Single-Pass Magnetic Reading and Optical Reading Apparatus and Method

A document reading apparatus for reading a slip on which magnetic ink characters are printed, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic reading unit configured to magnetically read the printed magnetic ink characters from the slip in a transportation path;
• an optical reading unit configured to optically read an image of a slip in the transportation path;
• and
• a control unit configured to interpret a single-pass read command, and based on the interpreted single-pass read command, to control the magnetic reading unit and the optical reading unit, the single-pass read command instructing how to read a slip during a single pass of a slip through the transportation path,
• wherein the control unit is further configured to detect whether a parameter for selectively specifying magnetic reading, optical reading or both as the type or types of reading of the slip during the single pass through the transportation path has been added to the single-pass read command, and
• wherein the control unit is further configured to selectively execute only the type or types of reading specified by the parameter in the single-pass read command.

A document reading processing method for reading a slip on which magnetic ink characters are printed, the method comprising:

• receiving a single-pass read command specifying how to read the slip;
• interpreting the single-pass read command, including determining whether a parameter for selectively specifying magnetic reading only, optical reading only, or both magnetic and optical reading as the type or types of reading of the slip during the single pass through the transportation path is included in the single-pass read command;
• and
• reading the slip in response to the single-pass read command, such that if it is determined that the parameter is included in the single-pass read command, executing only the type or types of reading specified by the parameter in the single-pass read command.