Bank Note Serial Number Image Storage for Traceability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for tracing bank notes struggle to reliably identify the depositor of a forged bank note when the serial number is partially damaged or unrecognizable, as they require the physical insertion of the bank note for comparison and cannot extract a complete serial number from torn or soiled notes.
Innovation Solution
Generating and storing both the serial number as text and its image at the time of deposit, allowing for a two-step comparison process where the serial number image is used if the text comparison fails, enabling identification even with incomplete serial number data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the serial number is stored only as text from OCR recognition, then the identification process is simple and fast, but the identification fails when the serial number is partially damaged or unrecognizable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by capturing and storing both the text version (via OCR) and the image version of the serial number at the time of bank note deposit. This advance preparation ensures that when a forged note is later detected, there are multiple forms of the serial number available for comparison, including the original image that may remain recognizable even if the text extraction fails due to damage or poor quality.
2Reliability
If the complete bank note image is stored for comparison, then accurate identification is possible even with damaged serial numbers, but the data storage requirement and processing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the relevant portion of the bank note image - specifically the serial number area - and stores it separately as a serial number image. This extraction approach maintains the reliability benefit of having visual serial number data for comparison while reducing the overall data storage requirements and processing complexity compared to storing complete bank note images.
3Measurement precision
If the physical bank note must be re-inserted for comparison, then the comparison can be performed, but the process becomes cumbersome and the bank note may be lost or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the serial number (both text and image forms) that is stored in the system at the time of deposit. When a forged note is detected, this stored digital copy is used for comparison instead of requiring the physical bank note to be re-inserted. This copying approach maintains comparison accuracy while greatly improving operational convenience and eliminating the risks of losing or damaging the physical bank note.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method ensures the depositor of a forged bank note can be identified with certainty, even if the serial number is partially damaged, by using stored serial number images for comparison, reducing the need for physical insertion and enhancing accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
an optical character recognition device by means of which a serial number of the bank note can be generated as text from image data of said bank note
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for tracing bank notes, wherein bank notes are inserted into an automated teller machine having a deposit function and are checked for authenticity, wherein a serial number of the bank note is detected and is stored as text together with transaction data. In addition, a serial number image of the bank notes is detected which forms an image detail of the bank note in an area of the bank note intended for the serial number, the detected serial number image with the serial number and the transaction data are stored and the serial number images are compared with the forged bank note if the serial number of the forged bank note has not been completely identified and/or if a comparison of the serial number of the forged bank note does not produce an agreement with the at least one stored serial number.