Image Processing Network

Abstract

An image processing network for processing image files and coupled to an outside data communication network comprising a plurality of remote image capture units, the units scanning documents and creating a plurality of image files of said documents; the image processing means is coupled to said plurality of remote image capture units for processing the image files; the accounting means is coupled to the image processing means for immediately updating accounts associated with said image processing means; and the plurality of remote capture units are coupled to the outside network, the outside data communication network is connected to outside financial institutions, the image processing means transmits said image files to the outside financial institutions via the data communication network and receives image files from the outside financial institutions over the network.

1 . A self-service coin deposit machine, comprising:
 a display;   a coin processing module comprising a bulk coin hopper configured to receive a deposit of mixed coins from a customer of a financial institution;   an input device configured to accept an input of information identifying the customer's account in the financial institution;   a communication interface configured to directly connect the coin deposit machine, through a wireless or a hardwired communication path, to a local computer associated with the accounting system of the financial institution in which the coin deposit machine is disposed; and   a controller configured to determine a total value of the mixed coins deposited by the customer and to transfer a deposit value relating to the total value of the deposited mixed coins through the communication interface to the customer's account.   
   
   
       2 . A self-service coin deposit machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises a card module configured to read account data input by a customer from a storage medium borne by a customer's card, the account data being associated with a customer's account number. 
   
   
       3 . A self-service coin deposit machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the card is a debit card. 
   
   
       4 . A self-service coin deposit machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to prompt the customer to enter a PIN number associated with the debit card. 
   
   
       5 . A self-service coin deposit machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to prompt the customer to perform one of swiping the debit card or inputting the debit card into the coin deposit machine after the controller determines the total value of the mixed coins deposited by the customer. 
   
   
       6 . A self-service coin deposit machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to display to the customer at least one of the value relating to the total value of the deposited mixed coins or the total value of the deposited mixed coins prior to the transferring of the value relating to the total value of the deposited mixed coins to the customer's account. 
   
   
       7 . A self-service coin deposit machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the deposit value comprises the total value of the deposited mixed coins minus a fee relating to the transaction. 
   
   
       8 . A self-service coin deposit machine according to  claim 6 , further comprising a receipt printer to print a customer record for the deposit. 
   
   
       9 . A self-service coin deposit system, comprising:
 a self-service coin deposit machine disposed in a public area of a financial institution, the self-service coin deposit machine including:
 a display; 
 a coin processing module comprising a bulk coin hopper configured to receive a deposit of mixed coins from a customer; 
 an input device configured to accept an input of information identifying the customer's account in the accounting system of the financial institution; 
 a communication interface; and 
 a controller configured to determine a total value of the mixed coins deposited by the customer and to transfer a deposit value relating to the total value of the deposited mixed coins through the communication interface. 
   
   
   
       10 . A self-service coin deposit system according to  claim 9 , wherein the communication interface connects the coin deposit machine to an outside accounting system associated with, but distinct from, the accounting system of the financial institution. 
   
   
       11 . A self-service coin deposit system according to  claim 10 , wherein the outside accounting system deposits the deposit value in the customer's account of the accounting system of the financial institution. 
   
   
       12 . A self-service coin deposit system according to  claim 11 , wherein the customer's account in the accounting system of the financial institution is credited by the outside accounting system in real-time. 
   
   
       13 . A self-service coin deposit system according to  claim 9 , wherein the communication interface connects the coin deposit machine to a local computer in the financial institution associated with the accounting system of the financial institution. 
   
   
       14 . A self-service coin deposit system according to  claim 13 , wherein the input device comprises a reading device configured to read the information identifying the customer's account from a storage medium presented by a customer. 
   
   
       15 . A self-service coin deposit system according to  claim 14 , wherein the storage medium comprises a debit card 
   
   
       16 . A method for depositing mixed coins to a customer's account, the method comprising:
 disposing a coin deposit machine in a financial institution;   receiving from a customer a deposit of mixed coins in a coin deposit machine coin processing module;   discriminating between valid and invalid coins;   determining a total value of received valid coins;   displaying on a display a deposit value relating to the total value;   receiving from the customer a designated customer account number in a first accounting system to which the deposit value is to be deposited;   transferring the deposit value to an outside accounting system, distinct from the first accounting system, but associated with the financial institution;   automatically depositing, in real-time, the deposit value to the designated account number in the first accounting system from the second accounting system; and   dispensing a receipt for the customer's records, the receipt including the deposit value.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the act of receiving from the customer a designated customer account number comprises receiving the designated customer account number from a portable data storage medium presented by the customer. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the act of receiving from the customer a designated customer account number comprises receiving a card bearing the account number on a magnetic storage medium. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the card comprises a debit card. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the act of requiring the customer to input a PIN in association with the deposit transaction.