verification device, a control panel, an information display device, a receipt printing device, and a communication device, in addition, the ATM includes with a data storage control unit connected to a banknote authentication device; a banknote receiver connected to a remote computer communication device (Application PCT / US 2001/03 0805 (WO / 2002/027626), publ. 04.04.2002).

The disadvantage of this ATM is that it does not perform the functions of accepting payments using payment documents on paper (for example, receipts).

The technical result that can be obtained in the claimed utility model is the creation of a bank cash desk capable of automatically accepting payments, reading information about them from paper media and processing the read information.

The technical result is achieved in that in an automatic bank cash desk containing interconnected banknote verification device and a banknote receiver, as well as a card reader, a control panel, an information display device, a receipt printing device, a data storage device and a communication device connected to the control unit connected to the remote computer, an image forming apparatus, a banknote counter and a change dispensing device connected to the control unit are introduced.

And also by the fact that it includes a calculation and decision making unit connected to a control unit connected to a banknote counter, an image recognition unit connected to a communication device, a comparison unit connected to an image forming unit, wherein the change delivery device and the reading device with cards are connected to the control unit through the calculation and decision making unit.

And also the fact that in it the control unit is a computer.

And also the fact that in it the control unit and the calculation and decision making unit are computers.

The inventive utility model is illustrated using the drawings shown in figures 1 and 2:

Figure 1 - diagram of an automatic bank cash desk;

Figure 2 is a diagram of another embodiment of an automatic bank cash desk.

Figure 1 and 2 adopted the following notation:

- control unit 1;

- banknote authentication device 2;

- receiver 3 banknotes;

- card reader 4;

- remote control 5;

- device 6 display information;

- device 7 print receipts;

- data storage 8;

- communication device 9;

- remote computer 10;

- image forming apparatus 11;

- counter 12 banknotes;

- change delivery device 13;

- block 14 calculation and decision making;

- block 15 image recognition;

- block 16 comparison;

- additional remote computer 17.

The proposed automatic bank cash desk works as follows.

The image forming apparatus 11 connected to the image unit 1 is constantly in the operating position and transmits the image received by it to the control unit 1. Either a scanner, or a camera, or a digital video camera, or any known imaging device can be used as the imaging device 11. In the event that the received image does not contain any characters, either machine-printed or hand-written, the control unit 1 does not issue any commands to all devices and units. Therein

if the image received by the image forming apparatus 11 changes to an image containing any symbols, the control unit 1 compares the received image with an a priori set of symbols to determine whether this image is a payment document or not. Symbols of a priori given set are divided into two categories:

1) symbols or their combination, which may be contained in the payment document, these include, in particular, the phrases “payment”, “settlement account”, “TIN”, etc .;

2) symbols or their combination, which cannot be contained in a payment document, include well-known artistic images, well-known phrases from literary works, etc.

In order to reduce the load on the control unit 1, an operation to compare the received image with an a priori set of characters can be performed by an additional comparison unit 16 connected to the control unit to receive commands from it to perform the comparison operation and transmit the comparison results to it, and the image forming device 11 , to receive from him a received image at the command of control unit 1.

If the control unit 1 or the comparison unit 16 determines that the received image does not apply to payment documents, then the control unit 1 generates and issues to the information display device 6 a message to the client that this document is not a payment document.

If the control unit 1 or the comparison unit 16 determines that the received image is related to payment documents or the indicated units cannot make an unambiguous decision regarding the received image (this can happen if the document is filled in manually or if the document has scuffs or various spots origin on the surface), then the control unit 1 processes the received image, sequentially performing the following operations:

1) binarization or contrasting the image of the text of the payment document. When the image is binarized, the brightness of each image pixel of the text of the payment document is compared with the threshold brightness value; if the pixel brightness value is higher than the threshold brightness value, then on the binary image the corresponding pixel will be “white”, or “black” otherwise;

2) rotation and alignment of the text of the payment document so that its lines are horizontal;

3) cutting out darkened areas along the periphery of the text of the payment document;

4) saving the processed image.

After completing these operations, the control unit 1 sends a copy of the stored image, for subsequent use (for example, for reporting), to the data store 8, which is a logical unit connected to the control unit 1, or can be performed as a digital storage medium (for example , external hard drive). Along with this, the control unit 1 performs the operation of recognizing the text of a document in any known manner, for example, using a computer program “Fine Reader”. In order to reduce the load of the control unit 1, an additional image recognition unit 15 connected to the control unit 1 can perform the operation of recognizing the text of the document.

If during the process of recognizing the text of the payment document, it is revealed that the image of this text cannot be fully or partially recognized, the control unit 1 or the image recognition unit 15 is transmitted using the communication device 9 connected to them, the image of the text of the payment document to the remote computer 10 In this case, as a communication device 9, a modem or a digital modem can be used. The remote computer 10, receiving an image of the text of the payment document, transfers it to the monitor (not shown in the drawings). The operator of the remote computer 10 recognizes the text of the payment document visually, after which the remote computer 10, using the communication device 9, transmits the recognized text of the payment document to the control unit 1.

After the text of the payment document is recognized by the control unit 1 or the image recognition unit 15 or by the remote computer 10, the control unit 1 transmits information to the image forming device 11 for the payer about how much he needs to pay in accordance with this payment document.

The payer may, at his discretion, make payment both in cash and by credit card. For this, the payer selects the payment method by pressing the corresponding key on the remote control 5.

If the payer has chosen a method of payment in cash, he inserts a banknote into the receiver 3 banknotes. If the payer wants to pay with several banknotes, he must insert any amount of banknotes into the receiver 3 banknotes one banknote. From the banknote receiver 3, each banknote is transmitted to the banknote authentication device 2, which performs banknote authentication. If the banknote does not meet the conditions of authenticity (for example, if the banknote does not have watermarks), then the banknote verification device 2 returns the given banknote to the banknote receiver 3, which issues it to the payer. If the banknote satisfies the conditions of authenticity, then the banknote verification device 2 sends the banknote to the banknote counter 12. The banknote counter 12 determines the nominal value of each banknote and the number of banknotes of each nominal value and transfers this information to the control unit 1 or to the calculation and decision making unit 14, which may be present as a separate unit in the device to reduce the load on the control unit 1. In this case, the calculation and decision making unit 14 is connected to the control unit 1 and the banknote counter 12.

The control unit 1 or the calculation and decision making unit 14 calculates the total nominal value of the accepted banknotes and the total number of all banknotes, and based on the calculations performed, it is determined whether there is enough volume to accommodate the received banknotes in the temporary banknote storage (not shown in the diagrams). If the volume to accommodate the received banknotes in the temporary storage is not enough, then the control unit 1 generates and transmits to the information display device 6 a message that the volume in the temporary storage is not enough and therefore payment cannot be made, after which the banknotes from the banknote counter 12 through the banknote verification device 2 and the banknote receiver 3 are returned to the payer.

If there is enough volume to accommodate the accepted banknotes in the temporary storage, then the control unit 1 or the calculation and decision making unit 14 determines whether the total nominal denomination of the banknotes is sufficient for the payment. If the total nominal denomination of the banknotes is not enough for the payment, the control unit 1 generates and transmits to the information display device 6 a message that the payer must pay the missing amount.

After the payer pays the missing amount, or if the total nominal value of the banknotes is not enough to conduct

payment unit 1 control or block 14 calculation and decision making calculate the size of the change as the difference between the total nominal denomination of banknotes and the amount that must be paid in accordance with the payment document. Then, the control unit 1 or the calculation and decision-making unit 14 is formed and transmitted to the change issuing unit 13, connected with them, a command for issuing the change on the given payment. After that, the change delivery unit 13 issues the change to the payer in the required amount, and the control unit 1 transfers to the data storage 8 all the necessary information about the payment made.

If the payer, as a method of payment, chose to pay using a bank card, then he must insert his bank card into the card reader 4 connected to the control unit 1 or the calculation and decision making unit 14. The card reader 4 reads out all the necessary data from the bank card and transmits them to the control unit 1 or the calculation and decision making unit 14, which determine whether the given bank card is valid or has expired. If the card has expired, the control unit 1 generates and transmits to the information display device 6 a message stating that the card has expired and it is impossible to pay with it, while the control unit 1 or the calculation and decision making unit 14 issue a command card reader 4 to return to the payer of his bank card.

If the card status is determined to be valid, then the control unit 1 or the calculation and decision making unit 14 through the control unit 1 generates and transmits to the information display device 6 a request for a secret code (PIN code) of the bank card. After the payer enters the secret code of the bank card using the control panel 5, the control unit 1 using the communication device 9 transmits all the data read from the bank card and the secret code entered by the payer to the additional remote computer 17. The additional remote computer 17 determines whether secret code entered by the payer, data read from a credit card.

If the secret code does not match the data read from the bank card, the additional remote computer 17, using the communication device 9, transmits a non-compliance message to the control unit 1. In this case, the control unit 1 generates and transmits to the information display device 6 a message stating that the payer has entered an incorrect secret code. After the message is issued, the control unit 1, in accordance with the rules of a particular bank, must issue commands corresponding to the current situation. For example,

generate and issue to the image forming device 11 a message to the payer that the secret code is incorrect, and he must re-enter the secret code, or issue a command to the card reader 4 command to block the bank card.

If the secret code matches the data read from the bank card, the additional remote computer 17 determines the available cash balance in the payer's account and, using the communication device 9, transfers this information to the control unit 1 or through the control unit 1 to the calculation and decision making unit 14.

The control unit 1 or the calculation and decision making unit 14 determines whether there is enough available cash balance in the payer's account for payment. If the available cash balance on the payer's account is not enough to pay, then the control unit 1 generates and issues a message to the payer about this to the image forming device 11.

If the available cash balance on the payer's account is sufficient for payment, the control unit 1 generates and issues to the image forming device 11 a request to the payer whether he agrees to make the payment. If the payer confirms his consent by pressing the corresponding key on the control panel 5, the control unit 1, through the communication device 9, sends a message to the additional remote computer 17 about the amount to be debited from the payer's account. After receiving confirmation of debiting the required amount from the payer's account, the control unit 1 transfers to the data warehouse 8 all the necessary information about the payment made.

Thus, by introducing an image forming device and processing means of the received image into the automatic bank cash desk, it becomes possible to automatically accept payments by reading information about them from paper carriers.

Claims (6)

1. An automatic bank cash desk comprising interconnected banknote authentication device and a banknote receiver, as well as a card reader, a control panel, an information display device, a receipt printing device, a data storage device and a communication device connected to a remote computer connected to the control unit characterized in that an image forming apparatus, a banknote counter and a change dispensing device connected to the control unit are introduced therein. 2. The automatic bank cash desk according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a calculation and decision making unit connected to a control unit, connected to a banknote counter, an image recognition unit connected to a communication device, a comparison unit connected to an image forming unit, wherein the change issuing device and the card reader are connected to the control unit via the calculation and decision making unit. 3. The automatic bank cash desk according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in it the control unit is a computer. 4. The automatic bank cash desk according to claim 2, characterized in that in it the control unit and the calculation and decision making unit are computers. 5. The automatic bank cash desk according to claim 2, characterized in that in it the image recognition unit, the comparison unit and the calculation and decision making unit are computers. 6. The automatic bank cash desk according to claim 1, characterized in that it introduces an additional remote computer connected to the communication device.