Apparatus and Method for verifying the number of media in the media storage unit

Abstract

An embodiment of a device for verifying the number of media in a media storage unit comprises: a media storage unit including at least one drum in which media is stored; a database in which serial numbers of media stored in each drum of the media storage unit are recorded according to the storage order of the media; a discrimination unit that recognizes the serial number of a media that is retrieved from the corresponding drum of the media storage unit and circulated; and a control unit that searches for whether there is a matching serial number by comparing the serial number of the circulated media with the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database, and if a matching serial number is found, deletes the data of the media corresponding to the matching serial number and the upper media recorded in the database, and adds the data of the circulated media to the data of the remaining lower media to update the database record regarding the number of media stored in the corresponding drum.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for verifying the number of media in a media storage unit, and more specifically, to an apparatus and method for verifying the number of media in a media storage unit that can quickly and accurately verify the number of media stored in the drum of the media storage unit. Background Technology

[0002] Financial automation devices are automated devices that can assist with basic financial services, such as deposits or withdrawals, regardless of location or time, and without the need for bank employees. Recently, financial automation devices are being used for various purposes, including not only the deposit and withdrawal of banknotes but also checks, passbook updates, giro bill payments, and ticket sales.

[0003] In such financial automation machines, a situation may arise where there is uncertainty regarding the number of media stored in the drum, which is a media storage unit where media such as banknotes or checks are stored. For example, when a failure such as a media jam occurs during withdrawal or deposit, the failure is recovered. In this case, there may be a discrepancy between the information regarding the number of media recorded in the database at the time of the jam and the actual number of media wound and stored in the drum after the failure is recovered.

[0004] In addition, failures that may occur in the media storage unit may be caused by various factors other than jams, such as when media are withdrawn and two or more sheets are returned stacked together instead of being withdrawn individually, or when information regarding the number of media recorded in the database is changed due to a power outage during a deposit or withdrawal transaction.

[0005] In cases where the information regarding the number of media stored in the media storage unit becomes uncertain, conventionally, the entire quantity of media stored in each drum of the media storage unit was withdrawn from the drum and then moved back to each drum while counting the number of media to update the information recorded in the database, thereby confirming the number of media stored in each drum.

[0006] However, according to the conventional method of verifying the number of media in a media storage unit, there was a problem in that a significant amount of time was required to verify the number of media, which lowered the device utilization rate and caused inconvenience in device management.

[0007] Prior art related to this is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0069702. The problem to be solved

[0008] The present invention was devised to solve the aforementioned problems, and aims to provide a device and method for verifying the number of media in a media storage unit that can quickly and accurately verify the number of media actually stored in the drum of the media storage unit after the recovery of a media jam failure is completed. means of solving the problem

[0009] A media quantity verification device of a media storage unit according to the present invention for implementing the purpose described above comprises: a media storage unit including at least one drum in which media is stored; a database in which serial numbers of media stored per drum of the media storage unit are recorded according to the storage order of the media; a discrimination unit that recognizes the serial number of a media that is retrieved from the corresponding drum of the media storage unit and circulated; and a control unit that searches for whether there is a matching serial number by comparing the serial number of the circulated media with the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database, and if a matching serial number is found, deletes the data of the media corresponding to the matching serial number and the upper media recorded in the database, and adds the data of the circulated media to the data of the remaining lower media to update the database record regarding the number of media stored in the corresponding drum.

[0010] If a matching serial number is not found among the serial number of the one medium that has been circulated and the serial number of the medium stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database, the control unit controls the media to be circulated to the drum after recognizing the serial number by passing through the identification unit, by withdrawing one additional medium from the corresponding drum of the media storage unit compared to the previously withdrawn number, and compares the serial number of the medium circulated to the drum with the serial number of the medium stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database to further search for whether there is a matching serial number.

[0011] The control unit can control the media to be moved back to the drum after recognizing the serial number by passing through the identification unit, until a matching serial number is found among the serial number of the media that has been moved back to the drum and the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database.

[0012] If, until the number of media drawn from the drum reaches a set number, a matching serial number is not found among the serial number of the circulating media and the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database, the control unit displays a message indicating that media recognition for the corresponding drum is unreliable on the display unit, and recognizes the serial numbers of all media in the corresponding drum by passing through the identification unit, thereby updating the record in the database regarding the number of media stored in the corresponding drum.

[0013] The method for verifying the number of media in a media storage unit according to the present invention comprises: a step of recognizing a serial number of a media in a discrimination unit while withdrawing a media from a drum of the media storage unit and circulating it; a step of searching for whether there is a matching serial number by comparing the recognized serial number of the media with a record in a database in which the serial number of the media stored in the drum is recorded according to the storage order of the media; and, if a matching serial number is found as a result of the search, a step of deleting the data of the media corresponding to the matching serial number and the upper media recorded in the database, and adding the data of the circulating media to the data of the remaining lower media to update the record in the database regarding the number of media stored in the corresponding drum.

[0014] If, as a result of the above search, a matching serial number is not found, the method may further include the step of withdrawing a number of media sheets, one more than the number previously withdrawn from the corresponding drum of the media storage unit, passing through the identification unit to recognize the serial number, and then circulating the media sheets back to the drum, and further searching for whether there is a matching serial number by comparing the serial number of the media sheets circulated to the drum with the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database.

[0015] The step of additionally searching for whether there is a matching serial number can be performed until a matching serial number is found among the serial number of the medium circulated to the drum and the serial number of the medium stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database.

[0016] If, until the number of media drawn from the drum reaches a set number, a matching serial number is not found among the serial number of media circulated to the drum and the serial number of media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database, a message indicating that media recognition for the corresponding drum is unreliable is displayed on the display unit, and the serial number is recognized for the entire quantity of media in the corresponding drum via the identification unit, thereby updating the record in the database regarding the number of media stored in the corresponding drum. Effects of the invention

[0017] According to the device and method for verifying the number of media in a media storage unit according to the present invention, after the recovery of a media jam failure is completed, the number of media actually stored in the drum of the media storage unit can be verified quickly and accurately using the serial number of the media, and convenience in data management regarding the status of the number of media per drum of the media storage unit can be provided. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0018] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a financial automation device to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a device for verifying the number of media in a media storage unit according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a database in which media information per drum is stored in a media quantity verification device of a media storage unit according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a database in which information about two media stored in a corresponding drum is stored in a media quantity verification device of a media storage unit according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating media information stored in a database when 10 media sheets are stored in the corresponding drum at the time of jam occurrence in a media quantity verification device of a media storage unit according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the step of requesting media quantity verification along with the media serial number of the range to be found in the management program of the media quantity verification device of the media storage unit according to the present invention after jam failure recovery is completed. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a case in which, in a media quantity verification device of a media storage unit according to the present invention, a single medium moved from the corresponding drum is moved back to the drum after the media serial number is recognized by the identification unit, and a matching serial number is not found between the serial number of the moved medium and the serial number of the medium transmitted by the management program. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a case in which, in a media quantity verification device of a media storage unit according to the present invention, two media moved from a drum are moved back to the drum after the media serial number is recognized by the identification unit, and a matching serial number is found between the serial number of the moved media and the serial number of the media transmitted by the management program. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the step of updating the data of the number of media stored in the corresponding drum by deleting the data prior to the corresponding media in the database of the media quantity verification device of the media storage unit according to the present invention and adding the number of media circulated to the remaining data. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for checking the number of media in a media storage unit according to the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0019] The configuration and operation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0020] First, with reference to FIG. 1, the configuration of a financial automation device to which the present invention is applied will be described. The financial automation device (1) to which the present invention is applied may include an upper module (10) and a lower module (20) provided on the lower side thereof.

[0021] The upper module (10) is equipped with a deposit unit (110), a withdrawal unit (120), and an identification unit (130), and the lower module (20) is equipped with a media storage unit (210) for storing media and an abnormal bill cassette (220), and a replenishment / recovery cassette (400) is provided on the outside of the lower module (20). In addition, the financial automation device (1) may include a return path (300) for returning banknotes according to various transaction patterns such as deposit, withdrawal, replenishment, and recovery of media, and a plurality of gates for switching the return direction of banknotes to a set direction.

[0022] The above deposit section (110) provides a space into which a deposited medium is inserted.

[0023] The above withdrawal unit (120) provides a space for withdrawing media identified as abnormal by the identification unit (130) when depositing or replenishing media, or media identified as normal by the identification unit (130) when withdrawing media. In this embodiment, the above withdrawal unit (120) may provide a space for loading media withdrawn from the media storage unit (210) when it is impossible to verify the number of media in the media storage unit (210).

[0024] The above-mentioned identification unit (130) identifies whether there is an abnormality and the type of the medium being transported along the transport path (300), and simultaneously detects the medium passing through the transport path (300) and scans an image of the medium to detect the authenticity, type, and damage of the medium being transported.

[0025] In this embodiment, the identification unit (130) recognizes a serial number printed on a medium and transmits the serial number information of the recognized medium to the control unit (700).

[0026] The above media storage unit (210) may be composed of upper drums (211, 212, 213, 214) and lower drums (215, 216, 217, 218) stacked vertically, and the upper drums (211, 212, 213, 214) and lower drums (215, 216, 217, 218) may be provided in multiple locations spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction.

[0027] The above abnormal cassette (220) may store media identified as abnormal by the identification unit (130) when media is withdrawn or refilled. In this embodiment, the above abnormal cassette (220) provides a space for temporarily storing media withdrawn from a target drum (hereinafter referred to as the drum) when the number of media in the media storage unit (210) is verified.

[0028] The above replenishment / recovery cassette (400) can be optionally attached or detached when replenishing media in the media storage unit (210) or recovering media from the media storage unit (210).

[0029] In this embodiment, the replenishment / recovery cassette (400) provides a space for loading media withdrawn from the media storage unit (210) when it is impossible to verify the number of media in the media storage unit (210).

[0030] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the media quantity verification device (2) of the media storage unit (210) of the present invention comprises an input unit (500) for inputting a media quantity verification command of the media storage unit (210), a discrimination unit (130) for recognizing a serial number printed on the media, a database (600) in which the serial numbers of the media stored per drum of the media storage unit (210) are recorded according to the storage order of the media, a control unit (700) for controlling the operation of components for media quantity verification, a display unit (800) for displaying information and status of the number of media per drum, and the aforementioned media storage unit (210), replenishment / recovery cassette (400), and withdrawal unit (120).

[0031] The above control unit (700) may include a management program (AP) (701), a middleware program (SP) (702), a firmware program (EP) (703), and a data update unit (704).

[0032] When an administrator inputs a command to verify the number of media stored in the corresponding drum of the media storage unit (210) through the input unit (500), the management program (AP) (701) transmits a command signal to the middleware program (SP) (702) along with the media serial number information of the range to be searched among the media serial number information stored in the database (600).

[0033] The above middleware program (SP) (702) interconnects the management program (AP) (701) and the firmware program (EP) (703) and serves to relay the transmission and reception of command signals and serial number information of the medium recognized by the identification unit (130).

[0034] The above firmware program (EP) (703) receives serial number information of a medium that is drawn from the drum, passes through the identification unit (130), and is circulated back to the drum after the serial number is recognized, and searches for whether there is a serial number that matches the serial number of the circulated medium among the list of serial numbers of the medium transmitted by the above management program (AP) (701).

[0035] When the data update unit (704) finds that there is a serial number that matches the serial number of the media that has been circulated among the list of serial numbers of the media transmitted by the management program (AP) (701), it deletes the data of the media corresponding to the matching serial number and the upper media recorded in the database (600), and adds the data of the circulated media to the data of the remaining lower media to update the record of the database (600) regarding the number of media stored in the drum.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 3, the database (600) stores information regarding the serial number of the media according to the order in which the media are stored per drum. In one embodiment, the serial number of the media may be a combination of alphabets and Arabic numerals.

[0037] For example, referring to FIG. 4, when two $100 media are stored in the drum (211, RC11), the serial numbers (SN000001, SN000002) of these media are recorded in the database (600). In this case, it can be seen that the media corresponding to the lower serial number (SN000002) was stored in the drum (211, RC11) before the media corresponding to the upper serial number (SN000001).

[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates media information recorded in a database (600) when 10 media are stored in the drum when a jam occurs in the media, and serial numbers (SN000001~SN000010) for 10 media can be recorded in the database (600) in the order in which they are stored.

[0039] In this embodiment, when a request is made to verify the number of media in the media storage unit, one media located at the top of the corresponding drum of the media storage unit (210) is withdrawn, and the withdrawn media passes through the identification unit (130), and after the serial number of the media is recognized, it is moved back to the corresponding drum and stored.

[0040] FIG. 6 illustrates a process in which, when an administrator inputs a command to verify the number of media stored in the corresponding drum of the media storage unit (210) through the input unit (500), the management program (AP) (701) extracts the media serial number information (SN000001~SN000005) of the range to be searched from the media serial number information stored in the database (600).

[0041] FIG. 7 illustrates a process in which, when a media sheet located at the top of the corresponding drum of the media storage unit (210) is withdrawn and circulated, a firmware program (703) compares the serial number (SN00000X) of the media recognized by the identification unit (130) with the serial numbers (SN000001~SN000005) of the media stored in the database (600). In this case, it illustrates a state in which there is no serial number among the serial numbers (SN000001~SN000005) of the media stored in the database (600) that matches the serial number (SN00000X) of the media.

[0042] In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 8, two media sheets are drawn out from the drum, with one more sheet added than the previously drawn-out number, and are circulated. During this process, the identification unit (130) recognizes the serial number of the media. In this case, the firmware program (703) compares the serial numbers (SN00000X, SN000003) of the two media sheets circulated with the serial numbers of media (SN000001~SN000005) stored in the database (600). This is an example of a case where a serial number matching the serial number (SN000003) of the second media sheet moved is found among the serial numbers of media (SN000001~SN000005) stored in the database (600).

[0043] The control unit (700) can control the media to be moved back to the drum after recognizing the serial number by passing through the identification unit (130), until a matching serial number is found among the serial number of the media moved back and the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database (600). That is, if a matching serial number is not found even after moving two media back, then three media are moved back at once to search for whether there is a matching serial number.

[0044] Until the number of media drawn from the drum reaches a set number, a search is performed to determine whether there is a matching serial number among the serial number of the media that has been circulated and the serial number of the media stored in the drum recorded in the database (600). In one embodiment, the set number may be set to 10. That is, the media are circulated all at once until a maximum of 10 are reached, and a search is performed to determine whether the serial numbers match.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 9, if a serial number matching the serial number (SN000001~SN000005) of the media transmitted by the management program (AP) (701) is found to exist among the media serial number lists (SN000001~SN000005), the data of the media corresponding to the matching serial number (SN000003) and the upper media (SN000001, SN000002, SN000003) recorded in the database (600) is deleted, and the data of the media that has been circulated is added to the data of the remaining lower media, thereby updating the record of the database (600) with serial number information for a total of 9 media stored in the drum.

[0046] Meanwhile, if a matching serial number is not found among the serial number of the circulating media and the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database (600) until the number of media withdrawn from the corresponding drum reaches a set number (10 sheets), the control unit (700) displays a message indicating that the media recognition for the corresponding drum is unreliable on the display unit (800), and can update the record in the database (600) regarding the number of media stored in the corresponding drum by circulating the entire quantity of media in the corresponding drum through the identification unit (130) to recognize the serial number.

[0047] In this case, the entire amount of media withdrawn from the drum can be moved to a replenishment / recovery cassette (400) and stored, or moved to a withdrawal unit (120) and stored. After the entire amount of media is withdrawn from the drum, it can be returned to the drum after sequentially passing through the identification unit (130) and recognizing the serial number of the media, thereby allowing the number of media in the drum to be recognized.

[0048] Hereinafter, a method for verifying the number of media in a media storage unit of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 10.

[0049] First, after the jam failure recovery of the media storage unit (210) is completed (S1), a command to check the number of media in the media storage unit (210) is entered (S2).

[0050] When a media purchase confirmation command is entered, one medium is withdrawn from the corresponding drum of the media storage unit (210) and moved in a cyclic manner to the corresponding drum, and the serial number of the medium is recognized by the identification unit (130) (S3).

[0051] Then, the serial number of the recognized medium is compared with the serial number of the medium stored in the corresponding drum and the record of the database (600) recorded according to the storage order of the medium to search for whether there is a matching serial number (S4).

[0052] When a matching serial number is found as a result of the search in step S4 above, the data of the media corresponding to the matching serial number and the upper media recorded in the database (600) is deleted, and the data of the media that has been circulated is added to the data of the remaining lower media to update the record of the number of media stored in the drum in the database (600) (S5, S6).

[0053] If, as a result of the search in step S4 above, a matching serial number is not found, it is determined whether the number of media drawn from the drum has reached the set number (S7). If the number of media drawn from the drum has not reached the set number, one additional number of media is drawn from the drum of the media storage unit (210) than the number previously drawn, and the serial number is recognized via the identification unit (130) and then circulated back to the drum (S8). Then, the process returns to step S4 and additionally searches for whether there is a matching serial number by comparing the serial number of the circulated media with the serial number of the media stored in the drum recorded in the database (600).

[0054] The step of additionally searching for whether there is a matching serial number is performed until a matching serial number is found among the serial number of the circulating medium and the serial number of the medium stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database (600).

[0055] When the number of media drawn from the drum reaches a set number, if a matching serial number is not found among the serial number of the circulating media and the serial number of the media stored in the drum recorded in the database (600), a message indicating that the media recognition for the drum is unreliable is displayed on the display unit (800) (S9), and the serial number is recognized for the entire quantity of media in the drum via the identification unit (130) to update the record in the database (600) regarding the number of media stored in the drum (S10).

[0056] As explained above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and obvious modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention as claimed in the claims, and such modifications fall within the scope of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0057] 1 : Financial automation equipment 2 : Media purchase confirmation device of the media storage unit 10: Upper module 20: Lower module 110 : Deposit Book 120 : Withdrawal Book 130 : Identification unit 210 : Media storage unit 211,212,213,214,215,216,217,218 : Drum 220 : Abnormal rights cassette 300 : Return route 400: Replenishment / Retrieval Cassette 500: Input 600 : Database 700 : Control unit 701: Management Program (AP) 702: Middleware Program (SP) 703: Firmware Program (EP) 704: Data Update Section 800: Display section

Claims

Claim 1 A media storage unit comprising at least one drum in which a medium is stored; a database in which serial numbers of media stored per drum of the media storage unit are recorded according to the storage order of the media; and a discrimination unit that recognizes the serial number of a medium retrieved from the corresponding drum of the media storage unit and circulating. A media quantity verification device of a media storage unit comprising: a control unit that searches for whether there is a matching serial number by comparing the serial number of the media circulated and the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database, and if a matching serial number is found, deletes the data of the media corresponding to the matching serial number and the upper media recorded in the database, and adds the data of the circulated media to the data of the remaining lower media to update the database record regarding the number of media stored in the corresponding drum; wherein, if no matching serial number is found between the serial number of the circulated media and the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database, the control unit controls the withdrawal of a number of media, which is one more than the number previously withdrawn from the corresponding drum of the media storage unit, to be circulated to the drum after recognizing the serial number through the identification unit, and further controls the device to search for whether there is a matching serial number by comparing the serial number of the media circulated to the drum with the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 A media storage unit comprising at least one drum in which a medium is stored; a database in which serial numbers of media stored per drum of the media storage unit are recorded according to the storage order of the media; and a discrimination unit that recognizes the serial number of a medium retrieved from the corresponding drum of the media storage unit and circulating. A media quantity verification device of a media storage unit comprising: a control unit that searches for whether there is a matching serial number by comparing the serial number of the circulated media with the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database, and if a matching serial number is found, deletes the data of the media corresponding to the matching serial number and the upper media recorded in the database, and adds the data of the circulated media to the data of the remaining lower media to update the database record regarding the number of media stored in the corresponding drum; wherein the control unit controls the number of media to be circulated to the drum after recognizing the serial number through the identification unit, by withdrawing a number of media that is one more than the number previously withdrawn from the corresponding drum of the media storage unit until a matching serial number is found among the serial number of the circulated media and the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database. Claim 4 A device for verifying the number of media in a media storage unit, characterized in that, in paragraph 3, when the number of media withdrawn from the drum reaches a set number, if a matching serial number is not found among the serial number of the circulating media and the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database, the control unit displays a message indicating that the media recognition for the corresponding drum is unreliable to the display unit, and updates the database record regarding the number of media stored in the corresponding drum by recognizing the serial number for the entire quantity of media in the corresponding drum through the identification unit. Claim 5 A step of retrieving a medium from a drum of a media storage unit and circulating it while recognizing the serial number of the medium in an identification unit; a step of searching for whether there is a matching serial number by comparing the recognized serial number of the medium with the serial number of the medium stored in the drum and the record in a database in which the serial numbers of the medium are recorded according to the storage order of the medium; A method for verifying the number of media in a media storage unit, comprising: a step of, if a matching serial number is found in the search result, deleting the data of the media corresponding to the matching serial number and the upper media recorded in the database, and adding the data of the media that has been circulated to the data of the remaining lower media to update the database record regarding the number of media stored in the corresponding drum; wherein, if a matching serial number is not found in the search result, the method further comprises a step of withdrawing a number of media that is one more than the number previously withdrawn from the corresponding drum of the media storage unit, circulating the media to the drum after recognizing the serial number through the identification unit, and additionally searching for whether there is a matching serial number by comparing the serial number of the media circulated to the drum with the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database. Claim 6 delete Claim 7 A method for verifying the number of media in a media storage unit, characterized in that, in claim 5, the step of additionally searching for whether there is a matching serial number is performed until a matching serial number is found among the serial number of the media circulated to the drum and the serial number of the media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database. Claim 8 A method for verifying the number of media in a media storage unit according to claim 7, further comprising the step of, if a matching serial number among the serial number of media circulated to the drum and the serial number of media stored in the corresponding drum recorded in the database is not found until the number of media withdrawn from the drum reaches a set number, displaying a message indicating unreliability of media recognition for the corresponding drum to the display unit, and recognizing the serial number for the entire quantity of media in the corresponding drum via the identification unit to update the record in the database regarding the number of media stored in the corresponding drum.

Images