FR2671414A1 - Installation and method for processing transactions by documents of payment, such as cheques - Google Patents

Abstract

The station assigned to the transactions (PTC) comprises entry means (LMC) capable, during a transaction, of entering the data relating to a cheque and to its issuer; means (TPC) for entering the amount of the transaction paid with the said cheque; means (TPC) for transferring the data and the amount thus entered into removable storage means (MEM) whilst the station assigned to the post-stamping of a cheque to be processed (PPM) comprises means (TPCM) capable of cooperating with the removable storage means (MEM) containing these data and amounts previously transferred in connection with this and several other transactions; means (LMCM) for reading the standardised characters of the cheque to be processed so as to recognise the said cheque and its issuer; means for retrieving from the said data and amounts the amount of the cheque thus recognised; and means for post-stamping the amount thus retrieved on the cheque to be processed by addition to the latter of its amount registered by the standardised characters.

Description

Installation and method for processing transactions by payment documents, such as checks.

The invention relates to the processing of transactions by payment documents, such as checks.

Generally, checks that are used by customers as payment for business transactions are then delivered by merchants at a suitable time to a bank branch in the form of a bundle of checks.

An operator of the bank branch then proceeds with the aid of a processing device to post-mark the checks thus delivered by adding on them their amount entered according to standardized characters. Checks thus postmarked are finally processed by automatic processing machines with a view to their passage through a clearing house.

In its French patent NO 85 01661, published under the number 2 577 057, the Applicant has proposed to improve the processing of checks by a device allowing at point of sale not only the reading of standardized characters carried by the check, in in particular the characters CMC7, or E13B, but also the post-marking of the check by adding on it the amount entered according to the standardized characters.

Such devices generally find an application among merchants of the big box type because the bankers consider that it is more economical, taking into account the high number of commercial transactions by checks that this kind of merchants carries out, to make available to these latest devices for reading standardized characters and post-marking checks which are then used by the staff of said merchants. Such a practice is further encouraged by an equitable distribution of the costs of local establishment of check processing devices between bankers and merchants.

It is not the same for the small or medium-sized merchant because a local establishment of post-marking device in this kind of merchants is too expensive for the banker and the merchant given the lower number of commercial transactions. by checks made by the latter. In addition, the cost of post-marking at the point of sale of the small or medium surface type becomes even higher in the case where there is a drift on the quality of the post-marking which obliges to make a re-entry of checks at the level banks.

As a result, the post-marking of checks at the point of sale of the small or medium surface type is not satisfactory at present.

Another solution may consist in remotely transmitting check images read at the points of sale. It is indeed possible first of all to store in the memory of the point of sale terminal the information relating to the commercial transaction by check and then to remotely transmit the information thus stored to the bank branch concerned.

However, the rules of the banking profession require that checks be returned to the bank. In this case, the teletransmitted transaction file and the authentic stack of checks will not arrive at the bank at the same time.

One solution then consists in equipping the bank with equipment connected to the switched network on the one hand and equipment for receiving check discounts on the other hand. However, the geographic and temporal mismatch of check remittances and teletransmitted files makes it difficult to manage such a check remittance.

The present invention provides an installation and a method for processing transactions by payment documents, such as checks, which can on the contrary provide a satisfactory solution to the problems posed above.

A first object of the invention is to provide an installation using means made as simple and as inexpensive as possible, allowing the information relating to commercial transactions by checks and the stack of said checks to be delivered to the bank at the same time in one one and the same place.

Another object of the invention is to carry out a processing of the transactions by checks making it possible to avoid a work of manual entry of the checks at the level of the bank branch.

The invention relates to an installation for processing transactions by payment vouchers, such as checks, of the type comprising a post assigned to commercial transactions by check and a post assigned to the post-marking of said checks.

According to a general definition of the invention, the item assigned to commercial transactions comprises - own input means during a transaction to enter the data relating to a check and its issuer - means for inputting the amount of the transaction paid by said check - means of transfer suitable for transferring the data and amounts thus entered into removable storage means and the post assigned to the post-marking of a check to be processed comprises - means suitable for cooperating with the removable storage means containing the data and amounts previously transferred in connection with the and several other transactions - means for reading the standardized characters of the check to be processed to recognize said check and its sender - means for searching in said data and amounts, the amount of the check as well recognized; and - means for post-marking the amount thus sought on the check to be processed by adding to it the amount entered according to the standardized characters.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the removable storage means comprise a synchronous type memory card, with free access, in technology
EEPROM with a capacity of around 16 Kbits, which makes it possible to store data relating to checks, their issuer and their amount in relation to around 80 transactions.

The invention also relates to a method of processing transactions by payment vouchers, such as checks, in which there is provided a station assigned to commercial transactions by checks and a station assigned to the post-marking of said checks.

According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps - a) with regard to the item assigned to transactions .al) enter the data relating to a check, its sender as well as its amount; and .a2) transfer the data and amount thus entered into removable storage means, and - b) as regards the post-marking post of a check to be processed, .bl) provide means suitable for cooperating with removable storage means containing the data and amounts previously transferred in connection with the one or more other transactions .b2) read standardized characters of the check to be processed to recognize said check and its sender .b3) search in said data and amounts, the amount of the check so recognized; and .b4) post-mark the amount thus sought on the check to be processed by adding to it the amount entered according to standardized characters.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on examining the detailed description below, as well as the appended drawings, in which - Figure 1 is a block diagram of the installation according to the invention; and - Figures 2a and 2b are flowcharts respectively illustrating the operation of the post assigned to commercial transactions and the post assigned to post-marking according to the invention.

It is reminded first of all that a check must, before signature, be completed with its amount in figures (BPF location), with the amount indicated a second time, imperatively in letters if it is handwriting, the second registration being however admitted in figures if it is made in printed characters. The check must also include the name of its beneficiary, as well as the indication of the place and the date of its issue.

The account holder signs the check. After that, it is endorsed by the merchant, using an endorsement form, supplemented by the merchant's signature, then returned to the merchant's bank (in principle different) for collection. Transfers of funds relating to checks are subject to interbank clearing. This operation is of course automated.

The starting point of this interbank clearing operation is an automatic reading of the track in standardized characters, (in France CMC7 characters), which includes the check. This track includes from the outset the indication of the check number, the identification of the issuing bank, the agency where the account of the holder is held, as well as the account number of the latter.

For example, this track is read by a check marker reader such as that described in French Patent Application No. 89 09262 filed in the name of the Applicant not yet published and sold by the latter under the reference E502.

There remains an important information which cannot appear on this track from the beginning, which is the amount of the check.

The so-called "post-marking" operation includes at least one manual operation when the point of sale is not equipped with a check processing device automatically performing post-marking such as the devices described in French Patent No 85 01661 filed in the name of
Applicant. This manual operation consists, for an operator at the bank branch level, in hitting the amount on a keyboard of a post-marking machine which automatically writes the amount in CMC7 characters on the check, in response to the amount just received. hit the operator. This manual operation is one of the main causes of the cost of the bank processing of a check coming from a point of sale of the small or medium surface type without post-marking device for the reasons mentioned above.

It will be understood below that the present invention allows a considerable simplification of the operations recalled above, which will be able to be carried out, automatically, partly at the point of sale and partly at the bank branch.

With reference to FIG. 1, the PTC post assigned to commercial transactions is equipped with LMC input means suitable for a commercial transaction to enter the data relating to a check and its issuer and TPC input means for the amount of the transaction paid by said check.

In practice, the LMC input means comprise means for reading the standardized characters of the check to be processed and of its sender.

For example, the LMC input means are constituted by a check marker reader such as that described in French Patent Application No 89 09262 by the Applicant and sold by the latter under the reference E502.

This LMC reader-marker is connected by a standardized link LIA to TPC input means of the transaction amount.

In practice, the TPC input means consist of a compact payment terminal equipped with a processing unit and an internal memory (not shown), a 20-key keyboard (not shown), a display on two lines of 16 alphanumeric characters in liquid crystal (not shown) and manual readers for magnetic tracks 1S02 and / or IS02 / 1 and / or IS02 / 3 and an LCM micro card reader module.

First of all, the internal memory of the TPC terminal makes it possible to receive the data entered by the reader-marker
LMC via the LIA link and the amount of the transaction struck by the merchant on the terminal keyboard.

Very advantageously, the manual magnetic strip readers and / or the LCM microcircuit card reader module then make it possible to cooperate with removable memory means MEM to write in said removable memory means the data and amount thus received in the internal memory of the terminal in connection with one or more transactions.

For example, this terminal is that described in French Patent Application No. 90 05830 by the Applicant and sold by the latter under the reference TPC E232.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the removable storage means MEM of the data and amount are constituted by a memory card, for example of the synchronous type because it is less expensive, and with free access.

It should be noted that an asynchronous type card can also be used according to the invention.

Advantageously, the MEM memory card is in technology
EEPROM.

In practice, the memory capacity of the MEM card is chosen to be of the order of 16 Kbits, which makes it possible to store data relating to checks, their sender as well as their amount in relation to approximately 80 transactions.

As will be seen in more detail below, the storage means MEM are chosen to be removable because they are thus easily transportable with a stack of checks and they can be used both at the merchant and at the banker.

According to another embodiment of the invention, in the case where the point of sale is equipped with a check reader sold by the Applicant under the reference E506, provision is made to couple to said check reader a card reader with memory capable of processing the MEM card using a process identical to that described above
Thus, according to the invention, the commercial transactions executed by check at the merchant, are recorded in a memory card MEM cooperating with the terminal of the point of sale TPC or a check reader such as the
E521.

 The memory capacity MEM is chosen so that it is possible to record approximately 80 commercial transactions, which is quite sufficient to cover the average daily activity of a point of sale in a small trade.

Any evolution of the EEPROM technology going in the direction of an increase in capacities can be accepted by the TPC terminal according to the invention.

With reference to FIG. 2a, the operation of the station assigned to commercial transactions according to the invention is as follows.

In accordance with step all, the merchant first of all enters the check used by the customer as a payment instrument for the commercial transaction in the LMC check reader. The information relating to the standardized characters of the check as well as its sender which are read by the check reader LMC are then transmitted via the standardized link LIA to the processing unit of the payment terminal TPC.

During step a12, the merchant then enters the amount of the check using the keyboard of the TPC payment terminal.

The processing unit relates, according to a simple application software, the information relating to the amount thus entered with the information relating to the standardized characters of the check previously transmitted via the link.
LIA.

During step a21, the information thus linked is stored in the internal memory of the processing unit of the terminal TPC. The steps all, a12 and a21 are repeated each time for each commercial transaction.

During step a22, the merchant, at an appropriate time, for example at the end of the day, firstly introduces a memory card MEM into the card reader LCM of the terminal TPC.

The processing unit of the TPC terminal then transfers (registration) the information previously stored in connection with the day's commercial transactions in the memory card MEM. Appropriate backup means such as editing a transaction log tape may be provided after the transfer of information relating to business transactions is carried out.

In addition, the erasure of the data and amounts stored in the memory of the TPC terminal can be triggered by the operator once he has ensured that the transfer to the MEM card has been correctly executed without any alteration. .

Reference is again made to Figure 1.

Regarding the post assigned to PPM post-marking of checks at the bank branch or any other body responsible for this operation by bank delegation, provision is made for TPCM means capable of cooperating with the removable storage means containing data previously stored in connection with the transaction.

More precisely, these TPCM means capable of cooperating with the removable memory means MEM of the card type comprise a compact payment terminal TPCM of the type described above, under the reference TPC, connected via a standardized LIAM link to means of reading
LMCM of the standardized characters of the check to be processed to recognize the said check and its sender.

r
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for reading LMCM of the standardized characters are constituted by a check reader-editor capable of reading standardized characters and a post-marking station.

For example, the LMCM means consist of a device of the type sold by the Applicant under the reference E501.

To facilitate the handling of checks, the LMCM means may consist of a device of the type sold by the Applicant under the reference E521 equipped with a check unstacker and sorting boxes.

It should be noted that the TPCM terminal can be replaced by conventional computer hardware such as a PC type computer connected to a memory card reader which can process the MEM card.

Referring to Figure 2b, the operation of the post assigned to post-marking is as follows.

In accordance with step b1, the operator of the bank branch introduces the MEM card into the LCMM card reader of the TPCM terminal. The information thus previously stored in the memory card MEM in connection with one or more transactions is transferred under the control of the processing unit of the terminal TPCM in the internal memory of said terminal.

For example, the MEM card is given by the merchant to the bank branch at the same time as the bundle of checks to be processed relating to the merchant's commercial transactions.

In accordance with step b2, the operator introduces into the LMCM check reader a check to be processed from the bundle of checks thus delivered by the merchant. The information relating to the standardized characters of the check as well as its sender which are read by the LCMM check reader are then transmitted via the standardized LIAM link to the processing unit of the TPCM payment terminal.

During step b3, the processing unit of the TPCM terminal searches, according to simple application software, in the data and amounts transferred in the internal memory of the TPCM terminal, the amount of the check recognized using the information relating to the standardized characters thus transmitted.

During step b4, in the event of recognition of the amount of the check to be processed, the processing unit of the TPCM terminal finally controls the post-marking station of the LCMM means so that it post-marks the amount of the check by adding on it the amount entered according to standardized characters.

It should be noted that a PPM post-marking station as described above allows the post-marking of checks coming from several different PTC sales stations as described above.

 According to another embodiment, at the post assigned to post-marking, it is possible to associate a memory card reader with the LCMM check reading device.

For example, this card reader can be that of an ATM. In this case, the merchant inserts the MEM memory card into a card reader when he deposits checks in an envelope. The card is immediately read by the card reader. The merchant can thus recover the card once the transfer of data relating to commercial transactions has been completed. This reading operation thus makes it possible to avoid returning the memory cards to the merchant once the post-marking operation is executed.

Claims (14)

Claims 1. Installation for the processing of transactions by payment vouchers, such as checks, of the type comprising a post assigned to commercial check transactions (PTC) and a post assigned to the post-marking of said checks (PPM), characterized in that that the item assigned to transactions (PTC) includes - input means (LMC) proper during a transaction to enter data relating to a check and its issuer - input means (TPC) of the amount of the transaction paid by said check - transfer means (TPC) suitable for transferring the data and amount thus entered into removable storage means (MEM); and in that the post assigned to the post-marking of a check to be processed (PPM) comprises - means (TPCM) suitable for cooperating with the removable storage means (MEM) containing the data and amounts transferred beforehand in relation to the and several other transactions - means for reading (LMCM) the standardized characters of the check to be processed in order to recognize said check and its sender - means for searching in said data and amounts, the amount of the check thus recognized; and - means for post-marking the amount thus sought on the check to be processed by adding to it the amount entered according to the standardized characters. 2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for entering (LMC) the data relating to a check comprise - means for reading (LMC) the standardized characters of the check to be processed and its sender. 3. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer means (TPC) comprise - storage means suitable for receiving the data and amount thus entered in relation to the transaction - means suitable for cooperating with the storage means removable (MEM) to register in said removable storage means (MEM) the data and amount thus stored. 4. Installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the removable storage means (MEM) comprise a memory card. 5. Installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the memory card ~ is synchronous type, free access. 6. Installation according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that the memory card is in EEPROM technology. 7. Installation according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the memory capacity of the card is of the order of 16 Kbits, which makes it possible to store data relating to checks, to their sender as well than their amount in relation to approximately 80 transactions. 8. Method for processing transactions by payment documents, such as checks, in which there is provided a post assigned to commercial check transactions (PTC) and a post assigned to the post-marking of said checks (PPM), characterized in what it includes the following steps -a) with regard to the item assigned to transactions (PTC), -al) enter the data relating to a check and its sender as well as its amount; and -a2) transfer the data and amount thus entered into removable storage means (MEM), and -b) as regards the post assigned to the post-marking of a check to be processed (PPM), -bl) provide means (TPCM) suitable for cooperating with the removable storage means (MEM) containing the data and amounts previously transferred in connection with the and several other transactions -b2) read standardized characters of the check to be processed to recognize said check and its sender -b3) search in said data and amounts, the amount of the check thus recognized; and -b4) post-mark the amount thus sought on the check to be processed by adding on it the amount entered according to standardized characters. 9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that step a1) comprises the following steps -all) read the standardized characters of the check to be processed and its sender; and -a12) enter the amount of said check. 10. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that step a2) comprises the following steps a21) store the data and amount thus entered in relation to the transaction a22) enter the data and amount thus stored in the removable storage means (SAME).  11. Method according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the removable storage means (MEM) comprise a memory card. 12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the memory card is of the synchronous type, with free access. 13. Method according to claim 11 or claim 12, characterized in that the memory card is in EEPROM technology. 14. Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the memory capacity of the card is of the order of 16 Kbits, which makes it possible to store data relating to checks, to their sender as well than their amount in relation to approximately 80 transactions.