Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
A public switched telephone network (10), comprising at least one check clearance services node (12) for receiving an image of a check from a check clearance service subscriber (14) connected to the network and for routing that image to a recipient (16) connected to the network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A network as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network comprises a public switched telephone network provided by a local exchange carrier, or a long distance public switched telephone network, or a long distance public switched telephone network accessed by way of a public switched telephone network provided by a local exchange carrier, or a packet network, or a frame relay network, or a circuit switched network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A network as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the subscriber is connected to the network by way of a dial up connection, or by a dedicated private connection, or by way of a digital connection operating at a bit rate of 2400 bits per second to about 1.544 megabits per second.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A network as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the node comprises means (46) for storing information relating to customer profiles and destinations of check images.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A network as claimed in claim 1,2,3 or 4, wherein the node comprises means (48) for storing images of checks for predetermined time periods.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A network as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the node comprises means (44) for controlling access to information in the storing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A network as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the node comprises means (50) for converting signals produced by the subscriber in a first format to signals for the recipient in a second format.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A network as claimed in claim 7, wherein the converting means comprises means for converting signals produced by the subscriber in accordance with a first encryption algorithm to signals encrypted in accordance with a second encryption algorithm for the recipient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A network as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the node comprises a node controller (42) for controlling the operation of the node and for routing received check images to intended destinations in the node and in the public switched telephone network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
A network as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the node comprises a storage device (48) for storing a plurality of check images received by the node, a database (46) containing information relating to each of the subscribers to the services provided by the node and information about potential recipients of check images from the node, and a node controller (42) which is responsive to information contained in the database for storing check images in the storage device and routing check images to recipients through the public switched telephone network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A check clearance services node (12) in a public switched telephone network (10), comprising means for receiving images of checks from check clearance services subscribers connected to the public switched telephone network, and means for routing the images to recipients connected to the public switched telephone network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A node as claimed in claim 11, wherein the subscribers comprise banks of first deposit, or payor banks, or banks of first deposit and payor banks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A node as claimed in claim 11, wherein the recipients comprise banks of first deposit, or payor banks, or banks of first deposit and payor banks.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A node as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the subscribers and recipients is an institution intermediate a payor bank and a bank of first deposit in a check clearing procedure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A node as claimed in claim 11,12, 13 or 14, wherein the images are images of checks dishonored by payor banks in check clearance procedures.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
Method of clearing a check, comprising the steps of producing an image of a check, and sending the image of the check to a recipient (16) by way of a check image processing node (12) in a public switched telephone network (10).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
Method of clearing a check, comprising the steps of receiving an image of a check in a check image processing node (12) in a public switched telephone network (10), and routing the image to a recipient (16) by way of the public switched telephone network.