# US 2014/0151272 A1 · Media item characterization > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151272 A1 - Document ID: US20140151272A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/690,823 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: NCR Corporation - Applicants: Ncr Corporation - Inventors: Robin Angus; Rene Holkema - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151272A1 ## CPC - G07F 19/202: {Depositing operations within ATMs (depositing in general G07D11/00)} - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A deposit module is described. The deposit module comprises: a port for receiving a bunch of media items; a bunch characterization device operable to characterize the bunch prior to individual media items being removed from the bunch of media items; and a media separator for removing individual media items from the bunch and for transporting the removed individual media items to a media item validator subsequent to characterization of the bunch of media items. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A deposit module comprising: a port for receiving a bunch of media items; a bunch characterization device operable to characterize the bunch prior to individual media items being removed from the bunch of media items; and a media separator for removing individual media items from the bunch and for transporting the removed individual media items to a media item validator subsequent to successful characterization of the bunch of media items. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A deposit module according to claim 1, wherein the bunch characterization device comprises a weigh scale operable to measure the weight of the bunch of media items. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A deposit module according to claim 1, wherein the bunch characterization device comprises an imager operable to capture an image of edges of the bunch of media items. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A deposit module according to claim 3, wherein bunch characterization device also includes an illumination source to ensure that the imager captures a high quality image. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A deposit module according to claim 3, wherein the bunch characterization device further comprises a processor programmed to count media item edges on the image. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A deposit module according to claim 5, wherein the processor is programmed with a Canny edge detector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A deposit module according to claim 1, wherein the bunch characterization device comprises a detector operable to measure the thickness of the bunch of media items. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A deposit module according to claim 1, wherein the deposit module comprises a media recycler. ### Claim 9 A method of media item characterization, the method comprising: receiving a bunch of media items; characterizing the bunch of media items; and removing individual media items from the bunch of media items, if the bunch of media items has been successfully characterized. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein characterizing the bunch of media items includes estimating the number of media items in the bunch without physically moving any media item in the bunch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10, wherein estimating the number of media items in the bunch includes capturing an image of the edges of the media items in the bunch, and counting the number of edges in the image estimate the number of media items present. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11, wherein counting the number of edges of media items in the bunch is performed using a processor implementing an edge detection algorithm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10, wherein characterizing the bunch of media items comprises ascertaining if the bunch of media items exceeds a preset limit; and in the event that the bunch of media items exceeds the preset limit, generating an error signal indicating that the media bunch will not be transported within the deposit module. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10, wherein the method comprises the further step of: saving the estimated number of media items into a log for future access in reconciling a transaction in the event that one or more media items in the bunch of media items cannot be transported. ### Claim 15 A method of reconciling an interrupted transaction at a self-service terminal, the method comprising: conveying any media items located in transport sections of the terminal to a segregated receptacle, if possible; providing transaction-related information from a log; and providing an estimate of a number of media items entered as part of the interrupted transaction using information obtained by characterizing the bunch of media items without physically moving any media item in the bunch.