U.S. patent application number 10/905253 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-30 for method and system for exception processing of micr documents.
This patent application is currently assigned to BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Beichler, Raymond G., Harrington, Kathryn Gerrald, McGlamery, David Craig, Parsons, Russell M..
Application Number | 20050139671 10/905253 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34753174 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050139671 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McGlamery, David Craig ; et
al. |
June 30, 2005 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EXCEPTION PROCESSING OF MICR DOCUMENTS
Abstract
System and method for exception processing of MICR documents.
MICR documents are read and sorted to a destination pocket for
processing subject to a determination that an exception does not
prevent the routing of the document. In example embodiments, for
example, an error does not prevent the routing of the document if
it is not related to the routing/transit field. In the case of
digit errors, an optical character recognition (OCR) process is
performed on the stored, electronic image of the document to
correct digit errors in the stored data read from the documents. If
a determination is made that correction or other exception
processing cannot be handled through the OCR process, the image and
corresponding MICR data is displayed on a user terminal, for manual
verification or correction by reference to an image of the
document, rather than the document itself.
Inventors: |
McGlamery, David Craig;
(Charlotte, NC) ; Harrington, Kathryn Gerrald;
(Fort Mill, SC) ; Parsons, Russell M.;
(Mooresville, NC) ; Beichler, Raymond G.;
(Fallston, MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MOORE & VAN ALLEN PLLC
P.O. BOX 13706
Research Triangle Park
NC
27709
US
|
Assignee: |
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
101 South Tryon Street
Charlotte
NC
|
Family ID: |
34753174 |
Appl. No.: |
10/905253 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10905253 |
Dec 22, 2004 |
|
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|
10707669 |
Dec 31, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/449 ;
235/440 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 9/03 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/449 ;
235/440 |
International
Class: |
G06K 007/00; G06K
007/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of processing at least an image of magnetic ink
character recognition (MICR) encoded document subject to an
exception, the method comprising: receiving an image of the
document, the document being routed to a destination subject to a
determination that the exception does not prevent the routing of
the document; performing a verification process on at least one
portion of an image of the document, wherein the at least one
portion substantially corresponds to a stored data field related to
the exception; and applying a correction to the stored data field
based at least in part on the verification process.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein: the verification process
comprises accessing a master file during a subpass of the document;
and the applying of the correction comprises updating the stored
data field from the master file.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the exception comprises a dollar
amount that is greater than a pre-set threshold parameter and the
stored data field corresponds to the dollar amount.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the exception comprises an error
in the stored data field read from the MICR document and wherein:
the verification process comprises performing an optical character
recognition (OCR) process on the at least one portion of the image;
and the applying of the correction is based at least in part on a
comparison of at least one result of the OCR process and the stored
data field, wherein the correction is applied subject to having
been substantially, successfully determined by the comparison.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the performing of the OCR process
on the at least one portion of the image of the document further
comprises: determining if at least two portions of the image of the
document correspond to the stored data field; and performing the
OCR process on the at least two portions of the image of the
document, wherein each of the at least two portions corresponds to
the stored data field.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the at least one result of the OCR
process further comprises at least two results of the OCR
process.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the stored data field corresponds
to an amount and wherein the at least two results comprise a result
from an OCR of a MICR amount and a result of an OCR of a written
amount.
8. The method of claim 4 further comprising routing the image to an
operator to apply the correction if the correction has not been
substantially, successfully determined by the comparison.
9. The method of claim 5 further comprising routing the image to an
operator to apply the correction if the correction has not been
substantially, successfully determined by the comparison.
10. The method of claim 6 further comprising routing the image to
an operator to apply the correction if the correction has not been
substantially, successfully determined by the comparison.
11. The method of claim 7 further comprising routing the image to
an operator to apply the correction if the correction has not been
substantially, successfully determined by the comparison.
12. The method of claim 3 wherein the verification process
comprises routing the image to an operator for verification of the
dollar amount of the document.
13. A computer program product to enable at least a portion of the
processing of magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) encoded
documents, a plurality of the MICR encoded documents being subject
to an exception, the computer program product comprising:
instructions for receiving images of the MICR encoded documents,
the documents being routed to a destination when the exception does
not prevent the routing of a document; instructions for performing
a verification process on at least one portion of an image of the
document, wherein the at least one portion substantially
corresponds to a stored data field related to the exception; and
instructions for enabling the application of a correction to the
stored data field based at least in part on the verification
process.
14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising:
instructions for accessing a master file as part of the
verification process during a subpass of the document; and
instructions for updating the stored data field from the master
file as at least a part of the application of the correction.
15. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the exception
comprises a dollar amount that is greater than a pre-set threshold
parameter and the stored data field corresponds to the dollar
amount.
16. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the exception
comprises an error in a stored data field read from the MICR
document and further comprising: instructions for performing an
optical character recognition (OCR) process on the at least one
portion of the image as part of the verification process; and
instructions for applying a correction based at least in part on a
comparison of at least one result of the OCR process and the stored
data field, wherein the correction is applied subject to having
been substantially, successfully determined by the comparison.
17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the
instructions for performing the OCR process on the at least one
portion of the image of the document further comprise: instructions
for determining if at least two portions of the image of the
document correspond to the stored data field; and instructions for
performing the OCR process on the at least two portions of the
image of the document, wherein each of the at least two portions
corresponds to the stored data field.
18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the at least
one result of the OCR process further comprises at least two
results of the OCR process.
19. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the stored
data field corresponds to an amount and wherein the at least two
results comprise a result from an OCR of a MICR amount and a result
of an OCR of a written amount.
20. The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising
instructions for routing the image to an operator to apply the
correction if the correction has not been substantially,
successfully determined by the comparison.
21. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising
instructions for routing the image to an operator to apply the
correction if the correction has not been substantially,
successfully determined by the comparison.
22. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising
instructions for routing the image to an operator to apply the
correction if the correction has not been substantially,
successfully determined by the comparison.
23. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising
instructions for routing the image to an operator to apply the
correction if the correction has not been substantially,
successfully determined by the comparison.
24. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the
verification process comprises routing the image to an operator for
verification of the dollar amount of the document.
25. Apparatus for processing magnetic ink character recognition
(MICR) encoded documents, a plurality of the MICR encoded documents
being subject to an exception, the apparatus comprising: means for
receiving images of the MICR encoded documents, the documents being
routed to a destination when the exception does not prevent the
routing of a document; means for performing a verification process
on at least one portion of an image of the document, wherein the at
least one portion substantially corresponds to a stored data field
related to the exception; and means for enabling the application of
a correction to the stored data field based at least in part on the
verification process.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising: means for
accessing a master file as part of the verification process during
a subpass of the document; and means for updating the stored data
field from the master file as at least a part of the application of
the correction.
27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the exception comprises a
dollar amount that is greater than a pre-set threshold parameter
and the stored data field corresponds to the dollar amount.
28. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the exception comprises an
error in a stored data field read from the MICR document and
further comprising: means for performing an optical character
recognition (OCR) process on the at least one portion of the image
as part of the verification process; and means for applying the
correction based at least in part on a comparison of at least one
result of the OCR process and the stored data field, wherein the
correction is applied subject to having been substantially,
successfully determined by the comparison.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising means for routing
the image to an operator to apply the correction if the correction
has not been substantially, successfully determined by the
comparison.
30. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the verification process
comprises routing the image to an operator for verification of the
dollar amount of the document.
31. A system for processing magnetic ink character recognition
(MICR) encoded documents comprising: a sorter to sort and read the
MICR encoded documents, wherein reading each of a plurality of the
MICR encoded documents results in an association therewith of an
exception related to a stored data field, and wherein a MICR
encoded document is routed to a destination pocket when the
exception does not prevent the routing of the document and after an
image of the document is stored; and a computing platform
operatively connected to the sorter, the computing platform
operative to enable a verification process on at least one portion
of an image of the document, wherein the at least one portion
substantially corresponds to the stored data field and to enable
the application of a correction to the stored data field based at
least in part on the verification process.
32. The system of claim 31 further comprising a master file which
can be accessed and used to update the stored data field as part of
the verification process during a subpass of the document.
33. The system of claim 31 wherein the exception comprises a dollar
amount that is greater than a pre-set threshold parameter and the
stored data field corresponds to the dollar amount.
34. The system of claim 31 wherein the exception comprises an error
in the stored data field and wherein the computer platform is
further operative to: perform an optical character recognition
(OCR) process on the at least one portion of the image as part of
the verification process; and apply a correction based at least in
part on a comparison of at least one result of the OCR process and
the stored data field, wherein the correction is applied subject to
having been substantially, successfully determined by the
comparison.
35. The system of claim 34 further comprising an operator terminal
connected to the computing platform to enable an operator to apply
the correction if the correction has not been substantially,
successfully determined by the comparison.
36. The system of claim 33 further comprising an operator terminal
connected to the computing platform to enable an operator to verify
the dollar amount of the document.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims
priority from co-pending, commonly assigned application Ser. No.
10/707,669, filed Dec. 31, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Financial institutions have established various processes
and associations related to the exchange of documents evidencing
monetary transactions. Such documents are generally encoded with
magnetic ink so that information from the documents can be read by
machine. Such documents have thus become known as magnetic ink
character recognition (MICR) documents. Check processing and
sorting systems have also been developed in which a check or
similar MICR document has its image captured and stored
electronically. Such an image can be archived so that it is indexed
or joined with its accompanying data from a MICR read. In addition,
up until now, MICR documents have also been captured
photographically for storage in microfilm format. This feature is
being removed as electronic image processing and retrieval replaces
the use of microfilm.
[0003] The typical high-speed processing of documents having MICR
data, for example, checks, includes reading and storing a MICR
line, endorsing the document with applicable information, imaging
the item so that the image can be stored in an archive facility,
and sorting items for processing. Items for which the MICR reads
properly, and for which no errors are detected in the data, sort to
pockets for routine processing. Any items with a failed MICR read
or an exception are typically sorted to a reject pocket and are
handled through an exception process. The exception process
typically includes attempting to read the MICR with an alternate,
slower type of reader to achieve a better read rate, and if that
fails, manually reviewing the paper document and keying in the
appropriate data.
[0004] FIG. 1 is a flow chart which illustrates the current process
for processing MICR documents at many financial institutions. In
FIG. 1, various steps in the process are represented by process
blocks. Process blocks can also represent stopping points or paths
for different types of items. At block 102, items with MICR data
are loaded into a high-speed processor. The MICR data on the item
is recognized and captured by a read head. The data is transferred
to a file for storage with indicators that signify which fields
have apparently read correctly, and which ones have failed to read.
Logic failures are also detected. A logic failure occurs when data
has apparently been captured successfully, but makes no sense, so
it must be assumed that the data as captured is erroneous. At block
102 of FIG. 1, items also typically pass through an endorsement
feature, which typically puts a date, location of scan, and other
data related to the financial institution performing the
processing. The item optionally can move through a microfilm unit
to have a photographic image captured. Next, the item moves under
and over image scanners. An image of the item (front and back) is
created and stored.
[0005] At block 104, based on the read of the document,
instructions are executed regarding the disposition of the item.
All items with read failures or logic issues are passed to a reject
pocket at block 106. A correction process then takes place at block
108. Where an item reads good, with good data, at block 104, the
item goes through high speed pocketing at block 110. In a typical
check processing environment, based on the read of the MICR data,
items are sorted into pockets as "on-us" items, as shown at block
112, or "transit" items, as shown at block 1114. An on-us item is
an item that is drawn on the financial institution doing the
processing. On-us items will typically be forwarded to other
locations within the financial institutions own franchise. Transit
items are checks drawn on other financial institutions, and are
pocketed for delivery to those institutions. In some financial
institutions, items can also be sorted to "truncation pockets" (not
shown) for items to be stored for a retention period and then
discarded in accordance with new practices allowing an image rather
than physical items be used as long-term documentation of a
transaction.
[0006] The data correction process, 108, also results in items
eventually being sorted into corrected, on-us items 116, and
corrected, transit items, 118. Items from the high-speed process
are then merged, eventually, with items from the correction or
"reject repair" process at block 120. Thus, both the reject items
and the good items, are typically eventually sorted to their
destinations, shown consolidated at blocks 122 and 124.
[0007] It should be noted that the process shown in FIG. 1 may
include both a "prime pass" a subsequent pass, also called a
"subpass" or a "rehandle," if on us or especially transit items
need to ultimately pocket into more physical pockets than are
available on the sorting equipment. For example, if items need to
pocket into, say, 50 transit item pockets for 50 different
destination banks, and a sorter only has 30 pockets available for
transit items, a subpass or rehandle is needed. In such a case, for
example, some items might first be pocketed into a pocket that
covers multiple destinations such as all the banks in a certain
state or region. Then, the sorting process is repeated on these
items to finally separate them into individual pockets destined for
each bank. Errors can occur and the correction process can be
invoked on either the prime pass or the subpass.
[0008] In a typical financial institution, large numbers of MICR
items must go through the correction process, since any error in
the read of any field causes an item to sort to a reject pocket. In
many cases, the correction process includes the use of check mender
equipment to place correction strips on the bottom of each document
so new, readable MICR can be placed on each document. The resulting
delay considerably reduces the processing time for each batch of
MICR items processed by a financial institution.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0009] The present invention, disclosed herein by way of example
embodiments, can improve the processing time for large numbers of
MICR encoded documents within a financial institution. Through use
of an embodiment of the invention, the number of items which are
pocketed as rejects due to digit errors can be significantly
reduced. This reduction can be accomplished due to the realization
that only the routing/transit field from the MICR data of an item
needs to be read correctly in order for it to be properly pocketed.
Additionally, speed and efficiency of handling documents with
exceptions can be improved. Correction for documents which are
pocketed as rejects due to digit errors is improved through the use
of an image based correction process which can be referred to
herein as MICR image correction or "MIC." Embodiments of the
invention can also be used to correct image data received
electronically when paper documents have been scanned elsewhere.
Embodiments of the invention can additionally be used to process
documents with other exceptions, such as a dollar amount that is
above a threshold parameter.
[0010] According to some embodiments of the invention, a method of
processing a MICR encoded document and/or its image, where the
document is subject to an exception that may be related to a stored
data field includes the receiving of an image of the document. The
document can be routed to a destination subject to a determination
that the exception does not prevent the routing of the document. A
verification process can be performed on at least one portion of an
image of the document, wherein the at least one portion will
typically correspond to stored data related to the exception. A
correction can be applied to a stored data field based at least in
part on the verification process. In a prime pass, this correction
can involve the MIC process, or other exception handling. In some
embodiments, however, a master file is maintained to store
information about corrections applied, and the master file can be
used to make corrections in subsequent passes of the same
items.
[0011] In some embodiments, exceptions such as digit errors in
stored data fields can be corrected by an optical character
recognition (OCR) process that is performed on the stored,
electronic image. The portion of the document to which the OCR
process is applied corresponds to the stored data field. For
example, if the error is related to an account number, the OCR
process is performed on a snippet of the document that includes the
account number. Note however, that in such a case, a process
according to an embodiment of the invention can include routing the
document to a destination pocket and subsequently to a destination
subject to a determination that the exception(s) or error(s) do(es)
not prevent the routing of the document. In typical embodiments, an
error or other exception does not prevent the routing of the
document if it is not related to the routing/transit field.
Embodiments of the correction process can be applied to image data
received from another institution which scanned the MICR
documents.
[0012] In the case of digit errors, the OCR process result is used
to apply a correction to the error in the stored data field. This
correction can be based on a comparison of the result of the OCR
process and the digits within the stored data field which have been
captured, albeit only partially or incorrectly. If a determination
is made that the correction cannot be successfully determined by
the comparison with the result of the OCR process, the image and
MICR data is displayed on a user terminal, for manual correction,
albeit by reference to an image of the document, rather than the
document itself.
[0013] In some embodiments, an improved correction process can be
applied when an error appears in a stored data field which has two
or more corresponding areas within the image of the item. For
example, if the error is in an amount, two results of an OCR
process can be used. One result can be obtained from optically
scanning the MICR line, and another result can be obtained from
optically scanning a written amount. In some cases, still another
OCR process result can be obtained if the amount is listed both
numerically, and written out.
[0014] In some embodiments, exceptions can be defined
programmatically. For example, an exception can be defined for when
the dollar amount of an item exceeds a pre-selected threshold
parameter. Such an item can then be verified using its image. This
verification can be accomplished either using the MIC process and
treating the item as if the amount has an error, or by immediate,
operator verification.
[0015] A system for processing MICR encoded documents according to
embodiments of the invention can include a sorter to sort and read
the documents and route documents to a destination pocket when an
exception condition does not prevent the routing. Such a sorter can
be operatively interconnected with a computing platform to provide,
among other elements, the OCR processing and apply corrections to
the error in the stored data field based on a comparison of the
result of an OCR process and the data in the stored field. The
computing platform can also provide for the storage and routing of
the images for manual verification and/or correction at user
terminals as required.
[0016] Computer program instructions, computer programs or computer
code, possibly in the form of a computer program product can
implement portions of the invention. These computer program code
instructions can operate a computing platform which controls a
sorter and other hardware within the system. With such a system,
the handling of physical items in order to process exceptions or
perform reject repair can be reduced or eliminated. Furthermore,
many items having exceptions, specifically exceptions which do not
prevent the routing of the items, can be routed to a destination
and any verification or correction required, whether automated or
manual, can be performed using only the images of the items.
Additionally, data referring to documents that were scanned
elsewhere can be verified and/or corrected. Thus, overall check
processing time can be reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram which illustrates a process in
which all MICR encoded items having MICR failures or other errors
are routed to a reject pocket for a physical data correction
process.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram which illustrates the processing of
items according to embodiments of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a flowchart which illustrates further details of a
method of processing items according to some embodiments of the
invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a flowchart, which illustrates a method of subpass
or rehandle processing of items according to some embodiments of
the invention.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a system which handles MICR
encoded items according to some embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] The present invention will now be described in terms of
specific, example embodiments. It is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the example embodiments disclosed. It
should also be understood that not every feature of the methods and
systems described is necessary to implement the invention as
claimed in any particular one of the appended claims. Various
elements and features of various embodiments are described to fully
enable the invention. It should also be understood that throughout
this disclosure, where a process or method is shown or described,
the steps of the method may be performed in any order or
simultaneously, unless it is clear from the context that one step
depends on another being performed first. With respect of
flowcharts, block diagrams and flow diagrams, not every possible
signal flow, data path, or process block is shown. Rather, for
clarity, only those important to the inventive concepts being
discussed relative to the drawing may be illustrated, although
others may be discussed in this description.
[0023] The meaning of certain terms as used generally in the
context of this disclosure should be understood as follows. Terms
such as "document" or "MICR encoded document" and the like are
meant to refer to any document which tends to be handled and sorted
in large volumes based on MICR information printed thereon. In the
typical context, such documents are checks which order a bank to
pay a certain sum to the order of another individual or entity.
However, other documents evidencing financial transactions relating
to banking, and for that matter, other kinds of documents, can be
"MICR encoded documents." Even in the typical banking context,
deposit slips are sometimes MICR encoded, read and sorted in a
fashion similar to checks.
[0024] Terms like "bank" and "financial institution" are used
herein in their broadest sense. Financial institutions that process
transactions and documents of the types discussed can include stock
brokerages, credit unions, and other types of institutions which
are not strictly "banks" in the historical sense. The use of terms
such as "bank" or "financial institution" herein is meant to
encompass all such possibilities.
[0025] References will be made at various places within this
disclosure to information contained in a "stored data field" or
information within such a field being "corrected." As previously
discussed, this terminology refers to the idea of correcting
information about MICR encoded documents which is stored in data
structures for retrieval and manipulation. There are many ways to
design a system to accommodate the storage of this information, as
well as the storage of electronic images of documents such as
checks. Reference will be made herein to updating strings and user
bytes which either are or refer to such fields in systems which
process MICR documents such as checks. In example embodiments, this
terminology refers to information stored in what is commonly known
as a "check image management system" (CIMS) and within a "check
processing control system" (CPCS). Such systems are well known
within the banking industry by those who work in the financial data
processing fields. Such data processing systems have historically
been produced by the International Business Machines Corporation
and marketed to banking and financial companies. Through the use of
such systems, check images and index information referring to the
check images, which typically includes the MICR data, can be stored
in a single file according to an industry standard "check image
export" (CIE) format. CIE has been used for many years by many
banks to archive check images for their own internal use. Images
and index information in such a system can be stored in the same
file or separated. In some environments, the index information is
separated and stored in an electronic cash letter (ECL) for
communicating between financial institutions for the purpose of
settlement. Index information can also be stored with electronic
images in an "image cash letter" (ICL) to provide for the
truncation of the paper documents. Again, these systems and
techniques are well known by those of ordinary skill in the
financial information technology arts.
[0026] In many places in this disclosure reference is made to an
"exception" as in the case of "exception processing" or the like.
What is meant by the term exception is any condition occurring when
a document is processed that causes a verification process to take
place as described herein. A verification process can be synonymous
with a correction process as in many cases, this exception will be
a MICR digit read error. However, embodiments of the present
invention provide for other exceptions to be defined
programmatically. In the examples discussed, high-dollar items,
relative to a pre-set threshold amount, can be defined as exception
items and verified or corrected in the same manner as if there were
a read error in the amount of the item, for example, if there were
a desire to verify checks from certain drawers or to certain
payees. In such a case, many items may in fact be correct, but a
verification process is used in part to determine this with
relative certainly.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram and process diagram which
illustrates the flow, 200, of items according to some embodiments
of the invention. FIG. 2 also shows some of what happens to stored
MICR data according to some embodiments of the invention. Further
detail on how the data is handled is covered in FIGS. 3, 4 and 4.
At block 202 of FIG. 2, MICR encoded items are loaded into a
high-speed processor. As before, the processor reads the MICR data
and the data is transferred to a file for storage. On at least the
prime pass, an item is endorsed, an image is created and stored,
and in some cases, a photographic image is made for microfilm
purposes. Block 203 represents an incoming image file from another
financial institution. The logic for the correction process is the
same as with paper processing. An image file would be processed in
a single pass. The incoming information may only be electronic as
the future of check processing changes from paper to image. The
MICR data for the images as captured by the sending bank may still
contain MICR digits errors from the sending bank MICR capture
equipment. The correction process will still follow the logic as
described in FIG. 2 using the same image and image technology, only
without on-us paper and without any transit images or items.
[0028] Blocks 204 and 205 of FIG. 2 together determine whether the
items qualifies for automated exception processing. As before, a
determination is made at block 204 as to whether the item reads or
was read good. If the item reads good, a determination is made at
block 205 as to whether it should be handled as a programmed
exception. In this example, the exception would be that the value
of the item exceeds a pre-set threshold parameter. If the item
exceeds the parameter, it is treated as a reject and the image is
assigned a reject user byte. At this point, if desired, it can
handled by the MIC process described herein and further discussed
below. Alternatively, it can be immediately sent for manual
correction by essentially treating it as a physical reject. This
may be desired, for example, if mishandling of high-dollar items
were viewed as a significant risk. These alternative processing
paths are shown in FIG. 2 by dashed lines. In any case, if a
locally sorted paper item reads good, it is pocketed at block 206.
Pockets in the example of FIG. 2 eventually break down into a sort
of items into on-us items at block 208, and transit items at block
210. In some systems items can also be pocketed into truncation
pockets (not shown). In the example of FIG. 2, good items also
cause a valid user byte to be generated in the CIMS/CPCS system at
block 212.
[0029] In process 200 of FIG. 2, a determination is made at block
214 as to the type of error, which occurred during the read of an
item. In the case of a logic failure related to a locally sorted
paper item, the item is routed to the traditional physical reject
process which commences at block 216 and the item is assigned a
reject user byte. If a digit error has occurred, that is an error
in which a digit within a field was not able to be read, the item
is again routed to the physical reject process if the error occurs
in the routing/transit (R/T) field and the item is assigned a
reject user byte. In such a case, the item cannot be sorted since
the R/T field determines the final destination of the item.
However, if the digit failure or digit error occurs in any other
fields related to the MICR encoded document, the item can still be
sorted and pocketed at high-speed. Thus, if the error as determined
at block 214 is found not to be a logic or routing/transit failure,
the item is sorted into a pocket at block 206, in the same manner
as a good item. An on-us or transit reject user byte will then be
assigned to the item indicating the item has sorted good, but needs
further attention for corrective purposes.
[0030] At block 218 of FIG. 2, the MICR image correction process
takes place. The process can be the same regardless of where the
paper item was first read and sorted, and regardless of whether the
item is in its prime pass or a subpass. This process can also be
used to verify programmed exceptions, such as high-dollar items, by
treating them as if they had a digit error. Thus, it may still be
referred to as a correction process. CIMS/CPCS systems will
recognize all the items that have a on-us or transit reject user
byte. It is or was known at this point into which pocket the item
needs to be or has been sorted, since the information needed to
sort the item is generally determined from the routing/transit
number. Thus, in the case of locally sorted paper items, at the end
of the high-speed sort, items are pocketed as on-us items, 208,
which include good on-us items and on-us rejects, and transit
items, 210, which include good transit items and transit rejects.
In some embodiments, as previously discussed, a truncation pocket
will include good truncated items and truncation rejects, as
embodiments of the invention can be applied to items to be
truncated as well as to transit and on-us items.
[0031] Master file 219 can be created and accessed as part of the
MIC process. A master file for a particular unit of work (UOW) is
created when a MIC process is initiated on the prime pass. The file
is updated each time a transit or any other type of item which will
be rehandled is corrected through the MIC process. The information
stored in the master file, including any indexing, MICR data, and
sequence numbers will be stored until the subpass, where the same
rejects, and possibly new rejects will typically be encountered. At
this point, the rehandle rejects are reviewed and the master file
is checked to determine if each reject was previously rejected. If
so, the item is corrected using the original MIC information from
the master file. If not, or if there is a failure to access the
information, the rehandle reject will go through the same MIC
correction process that a prime pass reject goes through. Note that
there can be multiple subsequent passes or rehandles for a unit of
work, in which case a second or third rehandle will have access to
data in the master file not only from the prime pass, but also from
previous subpasses.
[0032] As in the prior art, paper rejects are handled with a
physical exception pocketing and correction process at block 220.
This process can be used to correct paper rejects, or to verify
exceptions, such as for high-dollar items, which were routed here
after processing at block 205. This process results in on-us items
pocketed at block 222 and transit items pocketed at block 224. In
each case, these items will now have good data stored within CIMS
and CPCS. These items are merged with the high-speed sorted items
at block 226. Once the process has been completed for a batch of
MICR encoded documents, the documents are stored in on-us pockets
228 and transit pockets 230, where in each case the physically
pocketed items include both good items and reject items. The
documents can now proceed to their destinations and any MICR data
correction necessary can be provided through the high-speed MICR
image correction process according to embodiments of the invention.
It should be noted that in the case of transit items, MICR data is
frequently exchanged via an electronic cash letter in parallel with
the presentment of paper documents. Thus, a financial institution
to which transit items are to be presented will be able to identify
and acquire the correct MICR information notwithstanding the fact
that the paper documents may not read error free.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process, 300, for MIC
reject repair in an example system based on CIMS and CPCS. The data
fields being repaired can correspond to paper items that were first
sorted either locally, or at another institution. The process
begins at block 301. At block 302, a determination is made as to
whether the current pass is a prime pass entry reject or a rehandle
entry reject. If a rehandle, processing proceeds to block 303,
which specifies the process detailed in FIG. 4, discussed below. If
prime pass, processing proceeds to block 304. At block 304 the
appropriate image and MICR information is retrieved from CIMS and
CPCS. This MICR information includes the various stored data
fields, and what in CIMS and CPCS parlance is referred to as a
"string" that includes a "user byte." In example embodiments of the
invention, the string designates an item as valid, as an on-us
reject, as a transit reject. The string can also designate the item
as simply a reject if it is a paper reject requiring paper reject
processing in the manner of the prior art. At block 305 an optical
character recognition process is performed on a snippet from the
image. On a first pass, in example embodiments, this snippet is at
least one portion of the image, the portion which includes the MICR
printed numbers which correspond to the stored data field in
question. The OCR process reads the snippet optically, as opposed
to with a MICR read head. At block 306, the result of the OCR
process is compared with the MICR data in the stored data field to
determine the likely, correct content of the field. This
determination can be made in such a way that the probability that
the field is actually supposed to be what is determined can be
assigned a confidence level.
[0034] A system according to embodiments of the invention can be
set up to test for a certain minimum confidence level as shown at
block 308, before allowing a correction to be applied to the stored
data field. In effect, the validity of the correction proposed is
subject to having been successfully determined by the comparison,
within a given confidence. This forces the system to only allow the
MIC error correction if there is a substantial likelihood that the
error correction will be successful in that the correct contents of
the stored data field will be determined and restored. In some
embodiments, required confidence levels can be set by the operators
of a system. Assuming the minimum read confidence level is passed
at block 308, a reject repair string based on the comparison of the
OCR result and the data in the stored field is updated at block
310. It should be noted that in the rehandle process, a failure to
match an item against the master file will result in correction as
if the item was a prime pass item, at block 310, as will be
understood through the fact that the MIC correction process is
referenced in FIG. 4, discussed below. At block 312, the process
repeats if there are additional errors to be corrected. If not, as
in the case where all needed reject repair items have been
corrected, the image repair string(s) are merged with the MICR data
at block 314. In example embodiments, all the corrected MICR data
is then merged into CIMS/CPCS at block 316.
[0035] If the minimum read confidence level is not achieved at
block 308 of FIG. 3, a test is made at block 318 to determine if
the stored data field with the failure corresponds to the amount
field for the item. If not, the image and the failed MICR data are
sent to a workstation for image-based repair at block 320. A repair
string is updated based on operator keying at block 322. The
process then returns again to block 312 where it repeats if there
are additional items to be corrected. Note that in this case, an
operator only needs to correct one item at a time, and furthermore
works with an image of the document rather than the document
itself. Thus, within the steps shown in FIG. 3, working with paper
rejects has been completely eliminated.
[0036] Returning to block 318, if the error or failure is in an
amount field, at least one additional OCR process result is
obtained from a portion of the image at block 324. Thus, at least
two portions of the image have an OCR process performed for a
comparison of the result of an OCR process with the contents of a
stored data field when the field corresponds to an amount. In this
example embodiment, the OCR process is performed on the printed
MICR and on a written, numerical amount. All three of these pieces
of information can be compared at block 326. Note that depending on
the OCR algorithms and processes used, in most cases it is possible
to perform an OCR process on a written out amount as well as a
printed numerical amount. This would involve at least three
portions of the image having OCR results that can be compared with
data in a stored field. In any case, the comparison is again used
to determine how to correct an error in the stored field. At block
328, the result arrived at by this comparison is also checked
against a minimum read confidence level. If the minimum level is
achieved, the reject repair string data is updated at block 310.
Otherwise, the image is sent to a workstation for image-based
repair at block 320, as previously described.
[0037] Any of various known OCR algorithms can be applied to the
process described in FIG. 3 to achieve the desired result. Specific
OCR products are available that have been designed to optically
determine and read printed MICR characters, handwriting, printed
amounts, etc. It is also known how to compare the results of more
than one algorithm, or the results of an algorithm with stored
values and make determinations within certain confidence intervals.
One way of accomplishing this is via a voting algorithm. Optical
character recognition is a mature art and it is readily understood
in the data processing arts how to apply it to achieve various
results. Various companies produce OCR products and systems for
varied applications, for example, ScanSoft, Inc. of Massachusetts,
in the United States.
[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates a rehandle, subsequent pass, or "subpass"
process, 400, according to example embodiments of the invention.
Each rehandle exception item, including digit error rejects other
exceptions, for example, high-dollar items, are input to the
process as shown at block 402. At block 404, the item is compared
with the data in master file 406 in an attempt to auto-correct by
updating a stored data field related to the exception using data
from the prime pass (or a previous subpass). If the auto-correct
process is successful at decision block 408, processing branches to
block 410, where a determination is made as to whether the item is
the last item in the unit of work. If so, corrected strings are
built in CPCS at block 412 and the process ends. If not, processing
branches back to block 404 where another auto-correct is attempted
on the next item in the unit.
[0039] If auto-correction using master file 406 fails at block 408,
the item goes through the regular MIC error correction process at
block 414, just as it would if it was a prime pass item. Correction
is handled using stored images, 416. If the MIC process fails, or
cannot be used at block 418, just as for prime pass items, the
image is forwarded to a terminal at block 420, as before. In either
case, processing then branches to block 410 for a determination as
to whether the unit of work is complete. It should be noted that in
the case of exceptions such as high-dollar item exceptions,
processing can be routed, if desired, to immediate manual review at
a user terminal, just as described with respect to FIG. 2.
[0040] FIG. 5 presents a system and network block diagram, which
illustrates the operating environment for at least some example
embodiments of the invention. Incoming paper items, in this case
checks, are shown at 502. The documents are sorted and read at a
high-speed sorter, 504, for example, an IBM 3890 high-speed sorter.
The checks pass through a capture area where read heads capture the
MICR data and organize it into stored data fields. This data is
transmitted to computer system 506 via connectivity 508. This
connectivity can be provided by any of various types of networks,
for example, IBM System Network Architecture (SNA), an internal
Internet protocol (IP) network, or a local area network (LAN).
Computing system 506 stores the MICR data, master files, and other
required information on fixed storage media 510.
[0041] In the example of FIG. 5, electronic images 512 are
captured, forwarded to the computing system and stored. In the case
of image cash letters, an image file 513 with string data and on-us
items only would simply be presented to the bank for settlement. No
paper would physically be exchanged. In this case, all activity
resides (data and images) only in the computer based portion of
FIG. 5. High-speed sorter 504 sorts all items which can be sorted,
and routes the items into pockets 514. The sorted items include
items with digit errors, as long as the digit errors are not in the
routing/transit field. The sorting process allows items to
eventually be packaged for movement to appropriate areas. In the
example of FIG. 5, boxed transit items are shown at 516 and boxed
on-us items are shown at 518. Boxed truncation items (not shown)
can also be included. Items which cannot be routed, for example
paper reject 520, are routed to a low-speed document processor,
522, for processing as a paper reject. Note that items that have
been sorted for delivery to appropriate destinations, 516 and 518,
can now proceed through the normal process, while the data is
corrected using techniques based in computing system 506 and images
stored in fixed storage 510. The techniques previously discussed
relative to creating repair strings based on optical character
recognition results and comparisons are directed and controlled by
computer program code 524, at least in part stored in and read from
fixed storage 526. Note that in order to handle cases where minimum
confidence levels cannot be met by the OCR based algorithms, a
number of operator terminals, 528, are interfaced to computer
system 506 by Ethernet 530.
[0042] It cannot be overemphasized that the system of FIG. 5 is
provided as an illustrative example only. There are numerous types
of document sorting machines that can be used to provide the
sorting/capture/imaging functions. Most sorters typically have
conventional document diverting mechanisms which route the
documents to the various pockets. Sorting instructions to cause the
documents to be routed are received from a processor within the
sorting machine, or from an external computing platform, or
sometimes both depending on the particular operations being carried
out at any particular time. The computing platform can be a
mainframe, server, workstation, and even a desktop or personal
computer given the processing power that has been achieved in such
devices in recent years.
[0043] In any event, some embodiments of the invention can be
implemented through extensive use of computer program products, or
computer program instructions to carry out methods according to the
invention. These instructions in combination with a computing
platform processor and other devices form the means to carry out
embodiments of the invention. These computer program instructions
may be part of a computer program or multiple programs which are
supplied as a computer program product. Such a computer program
product may take the form of a computer readable media that allows
computer program instructions to be loaded into computing
platforms. In the example operating environment of FIG. 5, a
computer program product in the form of a medium containing the
appropriate instructions is shown as removable storage medium
532.
[0044] In addition to being supplied in the form of a machine
readable medium or media, computer program instructions which
implement the invention can also be supplied over a network. In
this case the medium is a stream of information being retrieved
when the computer program product is downloaded. Computer programs
which implement embodiments of the invention can reside on any
medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or
transport the program for use by or in connection with any
computing platform or instruction execution system, apparatus, or
device. The medium may be, for example but not limited to, an
electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or
semiconductor system or device. For example, the computing
platform, storage mediums, connectivity, and sorting machine, can
all be combined into one large device and the computer program
instructions could be stored within an optical, magnetic, or
electronic module type storage devices.
[0045] In order to more fully enable the present invention, the
following details are presented on how strings within a CPCS system
are updated and managed according to some example embodiments of
the invention. As previously discussed, the invention can be
implemented in other types of systems. Detail on CPCS and CIMS is
presented as an example only. In an example CPCS system, good items
that are sorted to pockets build an "I-String" within CPCS with a
valid user byte. Items with digit errors that do not prevent
sorting and all paper reject items build on the same "I-String"
but, with other types of CPCS user bytes.
[0046] Items that are on-us with digit errors are sorted and build
an "On-Us Reject String" within CPCS with an "On-Us Reject" user
byte. Items that are transit with digit errors are sorted and build
a "Transit Reject String" within CPCS with a "Transit Reject" user
byte. Reject items, that is items that have digit errors in the
routing/transit field or have other problems are sorted to a reject
or "R" pocket for low speed processing and build a "Reject
D-string" within CPCS with a user byte that signifies a paper
reject. Thus, the CPCS entry will end and create four closed
strings: I-String, On-Us Reject String, Transit Reject String and a
Reject D-String.
[0047] Transit reject string specified images and data will
download to the OCR process. Certain digit errors will be corrected
via this process if the logic can correct a failed digit with a
specified confidence level. Similarly, on-us reject string
specified images and data download to the OCR process. Items with
digits failing in the amount field will go through an additional
OCR/MICR/written amount verification process to determine if
handwriting, printed numbers, or both can create a good read.
Images and data for remaining items will download to workstations
for digit correction via key entry by an operator referencing an
image rather than a paper document. In some embodiments, on-us
items go through the process of the invention with a low priority
compared to transit items.
[0048] Once all the transit rejects and/or all on-us rejects have
been corrected for a specified entry, the "I-String" can be merged
with a repair string(s) to create an "Adjusted I-String" or an
"M-String" indicating the items have been corrected. In at least
some embodiments, a final merge for all items in a batch waits
until reject D-string specified items have been corrected. However,
since employing an embodiment of the invention reduces the number
of reject D-string items, the time involved in processing the batch
is also reduced.
[0049] Specific embodiments of an invention are described herein.
One of ordinary skill in the computing, networking, and financial
information technology arts will quickly recognize that the
invention has other applications and can be used in other
environments. In fact, many embodiments and implementations are
possible. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the
scope of the invention to the specific embodiments described
above.
* * * * *