Doc Cade: TRACKT. REQ
`Docirnent Description: TrackOne Request
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`PTOVAIBN2S(05-14)
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`CERTIFICATION AND REQUEST FOR PRIORITIZED EXAMINATION
`UNDER 37 CFR 1.102(e) (Page 1 of 1)
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`First Nai
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`awn ed
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`Nonprovisional
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`fornmys are submilfed.
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`one Application Number {i
`Charles Lee Oakes
`DIGITAL CAMERA PROCESSING SYSTEM
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`Hication
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`Number
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`(if
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`APPLICANT HEREBY CERTIFIES THE FOLLOWING AND REQUESTS PRIORITIZED EXAMINATION FOR
`THE ABOVE-IDENTIFIED APPLICATION,
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`1. The processing fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.470)(1) and the prioritized examination fee set forth in
`37 CFR 4.17({c} have been filed with the request. The publication fee requirement is met
`because that fee, set forth in 37 CFR 1.18{d), is currently $0. The basic filing fee, search fee,
`and examination fee are fled with the request or have been already been paid.
`| understand
`thai any required excess claims fees or apphcation size fee must be paid for the application.
`
`iunderstand that ihe application may not cantain, or be amended to cantain, more than four
`independent claims, more than thirly total claims, or any multiple dependent claims, and that
`any request for an extension of ime will cause an outstanding Track | request to be dismissed,
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`3. Theapplicable box is checked below:
`
`i.
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`fa) The application is an original nonprovisional utility application filed under 35 U.S.C. 1114).
`This certification and request is being filed with the ullity application via EFS-Web.
`---OR---
`(6) The application is an original nonprovisional plant application filed under 35 ULS.C. 111{a}.
`This certification and request is being fled with the plant application in paper.
`
`An executed inventor's oath or declaration under 37 CFR 1.63 or 37 CFR 1.64 for each
`inventor, or the application data sheet meeting the conditions specified in 37 CFR TS53(f(S)ii Is
`fied with the application.
`
`A request for continued examination has been fled with, or prior to, this form.
`ffthe application is a ullly application, this certification and request is being filed wa EFS-Wehb.
`.
`i}. The application is an original nonprovisional utility application fled under 35 U.S.C. 111(a}, oris
`a national stage entry under 35 U.S.C. 371.
`iv. This certification and requestis being filed prior to the mailing of a first Office action responsive
`to the request for continued examination.
`No prior request for continued examination has been granted priariized examination status
`under 37 CFR 1.102{e\(2).
`
`/Kent E. Genin/
`Kent E. Genin
`
`Name
`(PontTyoed}
`
`“ae July 28, 2017
`| Practitioner
`37834
`| Registration Nuriber
`
`Note: This form musi be signed in eccordance with 27 CFA 1.33. See 37 OFR tad) for signeiure requirements and certifications.
`Submit sfipie fonns if more than ane signature is regutrad *
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`tofse
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`PNC 1013
`PNC 1013
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`DIGITAL CAMERA PROCESSING SYSTEM
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`[0001] Checks typically provide a safe and convenient method for an individual to purchase
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`goods and/or services. To use a check, the individual usually must open a checking account, or
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`other similar account, at a financial institution and deposit funds, which are then available for
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`later withdrawal. To pay for goods and/or services with a check, the payor(i.e., the buyer)
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`usually designates a payee(i.e., the seller) and an amount payable on the check.In addition, the
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`payor often signs the check. Once the check has been signed,it is usually deemed negotiable,
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`meaning the check may be validly transferred to the payee upon delivery. By signing and
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`transferring the check to the payee, the payor authorizes funds to be withdrawn from the payor's
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`account on behalf of the payee in return for the goods and/or services provided by the payee.
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`[0002] Checks havecertain advantages over other forms of payment, such as cash. For
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`example, while often considered the most liquid type of asset, cash also may be the least secure.
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`Unlike a check, cash is usually freely transferable and does not have to be endorsed. Thus, the
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`ownerand possessor of cash is most often the same individual. Because cashis freely
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`transferable, cash that is lost or stolen typically cannot be recovered. Therefore, the risks
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`associated with cash transactions are often unacceptable, particularly with respect to transactions
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`not conducted in person (e.g., by mail) and/or involving large sums of money. A check, on the
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`other hand, provides a payor with more security because the check usually requires a payor to
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`specify both the person and amountto be paid. Furthermore, as noted above, the checkis usually
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`not valid until it is properly signed by the payor. These safeguards help to reduce the risk that
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`money will be lost and/or stolen and ensure that the proper payee receives the proper amount of
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`money.
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`[0003] Cash may haveother disadvantages as well. For example, becausecashis freely
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`transferable, there may be little or no verifiable transaction history. It is often desirable for a
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`payor and/or payee to have physical proofthat a particular transaction took place. This typically
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`requires that the payor receive a receipt. However, receipts may contain errors and can be easily
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`misplaced. In contrast, a bank processing a check will ordinarily create a transaction history,
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`which may include the identity of the payee, the amountto be paid, the date of the payment, and
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`the signature of the payor. This enables both a payor and payee to independently verify the
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`accuracy of most transactions involving a paymentby check.
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`[0004] While a check mayprovide a payor with a convenient and secure form of payment,
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`receiving a check may put certain burdens on the payee, such as the time and effort required to
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`deposit the check. For example, depositing a check typically involves going to a local bank
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`branch and physically presenting the check to a bankteller. In addition to the time commitment
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`that may be required, visiting a bank branch may be problematic for the payee if the bank's hours
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`of operation coincide with the payee's normal hours of employment. Thus, the payee may be
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`required to leave work early and/or change work schedules.
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`[0005] A check maypose other burdens for the payee. As noted above, a check may not be
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`freely transferable, thereby limiting the payee's ability to use funds from the check. For
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`example, it is usually difficult to for the payee to purchase goods and/or services using a check
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`issued by the payor. While the check may be endorsed and acceptedbyathird party, such
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`transactions are often disfavored because the third party may not know the payor and, thus, may
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`not be willing to accept the risk that the payor has insufficient funds to cover the check.
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`Therefore, the payee may not have access to the funds from the check until the payee deposits
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`the check at the bank, the check has cleared and the funds have been credited to the payee's
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`account. The payee may haveto wait even longerif the payee chooses to deposit the check by
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`mail. Therefore, there is a need for a convenient method of remotely depositing a check while
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`enabling the payee to quickly access the funds from the check.
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`[0006]
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`The described embodiments contemplate a system, method and computer-readable
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`medium with computer-executable instructions for remotely redeeming a negotiable instrument.
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`In an embodiment, a novel system mayinclude financial institution electronics, such as a server
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`equipped with appropriate hardware and software for facilitating deposit of a check. Such
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`electronics may be configured for receiving from a customer computeran identification of an
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`accountfor deposit of a check, and an amountof said check. They may be further configured for
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`receiving an image ofa front side of said check, and for analyzing said imageto determineifit
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`meets at least one criterion. The criterion could be, for example, image size, imagelegibility,
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`image orientation, image format, presence of certain image features that indicate the image in
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`fact represents a check, and so forth. Financial institution electronics may be also configured for
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`determining if there is an error in a deposit transaction. Numerouserrors are possible candidates
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`for detection, and several exemplary errors are provided herein. If there are no errors that warrant
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`aborting the transaction, then such electronics may be further configuredto initiate a deposit of
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`the check.
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`[0007]
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`In another embodiment, a novel system may include, for example, a computer readable
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`medium bearing instructions that can configure a customer's general purpose computerto
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`facilitate a check deposit. Acting under direction of such instructions, the general purpose
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`computer may instruct a customer, for example via a display coupled such computer, in utilizing
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`an image capture device to generate an electronic imageof a front side of a check, such that said
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`electronic image of a front side of a check meetsat least one first criterion such as imagesize,
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`imagelegibility, image orientation, image quality, and location and/or orientation of the check
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`within the image. Instructions may further be provided for receiving the imageofa front side of
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`a check from said image capture device, and optionally instructing the customer to process the
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`image, e.g., by approving the image and/or modifying it to meet at least one secondcriterion. A
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`secondcriterion might also be, for example, one or more of imagesize, imagelegibility, image
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`orientation, image quality, and location and/or orientation of the check within the image. Finally,
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`the customer computer, acting under direction of the instructions, may deliver an approved
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`electronic imageto financial institution electronics.
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`[0008] Additional advantages and features of the invention are described below.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`[0009]
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`The systems and methods for remote deposit of checks in accordance with the present
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`disclosure are further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
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`[0010]
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`Figure 1 illustrates a broad view of a system in which the described embodiments may
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`be employed.
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`[0011]
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`Figure 2 an exemplary general purpose computing device that is communicatively
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`coupled to financial institution electronics as well as an image capture device.
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`[0012]
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`Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary schematic architecture of an image capture device as
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`may be used in connection with various embodiments of the invention.
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`[0013]
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`Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary network architecture as may connect the customer's
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`general purpose computerto financial institution electronics and may also serve to connect
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`componentsof financial institution electronics as well as variousfinancialinstitutions to one
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`another.
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`[0014]
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`Figure 5 illustrates financial institution electronics coupled to a computer 530, and the
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`various aspects of electronics 500 and computer 530 that may operate to implement the novel
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`systems, methods, and computer readable mediaset forth herein.
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`[0015]
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`Figure 6 illustrates a view of the invention with particular focus on the software
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`component 600 which may perform certain operations in connection with embodiments of the
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`invention.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`[0016] Certain specific details are set forth in the following description and figures to provide
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`a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. Certain well-known details
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`often associated with computing and software technologyare notset forth in the following
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`disclosure, however, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the various embodiments of the invention.
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`Further, those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that they can practice other
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`embodiments of the invention without one or more ofthe details described below.Finally, while
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`various methods are described with reference to steps and sequences in the following disclosure,
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`the description as suchis for providing a clear implementation of embodiments of the invention,
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`and the steps and sequencesof steps should not be taken as required to practice this invention.
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`[0017]
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`Fig. 1 illustrates an example system in which the described embodiments may be
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`employed. System 100 may include account owner110, e.g., a bank customer who may be
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`located, for example, at the customer's private residence. The account owner 110 may be
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`utilizing a customer-controlled, general purpose computer 111. General purpose computer may
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`be coupled to an image capture device 112. Customer 110 may use the image capture device 112
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`to generate an image of a negotiable instrument such as a check, and may send the image, along
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`with any other data as appropriate, via a publicly accessible network 120 to financial institution
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`130 electronics such as server 131.
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`[0018]
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`In one embodiment, the financial institution controlling electronics 131 is also the
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`institution at which the customer has an account 160. Financial institution 130 may perform a
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`variety of steps to process the incoming check image andother data. For example,financial
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`institution may ensure the checkis valid, ensuring the check imageis in proper form for
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`electronic handling, ensureit is not a duplicate of a previously deposited check, and so forth.
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`Financial institution 130 may also forward the image over a network 125 to one or more other
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`entities 140, 150, which may be associated with an account 170 on which the check was drawn.
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`[0019] A general purpose computer 111 is generally a Personal Computer (PC) running one of
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`the well-known WINDOWS® brand operating systems made by MICROSOFT® Corp., or a
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`MACINTOSH®(Mac) brand computer, running any of the APPLE® operating systems. General
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`purpose computers are ubiquitous today and the term should be well understood. A general
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`purpose computer 111 may be in a desktop or laptop configuration, and generally has the ability
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`to run any numberof applications that are written for and compatible with the computer's
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`operating system. The term "general purpose computer" specifically excludes specialized
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`equipment as may be purchased by a business or other commercial enterprise, for example, for
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`the specialized purpose of high-speed, high-volume check deposits. A particular advantage of
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`embodiments of the invention is its ability to operate in conjunction with electronics that today's
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`consumersactually own or can easily acquire, such as a general purpose computer, a scanner,
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`and a digital camera.
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`[0020] An exemplary general purpose computer 111 as may be utilized in conjunction with
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`embodiments of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 2. Device electronics 200 are illustrated in Fig.
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`2, and a schematic blowup 202 is providedtoillustrate an exemplary internal architecture of the
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`device. Computing architecture 202 includes one or more processors or processing units 204, a
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`system memory 206, and a bus 208 that couples various system components including the
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`system memory 206 to processors 204. The bus 208 represents one or more of any of several
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`types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, an
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`accelerated graphics port, and a processoror local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures.
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`The system memory 206 includes read only memory (ROM)212 and random access memory
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`(RAM) 210. A basic input/output system (BIOS) 214, containing the basic routines that help to
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`transfer information between elements within computing device 200, such as duringstart-up, is
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`stored in ROM 212.
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`[0021] Computing architecture 202 further includes a hard disk drive 226, and may include a
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`magnetic disk drive 2218 for reading from and writing to a removable magnetic disk 220, and an
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`optical disk drive 222 for reading from or writing to a removable optical disk 224 such as a CD
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`ROMorother optical media. The hard disk drive 226, magnetic disk drive 218, and optical disk
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`drive 224 are connected to the bus 208 by appropriate interfaces. The drives andtheir associated
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`computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data
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`structures, program modules and other data for computing device 200. Although the exemplary
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`environment described herein employs a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk 218 and a
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`removable optical disk 224, other types of computer-readable media such as magnetic cassettes,
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`flash memory cards, digital video disks, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories
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`(ROMs), and the like, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment.
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`[0022] A numberof program modules maybe stored on the hard disk 226, magnetic disk 218,
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`optical disk 224, ROM 212, or RAM 210, including an operating system 227, one or more
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`application programs 228, other program modules 230, and program data 232. A user may enter
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`commandsand information into computing device 200 through input devices such as a keyboard
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`234 and a pointing device 236. An image capture device 246 may also be coupledto the general
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`purpose computer 200 as an input device. Other input devices 238 may include a microphone,
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`joystick, game pad,satellite dish, or the like. These and other input devices are connected to the
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`processing unit 204 through interfaces 240 that are coupled to the bus 208. A monitor 242 or
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`other type of display device is also connected to the bus 208 via an interface 224, such as a video
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`adapter 224.
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`[0023] Generally, the data processors of computing device 200 are programmed by means of
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`instructions stored at different times in the various computer-readable storage media of the
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`computer. Programs and operating systems may be distributed, for example, on floppy disks,
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`CD-ROMs,orelectronically, and are installed or loaded into the secondary memory ofa
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`computer. At execution, the programs are loadedatleast partially into the computer's primary
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`electronic memory 206.
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`[0024] Computing device 200 may operate in a networked environmentusing logical
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`connections to one or more remote computers, such as financial institution electronics 248. The
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`financial institution electronics 248 may be one or more server computers, routers, network PCs,
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`and so forth, which typically include manyorall of the elements described aboverelative to
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`computing device 200. Thefinancial institution electronics 248 may run remote application
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`programs 258 which mayoperate in concert with application programs 228 that execute on the
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`computer 200. For example, a "software component" as described herein may, in one
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`embodiment, execute pursuant to commands from a remote application program 258. The
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`software component may of course also operate in a more autonomous manner, performing
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`certain tasks and then communicating data as necessary back to the remote application programs
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`258.
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`[0025] When used in a LAN networking environment, a computer 200 is connected to a local
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`network 250 through a network interface or adapter 254. When used in a WAN networking
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`environment, computing device 200 typically includes a modem 256 or other means for
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`establishing communications over the wide area network 252, such as the Internet. The modem
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`256, which maybe internal or external, can be connected to the bus 208 for example via a serial
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`port interface, or by sending a signal to a wireless router which then broadcasts and receives
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`wireless signals to and from a wireless card that is connected to the computer 200.
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`[0026]
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`In anetworked environment, program modules depictedrelative to the computing
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`device 200, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. It will be
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`appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other meansofestablishing a
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`communications link between the computers may be used.
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`[0027] A general purpose computer such as 200 mayalso be "customer-controlled." A
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`common example of a customer-controlled computer would be a typical computer located in a
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`private residence. The ownerof such a computertypically has the powerto install programs and
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`configure the computeras they wish, subject to certain security restrictions that may be imposed
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`by the hardware or software manufacturers. A customer-controlled computer need not be located
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`in a private residence, however. For example, computers in college dormitories, in workplace
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`offices, and so forth may also be considered to be "customer-controlled."
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`[0028] An example of a computer that would not be considered customer-controlled would be
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`an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM)thatis typically controlled by a bank or other business.
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`Although a customer may access and utilize an ATM machine, the ATM machineis not
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`customer-controlled because the allowed uses of the ATM machineare highly restricted.
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`Relevant factors in determining whether a machine is customer controlled are thus the scope of
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`operations that a customer may perform using the machine, and extent to which the customer can
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`reconfigure the machine in some way by adding software and/or hardware components.
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`[0029]
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`Oneof the applications 228 that may run on a general purpose computer 200 in
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`connection with the invention is a browser. Commonbrowsersin use today are, for example, the
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`popular INTERNET EXPLORER®line of browsers made by MICROSOFT® Corp., the
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`FIREFOX® browsersdistributed via the MOZILLA® open source project, and the NETSCAPE
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`NAVIGATOR®browsersalso distributed via the MOZILLA® opensource project. Browsers
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`generally allow users to point to a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and thereby retrieve
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`information such as a web page. For example, a browser application on computer 200 could
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`retrieve a web pagethat is kept at server associated with financial institution electronics 248, and
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`display the web page on display 242 to the account owner 110 (Fig. 1), as is generally known
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`and appreciated in the industry and by the general public.
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`[0030] Another application 228, or set of applications, that may run on a general purpose
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`computer 200 in connection with the invention comprises "virtual machine" technologies such as
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`the JAVA®virtual machine software distributed by SUN MICROSYSTEMS® Corp, and
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`.NET® Framework distributed by MICROSOFT® Corp. In general, such applications facilitate
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`execution of further application programs 228 in a variety of computing environments. For
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`example, a JAVA® applet is a computer program (which maybe alternatively referred to herein
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`as a "software component") that can execute on any computer running the JAVA®virtual
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`machine software. The applet may be provided to virtual machine software in a "source code"
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`format, and may be compiled by a "just in time" compiler, so as to put the applet in a form that
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`can be executed by the hardware associated with the particular computing device. These
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`technologies are knownin the art and may be utilized in connection with certain embodiments of
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`the invention as described herein.
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`[0031] Referring back to Fig. 1, an image capture device 112 may be communicatively
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`coupled to the computer 111. Image capture device 112 may be, for example, a scannerordigital
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`camera. Computer 111 may comprise software that allows the user to control certain operations
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`of the image capture device 112 from the computer 111. For example, modern scannerusers may
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`be familiar with the TWAIN®software is often used to control image capture from a computer
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`111. Similarly, digital cameras often ship along with software that allows users to move images
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`from the camera to a computer 111, and may also provide additional functions, such as photo
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`editing functions crop androtate.
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`[0032] Referring now to Fig. 3, a schematic illustration of an exemplary image capture device
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`architecture 300 is illustrated. As with the general purpose computer 200 of Fig. 2, an image
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`capture device may comprise a processing unit 302 and memory 303. Depending on the exact
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`configuration and type of image capture device, memory 303 may be volatile (such as RAM),
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`non-volatile (such as ROM,flash memory, etc.) or some combination of the two. Additionally,
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`image capture device 300 may have mass storage (removable 304 and/or non-removable 305)
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`such as magnetic or optical disks or tape. Image capture device 300 may have image capture
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`apparatus 307 such as a scannerbed, cameralens, and so forth. Finally, image capture device
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`300 may include communication connections 308 to other devices, computers, networks, servers,
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`etc. using either wired or wireless media. In particular, communication connections 308 may
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`serve to communicatively couple device to a general purpose computer such as provided in Fig.
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`2.
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`[0033] Referring back to Fig. 1, financial institutions 130, 140 and 150 maybe any type of
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`entity capable of processing a transaction involving a negotiable instrument. For example,
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`financial institutions 130, 140 and 150 maybe a retail bank, investment bank, investment
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`company, regional branch of the Federal Reserve, clearinghouse bank and/or correspondent
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`bank. A negotiable instrumentis usually a type of contract that obligates one party to pay a
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`specified sum of moneyto another party. By way of example, and notlimitation, negotiable
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`instruments may include a check,draft, bill of exchange, promissory note, and the like.
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`[0034]
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`Financial institution 130 is illustrated as associated with a server 131. Financial
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`institution 130 may maintain and operate server 131 for the purposes of communicating with
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`customers such as 110. Alternatively, such server may be maintained and operated by one or
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`more third party vendors whoact underthe instructionsof the financial institution 130, but
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`possess skills and resources that may be moreeffective in competent operation of electronics.
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`Such arrangements are well knownin the industry and in this case the server 131 is nonetheless
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`considered to be "associated" with the financial institution 130.
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`[0035] Account owner 110 maybe an individual who ownsaccount 160, which may be held at
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`financial institution 130. As such, account owner 110 may be described as a customerof
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`financial institution 130 and/or a "payee" becauseit is contemplated that customer 110 may
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`deposit a check made out to him- or herself. Embodiments of the invention are also possible,
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`however, in which the customer deposits a check madeto another payee, in which case the
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`customer and payee are not one and the same. Account 160 maybe any type of account for
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`depositing funds, such as a savings account, checking account, brokerage account, andthelike.
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`Account owner 110 may communicate with financial institution 130 by way of communication
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`network 120, which mayinclude an intranet, the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide
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`area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a cellular network, a voice
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`overinternet protocol (VoIP) network, and the like. Account owner 110 may communicate with
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`financial institution 130 by phone, email, instant messaging, facsimile, andthelike.
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`[0036]
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`In one contemplated embodiment, network 120 is a publicly accessible network such as
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`the Internet, which can presently be accessed from many private residences and many public
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`places such as college campuses,airports, coffee shops, and restaurants throughout the United
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`States as well as many other countries of the world. A variety of technologies are available to
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`establish secure connections over such a public network, so that data transmitted between
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`computer 111 and a server 131 associated with the institution 130 remainseither inaccessible or
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`indecipherable by third parties that may intercept such data. The invention may make use of any
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`such security technologies.
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`[0037]
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`Financial institutions 130, 140 and 150 may communicate with each other via a
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`network 125. Network 125 may bea publicly accessed network such as 120. Alternatively,
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`network 125 may havecertain characteristics that differ from network 120, dueto the different
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`requirements of bank-to-bank communications. For example, one might envision certain security
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`features and access restrictions being more important in bank-to-bank communications.
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`[0038]
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`Fig. 4 illustrates an exemplary computer network as may be implemented in connection
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`with 120 and 125. One of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that networks can connect any
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`computeror other client or server device, or in a distributed computing environment.In this
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`regard, any computer system or environment having any numberof processing, memory, or
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`storage units, and any numberofapplications and processes occurring simultaneously is
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`considered suitable for use in connection with the systems and methodsprovided.