US 8,078,539 B2 · Method and system for sorting checks according to a priority order associated with the account number

Abstract

An improved check sorting system capable of ordering cancelled checks for a plurality of accounts in a predetermined manner other than by account number is provided. Checks are ordered according to a priority value associated with the account number, and optionally check number, identified by each check. A database is utilized to store information indexed by institution and/or account number and optionally check number. The information includes a priority value. The check sorting system scans each check and reads the MICR code from each check. The institution and/or account number, and possibly check number, from each check are used as pointers to obtain the priority value for that check. The check is then sorted based on the priority value obtained from the database.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method for sorting a plurality of checks using a check sorting system comprising:

reading information from a check of the plurality of checks using a scanner module of the check sorting system, the check being drawn against an account maintained by a customer at a financial institution;
providing the information read from the check to a controller of the check sorting system;
obtaining, by the controller, a sort priority order number for the check from a database using at least a portion of the information read from the check, the sort priority order number being based on a delivery location specified by the customer for an account statement associated with the account;
sorting, using a sorter of the check sorting system, the check into one of a plurality of bins based on the sort priority order number obtained from the database;
and
repeating the reading, obtaining and sorting steps for each of the plurality of checks.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for sorting checks according to a priority order associated with the account number

Life of this patent

Method and system for sorting checks according to a priority order associated with the account number

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26