# US 2014/0156429 A1 · E-Check and E-Commerce

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- Number: US 2014/0156429 A1
- Document ID: US20140156429A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/155,577
- Filed: 2014-01-15
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2003-12-11
- Assignees: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation
- Applicants: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation
- Inventors: Herman Rodriguez; Newton J. Smith, JR.; Clifford J. Spinac
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156429A1

## CPC

- G06Q 20/0425: {the cheque being electronic only}
- G06Q 20/04: Payment circuits
- G06Q 20/042: {characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque}
- G06Q 20/108: {Remote banking, e.g. home banking}
- G06Q 20/204: {comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit}
- G06Q 40/00: Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
- G06Q 40/02: Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance (credit or loans G06Q40/03)
- G06Q 40/12: Accounting
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Methods, systems, and media for processing and clearing a check are disclosed. Embodiments include hardware and/or software for generating an e-check in response to receipt of a paper check, by which a merchant performs the manual data entry for the merchant, the merchant's bank, the Federal Reserve Bank, and the purchaser's bank clearing procedures. The paper check is electronically scanned at the point of sale (POS) terminal to create a check object (the ‘e-check’) that contains the binary data of the check information, a scanned image of the paper check, and identification data from the purchaser. Then, the check object is submitted to the check writer's, or purchaser's bank, for automated clearing without having to process the physical document any further.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for generating an e-check, the method comprising:
scanning a check to create an image of the check in response to receiving a check as payment for a transaction;
entering an amount of currency represented by the check into a point of sale terminal;
identifying check information that describes a bank and a bank account, wherein the check comprises the check information; and
generating a negotiable instrument, wherein the negotiable instrument comprises a check object based upon the image, the amount, and the check information, wherein further the check object includes the image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising printing the amount on the check.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein scanning the check comprises scanning the check at the point of sale terminal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein entering the amount comprises communicating the amount represented by the check to the point of sale terminal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the check information comprises determining a routing number, an account number, and a check number.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein generating the check object comprises creating the check object with at least the image, the routing number, the account number, and the amount.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein generating the check object comprises creating the check object with data, wherein the data is to verify an identification of a check writer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the check information comprises implementing magnetic ink character recognition to read the check information from the check.

### Claim 9

A method for transacting with an e-check, the method comprising:
generating the e-check based upon an image of a check, to substitute for a check as payment for a transaction wherein the e-check includes the image;
transmitting the e-check to a bank, wherein the back is identified by a routing number on the check; and
receiving a response to transmission of the e-check from the bank, the response to clear the check when sufficient funds are available for the transaction from an account associated with the e-check.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein generating the e-check comprises generating the e-cheek at the point of sale terminal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the e-check comprises identifying an electronic address using the routing number.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the electronic address is an Internet protocol address.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic address contains a port number.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the e-check comprises transmitting a request to transfer an amount associated with the e-check to an account associated with a merchant.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the response comprises receiving an indication that the amount is credited to the account associated with the merchant.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the response comprises receiving a denial for the request to transfer the amount.

### Claim 17

An apparatus for generating an e-check, the apparatus comprising:
an image scanner to create an image of a check in response to receiving the check as payment for a transaction;
an input device to input an amount of currency represented by the check;
a character scanner to scan the check to identify check information that describes a bank and a bank account; and
an e-check generator to generate a negotiable instrument, wherein the negotiable instrument a check object based upon the image, the amount, and the check information wherein further the check object includes the image.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a printer to print the amount on the check as a receipt for the customer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the image scanner s adapted to scan the check at a point of sale.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wire the input device comprises a keypad to type the amount represented by the check.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the character scanner comprises magnetic ink character recognition to determine a routing number associated with the bank, an account number associated with the bank account, and a check number associated with the check.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the e-check generator is adapted to create the check object with at least the image, the routing number, the account number, and the amount.

### Claim 23

A machine-accessible medium containing instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause said machine to perform operations, comprising:
scanning a check to create an image of the check in response to receiving a check as payment for a transaction;
entering an amount of currency represented by the check into a point of sale terminal;
identifying check information that describes a bank and a bank account, wherein the check comprises the check information; and
generating a negotiable instrument, wherein the negotiable instrument comprises a check object based upon the image, the amount, and the check information, wherein the check object includes the image.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The machine-accessible medium of claim 23 wherein the operations further comprise printing the amount on the check.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The machine-accessible medium of claim 23, wherein scanning the check comprises scanning the check at a point of sale terminal.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The machine-accessible medium of claim 23, wherein entering the amount on the check comprises communicating the amount represented by the check to the point of sale terminal.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The machine-accessible medium of claim 23, wherein identifying the check information comprises determining a routing number, an account number, and a check number.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The machine-accessible medium of claim 27, wherein generating the check object comprises creating the check object with at least the image, the routing number, the account number, and the amount.

### Claim 29 (depends on 23)

The machine-accessible medium of claim 23, wherein identifying the check information comprises implementing magnetic ink character recognition to read the check information.

### Claim 30 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, via the point of sale terminal, a personal identification number (PIN) and a driver license number;
wherein the scanning comprises scanning at the point of sale terminal;
wherein further the image of the check is in a Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format;
wherein further the identifying check information comprises reading, via a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) system, a routing number, the bank account, and a check number;
wherein the check object that includes the routing number, the account number, the check number, and an e-check identification number;
wherein further the e-check identification number is to distinguish the e-check from other e-checks.