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Description  |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to reading systems, and more particularly to
redundant character recognition systems employed in the high speed sorting
of a train of documents having MICR and corresponding Bar-Code data
imprinted thereon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Financial documents evidencing transactions involving banking institutions
typically are subjected to two complementary processes. The first involves
the capturing of data from the document, and imprinting thereon encoded
data in a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) format, for example,
E13B or 1403 fonts in human readable form.
A further simplification allowing higher speed processing of financial
documents is the addition of magnetic ink bar-codes in machine readable
form as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,628 and copending application
Ser. No. 448,458, filed Mar. 6, 1974, now abandoned.
After the data has been captured, encoded, and reprinted upon the face or
back of a document with magnetic ink, subsequent transactions may require
repeated sorting and classification of large quantities of the encoded
documents. High speed sorting processes in the prior art include the
reading of encoded data by a MICR reader, an Optical Character Recognition
reader (OCR), or a redundant reading system which merges the recognition
signals of MICR and OCR readers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,978 discloses a system for character recognition in
which a plurality of MICR characters are recognized both magnetically and
optically. When the magnetic reader fails to recognize a character and the
optical reader is successful in recognizing it, the optical character
signal is generated for further processing. If the optical reader fails to
recognize a character and the magnetic reader is successful, then the
identification signal generated corresponds to the character recognized by
the magnetic reader. However, when the magnetic and optical readers
generate different character recognition signals for the same character
image, an ambiguity results which is either resolved by generating a
reject signal, or a choice is made between the optical and magnetic
recognition signals based upon criteria dictated by the particular
application and print font used.
A merged MICR/OCR system significantly decreases the number of rejects
occurring during the sorting of a high velocity train of documents.
However, the remaining number of rejects generated from valid data fields,
and the ambiguous results caused by conflicting recognition signals are
still prohibitive to those banking institutions handling large volume
transactions daily. Although criteria characterizing a particular
application may be formulated, the multifarious aspects of the daily
financial transactions make the choice between conflicting magnetic and
optical recognition signals too complex to be treated generally. Further,
damage to a MICR data field occurring between a data capture operation and
subsequent reprocessing may cause a document to be rejected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a redundant character recognition
system for automatic sorting of documents encoded with both MICR
alphanumeric characters and machine readable bar-codes.
More particularly, encoded financial documents are transported at a
constant velocity through a read module including a bar-code, a MICR and
an OCR read head. OCR and MICR recognition signals are merged to produce a
single data stream which, if no rejects or ambiguities occur, is further
processed to control a normal sorting operation. In the event a reject or
conflicting magnetic and optical recognition signals occur, the bar-code
data field is used to supplement the MICR data field. If no rejects are
generated by the Bar-Code reader, the bar-code recognition signal replaces
signals generated from the MICR data field. However, if rejects occur from
both the MICR and bar-code data fields, only self-checking fields having
test digits are merged. In the event a self-check error occurs, the
bar-code data is ignored and the original MICR read data is reinstated.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further
objects and advantages thereof, reference may now be had to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a complete system embodying the present
invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates the face of a fully processed and cancelled personal
check;
FIG. 3 illustrates the back of the check illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a more detailed block diagram of the system illustrated in FIG.
1;
FIG. 5 is a decision flow diagram of the merge unit illustrated in FIG. 4;
and
FIG. 6 is a schematic of a logic circuit embodiment of the flow diagram of
FIG. 5.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1
Referring now to FIG. 1, an automatic system for processing documents is
illustrated wherein a main transport unit 10 has associated therewith an
operator CRT/keyboard unit 11, a recognition unit 12, a control unit 13, a
computer sub/system unit 14 and a teletype 15.
Transport 10 comprises a document feeder 20 having a tray 21 into which a
stack of financial documents such as checks is placed. The checks are then
moved serially as an uninterrupted train through a read module 22, a
bar-code/IJP module 23, a module for a microfilm camera 24 and thence to a
family 25 of sorting bins. The checks are sorted based on codes born by
each check to provide for distribution and to facilitate accounting
procedures.
The present invention is concerned with the operations carried out in
connection with module 22 while the system is in a sort only mode.
FIGS. 2 and 3
The face of a fully encoded personal check is illustrated in FIG. 2 and the
back of the check is illustrated in FIG. 3. The bottom line on the check,
FIG. 2, comprises three data fields. The first field 100 is coded to
represent the identity of the bank on which the check is drawn. The second
field 101 is coded to represent the identity of the maker. The check
amount in the last field 102 is manually encoded when the check is
received by a first banking institution in its flow for collection. Other
fields may also be included on the same line and may be read and utilized
for special purposes not necessary to the present invention.
The fields 100-102 are encoded in magnetic ink characters of a special font
which has been generally adopted by the financial community for encoding
and making possible the Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
operations in handling financial documents such as checks.
In a normal financial transaction, an ink jet printer is employed at a
first bank to which the check is represented to record necessary transit
information on a top line 103 on the back of the document. Line 103
comprises bar encoded fields including a start code, a control number,
depositor identification, a transit routing code, an amount code, and a
stop code. At the same time, an alphanumeric printer applies the control
number on line 104, FIG. 2, on the face of the check. The alphanumeric
printer also is employed to endorse the back of the check on line 105 to
indicate that "any bank" is to be paid. The document is then sorted based
upon the transit routing code on line 103.
Checks on the first bank which have been sorted and routed to a first
Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) are again tested by a suitable system upon
receipt. The first FRB applies its code and a control number on line 106
in the first FRB depositor field, and endorses the check on line 108 to a
second FRB. The second FRB endorses the check on line 109 to a bank on
which the check is drawn, and routes the check to that bank.
When checks are received from an FRB, a bank tests the MICR encoded transit
routing in field 100, FIG. 2, to determine if the item is drawn on them. A
unique control number is encoded on line 107 as is an account number, an
amount (if not on top line), a transaction code, and a serial number. The
bank then cancels the check by printing the notation indicated on line
110, FIG. 2, on the face of the document.
In connection with each of the foregoing transactions, the encoded data is
read into an accounting system in order that the necessary bookeeping
operations for each institution through which the document passes can be
carried out under automated control and in accordance with established and
well known principles.
FIG. 4
Referring now to FIG. 4, a system embodying the present invention is
illustrated which may be generally of the type described and claimed in
patent application Ser. No. 448,458, filed Mar. 6, 1974, for Trace
Automated Processing of Financial Documents, now abandoned. The
illustrated system, configured for both data capturing and document
sorting operations, is manufactured and sold by Recognition Equipment
Incorporated of Dallas, Tex., and identified to the public as CS2424.
Document feeder 20 starts documents along their path beginning at point 50
so that a MICR reader 57, an OCR reader 62 and an alphanumeric ink jet gun
74 are associated with the face of the documents. A bar-code reader 65, a
bar-code ink jet gun 70, a bar-code reader-verifier 72, and an
alphanumeric ink jet gun 73 are associated with the back of the documents.
A microfilm camera 24 is adapted to record both the document face by a
lens system 24a and a mirror 24c, and the document back by lens system
24b.
In sort mode, output signals from MICR reader 57, OCR reader head 62 and
bar-code reader 65 are applied through recognition circuits 165 to a merge
unit 120. The three inputs to merge unit 120 are employed to produce a
single output data stream on a channel 121. Character read failures
occurring in the output of reader 57 may be supplemented by merging
corresponding output from the OCR reader. The incidence of read failures
occurring in the resulting data stream is greatly reduced relative to
systems which use either reader 57 or an OCR reader 62 alone. However,
remaining read failures together with the occurrence of conflicting
identification data from reader 57 and reader 62 presents a very
significant problem. The present invention provides a bar-code reader 65
to minimize read failures and ambiguities of a combined magnetic and OCR
reader system.
During a data capturing operation, OCR and MICR data signals are processed
as before described. However, bar-code read data along line 166 is
ignored.
A channel 121 is connected to a multiplexer 122 in which the information on
channels 121 and 123 are combined to provide an output on channel 124
which includes the data on fields 100-102, FIG. 2, combined with a
Positive Item Control Number (PICN) on channel 123, facilitating the
reentry of rejected documents into the document stream. Channel 123 leads
from a PICN generator 125, which may be linked to the flow of documents
from the feeder 20 as by way of a linkage 126. Preferably, however, the
generation of a PICN is correlated with a block number and the last four
digits of a block sequence from counters 24d and 24e in a microfilm camera
24, as applied by a channel 127 from camera 24 to PICN generator 125. A
sensor 24f is shown in relation to a sequence counter 24e to provide for
generation of the PICN, and to aid in the operation of camera 24 and in
the use of the photographic record produced by camera 24. A channel 128
extends from a central computer 129 for synchronization purposes. Thus,
the combination of the data from fields 100-102 appears on the output
channel 124 along with the PICN for the document from which such data is
obtained.
Data on channel 124 is applied to a computer 129, to a verify unit 130 and
to a control/inhibit unit 131. Unit 131 applies the same output to a
comparison unit 132 and to delay buffers 133 and 134.
The output of the bar-code reader 65 is applied to circuits 165, and by way
of channel 135 to a control/inhibit unit 131 and computer 129. If the
bar-code reader 65 senses a bar-code previously printed on line 103, FIG.
3, for example, it will inhibit bar-code printers 70 and 74. If a document
has not been previously encoded, then the data from the control/inhibit
unit 131 will be applied by way of delay buffers 133 and 134 to the ink
jet guns 70 and 74. Bar-code reader 72 supplies a second input to the
comparison unit 132. If the data from channel 124 is the same as that
printed by the gun 70 and thereafter read from the document by reader 72,
then the document may pass through to sorter 25. However, if on comparison
the encoded data on the document does not correspond with the input to the
gun 70, then the output of compare unit 132 is applied to a reject
multiplexer 140 by way of a selector switch 132a. The output of
multiplexer 140 appears on channel 141 and is applied to control unit 142
to actuate a gate 143. Gate 143 diverts the improperly or incompletely
coded document into a reject bin 144.
The output of bar-code reader 72 is connected to a gate 160 whose output is
connected to one input of a coincidence circuit 161. The output of compare
unit 132 is connected by way of a switch 132b to the second input of
coincidence circuit 161. The true output of circuit 161 is connected to a
failure counter 162. The false output of the coincidence circuit 161 is
connected to the reset terminal of counter 162. The output of connector
162 may be selected by means of switch 163 to apply a stop control signal
by way of line 164 to the document feeder. Gate 160 may be a monostable
multivibrator that is gated on once upon appearance of each document at
reader 72, and stays on for a period corresponding to the passage of the
document past reader 72. It will be recalled that comparison unit 132
provides a true output when there is failure in the comparison between
that which was applied to the printer 70 and that which is read by reader
72. The output of unit 132 may then be applied by way of switch 132to the
second input of coincidence unit 161.
Each time there is failure in the comparison unit 132, a pulse will be
applied to counter 162. Otherwise, a reset pulse will appear at the reset
terminal of counter 162. By means of switch 132b, gate 160, coincidence
circuit 161, counter 162 and selector switch 163, the system can be shut
down if a selected number of consecutive documents are not properly
encoded by printer 72. In practice, the systems have been operated to shut
down when five consecutive documents are not properly imprinted by printer
70.
The switch 132a also permits selection of the function of sorting to a
reject bin 144 every document which fails to meet the test comparison unit
132. Either or both of the functions provided by switches 132a and 132b
may be employed. In some operations, it has been found to be more
economical to sort and reenter documents not properly imprinted by the
printer 72 at a state later than the first pass in the system. When both
switches 132a and 132b are conductive, rejects are sorted into bin 144 and
the system will be shut down if more than the number allowed by the
selected output appear in succession.
Data on channel 124 is applied to verify unit 130. This provides a check to
make certain that all of the characters appearing in field 100-102, FIG.
2, are successfully identified. If any character is not identified in a
block where data is known to exist, then the reject multiplexer 140 is
actuated to divert the document to the bin 144. It will be noted that in
such cases, codes for all characters properly identified on channel 124
are applied through buffers 133 and 134 to guns 70 and 74 partially to
encode the document on its first pass through the system. Such partially
coded documents then may be examined and correlated with a record applied
to a tape unit 150 by computer 129 so that a complete encoding of the
document may be ultimately completed on line 103, FIG. 3, and a record
thereof provided on tape 150.
As before described, read data from bar-code reader 65 is applied along
line 166 to circuits 165 during the sort only mode. In addition, units 131
and 132, guns 70, 73 and 74, delay buffers 133 and 134, bar-code reader
72, sensor 24f, microfilm camera 24 and generator 125 are deactivated.
Thus, the data fields of a constant velocity train of documents are read
by MICR reader 57, OCR reader 62, and bar-code reader 65, and the signals
so generated are merged in a manner to be described. The single resulting
data stream is applied to verify unit 130 as during a data capturing
operation. If all the characters appearing in a data field are
successfully identified, the document is passed through to sorter 25.
Continuing with the description of the system of FIG. 4, a channel 151
extends from computer 129 to provide for actuation of gun 73 when and if
it is desired to endorse a train of checks as by imprinting on one of
lines 105, 108 or 109, FIG. 3. A channel 152 extends to gun 74 to provide
for cancellation by printing as on line 110, FIG. 3.
Discrete elements have been shown in the system of FIG. 4. For example,
multiplexer 122, control/inhibit unit 131, delay buffers 133 and 134,
comparison units 132, verify unit 130, gate 160, coincidence unit 161 and
counter 162 are shown. It will be appreciated that these units, as well as
others, may be implemented through the use of software in connection with
operation of computer 129. However, they have been separately shown in
FIG. 4 in order that their functions may more readily be understood.
FIG. 5
The decision flow of the merge process performed within merge unit 120,
FIG. 4, is illustrated in FIG. 5. Upon entering unit 120 at state 200, the
decision flow cycles between state 201 and state 200 until a hardware
signal is received indicating that a data field image is available. Upon
receiving the hardware signal, the decision flow proceeds through state
202 and 203 where the MICR and OCR read data is accepted from recognition
circuits 165, FIG. 4.
The MICR data is examined at state 204 for rejects which indicate a read
failure. If rejects are present, the decision flow continues to state 205
where the OCR read data is examined for rejects. If no rejects are
present, then a transfer is made to state 206 where the MICR read data is
replaced with the OCR data. The decision flow then continues to state 213,
where a transfer is made through node A to state 219 to set a valid image
flag. The merged MICR/OCR image data is then output at state 220 from
merge unit 120 to multiplexer 122, FIG. 4.
In the event no rejects are present in the MICR read data at state 204, the
decision flow continues to state 207 where a comparison is made between
the MICR and the OCR read data. If the OCR and MICR character recognition
signals are identical for each character in a data field, then a transfer
is made from state 208 to state 213 where the process continues as before.
However, if the character recognition signals for a given character image
are not identical, then the decision flow proceeds from state 208 to state
209 where a reject flag is set. A transfer is then made to state 210 to
examine the bar-code read data.
A transfer to state 210 also is made from state 205 when rejects are
present in both the MICR and the OCR read data. If the bar-code read data
contains rejects indicating read failures, then a transfer is made from
state 211 to state 214, where the decision flow proceeds through node B to
state 215. However, if no rejects are present in the bar-code read data,
the MICR read data is replaced with the bar-code data at state 212 and a
transfer is made to state 213 as before described.
In the event a read failure is indicated in the bar-code read data at state
211, the bar-code data field is examined at state 215 for check digits
indicating a self-checking field. If the bar-code data field is not a
self-checking field, the decision flow continues to state 221 where the
MICR read data is restored and output at state 220.
If a self-checking field is present in the bar-code data field, then a
transfer is made from state 215 to state 216 where a test is made to
determine whether the MICR/OCR reject occurred at the same position as the
bar-code reject. If so, the MICR read data is restored at state 221 and
output at state 220 as before. If not, the MICR/OCR read data is replaced
with the bar-code read data at state 217, and the bar-code data field is
tested at state 218 for self-checking errors. The occurrence of
self-checking errors causes a transfer to be made to state 221 where the
MICR read data is restored and output at state 220. If no self-checking
errors occur, then a flag is set to indicate that a valid image has been
generated. The bar-code image data is then output at state 220.
Upon receiving a valid image indication from merge unit 120, multiplexer
122 applies the image data to verify unit 130, FIG. 4. If all of the
characters appearing in a data field have been successfully identified,
then a document or check being read is passed on to sorter 25 as before
described.
FIG. 6
FIG. 6 illustrates a logic system in which the functions described in
connection with FIG. 5 are carried out. MICR reader 57, OCR reader 62 and
bar-code reader 65 are illustrated as providing inputs to the system. The
components of the system have been given reference characters which may be
related directly to the reference characters used in FIG. 5. Thus, the
functions of FIG. 5 can be followed in terms of the logic of FIG. 6. For
example, state 202 of FIG. 5 corresponds to the operation of register 302
of FIG. 6.
MICR data is clocked into register 302 from MICR reader 57 in response to a
clock pulse on line 301a. This clock pulse is derived from logic 301 which
is responsive to an image present state on line 301b, and a MICR sync
pulse on line 301c. Lines 301b and 301c lead to an AND gate 301d, the
output of which is connected to the clock input terminal of register 302.
In a similar manner, the output data from OCR reader 62 is connected by a
multibit channel to register 303. The data is clocked from reader 62 into
register 303 in response to the output of an AND gate 301e having the
image present state as one input, and an OCR sync pulse on line 301fas the
other input.
Further, the bar-code reader 65 is connected to a register 310. Bar-code
data may be clocked into register 310 only when needed, as indicated by
operations on data in registers 302 and 303 as will hereinafter appear.
Register 302 is connected to a comparator 304 as is a reject code which
appears on a multibit bus 304a. The code on bus 304a is the same code that
is produced by reader 57 when a read failure occurs.
The true output of comparator 304 is connected to one input of an AND gate
310a, the output of which is connected as one input to an OR gate 310b.
Gate 310b in turn is connected to the clock input terminal of register
310. The true output of comparator 304 is also connected to one input of
an AND gate 313c. The false output of comparator 304 is connected to one
input each of AND gates 313a and 313b, and to one input of exclusive OR
gate 306.
The OCR data register 303 is connected to a multibit comparator 305, the
second input to which is the OCR reject code provided by way of bus 305a.
The true output of comparator 305 is connected as the second input to AND
gate 310a. The false output of comparator 305 is connected as the second
input to the exclusive OR gate 306, which in turn is connected as the
second input of AND gate 313c.
The outputs of registers 302 and 303 also are connected as the two input
signals to a comparator 307. The true output of comparator 307 is
connected as the second input to AND gate 313a, while the false output is
connected as the second input to AND gate 313b. The output of AND gate
313b applies a reject signal along line 313d to the succeeding system, and
is connected as the second input to OR gate 310b. OR gate 310b supplies
the clock input signal to the bar-code register 310.
The output of registers 302, 303 and 310 are also connected as inputs to a
channel selector 320. Any one of the three sets of input signals leading
to selector 320 may be selected as the output signal depending upon the
control states on the control lines 320a, 320b, or 320c. AND gate 313c
supplies as its output one of the three control signals, namely the signal
on line 320a. The output of an OR gate 321 supplies the control signal on
line 320b, and the output of an OR ga | | |
