Ncr Corporation

Prime Technology LLC

Gary A Ross

Chao He

Simon J Forrest

Barrie Clark

Graham I Johnson

Ping Chen

Yun-Qian Miao

Andrew Nicholas Dames

Edward Colby

Graeme Mitchell

Alistair Lowden

John A Peebles

Yoshitaka Utsumi

Michael G Coutts

Martin Smith

Scott Low Colston

Adam Camilletti

Robin Angus

Timothy P Johnson

Charles Q Maney

David Sommerville

Brian E Storey

Christopher Wylie

Andrew Calder

Alan R Greig

Steven Ritchie

Meng Yu

Philip J Heelan

Ian McIntyre

Nart Daghestani

Mark Girolami

Roderick W MacLeod

Jeffrey Cegalis

William J Greaves

Patricia Pollard

Catherine Hunter

Simon Officer

Gopala Radhakrishna Prabhu

Michael D Brunsdon

Michael J Van Demark

Simon J McCouaig

YunQian Miao

Wenjia Yin

Nyle Bassilious

Systems and methods for validation of a media object may include receiving the media object and detecting, using a sensor, a damaged portion of the media object. The media object may be validated against a standard. During the validation of the media object, the damaged portion of the media object may be given less weight.

Validation of damaged banknotes

Front side, reverse side, and transmissive images for a media item are obtained during a transaction at a transaction terminal wherein the media item is being processed by or urged through the transaction terminal during the transaction. A substrate image is derived from the front side, reverse side, and transmissive images. Features are extracted from the substrate image and compared against model features for a given type and a given denomination associated with the media item. A decision is made as to whether the media item is genuine or counterfeit based on the comparison between the extracted features and the model features, and the indication is provided to the transaction terminal during the transaction.

Valuable media substrate validation

A residual Infrared (IR) image is calculated from IR images of valuable media having embedded IR security features and visible light images of the valuable media. Features of the IR residual image are extracted as a template for authenticating valuable media items. The template is applied against a presented valuable media item having an embedded IR security feature for assisting in determining whether the presented valuable media item is genuine and fit for further processing within a valuable media depository.

Media security validation

Ultraviolet (UV) light illuminates a valuable media item along a pathway of a valuable media depository and UV signal readings are captured in response to the illuminated valuable media item. The signal readings are adjusted to account for any integrated metallic material and for any contamination present on the media item or any contamination that is a result of the media item having been washed. The adjusted signal readings are processed to determine whether the media item is genuine and/or fit for being further processed within the depository.

Media validation processing

The present invention provides a method of validating a media item, the method comprising receiving image data corresponding to a plurality of digital images of a media item to be validated, wherein each image is associated with a respective one of a plurality of different channels of an illumination source for illuminating the media item, selecting image data corresponding to two of the plurality of images, dividing a common parameter of the selected image data associated with corresponding locations of the two selected images to create ratio image data representing a ratio image for two different channels of the illumination source, extracting feature information associated with the ratio image, and classifying the extracted feature information with at least one classifier of a validation template to determine whether or not the media item is valid. A computer program and a Self-Service Terminal for validating a media item, such as a banknote, are also provided.

Media item validation

A media handler for detecting counterfeit media is described. The media handler comprises: a plurality of discrete sensors distributed along a transport path operable to transport a media item, and a controller operable to receive signals from the plurality of discrete sensors. The controller is also operable to make a decision on validity of the transported media item based on the received signals.

Method of categorising defects in a media item

A method and apparatus for identifying a media item. The apparatus includes a module for receiving media items and capturing an image of a received media item. The method involves ascertaining external dimensions of the media item from the captured image; creating a monochromatic image based on high contrast boundaries within the captured image; matching the monochromatic image to one of a plurality of templates of media items of approximately the same external dimensions as the media item; and providing details of the matched template, including type and orientation of the media item corresponding to the matched template.

Media identification

A magnetic sensor for discriminating between high and low coercivity magnets is disclosed. The sensor comprises a first magnetic field operable to orient high and low coercivity magnets in a first magnetic orientation. The sensor also comprises a second magnetic field, lower in strength than the first magnetic field, and operable to orient only the low coercivity magnets in a second magnetic orientation opposite to the first magnetic orientation. The sensor further comprises a sensor for ascertaining the magnetic orientation of each of the magnets and thereby identifying if a magnet is a high coercivity magnet or a low coercivity magnet.

Magnetic sensor

A produce recognition method which uses hierarchical Bayesian learning and kernel combination, and which offers classification-oriented synergistic data integration from diverse sources. An example method includes providing a classifier having a plurality of inputs, each input being adapted to receive produce data of a different modality; mapping the produce data to the respective input of the classifier by a computer; for each input, independently operating on the data relating to that input to create a feature set by the computer; comparing each feature in the feature set to respective pre-trained data for that feature to produce a similarity description set; combining all similarity description sets using a dedicated weighting function to produce a composite similarity description by the computer; and deriving a plurality of class values from the composite similarity description to create a recognition result for the produce item by the computer.

Produce recognition method

A method of validating a media item, comprising: for each of a plurality of sensors that sense a media item, determining a respective validation score indicating a likelihood that the sensed media item is valid; and determining if the media item is valid responsive to the plurality of validation scores. Apparatus for validating a media item and a document processing module are also provided.

A method of authenticating a media item is described. The method comprises: measuring a magnetic signal along the media item, converting the measured signal to a calibrated length signal, aligning the calibrated length signal with a reference signal, extracting features from the aligned signal, and classifying the media item based on the extracted features.

Media authentication

A method of categorizing defects in a media item. The method comprising the steps of: receiving a binarised image of the media item, where the binarised image comprises a plurality of pixels, each pixel having either a potential defect intensity or a non-defect intensity; and identifying one or more blobs comprising contiguous pixels each having a potential defect intensity. For each identified blob, the method involves comparing a size of the blob with a damage threshold; ignoring the blob if the blob size is smaller than the damage threshold; and for each identified blob having a size exceeding or equaling the damage threshold, categorizing the identified blob.

System and method of categorising defects in a media item

A self-service terminal for reading wireless tags incorporated into media items is described. The terminal comprises a media acceptor for receiving media items, such as banknotes incorporating an RFID tag, and a wireless tag reader for reading received media items incorporating wireless tags. The terminal may also include a wireless tag reader for reading wireless tags in media items that are being transported to determine if multiple superimposed media items are present. The terminal may include a wireless tag reader for reading wireless tags in media items presented as a bunch, and subsequently retracted, to determine if any of the presented media items had been removed.

Self-service terminal

A produce recognition system comprises an image capture device arranged to (i) capture a first color image which is representative of a color image of a produce item, and (ii) capture a second color image which is representative of a color image of at least one target color swatch. The produce recognition system further comprises control circuitry arranged to (i) calculate one or more color correction factors based upon differences between the captured second color image and a store of reference color images, and (ii) apply the calculated one or more color correction factors to the captured first color image to correct for color variations in the color image of the produce item due to a combination of variations in natural lighting and variations in interior lighting.

Produce color data correction method and an apparatus therefor

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Fife, United Kingdom

Gary A Ross