EP3084732A1

EP3084732A1 - Method and apparatus for handling value documents

Info

Publication number: EP3084732A1
Application number: EP14818874.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthias Hecht; Karl-Dieter FÖRSTER; Walter Herrmann
Original assignee: Giesecke and Devrient GmbH
Current assignee: Giesecke and Devrient Currency Technology GmbH
Priority date: 2013-12-18
Filing date: 2014-12-16
Publication date: 2016-10-26
Also published as: KR101871083B1; US9666007B2; WO2015090560A1; DE102013021655A1; CN105830128A; CN105830128B; US20160321851A1; KR20160085339A

Abstract

The description relates to a method for handling value documents using a memory device for data that has a memory area of prescribed memory area size, in which value documents are transported individually to a sensor device, the sensor device is used to capture measurement data for a respective value document, a storage priority is ascertained for the respective value document as a prescribed function of at least one portion of the measurement data that is required for ascertaining the storage priority, the ascertained storage priority is taken as a basis for storing handling data for the respective value document in a memory block in the memory area, and wherein the storage priority influences the duration of the storage of the respective handling data.

Description

Method and device for processing value documents

The present invention relates to a method for processing value documents and to an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Under value documents are thereby understood sheet-shaped objects that represent, for example, a monetary value or an entitlement and therefore should not be arbitrarily produced by unauthorized persons. They therefore have features which are not easy to manufacture, in particular to be copied, whose presence is an indication of the authenticity, i. the manufacture by an authorized agency. Important examples of such value documents are coupons, vouchers, checks and, in particular, banknotes.

Value documents often need to be checked to see if they are genuine and / or in what condition they are. The feed was may be given in bank notes, for example, by reference to classes such as "urnlauffähig '' and / or 'not ürnlauffähig ^1' and / or" damaged "or" damaged "in conjunction with the type of damage.

Valuable document processing devices are often used to inspect large volumes of value documents. These, in particular banknote processing devices, classify value documents, in particular banknotes, with regard to the value document type, banknotes with regard to the currency and / or the value, and / or the authenticity and / or the orientation and / or in particular the state. Under the orientation of a value document, a rectangular value document will be understood below to mean one of the four possible positions which can be obtained by rotating the value document around its longitudinal and transverse axes by 180 °. Depending on the classification, the value documents can then be sorted, for example, and if necessary the output areas are stored. This is explained using the example of value documents in the form of banknotes.

The classification is based on different physical characteristics of the individual, d. H. each processed, banknote. Examples of such physical properties are optical properties, such as color properties, magnetic properties or ultrasonic properties. When capturing the various physical properties of the individual, d. H. In the processing of banknotes in banknote processing apparatuses, by way of sensors, measurement data are generated for each banknote to be processed or processed, which are used for the classification. The measurement data of a respective sensor describe the physical property or physical properties detected by the respective sensor. In the following, measurement data are generally understood to mean, in particular, raw data formed by a sensor, which are unprocessed, except for machining processes in the sensor and / or corrections, for example also with respect to calibration and / or elimination of noise or background parts.

The measurement data supplied by the sensors are evaluated in a connected evaluation device, which can also be designed at least partially for controlling the value-document processing device or as a control and evaluation device. In this evaluation, banknote features that characterize the banknote type, the genuineness and the quality of the banknote are determined by suitable evaluation methods. Depending on the particular bank node features, the evaluation device then calculates a classification result, in the sequence determines in which output tray of the banknote processing device, the banknote is to be stored. When the asset device is designed as a control and evaluation device, it can control a transport device of the baricode handling device as a function of the classification result. Until the classification result is obtained, processing data is created for the respective value document, which in the following refers to a part or all measured data and / or data determined therefrom, for example value document features or, in the case of banknotes, banknote features.

The evaluation procedures and the determination of the classification result must be adapted to the type of banknotes to be processed and also to the requirements of the banknote processing facility operators. For this purpose, the asset device, preferably at least one evaluation program running therein, can be parameterized, ie. H. there are

Classification parameters exist whose values can be specified and which are used in the evaluation and classification or determination of the classification result; This adaptation of the classification parameter values, also referred to as adaptation of the classification parameters, is referred to below as an adaptation. In order to determine suitable classification parameters, the measurement data of corresponding, suitably predetermined bank notes are frequently used for the classification parameter adaptation. More specifically, in a first step in a measurement data recording for the predetermined banknotes with the banknote processing device corresponding measurement data is detected and stored permanently. These measurement data are then used in a second step to determine the classification parameter values. In making such an adjustment, the case may arise that certain banknotes can not be classified as well as would be desirable. Especially in the normal operation of the device, the case may arise that the classification of certain banknotes is difficult. In both cases it may be desirable to obtain processing data, for example measurement data, for certain banknotes whose secure classification presents difficulties.

Due to the often very high processing speeds of modern value-document processing devices and / or the high resolution capability of optical sensors used therein, a large stream of processing data is produced during processing, especially if the latter comprise measurement data. Therefore, it is not readily possible for such data to be retained for a long time, in particular permanently, for later investigations. beyond the end of transporting value documents, to save. In particular, processing data of value documents with certain predetermined properties can not be readily stored for later use. The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a method for processing value documents, which makes it possible to easily store processing data for value documents that are processed at high speed and have predetermined properties. Furthermore, means for carrying out the method should be specified.

The object is achieved by a method for processing value documents using a storage device for data, which has a storage area of predetermined storage area size, in which Value documents are occasionally transported to a sensor device, are detected for a respective value document by means of the sensor device Messdate describing at least one physical property of the value document for the respective value document a storage priority as a predetermined function of at least one necessary for determining the storage priority portion of the measured data Depending on the determined storage priority, processing data for the respective value document is stored in a memory block in the memory area, wherein the processing data comprises at least one part of the measurement data and / or property data for at least one property of the value document intended to be stored using at least one of Determining the property necessary part of the measured data are determined include, and wherein the storage priority affect the duration of storage of the respective processing data st.

The object is further achieved by a device for processing value documents, with a transport device which is designed for transporting isolated value documents, a sensor device which is set up to acquire measurement data for at least one of the value documents transported by the transport device, the at least one physical data Describe feature of the value document, and an evaluation device having at least one processor and a memory device having a memory area predetermined memory area size, wherein the device is adapted to carry out a method according to the invention, wherein as measured data measured data of the sensor device and as a memory device, the memory device of Evaluation device can be used. In particular, the device is therefore designed, using the memory device, as a memory device for data which has a memory area of predetermined memory. For the respective value document, a storage priority as a predetermined function of at least one part necessary for determining the storage priority determine the measurement data and depending on the determined memory priority to store processing data for the respective value document in a memory block in the memory area. In this case, the processing data comprise at least one part of the measurement data and / or property data for at least one property of the value document which is determined using at least one part of the measurement data necessary to determine the property, and the storage priority influences the duration of the storage of the data respective processing data. The evaluation device is preferably designed to determine a memory priority for the respective value document as a predetermined function of at least one part of the measurement data necessary for determining the memory priority and to store processing data for the respective value document in a memory block in the memory area as a function of the determined memory priority.

In the method, the value documents are transported individually to the sensor device, in particular the sensor device of the valuable document processing device. For this purpose, the transport device can serve the value document processing device. In order to separate documents of value, the value-document processing device may further comprise a separator, which singles value documents of a stack and feeds them to the transport device. The sensor device detects at least one physical property of a respective value document. It can have one or more sensors for this purpose. If only one sensor is present, it is designed to detect the at least one physical property. If several physical properties are detected, it is also possible to use a plurality of sensors, each of which detects at least one of the plurality of physical properties. Examples of the properties of a value document are its remission and / or transmission properties in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum, in particular also resolved by wavelengths or colors, the remission and / or transmission properties in the infrared and / or ultraviolet spectral range of the electromagnetic spectrum, luminescence properties , magnetic properties or remission or transmission properties for ultrasound in predetermined frequency ranges as well as inherent properties derived therefrom. Accordingly, the sensor device can have at least one optical sensor, in particular a color sensor and / or at least one IR sensor and / or one UV sensor, at least one luminescence sensor and / or one magnetic sensor and / or at least one ultrasound sensor. During detection, the sensor device or its sensor or sensors form sensor signals from which the measurement data can be obtained or which represent the measurement data. The measurement data are then acquired, preferably by means of the evaluation device, and can be stored at least temporarily. For storing the processing data, the storage device is provided. The memory device used is preferably a memory device in which processing data can be stored quickly, preferably in real time, for example, sufficiently fast RAM memory. The storage device stores the storage area for storage given space size ready to provide the memory blocks. In the context of the present invention, a memory block is understood to mean a non-contiguous or, preferably, a contiguous memory area whose size is sufficient to hold the data to be stored.

For storage, it is provided according to the invention that a storage priority is determined for the respective value document or the processing data for the value document, which determines how long the processing data are stored.

More precisely, a memory priority is determined by means of a data processing device, preferably the evaluation device, for the respective value document or the processing data for the respective value document. Memory priorities are numbers or data that can be represented as such. Although the storage priority may in principle take on arbitrary values, it is preferred that in the method discrete predefined values are given as possible values for the storage priority, particularly preferably the number of predefined values is greater than one and less than five.

The memory priority is determined as a predetermined function of at least one part of the measurement data necessary for determining the memory priority. In other words, the memory priority as a predefined function of a part of the measurement data or of all that is necessary for determining the memory priority

Measurement data is determined. The determination can be carried out directly or in the form that initially data describing at least one property of the value document are determined from the measurement data and this is then used to determine the memory priority. The Bear Processing data may then preferably include the value for the property as property data. The determination of the memory priority as a function of at least a portion of the measurement data necessary for their determination is preferably carried out according to a predetermined determination method, which is selected so that processing data for value documents with predetermined properties due to the determined memory priority stored longer than processing data for value documents that these predetermined characteristics do not have. The detection of the sensor data and the determination of the memory priority can preferably take place in the device by means of the evaluation device.

Depending on the determined memory priority, the processing data for the respective value document are then stored in a memory block in the memory area, wherein the memory priority at least indirectly comprises the duration of the storage of the respective processing data. The processing data in this case comprise at least one part of the measurement data intended for storage or all measurement data and / or property data for at least one property of the value document, which are determined from at least one part of the measurement data necessary to determine the property or the corresponding property data. In addition to the property data, the processing data preferably also includes the measurement data used to determine it.

The evaluation device of the device has to store the processing data on the storage device. In the case of the apparatus, the evaluation device can be designed, in particular, to perform those operations that determine the memory priority and store the memory. processing data. For this purpose, it can have one or more processors or processor cores and a computer program with code, in the execution of which they carry out the determination of the memory priority and the storage-related operations.

The longer stored processing data are then longer available for further use and need not be overwritten quickly. Thus, in spite of high processing speeds, processing data for certain value documents given by the given function can be stored and kept simple, in particular even longer.

Depending on the determined storage priority for the respective, ie current, value document and depending on the use of the memory blocks for storing processing data for other, ie previously processed, value documents may preferably be a memory block which is used to store processing data for another value document , to be used for storing the processing data of the respective value document. In this case, the processing data in one memory block can be overwritten with processing data for another value document. However, the processing data for the other value documents can also be deleted first before new processing data is written to the memory block. In the case of the device, the evaluation device may preferably be designed to have a memory block for storing processing data for another value document, depending on the determined memory priority for the respective value document and depending on the use of the memory blocks for storing processing data for other value documents is used to store the processing data of the respective value document. That is, in the case that at least one memory block is available that is not used for storing processing data, this memory block is used. If no memory block not used for the storage of processing data is available, the processing data in one of the memory blocks is overwritten. As a result, processing data for value documents with a higher storage priority remains stored longer than others.

Preferably, in the method in connection with the storage of the processing data in the respective memory block, the determined memory priority can be assigned to the respective memory block, whereby, as far as available, a part of the memory area which does not contain a memory block or a part of a memory block is used as the memory block is associated with a memory priority, or if no such portion of the memory area is available, using as memory block a portion of the memory area having at least one memory block associated with the lowest memory priority of memory blocks having associated memory priority. In the case of the apparatus, the evaluation device can be designed to associate the determined memory priority with the respective memory block in connection with the storage of the processing data in the respective memory block, wherein, as far as available, a part of the memory area which does not contain a memory block or a part of the memory area is used as the memory block Memory block associated with a memory priority, or if no such part of the memory area is available, is used as a memory block part of the memory area having at least one memory block, which is assigned the lowest memory priority of the memory blocks with associated memory priority. Alternatively, it is possible that unused memory blocks may also be used. Always allocate the lowest memory priority. Then, in the method in connection with the storage of the processing data in the respective memory block, the determined memory priority can be assigned to the respective memory block, wherein as memory block a part of the memory area is used which comprises at least one memory block having the lowest memory priority of the memory blocks with allocated memory priority assigned. In the case of the apparatus, the evaluation device may be designed to associate the determined memory priority with the respective memory block in connection with the storage of the processing data in the respective memory block, wherein a part of the memory area which comprises at least one memory block having the lowest memory priority of the memory area is used as the memory block Memory blocks associated with allocated memory priority.

In principle, in the method, the size of the memory blocks may be variable and, for example, be selected depending on the amount of processing data to be stored and / or a compression depending on the storage priority. In the latter case, for example, compression can only occur at high memory priorities, while at low memory priorities no compression occurs. However, it is preferred that the memory blocks have a predetermined same size. The memory device then has a memory area with memory blocks of predetermined size as the memory area of a predetermined memory area size. Their number is then determined or predetermined by the memory area size and the size of the memory blocks. Since the memory area then has a predetermined number of memory blocks of predetermined size, the handling of the memory blocks can be done very quickly, since an adaptation of the memory block size is not necessary. Preferably, in the method in connection with the storage of the processing data in the respective memory block, the determined memory priority can then be assigned to the respective memory block, wherein a memory block, to which no memory priority is assigned, or if no such memory block is available, is used as memory block, if available is used as the memory block is a memory block, which is assigned the lowest memory priority of memory blocks with assigned memory priority. In the case of the apparatus, the evaluation device may be designed to associate the determined memory priority with the respective memory block in connection with the storage of the processing data in the respective memory block, wherein a memory block to which no memory priority is assigned, if available, is used as the memory block, if available such memory block is available, as the memory block is a memory block is used, which is assigned the lowest memory priority of memory blocks with assigned memory priority. In this case, the storage priorities are predetermined so that processing data for value documents with a higher storage priority should be stored longer than those for value documents with a lower storage priority. Alternatively, it is possible that even unused memory blocks are always assigned the lowest memory priority. Then, in the method in connection with the storage of the processing data in the respective memory block, the determined memory priority can be assigned to the respective memory block, wherein a memory block having the lowest memory priority of the memory blocks with assigned memory priority is used as the memory block. In the apparatus, the evaluation device can then be designed to associate with the storage of the processing data in the respective memory block the respective memory block the determined memory priority. wherein a memory block is used as the memory block, which is assigned the lowest memory priority of the memory block with allocated memory priority. In this way, a staggering of the storage periods can be achieved, in particular when using more than two storage priorities.

According to a preferred embodiment, in the method, the memory blocks of each memory priority may be assigned an order of assignment of the respective memory priority to them, and as memory block that memory block having the lowest memory priority of the memory priority allocated memory blocks may be used, first in the memory block Order the memory priority has been assigned. In the case of the device, the evaluation device can be designed such that the memory blocks of a respective memory priority are assigned an order of assignment of the respective memory priority to them, and the memory block used is the memory block which is assigned the lowest memory priority of the memory blocks with assigned memory priority was first assigned the memory priority in the order. The assignment is understood to be the last assignment made during execution of the method. This embodiment offers the advantage that the processing data for value documents of the same storage priority can remain in the storage device for further use for as long as possible.

The assignment of a memory priority to a memory block can in principle be made cumbersome. Thus, it is possible to associate the storage priority with the processing data stored in the memory block. It is also possible to store the storage priority in the memory block together with the processing data. Preferably, however, in the method Assign the respective memory priority to the memory blocks by storing these or references to them in a list for the respective memory priority. In the case of the device, the evaluation device may be designed for this purpose to allocate the memory blocks to the respective memory priority by storing these or references to them in a list for the respective memory priority. This has the advantage that the allocation of memory priorities on the one hand and the discovery of memory blocks on the other hand can be done very easily and quickly.

In the method also preferably the memory blocks can be assigned the respective memory priority by storing these or references to them in a linked list for the respective memory priority, preferably in the order of assignment. In the case of the device, the evaluation device can be designed to assign the respective memory priority to the memory blocks by storing these or references to them in a linked list for the respective memory priority, preferably in the order of assignment. This has the advantage that the allocation of memory priorities and at the same time the order of allocation on the one hand and the finding of memory blocks of a given memory priority at a predetermined location row on the other hand can be done very easily and quickly.

The stored processing data for value documents can be used in different ways. It is preferred that, preferably during transport, processing data from memory blocks, which is assigned a predetermined memory priority higher than the lowest memory priority, read and the memory block is released for the storage of processing data. preferential For example, the readout is done in the order of decreasing memory priority when machining data for more than one memory priority is to be used. In the case of the device, the evaluation device is preferably designed to read, during transport, processing data from memory blocks to which a predetermined memory priority is assigned higher than the lowest memory priority, and to enable the memory blocks to store processing data. Preferably, the readout is done in the order of decreasing memory priority when processing data is to be used for more than one memory priority. This has the advantage that processing data for value documents which are assigned a high memory priority can also be used for large numbers of value documents, without many of these processing data being overwritten or lost. The release can in principle be arbitrary, for example, by eliminating the allocation of the memory priority to these memory blocks.

The read processing data can be used in any way. It is thus possible for them to be used in the evaluation device for carrying out further evaluation and / or analysis steps during the further course of the method, ie the transport of further value documents. In addition or as an alternative, it is possible to permanently store the read-out processing data, optionally after filtering or preprocessing, in a further memory alignment, ie beyond the end of the method or the processing of the value documents. For this purpose, the device can have a further memory device which, in particular, only needs to store data more slowly than the memory device. But it is also possible that the device only one interface, such as a network card or a USB interface or a card reader, are transmitted via the processing data to the then external further storage device and stored there. As a further storage device, in particular hard disks or flash memory come into consideration. When using a network card, the transfer to an external computer can take place with the additional storage device.

In principle, it is sufficient in the method that the function according to which the memory priority is determined, once fixed. However, it is preferred that in the process before the start of transporting

Trigger data are detected, by means of which the function used is specified. The device may for this purpose preferably have a device for detecting trigger data, wherein the device is further configured to detect trigger data by means of the device by means of which the function used is predetermined before the start of the transport. This embodiment makes it possible to adapt the method to different requirements, in particular to change a criterion for when a value document is to be assigned which memory priority. For the device for detecting trigger data, various possibilities are conceivable which can be used alternatively or in conjunction with one another. Thus, for example, an input / output device of the device, for example a touch-sensitive display ("touch screen"), can be used as a device for detecting trigger data. This has the advantage that a user can easily change trigger data without special aids. However, the device may also include an interface for transmitting data, for example a network card or a USB interface or a card reader. In particular, the interface can be used over which also editing data is stored. The device is then designed to read the trigger data, if necessary after entering a user's input. Triggers data are on the one hand understood values that are used in calculations or to set thresholds or the like. On the other hand, this also means values by means of which certain sub-functions can be selected, which are used in the evaluation of the predetermined function for obtaining partial results.

The processing data can, as already stated, include part of the measurement data or all measurement data and / or property data. Preferably, they also include an identifier of the value document for which they were formed. The type and scope of the processing data can be fixed in principle. However, it is preferred that in the method prior to the beginning of transporting, data record parameters are detected, by means of which the type and / or scope of processing data to be stored is determined and, as a result, the processing data are stored in accordance with the data record parameters. This has the advantage of only storing data that is really needed. For this purpose, the device can have a device for recording the data record parameters and can also be designed to record data record parameters before the start of transporting, by means of which the type and / or scope of processing data to be stored is determined and the processing data is subsequently stored in accordance with the data record parameters. Preferably, however, in the preferred embodiment of the apparatus mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the trigger data acquisition means also serves to acquire data by means of which the processing data to be stored is determined. The invention will be further explained by way of example with reference to the drawings. Show it:

1 is a schematic view of a value document processing device in the form of a Bariknotensortvorrichtung,

2 shows a simplified flow diagram of a first embodiment of a method for processing documents of value which can be carried out by means of the device in FIG. 1,

3 is a simplified flowchart of substeps of a step S16 in FIG. 2, FIG.

4A, B is a schematic representation of the memory block usage before and after a step in a first stage of the method in Fig. 2 and

5A to D a schematic representation of the memory block usage in the course of several steps in a second stage of the method in Fig. 2nd

A value-document processing apparatus 10 in FIG. 1, in the example an apparatus for processing value documents 12 in the form of banknotes, is designed for sorting value documents as a function of the recognition of the authenticity and the status of processed value documents. The value-document processing device processes value documents at a speed of more than 30 value documents / second, preferably more than 40 value documents / second. The components of the device described below are not in one shown housing of the device or held on this, unless they are referred to as external.

The device has a feeder 14 for feeding value documents, an output device 16 for receiving processed, d. H. sorted value documents, and a transport device 18 for transporting isolated value documents from the feeder 14 to the output device 16. The feeder 14 in the example comprises an input tray 20 for a value document stack and a separator 22 for singling value documents from the value document stack in the input tray 20 and to In the example, the output device 16 comprises three output sections 24, 25 and 26, in which processed value documents sorted by the result of the processing can be sorted. In the example, each of the sections comprises a stacking tray and a stacking wheel, not shown, by means of which added value documents can be stored in the stacking tray.

The transport device 18 has at least two, in the example three branches 28, 29 and 30, at the ends of each of the output sections 24 and 25 and 26 is arranged, and at the branches via controllable by control signals switches 32 and 34, by means of which Value documents in response to control signals to the branches 28 to 30 and thus the output abschriitten 24 to 26 can be fed.

At a transport path 36 defined by the carrying means 18 between the feed device 14, in the example more precisely the separator 22, and the first turnout 32 after the singler 22 in the transport direction T is arranged a sensor device 38 which measures physical properties of the value documents during the transport of value documents and forms the sensor results representing reproducing sensor signals. In this example, the sensor device 38 has three sensors, namely, an optical reflectance sensor 40 which detects a remission color image and a remission IR image of the value document, an optical transmission sensor 42, which transmits a transmission color image and a transmission IR image of the value document detected, and a transmission ultrasonic sensor 44, the spatially resolved ultrasonic transmission characteristics of the document of value or measures and is referred to hereinafter for the sake of simplicity only as an ultrasonic sensor. The optical sensors have a resolution greater than 60 dpi, 125 dpi in the example. The sensor signals formed by the sensors correspond to measurement data or raw data of the sensors, which depending on the sensor may already have undergone a correction, for example as a function of calibration data and / or noise properties.

For the acquisition and display of operating data, the value-document processing device 10 has an input / output device 46, which comprises a display device. In the example, the input / output device 46 is realized by a touch-sensitive display device ("touch screen") In other embodiments, it may comprise, for example, a keyboard and a display device, for example an LCD display.

An evaluation device 48, which in the present embodiment also serves as a control device and is therefore also referred to below as a control and evaluation device, is connected via signal connections the Sensoreiririchtung 38, the Anzeigeeimichtung 46 and the transport direction 18, in particular the switches 32 and 34, connected. Furthermore, a data interface 50 is connected to the control and evaluation device 48, by means of which the control and evaluation device 48 can read and / or write data records from an external device. In the present example, the data interface 50 has a USB interface with a USB connection, via which data from an external storage device 60, in the example a USB storage medium, can be read and / or written to it.

In the processing of value documents, value documents are separated from the feed device 14 and transported past or through the sensor device 38. The sensor device 38 detects or measures physical properties of the value document respectively past it or transported through it and forms sensor signals or measurement data which describe the measured values for the physical properties. The control and evaluation device 48 detects the sensor signals and stores corresponding measurement data at least temporarily. It also classifies the value document into one of predefined authenticity classes as a function of the sensor signals or measurement data of the sensor device 38 for a value document and of classification parameters stored in the evaluation device and controls the carrier device 18 by output of setting signals, in this case more specifically the points 32 or 34 in such a way that the value document is output in accordance with its class determined during the classification into an output section of the output device 16 assigned to the class. The assignment to one of the predefined authenticity classes or the classification takes place in dependence on at least one predetermined authenticity criterion. For this purpose, the control and evaluation device 48 has for this purpose in addition to corresponding not shown in the figures data interfaces for the sensor device 38 and its sensors via a processor 52 and connected to the processor 52 memory 54 in which at least one computer program is stored with program code at the execution of which the processor 52 controls the device and evaluates the measurement data. In doing so, it determines from the measurement data for a respective value document property data which describe various properties of the value document. In particular, it can determine the serial number, the readability of the serial number and the distribution of spots on the value document as property data. It can evaluate the sensor signals or measurement data, in particular for determining an authenticity class of a processed value document, and control the transport device 18 in accordance with the evaluation or store the measurement data. The value document processing device 10 further has a measurement data memory 56 connected to the processor 52, which may be part of the control and evaluation device 48, as shown in FIG. 1, or separated therefrom. This measurement data memory is in this embodiment a non-volatile memory, for example a hard disk.

Furthermore, the control and evaluation device 48 controls the input / output device 46, inter alia, to display operating data, and recorded on this operation data corresponding to inputs of an operator.

The following describes the aspects of the value-document processing device 10 and of a method for processing value documents, which relate in particular to storage of measurement data and property data determined therefrom. When editing the given Value documents are to be used to acquire data for the purpose of use, to acquire processing data for value documents with specific properties, in order to adapt these for determining improved classification parameters of the value-document processing device 10 or for another value-document processing device. For this, however, only data for value documents are necessary, which have certain predetermined properties. The processing data to be stored for a value document in this exemplary embodiment comprise the measurement data of the optical reflectance sensor and certain property data determined therefrom. In this example, processing data for circulating, ie no longer fresh, value documents are to be recorded whose serial number is not completely readable by the value-document processing device 10 , Furthermore, value documents are to be recorded, which have spots in the area of the serial number.

In the following, steps of a method for processing value documents are described, which enable the acquisition of such processing data for said value documents. Other steps related to sorting may be assumed to be known and need not be further described.

In the method, processing data determined for a respective value document are buffered, wherein the duration of the intermediate storage depends on a storage priority which is assigned to the value document, ie this processing data, or to the storage block used for storing the processing data. As memory priority, one of a predetermined number of discrete memory priorities may be assigned. The number p of the memory priorities is predetermined and greater than 1, in the present example 3. For example, as the storage priority becomes longer, for example, the processing data is stored the longest in memory blocks of highest memory priority 3. The computer program stored in the control and evaluation device 48 has instructions for performing at least parts of the method described below, illustrated in FIG. 2.

Before the singulation of documents of value begins, the control and evaluation device 48 acquires trigger data in step S10 by means of the input / output device 46, which serve in conjunction with the computer program stored in the control and evaluation device 48 to specify a function of which a storage priority is determined for the data to be stored for a value document. Furthermore, data record parameters are recorded which determine which data is stored for a respective value document.

In this example, processing data for value documents are to be recorded, in which the serial number can not be read with sufficient accuracy. For this purpose, the evaluation unit reads trigger data which specifies that value documents whose serial numbers could not be read completely are assigned the highest memory priority and value documents which have patches in the range of the serial number, the second highest memory priority. The processing data includes, in addition to an identifier for the value document, the raw data of the optical reflectance sensor and property data for the serial number, such as a list of the recognized characters, and data characterizing the contamination in the range of the serial number. After the trigger and data set parameters have been acquired, the control and evaluation device 48 in the memory 54 firstly provides a memory area of a predefined memory area size which has a number M of memory blocks. The size of each of these memory blocks is the same and chosen so that the data to be stored, the extent of which results, inter alia, from the data set parameters, find space in it. In this embodiment, M> 100, for example M = 128. These memory blocks are contained at the beginning of the method in a list N of empty or unused memory blocks, ie memory blocks without assigned memory priority.

Furthermore, a data structure for a linked list Li (i = 1,... P) of list entries is specified for each of the p priorities. A list entry is a reference to a memory block. Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, under the wording that a memory block is at a particular place in a list, it is understood that the reference to the memory block is in the place in the list. The lists are empty before the first value document is entered, so the memory blocks are not assigned to any list.

Then, after detecting a start signal of a user, which it detects by means of the input / output device 46, the control and evaluation device 48 starts the singulation of the value documents.

The following steps S12 to S16 are carried out for each individual value document, so that these steps are repeated until no value document is separated and the sensor device 38 passes. In step S12, the sensor device 38 acquires measurement data for a respective value document that passes through it. The evaluation device 48 acquires the measurement or raw data of the sensor device 38 for the respective value document.

In step S14, the evaluation device determines, using at least part of the raw data, property data which describe predefined properties of the respective value document. The raw data and the property data are hereinafter referred to as editing data. Using at least part of the raw data and / or at least part of the property data, the evaluation device further determines a priority from the given priorities for the respective processing data. In step S16, the processing data are then stored in one of the memory blocks as a function of the ascertained memory priority for the respective value document. In connection with the storage of the processing data in the respective memory block, the determined memory priority is assigned to the respective memory block. Depending on the determined storage priority for the respective value document and depending on the use of the memory blocks for storing processing data for other value documents, a memory block used to store processing data for another value document is used to store the processing data of the respective value document , Sub-steps of step S16 are illustrated in FIG.

First of all, the evaluation device checks in step S16a whether at least one free memory block, ie a memory block, has no memory priority is assigned, is available. For this, it only needs to check whether there is still one memory block in the list N of unused memory blocks.

If this is the case, the evaluation device first allocates the free memory block or, if several free memory blocks are available, one of the free memory blocks in step S16b. Here it stores the processing data and inserts it into the list Li, which corresponds to the memory priority i determined for the respective processing data, at the end of which. It removes the memory block from the list of unused memory blocks. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S12.

On the other hand, if the check shows that no free memory block is available or available, a memory block from one of the lists Li must be used. The processing data stored therein until then are no longer present in the memory. In this embodiment, the memory block used is a memory block which is assigned the lowest memory priority of the memory blocks with assigned memory priority. For this purpose, in step S16c the evaluation device first determines the list of the lowest memory priority, which contains at least one memory block. In step S16d, the evaluation device removes the oldest from this list, i. H. the data block at the top of the list, and uses it for the current processing data. It stores the processing data in it and appends it to that of the lists intended for the determined memory priority or memory blocks of the determined memory priority. Depending on the storage priority for the current processing data, the memory block may therefore be at the end of the same or another list thereafter.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S12. In this way, high memory priority editing data can be stored in memory for a long time and used later. Between the named steps and / or in parallel thereto, at longer intervals, for example after 100 value documents, in step S18, processing data are read out from memory blocks to which a predetermined memory priority is assigned higher than the lowest memory priority. The memory blocks are then released for storing processing data. For this purpose, the memory blocks are removed from the respective list, whereby they are no longer assigned priority. They can then be used as unallocated or free memory blocks. They can then be included in the list of N unused memory blocks. In the present example, first, the processing data of the highest memory priority, ie the memory priority 3, is read out starting from the beginning of the list.

The read-out processing data are stored in the further storage device, the mass storage 56. From there, they can later be transferred to the storage medium 60 via the interface 50.

The procedure for two process stages is illustrated in simplified form for eight memory blocks in FIGS. 4A and 4B as well as FIGS. 5A to 5D. The dashed boxes represent chained lists of unused memory blocks (N), linked lists of memory priority 1 (Li), memory priority 2 (L ₂ ) and memory priority 3 (L3).

FIG. 4A illustrates a stage in which four memory blocks 5 to 8 are not used, three memory blocks 1, 3 and 4 with processing data for Memory priority value documents 1, lowest memory priority 1, and memory block 2 with memory priority value 2 processing data are assigned the medium memory priority 2. Memory blocks shown above are more likely to be added to the list than below. The memory priority 3 is determined for the following value document. Thereafter, the machining data is written in the unused memory block 5; the memory block 5 is then appended to the list for memory priority 3, in the example written as the first element in the list. The result is shown in Fig. 4B.

Figure 5A illustrates another stage of the process in which the memory blocks 1, 4, 6 and 8 are in the memory priority 1 list, the memory blocks 2 and 7 in the memory priority 2 list and the memory block 5 is in the bar for memory priority 3. The list of unused memory blocks is empty.

For a current value document and thus for the processing data acquired or determined for this, the memory priority 1 was determined as the storage priority. It is now checked whether an unused memory block is present. Since the corresponding list is empty and thus no such block of memory exists, then the list of the lowest memory priority containing memory blocks is determined. This is the list for the memory priority 1. The memory block 1, which is the longest in it and thus the farthest in FIG. 5A, the memory block 1, is removed from the list and used to store the current processing data. Since the memory priority 1 has been determined for the value document or the processing data, the memory priority 1 is assigned to this memory block by inserting it into the list for the memory priority 1 at its end. This is illustrated in Fig. 5B. For a following value document and thus the processing data recorded or determined for it, the memory priority 2 was determined as the storage priority. It is now checked whether an unused memory block is present. Since the corresponding list is empty and thus no such block of memory exists, then the list of the lowest memory priority containing memory blocks is determined. This is the list for memory priority 1 in the situation shown in Fig. 5B. The memory block 3, which is the longest in it, and thus the highest in Fig. 5B, is removed from the list and used to store the current processing data. Since the memory priority 2 has been determined for the value document or the processing data, the memory priority 2 is allocated to this memory block by inserting it into the list for the memory priority 1 at its end. This is illustrated in FIG. 5C.

As a result, the machining data is read out from the memory blocks of the highest memory priority, the memory priority 3, and further used. The only memory block therein is the memory block 5, for which the allocation of the memory priority is canceled by removing it from the list for the memory priority 3 and appending it to the list of unused memory blocks. The resulting state is illustrated in FIG. 5D. Another embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it is additionally checked in step S16 whether the sum of the numbers of the memory blocks in the lists for the memory priority 1 and unused memory blocks falls below a predetermined lower limit. If this is not the case, the procedure is as in first embodiment continued. Otherwise, the control and evaluation device 48 stops the singulation. The value documents still in the transport path are processed even further, wherein corresponding processing data are stored as in the first embodiment. The lower limit is selected depending on the processing speed, the length of the transport path from the separator to the sensor device 38, and the number of memory blocks available at all so that processing data in the memory priority lists could be stored greater than the lowest memory priority if appropriate memory priorities are determined for them. The processing data in memory blocks in the lists for the memory priorities greater than the lowest memory priority can then be read and stored analogously to the first exemplary embodiment. Further, the operator can remove the corresponding value documents from the output trays.

Other embodiments differ from the previously described embodiments in that no list of unused memory blocks is used, but unused memory blocks are assigned the lowest memory priority. Then, all memory blocks are initially assigned to the list with the lowest priority. When a memory block is released, it is appended to the lowest priority list.

Other embodiments differ from the previously described embodiments in that the evaluation device reads the trigger data via the data interface 50 from an external memory device 60. Further exemplary embodiments may differ from the preceding ones in that the processing data as characteristic data also contain data which include the skew of the banknotes, ie the deviation of the direction of the edge of the banknote extending substantially along the transport direction and the transport direction.

Still other embodiments differ from the previously described exemplary embodiments by the function for determining the memory priority. The storage priority is determined to be higher if the value document has a sufficiently good position relative to the sensor device 38 during the acquisition of the measurement data, ie. H. in that the edge of the document of value running essentially in the transport direction is rotated by at most a predetermined angle, for example an angle of 5 °, with respect to the transport direction and this edge is removed by a predetermined distance from a predetermined center of the transport path or detection range of the sensor device , At the same time, the serial number should not be readable. For this purpose, the measurement data of the optical reflectance sensor 40 are used in the example. Furthermore, only those value documents receive a storage priority greater than the lowest storage priority, which have a value document type and an appropriate orientation that apply according to the acquired trigger data. For this purpose, the measurement data of the optical reflectance sensor 40 are used in the example.

In other exemplary embodiments, the function for determining the storage priority can also be predetermined in such a way that processing data for unexpected or unidentifiable value documents or value-added documents are stored. tiger sheets and such are recognized as forgery identified value documents with the highest priority.

Further exemplary embodiments differ from the preceding exemplary embodiments in that a network interface, preferably a wired network location, for example a gigabit emitter access point, is provided as the data interface 50. The external storage device 60 is then provided by a memory connected to the network interface, for example a hard disk of a remote computer.

Still further exemplary embodiments may differ from the preceding exemplary embodiments in that the memory 56 is dispensed with and storage operations, ie the storage of the processing data, take place directly by means of the data interface 50 in the further, now external memory device 60.

Other embodiments differ from the previously described embodiments in that no memory blocks of predetermined size are used. Rather, the size of the memory blocks is determined by the respective processing data to be stored for a value document. Step S16a is then changed to check in step S16a 'whether there is still an unused portion available in the memory area which can be used as a memory block for the present processing data. Otherwise, step S16a 'is unchanged from step S16a.

If this is the case, in a step S16b ', which is changed with respect to step S16b, the memory block is allocated with a size which is used to store the data Processing data is sufficient. The other processes of step S16, in particular the attachment to the list and the storage of the processing data, are then unchanged.

If a sufficiently large part of the memory area is no longer available for storing the processing data, a step S16c 'is performed, which differs from step S16c only in that the lowest priority list is searched for, in which one memory block or, if necessary, enough Memory blocks are available that can be used as a memory block for the processing data to be stored. A step S16d 'is then carried out, which differs from step S16d only in that the memory block or blocks are removed from the found list and the part of the memory area occupied by them is released. The thus freed part of the memory area is then used to allocate the new memory block for the processing data to be stored. The memory block is then treated as in step S16d.

Still other embodiments differ from the previous embodiments in that step S18 is omitted. The processing data are then stored in any case until beyond the end of the separation of the value documents and can then be used for further analysis. In particular, the processing data can be kept with the highest memory priority after processing a value-document stack and taken over when processing another value-document stack. In this way, for example, processing data with the highest storage priority can be collected over a layer in which a user processes value documents.

Claims

P a n t a n s p r e c h e

A method of processing value documents using a storage device for data having a storage area of predetermined storage area size, in which

- value documents are occasionally transported to a sensor device,

for a respective value document by means of the sensor device measurement data are recorded which describe at least one physical property of the value document,

a storage priority is determined for the respective value document as a predefined function of at least one part of the measurement data necessary for determining the storage priority,

in dependence on the determined storage priority, processing data for the respective value document are stored in a memory block in the memory area, wherein the processing data comprises at least one part of the measurement data and / or property data for at least one property of the value document intended to be stored, using at least one for detection comprise the property of the necessary part of the measurement data, and wherein the memory priority influences the duration of the storage of the respective processing data.

Method according to Claim 1, in which, depending on the determined memory priority for the respective value document and depending on the use of the memory blocks for storing processing data for other value documents, a memory block used for storing processing data for another value document is used. det is used to store the processing data of the respective value document.

Method according to claim 1 or 2, in which, in connection with the storage of the processing data in the respective memory block, the determined memory priority is assigned to the respective memory block, whereby, as far as available, a part of the memory area which does not comprise a memory block or a part of the memory area is used as memory block Memory block associated with a memory priority, or if no such part of the memory area is available, as a memory block, a part of the memory area is used, which has at least one memory block, which is assigned the lowest memory priority of memory blocks with assigned memory priority, or wherein as a memory block a portion of the memory area is used that comprises at least one memory block associated with the lowest memory priority of the memory blocks with associated memory priority.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the memory blocks have a predetermined size.

Method according to Claim 4, in which, in connection with the storage of the processing data in the respective memory block, the determined memory priority is assigned to the respective memory block, wherein, as far as available, a memory block to which no memory priority is assigned, or if no such memory block is used as the memory block is available, as memory block, a memory block is used, which is assigned the lowest memory priority of the memory blocks with allocated memory priority, or being used as a memory block a memory block is used, which is assigned the lowest memory priority of the memory blocks with allocated memory priority.

Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the memory blocks of a respective memory priority are assigned an order of assignment of the respective memory priority to them, and the memory block used is the memory block which is assigned the lowest memory priority of the memory blocks with allocated memory priority was first assigned the memory priority in the order.

Method according to one of Claims 3 to 6, in which the memory blocks are assigned the respective memory priority by storing these or references to these in a list for the respective memory priority.

Method according to one of Claims 3 to 6, in which memory blocks are assigned the respective memory priority by storing these or references to them in a linked list for the respective memory priority, preferably in the order of assignment.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which processing data are read from memory blocks, to which a predetermined memory priority is assigned higher than the lowest memory priority, and the memory blocks are released for the storage of processing data.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, are detected in the before the start of the transport trigger data, by means of which the function used is specified.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein before the beginning of transporting record parameters are detected, by means of which the type and / or extent to be stored processing data are determined.

12. Apparatus for processing value documents, with

a transport device which is designed to transport isolated value documents,

a sensor device which is set up to acquire measurement data describing at least one physical property of the value document for each of the value documents transported by the transport device, and

an evaluation device which has at least one processor and a memory device which has a memory region of predetermined memory area size,

wherein the apparatus is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein measurement data of the sensor device are used by the evaluation device and the storage device of the evaluation device is used as storage device.

An apparatus according to claim 12, comprising means for detecting trigger data, the apparatus being further adapted to detect trigger data by means of the means by which the function used is predetermined prior to commencement of transport.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for detecting trigger data also serves to detect data by means of which the processing data to be stored are determined.