AU2007203510B2 - Method and system for emulating a check sorter - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT DIVISIONAL APPLICANT: VECTORsgi, INC. Invention Title: METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EMULATING A CHECK SORTER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EMULATING A CHECK SORTER RELATED APPLICATIONS 5 This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/558,749 entitled, "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EMULATING A CHECK SORTER," filed Apr. 20, 2000, which is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/553,228 entitled, "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ONLINE COMMUNICATION 10 BETWEEN A CHECK SORTER AND A CHECK PROCESSING SYSTEM," now U.S. Pat. No. 6,608,274, filed Apr. 20, 2000. TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates generally to the field of document 15 processing in the financial industry and more particularly to a method and system for emulating a check sorter. BACKGROUND Within the financial industry, document processing is an 20 important part of the daily management of a business. Document processing systems include sorters for physically handling and retrieving data from checks and other items and data processors for analyzing and storing the retrieved data. The sorters and data processors intercommunicate data 25 and instructions to individually read and process each check. Conventional check sorters for document processing, such as the IBM 3890 and 3890/XP series of check sorters, are la relatively large and expensive machines. Thus, purchasing one of these check sorters may place a great financial strain on a small business or may be unreasonable for a larger business needing to process a relatively small 5 number of checks over the business' current capacity. Smaller and less expensive check sorters typically cannot communicate with existing data processing systems that are designed to operate in connection with the IBM 3890 and 3890/XP series of check sorters. As a result, the smaller 10 check sorters are not a viable solution in many applications.

2 Attempts to solve this problem have included customized emulators which allow a specific check sorter, which may be smaller and less expensive, to emulate the IBM 3890 and 3890/XP series of check sorters so that the data processing 5 system may communicate with the specific check sorter. However, these emulators are hardware-specific solutions. Thus, a different emulator must be designed, programmed and proved out for each different type of check sorter. This customization is time-consuming and expensive and is thus 10 not a practical solution SUMMARY In accordance with the present invention, a method and system for emulating a check sorter are provided that substantially eliminate or reduce disadvantages and 15 problems associated with previously developed systems and methods. In particular, a modular emulator for check sorters is provided that allows disparate types of check sorters to be managed by a common check processing system that is configured to work with a specific check sorter. 20 In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for communicating between a check processing system and a non compatible check sorter is provided that includes accessing a MICR buffer for the check sorter. The MICR buffer comprises MICR data retrieved from a check. A process 25 buffer is generated based on the MICR buffer. The process buffer is standardized for a plurality of disparate types of check sorters. A plurality of feature instructions are received for the check based on the process buffer. The feature instructions are communicated to the check sorter 30 for processing of the check.

3 In another embodiment of the present invention, a system for handling checks is provided that includes a sorter, an emulator and a check processing system. The sorter is operable to retrieve MICR data from a plurality of checks. 5 The emulator is coupled to the sorter. The emulator is operable to access the MICR date, to generate a process buffer based on the MICR data, and to generate a plurality of feature instructions based on the process buffer. The process buffer is standardized for a plurality of disparate 10 types of check sorters. The check processing system is coupled to the emulator. The check processing system is operable to receive the process buffer from the emulator. The emulator is further operable to communicate the feature instructions to the sorter. The sorter is further operable 15 to process the checks based on the feature instructions. Technical advantages of the present invention include providing an improved method and system for emulating a check sorter. In particular, a modular emulator allows disparate types of check sorters to be managed by a common 20 check processing system that is configured to work with a specific check sorter. Thus, the modular emulator provides a solution that is independent of one or both of the check sorter and the check processing system. As a result, a variety of smaller and less expensive check sorters may be 25 used for excess capacity, by small businesses, or for other suitable uses. Other technical advantages include the ability to image by item. In particular, for each check, the front and/or the back of the check may be selected for imaging. In addition, 30 for both the front and the back of each check, the image may be recorded in black and white, gray scale or color.

4 Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, description, and claims. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 5 For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals represent like parts, in which: 10 FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for handling checks that comprises a check sorter emulator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a frame structure for the process buffer of FIG. 1. in accordance with one 15 embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for processing checks using the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for 20 communicating between the communication engine and the sorter of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for communicating between the check processing system and the 25 emulator API of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 5 FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system 10 for handling checks in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The system 10 comprises a modular emulator 12 for a check sorter, a check sorter 14 for 5 sorting checks for a financial institution or other suitable type of business and a check processing system 16 for making decisions regarding how the sorter 14 is to process the checks and notifying the sorter 14 of the decisions. As described in more detail below, the modular 10 emulator 12 allows the check processing system 16 to communicate with a non-compatible sorter 14 as if the sorter 14 was a compatible sorter. For example, according to one embodiment, the emulator 12 emulates an IBM 3890 series sorter such as an IBM 3890 or 3890/XP sorter, and 15 the emulator 12 communicates with the sorter 14 through standardized processes. The sorter 14 may be anyone of a plurality of disparate types of suitable sorters. The modular emulator 12 thereby allows a check processing system 16 that is configured to 20 communicate with a specific type of sorter to communicate with other types of sorters 14 that are not directly compatible. For the exemplary embodiment, the sorter 14 may comprise a sorter available from NCR, BancTec, Unisys, or Digital Check, or other sorter capable of reading and 25 exchanging MICR data through standardized processes. The sorter 14 comprises a MICR reader 20 for retrieving MICR data from the checks, an endorser 22 for endorsing checks, a microfilm camera 24 for recording microfilm images of checks, a digital camera 26 for recording digital 30 images of checks and a plurality of pockets 28 for receiving sorted checks. The endorser 22 may endorse a check by printing endorsement information on the check. The 6 endorsement information may comprise the name of the bank or other financial institution processing the check. The digital camera 26 may record an image of the front and/or the back of each check and may record these images in black 5 and white, gray scale and/or color. Thus, different imaging data may be obtained for different checks. For example, the digital camera 26 may record a black and white image of the front of a first check and a gray scale image of the back of the first check and may 10 record a color image of the front and the back of a second check. It will be understood that the digital camera 26 may comprise one or more devices for recording digital images of checks being processed by the system 10. The sorter 14 also comprises a shared memory 30 that is 15 shared with the emulator 12 and that comprises a MICR buffer 32. As described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 2, the MICR buffer 32 comprises the MICR data retrieved from the checks by the MICR reader 20. The MICR buffer 32 may be a copy or adaptation of the retrieved 20 data. The MICR data in the MICR buffer 32 is thus in a format that is specific to the particular sorter 14 and need not be customized for the system 10. The sorter 14 also comprises an interface 34 for interpreting emulator data provided by the emulator 12. 25 This emulator data may comprise feature instructions for the sorter 14 regarding the features of the endorser 22, the microfilm camera, the digital camera 26 and the pockets 28. The interface 34 may be device-specific and maps instructions from the emulator 12 domain to the sorter 14 30 domain. Thus, based on the emulator data, the interface 34 7 determines for each check whether or not to endorse the check, record a microfilm image of the check and record a digital image of the check. The interface 34 also determines for each check which digital images and what 5 types of digital images to record, if any, and which pocket 28 is to receive the check. The emulator 12 comprises an emulator application programming interface (API) 40, a communication engine 42 and a code-executing emulator 44 for executing code 10 provided by the check processing system 16 that is programmed in a language specific to the sorter compatible with the check processing system 16. For the embodiment in which the compatible sorter comprises an IBM 3890 series sorter, the code-executing emulator 44 comprises a stacker 15 control instructions (SCI) emulator 44. The emulator 12 may be compiled for execution on a Windows NT, OS/2, or other suitable platform. The sorter 14 transmits a message to the API 40 for each check being processed by the sorter 14. The API 40 may then 20 access the shared memory 30 to retrieve the MICR data for the check from the MICR buffer 32. Alternatively, the sorter 14 may pass the MICR buffer 32 to the emulator 12 for processing. The API 40 converts the MICR buffer 32 into a standardized process buffer 50 by reformatting the MICR 25 data into a format that may be processed by the check processing system 16. The process buffer 50 is standardized in that the format of the process buffer 50 is the same regardless of the format of the MICR buffer 32 for the sorter 14. In one embodiment, the standardized process 30 buffer 50 is in the same format as the data provided by a compatible sorter with which the check processing system 16 is designed to operate. In this embodiment, the emulator 12 8 emulates the compatible sorter for the check processing system 16. Thus, for the embodiment in which the compatible sorter comprises an IBM 3890 series sorter, the API 40 converts the MICR buffer 32 into the standardized process 5 buffer 50 based on IBM standards for the IBM 3890 series of sorters. After processing is completed by the check processing system 16 for the check, the API 40 updates the MICR buffer 32 in the shared memory 30 with the emulator data, which 10 includes instructions for processing the check. The API 40 then notifies the sorter 14 that the update is complete, allowing the interface 34 to begin interpreting the emulator data in the MICR buffer 32 to complete the processing of the check. 15 According to one embodiment, the API 40 comprises logic for performing the functions described above. The logic may be encoded in hardware, such as a field-programmable gate array, an application-specific integrated circuit, or the like, and/or software instructions stored in RAM, ROM 20 and/or other suitable computer-readable media for performing the functions associated with the API 40. The communication engine 42 receives the process buffer 50 from the API 40 for each check being processed by the sorter 14. As used herein, each means everyone of at least 25 a subset of the identified items. As the process buffer 50 is passed between components of the system 10, it will be understood that any suitable portion of or the entire process buffer 50 may be passed based on the data in the process buffer 50 required by the receiving component.

9 After receiving the process buffer 50, the communication engine 42 calls a code line data match (CLDM) engine 52 which attempts to match an identifier for the check in the process buffer 50 to an identifier in a CLDM module 54. The 5 CLDM module 54 may store any suitable identifying information as an identifier and other data such as MICR data, emulator data or any other suitable data relating to the check for each of a plurality of checks previously processed by the check processing system 16. Thus, for 10 example, if a tray of checks being processed by the sorter 14 is dropped or if the sorter 14 jams or if any other situation results in the checks being re-ordered after a portion of the checks have been processed, the CLDM module 54 is able to provide the previously generated emulator 15 data for each of the checks which have already been processed, thereby eliminating the need to fully process those checks a second time. According to one embodiment, the CLDM module 54 is stored in a personal computer or other suitable device operable to 20 store and process data. The CLDM module 54 may store any suitable number of identifiers and related data for previously processed checks. According to one embodiment, the CLDM module 54 may store up to 20,000 identifiers. The number of identifiers stored in the CLDM module 54 may be 25 changed by the check processing system 16 at any suitable time. Thus, for example, the number may be changed based on the number of checks being processed by the sorter 14 at any particular time. If the number of identifiers to be stored has been embedded into a processing program, the 30 embedded number may be overwritten to allow extended searching capabilities.

10 If the CLDM engine 52 finds no match in the CLDM module 54, the communication engine 42 calls the SCI emulator 44 which may executed SCI code stored in a SCI module 60. According to one embodiment, the check processing system 16 provides 5 executable SCI code to the emulator 12 for storage in the SCI module 60. The SCI module 60 may also comprise tables of data received from the check processing system 16. The SCI code in the SCI module 60 comprises a programming language for communicating between a check processing 10 system 16 and an IBM 3890 of 3890/XP. According to one embodiment, the check processing system 16 may provide new SCI code for storage in the SCI module 60 at any suitable time. Thus, for example, new SCI code may be provided by the check processing system 16 for each set of checks 15 processed by the sorter 14. When the communication engine 42 calls the SCI emulator 44, the SCT emulator 44 accesses the SCI module 60 and begins executing the SCI code stored in the SCI module 60. The SCI emulator 44 may comprise a program file 62 that identifies 20 one or more auxiliary programs 64 in the emulator 12. The auxiliary programs 64 comprise programs in languages other than SCI code which may be easier to maintain. For example, the auxiliary programs 64 may be in C, C++, Cobol, Fortran, or any other suitable programming language. According to 25 one embodiment, these auxiliary programs 64 provide an entry point for special endorsement. The BCI emulator 44 may use the data in the program file 62 to call anyone of the auxiliary programs 64 instead of, or in addition to, the BCI code in the BCI module 60. The BCI 30 emulator 44 provides the results from the execution of the BCI code and/or the auxiliary programs 64 to the 11 communication engine 42. According to one embodiment, these results comprise instructions for the endorser 22, the microfilm camera 24 and the digital camera 26. The communication engLne 42 incorporates the results from 5 the BCI emulator 44 into the process buffer 50 received from the API 40 in accordance with a specified format for the check processing system 16. This format may comprise a header, trailer, and/or any other suitable information for providing to the check processing system 16 a return 10 address for the communication engine 42. The formatting is based on the type of communication between the check processing system 16 and the communication engine 42. According to one embodiment, this communication type is TCP/IP. Alternatively, LU 6.2, channel connect, or any 15 other suitable communication type may be used. However, LU 6.2 and channel connect are more expensive and complex types of communication than TCP/IP. The communication engine 42 also provides online connectivity to the check processing system 16 which allows real-time communication 20 between these two components 42 and 16. Real-time communication may include an instruction to disengage the pass for re-orienting or other instructions between the communication engine 42 and the check processing system 16 to dynamically change run time parameters or operations. 25 According to one embodiment, the communication engine 42 comprises logic for performing the functions described above. The logic may be encoded in hardware, such as a field-programmable gate array, an application-specific integrated circuit, or the like, and/or software 30 instructions stored in RAM, ROM and/or other suitable computer-readable media for performing the functions associated with the communication engine 42.

12 According to one embodiment, the API 40 and the communication engine 42 communicate with TCP/IP. Thus, although the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrates the API 40 local to the communication engine, it will be understood 5 that other suitable embodiments may be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the API 40 may be local to the sorter 14 and remote from the communication engine 42. As used herein, remote means that the two components may be located 10 anywhere in the world with respect to each other and may communicate with each other over a communication link. Alternatively, the API 40 may be local to the communication engine 42 and local to the sorter 14. In accordance with one embodiment, the communication engine 42 may communicate 15 with a plurality of APIs 40 that are remote from the communication engine 42 and each other and that are each local to a sorter 14. Thus, the emulator 12 may be used to emulate a plurality of different types of sorters 14 simultaneously through the use of a plurality of APIs 40. 20 The check processing system 16 may comprise any suitable combination of one or more of Vector:Sort, Check Processing Control System, SuperMICR, or any other suitable check processing system, and may be implemented on a mainframe. The check processing system 16 receives the process buffer 25 50 from the communication engine 42 and makes decisions as to the processing of the check based on the process buffer 50. The check processing system 16 also provides data to the CLDM module 54 for the CLDM engine 52 to use for matching. 30 In operation, a set of checks is provided to the sorter 14 for processing. As each check is passed through the sorter 14, the MICR reader 20 retrieves the MICR data from the 13 check and copies this data to the MICR buffer 32 in the shared memory 30. The sorter 14 then notifies the API 40 that the MICR buffer 32 is available for processing. The API 10 accesses the MICR buffer 32 and converts the MICR 5 data into a process buffer 50. The process buffer 50 is then provided to the communication engine 42. The communication engine 42 calls the CLDM engine 52 which attempts to match an identifier in the process buffer 50 to an identifier in the CLDM module 54. If a match is found, 10 the CLDM engine 52 retrieves previously generated emulator data for the check and provides this information to the communication engine 42. However, if no match is found, the communication engine 42 calls the SCI emulator 44. The SCI emulator 44 then begins executing the SCI code in the SCI 15 module 60 and/or an auxiliary program 64 and provides the results to the communication engine 42. The communication engine 42 includes these results in the process buffer 50 before providing the process buffer 50 to the check processing system 16. The check processing system 20 16 makes decisions regarding how to process the check based on the data in the process buffer 50. The API 40 generates emulator data based on the updated process buffer 50 from the check processing system 16 and copies the emulator data into the MICR buffer 32 of the 25 shared memory 30 for the sorter 14. The API 40 then notifies the sorter 14 that the emulator data is available for the check. The interface 34 interprets the updated MICR buffer 32 that includes the emulator data in order to determine how to process the check. The emulator data 30 instructs the interface 34 whether or not to endorse the check, to record a microfilm image of the check and to record a digital image of the check. The interface 34 then 1I.4 signals the endorser 22, the microfilm camera 24 and/or the digital camera 26 in accordance with the feature instructions. According to one embodiment, the interface 34 provides a signal to each of the features 22, 24 and/or 26 5 which are to be activated and provides no signal to the features 22, 24 and/or 26 which are not to be activated. For the digital camera 26, the interface 34 also notifies the digital camera 26 which images to record (front and/or back), what type of image (black and white, gray scale or 10 color) to record for the front and what type of image to record for the back. The interface 34 also identifies a pocket 28 to the sorter 14 for the check. After any requested endorsement is performed and images are recorded, the sorter 14 directs the check to the pocket 28 identified 15 by the interface 34. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a frame structure 200 for the process buffer 50 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The frame structure 200 for the processor buffer 50 comprises document data 202 20 and a header 204. According to one embodiment, the document data 202 comprises MICR data retrieved from a check, and the header 204 comprises 12 bytes of header data 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230 and 232. When the CLDM engine 52 detects a match in the CLDM module 54 25 for the check being processed, the header 204 is replaced with data stored in the CLDM module 54. In accordance with one embodiment, the header 204 comprises two field validity bytes 210 and 212. The first field validity byte 210 comprises a bit to indicate an end-of 30 file for code line data matching and seven bits to indicate a digit error in one of seven corresponding fields. The 15 second field validity byte 212 comprises one bit to indicate that either the opening symbol for the first field was missing from the check or the leading edge of the check was damaged. The second field validity byte 212 also 5 comprise seven bits to indicate an invalid length or a special symbol sequence error in one of seven corresponding fields. An invalid length or special symbol sequence error indicates that the opening or closing symbol for a field was either missing or incorrect or that the number of 10 digits detected in the field was incorrect. The header 204 also comprises two SCI results bytes 214 and 216. These bytes 214 and 216 both comprise data generated by the SCI emulator 44 through the execution of SCI code in the SCI module 60 and/or an auxiliary program 64. 15 The error/feature data byte 218 comprises a bit to indicate the validity of endorsement data, a bit to indicate the validity of INF data, a bit to indicate a power encoder error, a bit to indicate a time-out error, a bit to indicate an image request, a bit to indicate that an OCR3 20 feature was initialized "on" and two bits for communicating any suitable data. The feature control byte 220 comprises a bit to indicate that a predetermined number of checks have been recorded by the microfilm camera 24, causing a pause to occur while the 25 microfilm is spaced. The feature control byte 220 also comprises a bit to enable a flash for lighting the check as the microfilm camera 24 records a microfilm image of the check. The feature control byte 220 also comprises a bit that may cause a one to be added to the value of a high 30 order segment of an index number, while the low order segment is reset to zero. The feature control byte 220 also 16 comprises a bit that may cause a one to be added to the low order segment of the index number. The feature control byte 220 also comprises a bit to inhibit the printing of endorsement data by the endorser 22 5 and a bit to inhibit the printing of INF data. Similar to the bits relating to the index number, the feature control byte 220 comprises a bit to increment the INE high order segment, while resetting the INF low order segment to zero, and a bit to increment the INF low order segment. 10 The pocket selection byte 222 comprises three bits for module selection, three bits for pocket selection and two bits for communicating any suitable data. The feature data byte 224 comprises a bit to indicate that the endorsement feature was initialized "on," a bit that forces the check 15 to be directed to the first pocket of the first module, a bit to indicate that power encoding was not done or was invalid, a bit to indicate that no code line data matching was attempted by the CLDM engine 52, a bit to indicate that the process buffer 50 was modified by specified macros or 20 functions, a bit to indicate that the microfilm camera was initialized "on," a bit to indicate that the INF feature was initialized "on" and a bit to identify a first document processed after a microfilm space. The special condition data byte 226 comprises a bit to 25 indicate a hardware-detected autoselect. A hardware detected autoselect indicates that at least one of the following conditions occurred: multiple checks, a distance between checks less than a predetermined amount, a check length greater than a predetermined amount, a check length 30 less than a predetermined amount, a distance between the 17 leading edges of consecutive checks less than a predetermined amount and a special symbol sequence error. The special condition data byte 226 also comprises a bit to indicate an invalid module-pocket code autoselect, a bit to 5 indicate a late module-pocket code autoselect, a bit to indicate a SCI error, a bit to indicate a merged document, a bit to indicate that the CLDM engine 52 found no match in the CLDM module 54, a bit to indicate that a high order zero correction occurred and a bit to indicate that a 10 symbol error correction occurred. The routing/SCI data byte 228 comprises four bits for a routing number self-check digit, one bit to indicate an invalid routing number self-check digit, a bit to indicate a SCI pause and two bits for communicating any suitable 15 data. The document number byte 230 comprises a document sequence number for the check. According to one embodiment, this number ranges from XOO to XFF. The header type byte 232 identifies the type of header 204 for the process buffer 50. According to one embodiment, the 20 header type may comprise a document data header, an exception header, a SCI error header, a data management header or any other suitable header type. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for processing checks using the system 10 in accordance with 25 one embodiment of the present invention. The method begins at step 300 where the sorter 14 is loaded with a tray of checks. At. step 302, the sorter 14 is activated. At step 304, the MTCR reader 20 retrieves MICR data from a check. At step 306, the MICR data retrieved by the MICR reader 20 30 is copied to the MICR buffer 32 in the shared memory 30.

18 The sorter 14 then notifies the API 40 that the MICR buffer 32 contains data for a check in step 308. At step 310, the API 40 generates and provides a standardized process buffer 50, which is based on the MICR 5 buffer 32, to the communication engine 42. The standardized process buffer is in a format that is compatible with the check sorter that is being emulated by the emulator 12. In one embodiment, data is mapped from a hardware-specific domain to a standard-domain. At step 314, decisions are 10 made for the check based on the process buffer 50. At step 316, these decisions are provided to the communication engine 42. At step 318, the communication engine 42 provides the process buffer 50 incorporating the decisions to the API 15 40. At 320, the API 40 updates the MICR buffer 32 with emulator data based on the process buffer 50 received back from the communication engine 42. In one embodiment, the emulator data is copied to predefined fields in the MICR buffer 32. 20 At step 322, the interface 34 interprets the emulator data in the MICR buffer 32. At step 323, the interface 34 activates the appropriate features 22, 24 and/or 26 in accordance with the emulator data. At decisional step 324, a determination is made regarding whether or not the 25 endorser 22 has been activated. If the endorser 22 has been activated, the methods follows the Yes branch from decisional step 324 to step' 326 where the endorser 22 endorses the check. However, if the endorser has not been activated, the method follows the No branch from decisional 30 step 324 to decisional step 328.

At decisional step 328, a determination is made regarding whether or not the microfilm camera 24 has been activated. If the microfilm camera 24 has been activated, the method follows the Yes branch from decisional step 328 to step 330 5 where the microfilm camera 24 records a microfilm image of the check. However, if the microfilm camera 24 has not been activated, the method follows the No branch from decisional step 328 to decisional step 332. At decisional step 332, a determination is made regarding 10 whether or not the digital camera 26 has been activated. If the digital camera 26 has been activated, the method follows the Yes branch from decisional step 332 to step 334 where the digital camera 26 records one or more digital images of the check. As described in more detail above, the 15 digital. camera 26 may record an image of the front and/or an image of the back of the check. In addition, each image recorded by the digital camera 26 may be either black and white, gray scale or color. Thus, one or more of a number of indicators may be set for the digital camera 26. 20 Returning to decisional step 332, if the digital camera 26 has not been activated, the method follows the No branch from decisional step 332 to step 336. At step 336, the interface 34 provides a pocket selection for the check. At step 338, the sorter 14 directs the check 25 to the identified pocket 28. At decisional step 340, the sorter 14 makes a determination regarding whether there are more checks to process. If there are more checks to process, the method follows the Yes branch from decisional step 340 and returns to step 304 where the MICR reader 20 30 retrieves MICR data from a subsequent check. However, if there are no more checks to process, the method follows No branch from decisional step 340 at which point the method 20 comes to an end. Thus, each check passing through the sorter 14 is individually processed by the check processing system 16 through the use of the emulator 12 chat allows the check processing system 16 to communicate with the 5 sorter 14 as though the sorter 14 were a different type of sorter. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for communicating between the communication engine 42 and the sorter 14 in accordance with one embodiment of the present 10 invention. The method begins at step 400 where the API 40 accesses the MICR buffer in the memory 30 that is shared with the sorter 14. At step 402, the API 40 converts the MICR buffer 32 into a standardized process buffer 50. At step 404, the API 40 provides the standardized process 15 buffer 50 to the communication engine 42. At step 406, the API 40 receives the process buffer 50 incorporating decisions made by the check processing system 16 back from the communication engine 42. At step 408, the API 40 generates emulator data based on the process buffer 20 50. At step 410, the API 40 provides the emulator data to the sorter 14 by updating the MICR buffer 32 in the shared memory 30 with the emulator data. At step 412, the API 40 notifies the sorter 14 that the MICR buffer 32 has been updated, at which point the method comes to an end. 25 FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for communicating between the check processing system 16 and the emulator API 40 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The method begins at step 500 where the communication engine receives the standardized process 30 buffer 50 from the API 40. At step 502, the communication engine 42 calls the CLDM engine 52 which attempts to match 21 an identifier in the process buffer 50 to an identifier stored in the CLDM module 54. At decisional step 504, a determination is made regarding whether or not a matching identifier was found in the CLDM module 54. 5 If a matching identifier was found, the method follows the Yes branch from decisional step 504 to step 506 where the process buffer 50 is updated with data stored in the CLDM module 54. At step 508, the communication engine 42 provides the updated process buffer 50 to the API 40, at 10 which point the method comes to an end. Returning to decisional step 504, if no matching identifier was found, the method follows the No branch from decisional step 504 to step 510. At step 510, the communication engine 42 calls the SCI emulator 44 which may execute SCI code 15 stored in the SCI module 60 and/or one or more auxiliary programs 64 identified in the program file 62. At step 512, the communication engine 42 incorporates results received from the SCI emulator 44 into the process buffer 50. At step 514, the communication engine 42 provides the updated 20 process buffer 50 to the check processing system 16. At step 516, the communication engine 42 receives decisions regarding the check from the check processing system 16. At step 518, the communication engine 42 incorporates the decisions received from the check processing system 16 into 25 the process buffer 50. At step 520, the communication engine 42 provides the process buffer 50 to the API 40 and to the CLDM engine 52. At step 522, the CLDM engine 52 stores the process buffer 50 in the CLDM module 54 for future matching, at which point the method comes to an end.

22 Although the present invention has been described with several embodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present invenLion encompasses such changes and 5 modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (18)

1. A check sorter, comprising: a MICR reader operable to read check information from 5 a check being processed by the sorter; a digital imaging system operable to image a front and a back of the check being processed by the sorter; a controller responsive to externally-generated instructions based on the check information, the controller 10 operable to control the digital imaging system to selectively image one or more of the front and the back of the check; and wherein the check sorter is communicably coupled with an incompatible check processing system through an 15 emulator, the check processing system generating the externally-generated instructions.

2. The check sorter of claim 1, the controller further operable to control the digital imaging system to image the 20 front of the check in black and white, gray scale or color based on the instructions.

3. The check sorter of claim 1, the controller further operable to control the digital imaging system to image the 25 back of the check in black and white, gray scale or color based on the instructions.

4. The check sorter of claim 1, the emulator operable to: access MICR buffer data provided by the MICR reader, 30 the MICR buffer data based on the read check information; generate process buffer data based on the MICR buffer data, the process buffer data standardized for a plurality of disparate types of check sorters; 24 identify the instructions for the check based on the process buffer data; and communicate the instructions to the controller.

5 5. The check sorter of claim 4, the standardized process buffer data comprising a format compatible with the check sorter and compatible with the check processing system.

6. The check sorter of claim 4, the MICR data comprising 10 an account number for the check.

7. The check sorter of claim 1, the external check processing system remote from the check sorter. 15

8. The check sorter of claim 1 comprising an IBM 3890 or 3890/XP series check sorter.

9. The check sorter of claim 1, the instructions further comprising an endorsement instruction operable to control 20 endorsement of the check by the check sorter.

10. The check sorter of claim 1, the instructions further comprising a pocket selection instruction operable to direct the check to a specified pocket. 25

11. A method for imaging a check during check sorting operations, comprising: reading check information from the check; receiving, from an incompatible check processing 30 system through an emulator, externally-generated instructions identifying an imaging option based on the check information, the imaging options comprising no image, 25 a front image, a back image, and a front and back image; and selectively imaging the check based on the imaging option. 5

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving externally-generated instructions identifying an imaging type based on the check information, the imaging types comprising black and white, gray scale, 10 and color; and imaging the check based on the imaging type.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: accessing MICR buffer data provided during the check 15 sorting operations, the MICR buffer data based on the read check information; generating process buffer data based on the MICR buffer data, the process buffer data standardized for a plurality of disparate types of check sorters; and 20 identifying the instructions for the check based on the process buffer data.

14. The method of claim 13, the standardized process buffer data comprising a format compatible with the check 25 sorter and compatible with the check processing system.

15. The method of claim 13, the MICR data comprising an account number for the check. 30

16. The method of claim 11 comprising an IBM 3890 or 3890/XP series check sorter. 26

17. The method of claim 11, the instructions further comprising an endorsement instruction operable to control endorsement of the check by the check sorter. 5

18. The method of claim 11, the instructions further comprising a pocket selection instruction operable to direct the check to a specified pocket.