US6328207B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for automated cashing of checks
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1998-08-11
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Granted: 2001-12-11
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Expires: 2018-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A customer at an enrollment section ( 12 ) uses a self-dial telephone ( 14 ) to make a toll-free call to a customer service operator at a workstation ( 26 ). The operator activates a check-cashing card ( 18 ) obtained by the customer at the enrollment section, which includes enrolling a checking account against which the customer wishes to cash checks. The customer can subsequently use the activated card with automatic teller machines ( 57 ) to cash checks in transactions that are entirely automated, and that do not require the customer to have funds available for withdrawal from an institutional account. Each automatic teller machine interacts with a switch system ( 42 ), which in turn interacts with a host system ( 37 ), in order to determine whether to proceed with the check-cashing transaction. If authorization is granted, a dispense amount is determined by deducting one or more fees from the amount of the check, and the customer is then paid the dispense amount in cash.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin P. Gregoire
- 👤 Hope L. Kirschner
- 👤 Dale H. Dentlinger
- 👤 L. Joy Griebenow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/02; G06Q20/023; G06Q20/04; G06Q20/042; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/305
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus comprising: a check-cashing system, said check-cashing system being operative to automatically determine whether to permit a person to cash a check, without evaluating whether the person has funds available for withdrawal from an account, and to automatically respond to a determination that cashing of the check is permissible by dispensing cash to the person in exchange for the check; a storage medium in the possession of the person and having information stored thereon, wherein said check-cashing system includes a reader which can removably receive said storage medium and read the information therefrom; and a customer service workstation operatively coupled to said check-cashing system, a first telephone in close proximity to said customer service workstation, a second telephone in close proximity to said reader, said second telephone being operative to automatically establish a toll-free communication path to said first telephone, and a dispenser disposed in close proximity to said second telephone and having therein at least one storage medium which has information stored thereon and which is capable of being removably inserted in the reader.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus comprising: a check-cashing system, said check-cashing system being operative to automatically determine whether to permit a person to cash a check, without evaluating whether the person has funds available for withdrawal from an account, and to automatically respond to a determination that cashing of the check is permissible by dispensing cash to the person in exchange for the check; a storage medium in the possession of the person and having information stored thereon, wherein said check-cashing system includes a reader which can removably receive said storage medium and read the information therefrom; and a customer service workstation operatively coupled to said check-cashing system, a first telephone in close proximity to said customer service workstation, a second telephone in close proximity to said reader, said second telephone being operative to automatically establish a toll-free communication path to said first telephone, and a dispenser disposed in close proximity to said second telephone and having therein at least one storage medium which has information stored thereon and which is capable of being removably inserted in the reader.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said check-cashing system, in effecting said automatic determination of whether to permit a person to cash a check, is operative to carry out a concurrent evaluation through a communication link of centralized status information for an account against which the check is drawn, still without evaluating whether the person has funds available for withdrawal from a separate funds-containing account.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said check-cashing system, in effecting said dispensing of cash, is operative to dispense an amount of cash which is less than the amount of the check by at least an enrollment fee.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said check-cashing system, in effecting said automatic determination of whether to permit a person to cash a check, is operative to ask the person to verify that the check meets a predetermined criterion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said check-cashing system, in effecting said automatic determination of whether to permit a person to cash a check, is operative to scan the check, analyze information scanned from the check to determine a dollar amount of the check, display an image of the check, request that the person enter an amount of the check from the displayed image, and compare the amount entered by the person to the dollar amount determined by scanning the check.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said check-cashing system, in effecting said automatic determination of whether to permit a person to cash a check, is operative to identify a service fee, and obtain approval of the service fee from the person; and wherein said check-cashing system, in effecting said dispensing of cash, is operative to dispense a dispense amount which is less than the amount of the check by at least the amount of the service fee.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said check-cashing system, in effecting said identification of said service fee, is operative to determine the type of check, and use a predetermined service fee which corresponds to the type of check.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said check-cashing system, in association with said dispensing of cash, is further operative to issue a printed receipt to the person.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said check-cashing system, in association with said dispensing of cash, is operative to print selected information on the check.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said check-cashing system, in effecting said automatic determination of whether to permit a person to cash a check, is operative to reject the check if the check is drawn on a checking account other than a pre-approved account.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-10 | 2005-06-11 | 2005-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-10 | 2009-06-11 | 2009-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-10 | 2013-06-11 | 2013-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |