US5305196A — Check transaction processing, database building a…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 234 words

A method for building a database for use in a retail store marketing program comprising: scanning a customer's check which has been received at the retail store to detect a checking account identification number, said checking account identification number providing a unique customer identification code to distinguish between a plurality of customers using a plurality of different banking institutions; transmitting said detected unique customer identification code to a data processor which includes a stored database of unique customer identification codes; comparing said unique customer identification code against said stored database; detecting the occurrence of a match between information in said stored database and said detected unique customer identification code; when a match occurs, determining if predetermined identification criteria related to said detected unique customer identification code is in said stored database; if said predetermined identification criteria is found in said stored database, transmitting a signal from said data processor to the location of said check scanning to indicate that the customer record is complete and that no further data is required; if said predetermined identification criteria is not found in said stored database, transmitting a signal to the location of said check scanning to indicate that insufficient identification criteria exists such that steps may be initiated to input required additional identification criteria into said database, and; entering said additional identification criteria into said database for storage in conjunction with said unique customer identification code.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 234 words

A method for building a database for use in a retail store marketing program comprising: scanning a customer's check which has been received at the retail store to detect a checking account identification number, said checking account identification number providing a unique customer identification code to distinguish between a plurality of customers using a plurality of different banking institutions; transmitting said detected unique customer identification code to a data processor which includes a stored database of unique customer identification codes; comparing said unique customer identification code against said stored database; detecting the occurrence of a match between information in said stored database and said detected unique customer identification code; when a match occurs, determining if predetermined identification criteria related to said detected unique customer identification code is in said stored database; if said predetermined identification criteria is found in said stored database, transmitting a signal from said data processor to the location of said check scanning to indicate that the customer record is complete and that no further data is required; if said predetermined identification criteria is not found in said stored database, transmitting a signal to the location of said check scanning to indicate that insufficient identification criteria exists such that steps may be initiated to input required additional identification criteria into said database, and; entering said additional identification criteria into said database for storage in conjunction with said unique customer identification code.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the MICR code on the customer's check is scanned for generating an electrical signal representative of the customer's checking account identification number.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 2 wherein the entire MICR code on the customer's check is scanned and further comprising: eliminating a portion f the MICR code and retaining the customer's checking account identification number and the bank transit number.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 3 and further comprising: storing information regarding the location of a customer's checking account identification number for each of a plurality of different banks; and controlling the operation of said step of eliminating MICR code in response to said stored information.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 3 and further comprising: storing information regarding the location of the check sequence number for each of a plurality of different banks; and controlling the operation of said step of eliminating MICR code in response to said stored information.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said identification criteria comprises the customer's name and address.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of claim 1 and further comprising: comparing said stored database with a list of prospective customers; and eliminating all data from said list of prospective customers which relates to said stored database, such that a non-customer database is produced which contains data relating only to prospective customers who do not appear in said stored database.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said additional identification criteria is entered into said database at the point of sale.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said additional identification criteria is entered into said database after the occurrence of the sale to the customer.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 267 words

A system for building a database for use in a retail store marketing program comprising: a reader for scanning a customer's check which has been received at the retail store to detect a checking account identification number, said checking account identification number providing a unique customer identification code to distinguish between a plurality of customers using a plurality of different banking institutions; a data processor which includes a stored database of unique customer identification codes; circuitry for transmitting said detected unique customer identification code to a data processor; said processor operable for comparing said unique customer identification code against said stored database and for detecting the occurrence of a match between information in said stored database and said detected unique customer identification code, and: when a match occurs, determining if predetermined identification criteria related to said detected unique customer identification code is in said stored database; if said predetermined identification criteria is found in said stored database, said processor being operable for transmitting a signal from said data processor to the location of said check scanning to indicate that the customer record is complete and that no further data is required; or if an indication is provided that said predetermined identification criteria is not contained in said database, said processor being operable for generating a signal to the location of said check scanning to indicate that insufficient identification criteria exists such that steps may be initiated to input required additional identification criteria into said database, and; a terminal for entering said additional identification criteria into said database for storage in conjunction with said unique customer identification code.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 267 words

A system for building a database for use in a retail store marketing program comprising: a reader for scanning a customer's check which has been received at the retail store to detect a checking account identification number, said checking account identification number providing a unique customer identification code to distinguish between a plurality of customers using a plurality of different banking institutions; a data processor which includes a stored database of unique customer identification codes; circuitry for transmitting said detected unique customer identification code to a data processor; said processor operable for comparing said unique customer identification code against said stored database and for detecting the occurrence of a match between information in said stored database and said detected unique customer identification code, and: when a match occurs, determining if predetermined identification criteria related to said detected unique customer identification code is in said stored database; if said predetermined identification criteria is found in said stored database, said processor being operable for transmitting a signal from said data processor to the location of said check scanning to indicate that the customer record is complete and that no further data is required; or if an indication is provided that said predetermined identification criteria is not contained in said database, said processor being operable for generating a signal to the location of said check scanning to indicate that insufficient identification criteria exists such that steps may be initiated to input required additional identification criteria into said database, and; a terminal for entering said additional identification criteria into said database for storage in conjunction with said unique customer identification code.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 10 wherein said reader comprises an optical reader for reading the MICR code on a check.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 10 wherein said reader comprises a magnetic reader for reading the MICR code on a check.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 10 and further comprising a bar code reader for transmitting information to said processor.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 10 wherein said reader detects the entire MICR code on a customer's check and including means for eliminating information in the MICR code except for the desired customer checking account identification number.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 69 words

The system of claim 14 and further comprising: a memory for storing information relating to the location in the MICR code of a check sequence number for a plurality of different banking institutions; and said means for eliminating utilizing said stored information in said memory for eliminating check sequence number information in the MICR code while retaining the desired customer checking account identification number and the bank transit number.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 61 words

The system of claim 10 and further comprising: means for comparing said stored database with a list of prospective customers; and means for eliminating all data from said list of prospective customers which relates to said stored database, such that a non-customer database is produced which contains data relating only to prospective customers who do not appear in said stored database.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 153 words

A method for retail store marketing comprising the steps of: storing a database of existing customers of the retail store, said database including each customer's checking account identification number for use as a unique customer identification code, along with additional customer identification data; each time a retail customer enters the retail store and makes a purchase, detecting the unique customer identification code of that customer; comparing each entered unique customer identification code with said stored database in order to maintain an up-to-date list of the store's customers; storing a list of prospective customers of the retail store in a predetermined geographical area; comparing said stored database with said list of prospective customers; and eliminating all data from said list of prospective customers relating to information contained in said stored database, such that a non-customer database is produced which contains data relating only to prospective customers who do not appear on said stored database.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 153 words

A method for retail store marketing comprising the steps of: storing a database of existing customers of the retail store, said database including each customer's checking account identification number for use as a unique customer identification code, along with additional customer identification data; each time a retail customer enters the retail store and makes a purchase, detecting the unique customer identification code of that customer; comparing each entered unique customer identification code with said stored database in order to maintain an up-to-date list of the store's customers; storing a list of prospective customers of the retail store in a predetermined geographical area; comparing said stored database with said list of prospective customers; and eliminating all data from said list of prospective customers relating to information contained in said stored database, such that a non-customer database is produced which contains data relating only to prospective customers who do not appear on said stored database.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 17 and further comprising performing targeted marketing activities only to said prospective customers who do not appear on said stored database.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 17 wherein said unique customer identification code comprises the customer's checking account number.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 19 wherein the customer's checking account number is determined by automatically scanning the MICR code on the customer's check.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 20 and further comprising excluding the check sequence number portions of the MICR code while retaining the customer's checking account number and bank transit number.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 17 and further comprising performing check verification of checks in response to said database of existing customers.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 154 words

A system for retail store marketing comprising: a memory for storing a database of existing customers of the retail store, said database including each customer's checking account identification number for use as a unique customer identification code; a device for entering a customer's unique customer identification code into said memory each time the customer makes a purchase at the store; circuitry for comparing each entered unique customer identification code with the stored database in said memory, such that an up-to-date list of the store's customers is maintained; a memory for storing a list of prospective customers of the store who reside in a predetermined geographical area relative to the store; circuitry for comparing said stored database of existing customers with the stored list of prospective customers; circuitry for eliminating all data from said list of prospective customers relating to the store's existing customers, such that a non-customer database is produced for use in marketing.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 154 words

A system for retail store marketing comprising: a memory for storing a database of existing customers of the retail store, said database including each customer's checking account identification number for use as a unique customer identification code; a device for entering a customer's unique customer identification code into said memory each time the customer makes a purchase at the store; circuitry for comparing each entered unique customer identification code with the stored database in said memory, such that an up-to-date list of the store's customers is maintained; a memory for storing a list of prospective customers of the store who reside in a predetermined geographical area relative to the store; circuitry for comparing said stored database of existing customers with the stored list of prospective customers; circuitry for eliminating all data from said list of prospective customers relating to the store's existing customers, such that a non-customer database is produced for use in marketing.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 23 and further comprising means for generating marketing documents for transmission to said non-customer database.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 23 wherein said device for entering comprises a check reader for detecting the MICR code on checks.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 25 and further comprising means for excluding the check sequence number of the MICR code read by said check reader while retaining the customer's checking account number and bank transit number.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system of claim 26 and further comprising data storage means for storing data regarding the location of a customer's checking account number in the MICR code of a plurality of different banking institutions.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 26 and further comprising data storage means for storing data regarding the location of the check sequence number in the MICR code of a plurality of different banking institutions.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 23 and further comprising a display coupled with said memory in order to generate indications of the credit worthiness of checks offered by customers.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-04-18	1997-10-18	1998-04-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-04-18	2001-10-18	2002-04-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-04-18	2005-10-18	2006-04-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Check transaction processing, database building and marketing method and system utilizing automatic check reading

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag