FORM-2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (SECTION-10)
Automated electronic cheque receiving system.

Albertsons International Pvt. Ltd.
44/2203, Pranav, Gandhi Nagar, Bandra East, Mumbai, 400 051
An Indian Company

The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates to an automatic cheque receiving system used in banking industries.
This invention particularly relates to an automated cheque receiving system for cost effective, convenient and secure method of depositing cheques and demand drafts.
PRIOR ART
A detailed study of the various methods of depositing cheques in the banking system has been made, which reveals that at present two methods of depositing cheques are followed:
1. The conventional and largely adopted method is the one where the customer visits the concerned bank branch where the account is maintained, fills up pay-in -slip manually, hands over the cheque and pay-in-slip to the cheque receiving clerk at the counter and obtains acknowledgement on the pay-in-slip counterfoil. Under this method, the bank branches receive cheques only during the banking hours.
2. A few customers deposit cheques with the filled-in pay-in-slips in the "drop
boxes" (where no receipts could be obtained). The cheque drop boxes
are placed in the bank branch premises. This system leaves a certain
degree of apprehension in the customer's mind about the safety of the
cheque dropped by them in "drop boxes" since no receipt is obtained and
subsequent credit of amount to their ale. This apprehension seems to be
the cause of "drop box" system not being used by majority of the bank
customers and in turn they choose to present the cheques at the bank
counter and obtain an acknowledgement.
In either of the above cases, the amount is credited to the account of the
customer when the banking instrument is cleared through MICR clearing
system.
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The problems being caused on adoption of cheque drop boxes in bank branches are elaborated below:
1. If a person is planning to drop the cheque in the 'cheque drop box' provided in the bank branches or at the A TM centres, there is a possibility of some cheques getting lost or misplaced due to the negligence of bank officials or customers. This results in the inconvenience to customers.
2. The clearance of cheques may get delayed and the consequent inconvenience is caused if dropped cheques are not collected from the "drop box" and sent by the bank for clearance on the scheduled day or time. For e.g., if the dropped cheque covers customer's loan EMI payment and assuming that the cheque would be cleared on the scheduled day or time corresponding to EM! due date, the delay in credit of cheque proceeds may result in the customer paying penalty for the late payment. This is because the clearance of the cheque would take place on the following day of the deposition of the cheque. Neither the bankers nor the customer can be blamed for such situations.
3. 'Cheque drop box' is such a 'board accepted system' that entertains anything to enter. Not only can the cheques be inserted in the 'cheque drop box' but any other matter such as papers, garbage etc. The bankers, along with sorting out the cheques those were deposited in the 'Cheque drop box' may have to sort out any such unwanted material inserted.
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To avoid the problems caused by the 'cheque drop box', if the customer goes to deposit the cheque personally at the bank counter under the manual system, then there are possibilities of wrong entries and consequent credit of proceeds to wrong account causing innumerable hardship to customers. Following are the actual incidents that have taken place at various banks across India:
INCIDENT 1: A person, who had deposited a cheque for clearing, issued another cheque to the credit card issuing bank thinking that his cheque proceeds would get credited to his account. Unfortunately for him, the amount was credited to some other account resulting in the bouncing of cheque issued to credit card. To add to his woes, he gets a penalty notice. His credit rating with the credit card issuing bank had also gone down. Result, the person loses faith in his bank and closes his account.
INCIDENT 2: In another incident, the cheque was deposited but the cheque proceeds were credited to someone else's account. When the account holder went to withdraw money from his account, to his dismay, the bank official informed that there was no sufficient balance in his account. When the person produced the cheque counterfoil acknowledged by the bank, the bank officials realize their mistake of wrongly crediting the amount to someone else's account.
Most of the above practical problems are caused due to manual entries. The bank officials are under phenomenal pressure due to increased workload with regard to documentation relating to clearance of cheques to be completed within the stipulated time on any working day.
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OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
It is the main object of the invention to obviate the drawbacks in the above-mentioned cheque clearing system.
It is an object of the invention to provide an automated electronic cheque receiving system for self-deposit of cheques by the customers. which is simple and user friendly and requires no pay in slip entries and issues individual receipts for each instrument deposited.
It is another object of the invention to provide a system, which offers secured storage of accepted cheques.
It is another object of the invention to provide a system, which stores the details of transactions and reports on a non volatile memory.
It is another object of the invention to provide a system for expediting credit/debit of cheque/ DD proceeds to the respective accounts of customers.
It is another object of the invention to provide a system, which offers endorsement printing behind the instrument.
It is another object of the invention to provide a system, which is a fully integrated system that works without real time computer.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a system, which can work with bank specific customised software.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a system, which is password protected and capable of generation of automatic scrolling and fast reports as per the service branch specification.
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It is yet another object of the invention to provide a system, which can communicate to a remote data server through various modes.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a system, which offers tri lingual display of operation menu to the customers.
Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
In order to achieve the above objectives and others, the present invention provides an automated electronic cheque receiving system comprising an embedded micro controller with add on asynchronous fast memory and real time clock, magnetic ink character recognition reader, a key board, liquid crystal display, hi-speed thermal printer, endorsement printer, a cheque scanner, a= cheque stacker for stacking the cheques received, a dynamic stack swapper, slot for connecting a special non-volatile semiconductor memory for larger data storage, provision to connect a printer external to the system, communication port for linking to the computer system of the bank and multimedia card with suitable state-of-the-art electronics and a software embedded in the said micro controller providing multi lingual display menu for the customer .optionally helping in stacking the checques according to its category, decoding the MICR code into the customer understandable information, on the receipt such as name of the drawee bank, place, cheque no., type of instrument deposited etc., graphical menu driven operation for ease of operation for all classes of banks' customers , stale or post dated cheques rejection provision and a dynamic help menu in any of the selected
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language for self-help by the customers.
Here the magnetic ink character recognition reader is capable of detecting E13 b and CMC 7 character format.
The key board is a soft touch, long durable key pad with 15 key buttons for customer data entry operations..
The LCD display is capable of displaying 21 x 8 text characters and 8192 pixels for graphic characters with backlit illumination.
The hi-speed thermal printer is a heavy-duty printer with auto paper load and paper cutter mechanism for issuing of presentable receipts.
The endorsement printer is a 9 pin dot matrix alpha numeric printer for single line printing.
The communication port is a 9 pin male dsub connector.
The cheque stacker is based on auto incrementer technology and provided with a lock for safety of deposited cheques.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
The invention will now be described with respect to the non-limiting figures in the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1 shows perspective view of the automated electronic cheque receiving system.
FIG. 2 shows perspective view of automated electronic cheque receiving system illustrating the cheque stacking facility.
FIG. 3 to 17 shows the flow diagram of the various process carried out by the automated electronic cheque receiving system.
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The present invention will be more readily appreciated in a reading of the "Detailed Description of the Invention" with reference to the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS:
As shown in fig 1 Automated electronic cheque receiving system 1 is a sleek, compact unit with a combination of hardware and software well integrated. The software is user-friendly and the hardware is most reliable. The automated electronic cheque receiving system comprising an embedded micro controller 2 with add on asynchronous fast memory 3 and real time clock 4 , magnetic ink character recognition reader 5, a key board 6, liquid crystal display 7, hi-speed thermal printer 8, endorsement printer 9, a cheque scanner 10, a cheque stacker for stacking the cheques received 11, a dynamic stack swapper 12, slot 13 for connecting a special non-volatile semiconductor memory for larger data storage, provision 14 'to connect a "printer external to the system, communication port 15 for linking to the computer system of the bank and multimedia card 16 with suitable state-of-the-art electronics.
A software carrying out the steps depicted in fig 3 to 17 embedded in the said micro controller providing multi lingual display menu for the customer .optionally helping in stacking the cheques according to its category such as in station, outstation or transfer cheques, decoding the MICR code into the customer understandable information, on the receipt such as name of the drawee bank, place, cheque no., type of instrument deposited etc., graphical menu driven operation for ease of operation for all classes of banks' customers , stale or post dated cheques rejection provision and a dynamic help menu in any of the selected language for self-help by the customers. The system is designed for installation at bank branches for direct use by the
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customers. It can also be installed adjoining to on-site ATMs as it is a fully integrated compact and attractive unit, which can be placed on the floor or conveniently attached to the wall at the bank branches or even near the ATM. Before installation, the customers' data such as their names and their account nos. is down-loaded on to the system from the bank's computer using a Data Loader. It can also be used to upload the data pertaining to accepted cheques/dd s to the bank's computer system through a proprietary data loader when the system is installed at a distant place from the bank branch. However, the data can be directly uploaded on to the computer if the system is installed at the bank premises. As soon as the data is downloaded on to the system, the system is ready for use by the customers directly.
This invention is an independent system of that of bank's computerized system even though both can be well integrated. Notwithstanding this, it can function as an independent system of that of branch computerized system. Branch computerized system comes into play only in respect of down-loading conveniently the a/c holders' data through the Data Loader. It can also be used to upload the data pertaining to accepted cheques to the bank's computer system through a Data Loader when the system is installed at a distant place nom the bank branch. However, the data can be directly uploaded on to the computer if the system is installed at the bank premises.
Scroll-data and the reports of the accepted instruments by the system can also be obtained directly in the desired format by connecting an external Dot Matrix Printer to it. The Scroll-data and the reports can be obtained through the receipt printer i.e. the Thermal Printer provided in the system for on the spot reconciliation of accepted instruments.
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The ultimate features of the system is hidden in the endorse-it*, cheque scanner*, incremental stacker technology, and dynamic stack swapper*, these features are not available in other cheque receiving systems. These are explained below:
1. Endorse-;IT*:_the cheques received by the system will undergo a single line alphanumeric endorsement printing on the reverse of the cheque after the MICR reader carries out its function of reading MICR codes printed on the bottom of cheques. . This is done through the specially designed 'endorse-IT' technology. This endorsement helps the bankers to verify data keyed-in by the customer while depositing the cheques.
2. Cheque scaner*:This technology is used to scan instruments receipted by the system. This will help bankers to store and forward images of cheques receipted.
3. SOFTWARE: The software is developed on the Embedded Technology to
provide the following exclusive features:
(a) Tri-lingual menu (English, Hindi & the choice of any popular regional language of India)
(b) Storage of cheques in receipted order with a choice of: one cheque receipt tray or three trays to receive 3-broad categories of cheques; sorted through software control.

(c) Graphical menu driven: operation for ease of operation for all classes of banks' customers.
(d) Stale or post dated cheques rejection provision.
(e)Decoding of MICR codes and conversion into the customer
understandable information on the receipt such as name of the drawee bank,
place, cheque no., type of instrument deposited etc.
(f) Dynamic help menu in any of the three languages for self-help by the
customers.
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OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM:
The customer walks into the bank's branch or atm center with cheques/dds to be deposited. He approaches the automated electronic cheque receiving system, keys in the account number through the keyboard. Since the data of the customer is already stored in the system, as soon as the account number is keyed-in by the customer, the name of the customer appears automatically on the display of the system. This assures the customer that the cheque/DD being deposited by him through the system will be credited (subject to clearance) to his account. The customer also keys in the amount and the date of the instrument. If the instrument date is prior to 6 months from the date of deposit or post dated. The system will display a captioned note that "CHEQUE DATE INVALID". Subject to keyed-in date being OK, there will be subsequent menu-driven requests to the customer (in one of three popular languages chosen by the customer) to feed the cheque into "CHEQUE INSERT AREA MICR" of the system. If the instrument inserted by the customer is a genuine one, the system will immediately receive the cheque and places it in the secure tray provided within the system itself in the cheque receipt order; one over the other neatly stacked. The swapper mechanism and the software command used in the system can automatically sort the instruments based on whether they are in station, Out station or transfer cheques simplifies the work of the bankers to a greater extent.
On acceptance of cheque/DD, the system issues a neatly printed receipt to the account holder consisting of all particulars of cheque/DD deposited in the system. The receipt that is obtained from system outwits all the drawbacks of receipts issued by other computer-based cheque receiving systems. Receipts issued by such systems, which are largely imported from other
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developed countries, are not customer-user friendly. These receipts contain mostly coded information, which is generally not understood by bank's customers. The receipt through the system is user-friendly in all respects such as size, complete transaction info. In the case of multiple deposits of banking instruments in the same account, repeat keying-in of the account no. by the customer is not necessary. However, for every instrument accepted by the system, a separate receipt is issued by the system. Periodically, during the day or shift, the bank branch officer will remove the cheques accepted by the system. He will also obtain an Intermediate Report from the system either through the in-built thermal printer of the system or by connecting the system to any external Dot Matrix Printer through a parallel port provided in the system. The Intermediate Report will not erase the memory of the system unless the Final Report is taken from the system. Apart from giving a detailed scroll report in the 'Cheque Receipt Order', the system will also provide separate reports consisting of bank wise no. of instruments accepted, In station/Outstation/Transfer instruments accepted and the total values thereof as also the grand total of the value of all instruments. Place wise, Bank wise, Instrument wise sorted reports could also be obtained from the system. The report to be submitted to MICR clearing branch can be obtained in the desired format. Accepted cheques along with the report from the system will be further scrutinized by the bank officer for correctness of amount and dates keyed-in by the customers w.r.t. each instrument and then forward to MICR Central Clearing Branch of the bank for further encoding and processing for clearance of banking instruments.
Since the system is provided with Multimedia Card, the system can conveniently accommodate all the data of account holders such as the account nos. and the names of account holders without any limitations. The
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data of new account opened and deletion of closed accounts can also be
conveniently downloaded on to the system through the Data Loader.
The above process of mechanization of cheque receiving system is expected
to save a phenomenal amount of time in the bank branch. This will in turn
help to expedite cheque clearing process thereby accruing greater benefits to
bank's customers.
Advantages
• Built on technologically advanced futuristic embedded technology.
• Tri-lingual menu for ease of operations by any ordinary account holder operations by any ordinary account holder.
• Cheques are receipted and stored in the order of acceptance / order of transaction.
• Customer friendly receipt with complete details of banking instruments deposited - printed on customer receipt.
• Full alphanumeric customer data endorsement on the reverse of the deposited cheques/dds including the amount keyed-in by depositors.
• Secured bank's customer data protection through embedded technology with the use of multi- media (mmc) card.
• Software with a capability to upgrade/amend software at a short notice.
When we have described and illustrated particular embodiment of cur present invention we do not wish to limit it to the exact form shown which is indeed to illustrate our invention rather than to limit to it.
It is to be expressly understood that the invention is susceptible to such improvements and modifications, which may be made by any person skilled in the art to suit individual job requirement and any such improvements and modifications so made in the invention here in before described and illustrated shall be considered to be falling within the ambit and scope of this invention and the appended claims.
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We claim:
1. An Automated electronic cheque receiving system comprising an embedded micro controller with add on asynchronous fast memory and real time clock, magnetic ink character recognition reader, a key board, liquid crystal display, hi-speed thermal printer, endorsement printer, a cheque scanner,, a cheque stacker for stacking the cheques received, a dynamic stack swapper, slot for connecting a special non-volatile semiconductor memory for larger data storage, provision to connect a printer external to the system, communication port for linking to the computer system of the bank and multimedia card with suitable state-of-the-art electronics and a software embedded in the said micro controller providing multi lingual display menu for the customer .optionally helping in stacking the cheques according to its category, decoding the MICR code into the customer understandable information, on the receipt such as name of the drawee bank, place, cheque no., type of instrument deposited etc., graphical menu driven operation for ease of operation for all classes of banks' customers , stale or post dated cheques rejection provision and a dynamic help menu in any of the selected language for self-help by the customers.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic ink character recognition reader is capable of detecting E13 b and CMC 7 character format.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key board is soft touch, long durability key pad with 15 key buttons for customer data entry operations..
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the LCD display is provided for displaying 21x8 text characters and 8192 pixels for graphic characters with backlit illumination.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein hi-speed thermal printer is a heavy duty printer with auto paper load and paper cutter mechanism for
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issuing of presentable receipts.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the endorsement printer is a 9 pin dot matrix alpha numeric printer for single line printing.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication port is a 9 pin male dsub connector.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cheque stacker is based on auto incrementer technology and provided with a lock for safety of deposited cheques.
9. An Automated electronic cheque receiving system substantially as described here in with reference to the figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of March, 2005

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ABSTRACT
An Automated electronic cheque receiving system comprising an embedded micro controller with add on asynchronous fast memory and real time clock, magnetic ink character recognition reader, a key board, liquid crystal display, hi-speed thermal printer, endorsement printer, a cheque scanner a cheque stacker for stacking the cheques received, a dynamic stack swapper, slot for connecting a special non-volatile semiconductor memory for larger data storage, provision to connect a printer external to the system, communication port for linking to the computer system of the bank and multimedia card with suitable state-of-the-art electronics and a software embedded in the said micro controller providing multi lingual display menu for the customer .optionally helping in stacking the cheques according to its category, decoding the MICR code into the customer understandable information, on the receipt such as name of the drawee bank, place, cheque no., type of instrument deposited etc., graphical menu driven operation for ease of operation for all classes of banks' customers , stale or post dated cheques rejection provision and a dynamic help menu in any of the selected language for self-help by the customers.

28 MAR 2005
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