Check reader utilizing sync-tags to match the images at the front and rear faces of a check

Claim 1

An electronic Front/Rear check-imaging arrangement for detecting a malfunction which throws the Front/Rear image bits out of sync comprising: imaging means which generates imaging-bits representing Front/Rear faces of a given check via digitizer means, with a common array of sync-tag bits embedded with the imaging bits for each said check in order to assure that the tag bits for such imaging bits of a given check are the same for both Front/Rear faces, these sets of imaging bits thereafter being transferred, on a "per-document basis", to various successive electronic compression and other processing stages wherein said compression is performed and completed in "real-time" and using N pairs of parallel compression paths and wherein a "FAULT" signal indicating said malfunction is generated when said sync-tag bits do not match and, operating in "real time", finally, to a data base storage means (DBS); this arrangement also including sync-tag means constructed to create said sync-tag bits unique for each such imaged check-face and to transfer these sync-tag bits with the imaging bits for both check faces to each such processing stage for handling the Front/Rear imaging bits, on a per document basis, and finally to DBS interface means for final matching between faces, and removal of the sync-tag bits.