text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Jan 13, 2009
|Filing date
|Oct 22, 2004
|Priority date
|Oct 24, 2003
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|James H. Halpin, Keith MacBeath
|Original Assignee
|De La Rue International Limited
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (29), Referenced by (20), Classifications (16), Legal Events (4)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This nonprovisional application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/513,606, filed Oct. 24, 2003.
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for processing checks in a retail environment and in particular to the processing, including reconciliation, automatically, in electronic form at the point-of-sale (POS) or in the back office of a retailer and/or off-site.
2. Description of Related Art
Most retailers, including department stores, food stores, large retail chains, such WAL-MART and TARGET, warehouse retailers, wholesalers, etc., accept checks in exchange for goods and/or services. Other vendors, service providers, credit card companies, property management companies, etc. as well, accept checks as a form of payment. The volume of checks received can be considerable. Generally, upon receipt of the check its monetary value is initially recorded. In addition, the checks collected for subsequent further processing, including reconciliation, leading to their deposit at the recipient's bank.
For example, in the retail environment, the retailer will first accept a check in payment at the point-of-sale (POS) register where the value is entered during the transaction by the cashier. The checks are arranged in the till in the approximate order of their receipt. The physical checks are collected at each register or till and suitably associated with the respective till and subsequently processed typically at the retail site. This processing is done to provide a check listing (add list) and/or a bank deposit slip for depositing received checks with the retailer's bank. The check processing would normally require that there be a reconciliation of the accepted checks with point-of-sale data generated at, e.g., the register where the check was received at the retail establishment, if such data is available.
In the retail environment, reconciling checks includes confirming that the amount written on the check corresponds to the check amount that was entered into the register at the point-of-sale (hereafter such a register is referred to as a POS register). For example, a key usually is pressed on the POS register indicating that a particular transaction is being paid for by a check. A log is created and stored in memory indicating the checks received, their respective amount and the particular POS register where received.
Later, in the back office, a bank deposit slip and/or a check listing to accompany the slip is prepared listing all of the checks received and their value based on a visual read of the monetary value of each check. A total is arrived at and compared to the check read total listed on the log created as noted above. If the totals match, the checks are accepted for deposit. If the totals do not match, the log can be printed out and manually checked to determine where discrepancies may lie. Once the listing total is reconciled with the log, the accepted checks are then available for deposit.
It is not uncommon that the POS registers include a magnetic reader. These are used to read code lines which are provided at the bottom of a check. Typically the code lines are both humanly readable and machine readable by the magnetic reader and provide information which facilitates processing primarily by the banks. This information includes the bank on which the check is drawn, a routing/transit number, and the account number of the customer who wrote or made out the check. This data read from the check is generally referred to as MICR data, where MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. These POS registers also may print the amount of the check that was entered into the POS register on the check and include or associate the read MICR data with other data obtained by the POS register such as the transaction amount, a transaction identifier such as a transaction number, and a respective till and/or cashier identifier.
Heretofore, the use of the MICR data on the code line by a retailer has been limited. For example, it is known to provide a system in which a customer presents the cashier with a check from the customer's account so that the cashier can use data on the check in order to debit the customer's banking account. In such a system, the check is passed through a magnetic ink reader, which is used to read the MICR data from the check. This data together with the amount entered at the register is presented to the customer's bank through an appropriate communication link. The check is then returned to the customer at the POS and is considered to be canceled by the customer's financial institution. The transmitted data then is used to debit the customer's checking account for the amount of the particular transaction. This process is known as check conversion.
Various techniques employing MICR data are available for simplifying check processing. So-called drop encoders exist, which typically are used by large retail establishments, in order to process checks that have been received from customers. The device is used by an operator who reads the monetary value for each check, inputs that data to the encoder, which then prints data representative of that value onto the check on the MICR code line in magnetically-readable ink. This data including the added value, is read by financial institutions when processing the checks.
In order to be cost efficient, the operator must be able to process checks at an extremely high rate. Thus, substantial training is required to operate such encoding equipment. Some retailers use a third party, which for a fee employs specialized encoder operators, in order to accurately process checks from the retail establishment.
There also is known a check processing system that automatically "power" encodes checks using point-of-sale data. As noted above, the amount of a check is entered by a cashier at the time that the check is presented for payment. In this system, the check is passed through a MICR reader, and the cashier-inputted check amount is associated with the MICR data for that check. This data is transmitted to a database and stored. At a later time, the checks received over a predetermined transaction period are encoded by a "power" encoder that receives the data (check amount and MICR data) from the point-of-sale database. The power encoder reads the MICR data from a check that is being processed, matches it with the electronic transaction data received from the database, and then encodes the check by printing data representative of the check amount on the check, on the MICR code line, with magnetic ink.
It also is known in the banking industry to scan checks in order to obtain electronic images of the checks. The electronic images can be used within a particular bank to expedite internal processing of the checks. Further, within the industry, a number of interbank networks have been established in which participating members have agreed to debit or credit respective customer's accounts based on interpreted electronic images using agreed proofing procedures. Also, bank ATM machines will use Optical Character Recognition(OCR) software to confirm that the value entered on the check equals the amount entered on the machine, before the check is accepted.
Various techniques exist for performing character recognition on the images of checks. See, for example, US 2002/0150279A1 and US 2002/0152164A1. It also is known to provide a system for remote data acquisition and centralized processing and storage of check data. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,988.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,625 discloses an automated document cashing system that includes a reader for capturing an image of a negotiable instrument and recognizing the authorized signature as well as the amount written on the negotiable instrument. The system then transfers money in the amount of the instrument to a savings account, a checking account, a SMART card, or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,330 discloses a method and apparatus for processing documents, the apparatus including a unit for reading machine-readable data and for generating image data from the documents as the documents are moved along a track. The unit includes recognition circuitry that receives the image data and a portion of the machine-readable data to produce recognition data along with confidence level data relative to the recognition data for each document. A control processor is used for storing the machine-readable data, image data, recognition data and confidence level data by an identification number which is assigned thereto by the control processor for each document. A second control processor examines the confidence level data for each document to select the machine-readable data, recognition data and image data for a document having a predetermined confidence level data, and transfers the selected data to a terminal for display on an associated monitor to enable an operator to effect data completion using a keyboard associated with the terminal. After data completion, an encode and sort unit is used to further process the documents.
It also is known to combine data from checks and from a point-of-sale in order to generate a transactional database about a retailer's customers. This can be used in developing customer profiles useful in targeting and implementing advertising, marketing and promotions. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,137 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,735.
Although there have been various methods and apparatus involving one or more of the various elements used in the present invention, none to date combine those elements in the unique way the methods and apparatus disclosed herein do to provide the performance necessary to satisfy the related requirements of the commercial customer, particularly the retailer.
It is therefore a first aspect of the present invention to minimize the human factor in the processing of checks in a retail or commercial, non-banking setting to thereby significantly reduce the opportunities for error with their attending delays and costs.
It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a method and implementing apparatus to automate the reconciliation step in the processing of checks and enable it to be done either at the retailer or off-site at a processing center.
It is still another aspect of the invention to implement the reconciliation step employing the POS data including the check amount and related information obtained from an image of the check.
One further aspect of the present invention is to enhance the reliability of the image recognition process performed on the check image through use of the transaction expected amount from the POS data against which is compared the value determinations made by the OCR software.
It is yet another aspect of the invention to provide a check listing as a consequence of the reconciliation involving the check images and POS data to be used together with a bank deposit slip for depositing the checks at the entity's bank.
It is still a further aspect of the invention to provide the data which will permit the generation of a bank deposit slip for checks directly.
Still further, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an exception report for when the POS data including check amount and/or the check image data cannot confirm the existence of the other for a particular POS transaction or check image.
Another aspect of the invention is to extract predetermined information from the POS data and related check image data which will assist the entity in preparing a customer transactional database to facilitate subsequent advertising, marketing and promotional activities.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide check image data for all reconciled checks which will facilitate other check processing and collection operations, credit functions and check reconstruction operations, both on and off site.
Another aspect of the invention is to expedite the reconcilement of the POS data and to automate the preparation of bank check listings, reducing manual activity to exceptions only.
Another aspect of the present invention is to improve the process integrity in the handling of checks, so as to reduce losses and drive reductions in treasury costs, both in terms of bank fees and in terms of labor associated with deposit reconciliation.
Another aspect of the present invention is to enable a retailer to make centralized bank depositing so that funds availability from check deposits can be accelerated, and associated fees with check deposit accounts and their maintenance, and reconciliation, reduced.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to position a retailer so that it may take advantage of future legislation directed to check-image processing laws.
The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals are used to identify like elements and wherein:
While the following description focuses on an exemplary embodiment of a check processing system that implements aspects of the present invention as it is applied to handling checks received by a retailer at a point of sale, it is to be appreciated that the invention has broad application to the various scenarios where a vendor, service provider, credit card company, or other non-banking entity, regularly receives a high volume of checks and where the automatic processing of checks through deposit is cost efficient.
There is a considerable need to expedite check processing at the site of the retailer who regularly handles a large volume of checks. There is a further need to ensure that all data is captured early in the process and correctly such that the retailer is in a position to resolve any queries that may arise soon after the receipt of the check or at a later date (for example, if a check is lost or if a check is returned for non sufficient funds (NSF)). In order to expedite check processing and to ensure full capture of necessary data, it is one aspect of the invention to image a check at the retailer. The image of the check is then processed within the retailer or off-site, rather than using the physical check itself. Pertinent data on the check is extracted from the check image and used to validate the check, so as, for example, to create a check listing (add list) to accompany the bank deposit slip that is presented with the physical checks to the bank, and to reconcile or balance the register or till. During this process, it is sought to validate the value set out on a check against the expected value for the check, that is, the value included as part of the transactional data (POS data) entered at the point-of-sale. This allows for rapid identification of discrepancies (exceptions) which are reported to the retailer to facilitate their subsequent validation, if possible, through manual intervention. This aspect of the invention eliminates the manual creation of an add list and the need to encode the check, with their attending human involvement, delays, mistakes and expense.
This aspect of the invention does not necessarily change the way in which a bank processes checks. According to one embodiment, the bank receives the original checks (along with, for example, a bank deposit slip including the add list generated by an embodiment of the invention), and handles the physical checks as normal. The electronic images may be used to expedite the processing of deposits and/or the collection processes, and/or reduce the costs of such processes. For example, the electronic images of the checks may be submitted to and/or used by the bank or other third party, for example, a check collection agency, to pursue collection. The images may be used as an image replacement document (IRD) when a check has been mutilated or lost. Of course, if preferred, the electronic images of all deposited checks may be submitted to the bank with the bank deposit slip and with (or without) the physical checks.
Numerous advantages are obtained from aspects of the invention. By processing the image of the check by (or for) the retailer, it is possible to automatically derive data from the check image in order to automatically create the check or add listing. This is submitted with a bank deposit slip which accompanies the checks and possibly other payment media at the time of deposit with a bank. It also is unnecessary for the retailer to use internal resources in the check reconciliation process, because point-of-sale data and check image data can be used to automatically perform check reconciliation. In addition, discrepancies can be identified earlier in the payment cycle. Also, the capture of check images and related data assists in expediting and better resolving bank reconciliation issues such as checks in the deposit not listed on the add list, checks missing, and checks of discrepant value. As noted above, the image of the check can be used to derive the necessary customer and check value information if a check is returned for NSF or if mutilated or lost. This information then can be forwarded to the appropriate in-house department or third party for further proceedings.
Image capture also has benefits with respect to the cost of processing checks due to economies of scale. Checks are currently deposited at a local bank facility. Economies of scale can be achieved for the retailer if all checks are sent directly to a central point (a check processing center). With the invention, there is no need to involve the local bank facility. With the images captured, the central check processing center can handle checks for multiple stores within the same retail chain. This is currently risky because if a check is lost, the retailer which sent the checks to the check processing center is expected to bear the cost of the lost check. However, because banks will allow checks to be replaced if an image of the check is available, the risk of incurring costs due to checks being lost during transportation directly to the check processing center is minimized by this aspect of the invention. Thus, considerable savings can be made by eliminating the institutions and steps normally required between receipt of a check by a retailer and the clearing of the check at the central check processing center.
The electronic image of the check also may be used in order to expedite the process of recovering funds when a check becomes a return item. It has been found that the chance of receiving payment on a check returned for NSF decreases significantly with time, particularly after about two weeks from when the check was originally presented. Through the use of imaging, the retailer can review return-item images and capture from the image the data it needs to reach faster decisions about the return items, for example, if and when to re-present and/or to pursue collection through more aggressive recovery efforts.
Turning now to a preferred embodiment,
Various aspects of an embodiment of the invention now will be explained with reference to the accompanying figures as identified.
As shown in
Since a significant percentage of all sales are paid for using checks, most POS registers are specially equipped to handle checks. Such POS registers typically include a key that is pressed by the operator of the POS register to indicate that a particular transaction is being paid for with a check. The POS register also typically includes a magnetic reader 210 (210 1-210 n) that is used to read the MICR data from a check. This data is read in order to communicate with suitable databases, where a customer's check cashing history and other relevant data are stored (whether in-house or third party) to provide authorization for accepting the check. For the purposes of this aspect of the invention, this MICR data is included in the POS data generated by each POS register which is stored at 250.
Other points of entry at a retailer where checks can be received include, but are not limited to, check cashing or bill paying stations which would be similarly connected to the data store of the computer 250. These points also generate respective check identity and expected monetary value information which is stored at the data store in host computer 250. Collectively, hereinafter, for convenience all such points of entry shall be referred to as point of sale or POS registers.
For the further processing according to this aspect of the invention, the data store at computer 250 preferably includes for each check item, the MICR read (data), the expected value, the transaction number, and the till and/or cashier number. In the exemplary embodiment, the data is grouped in the data store by till and/or cashier. Still further, a particular register will prepare and store for a particular time-interval or batch, a total value of the expected amounts of the checks involved in the time interval or batch. This total value if determined will be useful at a subsequent stage in practicing aspects of the invention as seen hereinafter.
A check scanner 300 (image scanner) is shown functionally in
The data yielded by the check scanner includes, for example, an electronic image of the check and MICR data (150 in
Once the electronic image of a check has been captured, it is stored (either permanently or temporarily) onto a suitable hard disk, tape or other suitable data storage format. The image may be stored locally on the image capture device or communicated to a central data store 350, which may or may not be located in host computer 250, over a network 370 1, 370 2 . . . 370 n . . . Where a network is not present, the images may be stored on a portable data storage format such as flash cards, memory sticks or the like.
In the situation where the further check processing is performed in the back office or off-site, the activity at the individual registers and/or other check receiving stations remains the same. Check and transaction identity information including the check expected amount and MICR data are obtained at the registers and forwarded to the data store in computer 250. In this variation, however, no check image is made at the register. The checks are collected at the register and ordered according to their receipt at the register. They are arranged with the same orientation. They are routinely collected by store personnel and brought to a secure area for further processing. They are segregated by register by suitable means, which includes transaction identification data signifying the beginning and end of the transaction activity period reflected by the accompanying check grouping.
In the back room, the groups of checks are reviewed to assure they are orientated the same, and then stored until ready for further processing. When the process is to continue, the batch is submitted to a document processing machine which includes an imaging capability. Again, the UNISYS Source NDP unit is a suitable processing machine for this function.
At this point in the process there are two sets of data stored for further processing. One set comprises the POS data including for each check the MICR read, the expected check amount and a transaction number. The other set available includes the check images and the MICR reads obtained during scanning. Both sets of data are at this point, un-validated, i.e., both are potentially suspect as to accuracy of indicated value and to completeness. The process requires that both sets of data be validated so that at the end of the validation process, the reconciliation or balancing of the individual tills as to the check media can be achieved. Then, the validated checks are accepted for deposit. The POS data and scanner data have been grouped and batched by time interval and/or transaction period with each group, further identified to till and/or cashier to establish a frame of reference for subsequent reconciliation. The complementing files of data, for a given interval are now processed. In addition to the specific data identified for each check being now available, the total number of checks processed through the register(s) and scanner(s) have been recorded and these numbers are available.
Computer 250 as noted above is a suitable host for storing the POS and scanner data. The computer may be accessed by an operator work station 400 which includes a display monitor 410. This display may be provided with a touch screen. The display coupled with one or more of a keyboard and mouse complete the user interface by which an operator may communicate with the check processing system. A printer 420 provides a means to generate printed documents reflecting work product of the process including the check listings or deposit slips, as preferred, exception reports, management reports, transaction and customer profile data, etc. Of course, the data would not only be available at the site, but also through appropriate data links available wherever management thought it might be needed.
In addition to the data storage capability, the programmed computer 250 will perform other functions during the course of check processing according to aspects of the invention. These may include some or all of the following: routing of data; analysis; processing; reconciliation; data transformation; work flow management and report generation. One example of a suitable software application which provides some of these elements of the processing activity is the CP4000™ payment media management system supplied by De La Rue Retail Payment Solutions located in New Jersey. The CP4000™ application might be installed in the host computer 250 or other suitable computer, not shown. It would be directly involved in work flow management; routing of data; reconciliation; processing and report generation.
Prior to validation, certain pre-validation activities take place. A typical daily procedure might transpire as follows. An operator would access the system through the work station interface 400. The operator/user would identify the till and/or the till cashier through appropriate keyboard or touch screen entry of the respective ids, as well as the transaction period for which the process is to be run. It is assumed that POS data has been recorded throughout a transaction period which would include a cashier's shift or a full day's shift for a register till, or some other interval, and is available. It is assumed further that the checks were not imaged at the till and are in the possession of the user. There are advantages in imaging the checks remote from the point of sale, for example in the back office. The advantage of imaging at the back office location is that from a physical work flow perspective it is closer to the bank deposit, reducing the risk of checks being mislaid before deposit and simplifying the batching of checks in predetermined quantities that may be required by the bank. The POS data for the till should include the number of checks taken in, the MICR data for each check received, and the relevant transaction data including the expected check value entered at the register. The work management software, for example the CP4000™ package would direct a search of the POS data store of computer 250 for the associated transaction period for the identified till. The system automatically loads the till number and quantity of checks to be imaged based on the retrieved POS data and prompts the user to run the checks through the check imaging device or scanner 300. (If the POS data file for the transaction period does not exist at the time of the check processing, the system would prompt the user to key in the till number and quantity of checks to be imaged and then proceed to run the checks through the scanner.) The user then loads the checks for the identified till in the scanner which transports and then images the checks. All correctly imaged checks are stored in a first pocket of the Source NDP device. The rejected checks are placed in a second pocket. The user then reruns the checks from the second pocket until all checks are imaged and deposited in the first pocket or the imaged check count falls within a predetermined range of the POS check count, for example 10%. The process can now proceed to the validation stage. The physical checks are placed in a secure storage container such as the Counter Cache� device available from De La Rue Retail Payment Solutions until the check processing is complete and they are to be deposited.
Once the pre-validation step is complete, the validation procedure can begin, although not necessarily, immediately. The economies of scale, with the consolidation of one store's further check processing activities (the further steps of validation) with those of others in the retail chain may dictate off-site processing.
This routing of the data sets to the computer can be initiated by an operator through the work station 400, or rather, preferably, triggered by an appropriate parameter through the work flow management function of the controlling software, such as the CP4000™. A parameter that would initiate the routing step could, for example, be the time of day and/or availability of a complete set of check image data from the scanner and the corresponding complementary set of POS data. So, for example, in that circumstance where the data is to be processed by a central processing center, and that central processing center is involved in the validation of the data received from more than one retail outlet, for the same retailer, the data can be triggered by a prearranged time after the closing of the store but before its opening the next day. The data might be processed in the early morning hours and the validated results returned to the retailer before its opening the next day in time for necessary, remaining reconciliations to take place prior to the start of business that following morning.
The first step in the validation process S100 involves the extraction of the necessary data (check amount) from the captured image of the check. To accomplish this, a suitable OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software application is installed on a computer, for example, 250, if the activity occurs on-site. An example of software suitable to perform the OCR function is the SoftCar Plus brand software also available from UNISYS. The OCR data typically would include the check amount, i.e., the courtesy amount 110 and legal amount 120 from the check, each a further indicator of the monetary value of a check, account holder information 130, financial institution information 140 and possibly the signature 160 and date 170 (S105).
Of course, the OCR determinations of the courtesy amount and the legal amount can be deficient for various reasons including the vagaries of human behavior in writing these amounts as well as possible shortcomings attributable to the image itself The validation process continues with appropriate software on the then processing computer necessary to compare, S110, the identity and expected amounts data for the checks as contained in the POS data with the established identity and check value amounts obtained from the interrogation of the check image, S105. The image data again will include the MICR line, courtesy amount and legal amount. Initially the check image MICR line is compared to the MICR line from the POS data file. If the lines are confirmed to be the same, the image can be attributed as a copy of the check received at the point of entry to the system. Then in a subsequent comparison, if the amount in the POS data file equals the courtesy amount of the check image, the check is validated. If the courtesy amount cannot be confirmed as equal to the expected amount in the POS file, but the legal amount can be, at this point the check is validated. This embodiment of the present invention provides for a comparison of the POS expected value to the courtesy value and if not successful, comparison to the legal amount. Without the availability of the POS value to allow for a comparison, the probabilities that the OCR determinations of the values in fact are identical to the actual value of the transaction would be considerably less. The ability to compare as provided for by the present invention significantly enhances the probabilities of automatically validating the checks, thus enhancing the system's ability to automatically reconcile transactions and registers. Validated checks are stored in a validated checks file 500 for eventual return to the retailer for further processing. If neither the courtesy nor legal amount equals the POS file amount, an exception is noted and the item is then available for additional processing directed to assisting in the resolution of its exception status.
Towards this end, the software continues its interrogation of the data by a series of queries leading to possible eventual validation through manual intervention. These queries lead to an exception file 510 containing the various anomalies which is returned with the validated check file 500 to the retailer where the discrepancies hopefully may be resolved. For example, the process step S110 might consider a case where a MICR line from the POS data for a given check could not be matched with a MICR line accompanying the check image data. In this situation, two possibilities may arise which would be treated differently. This scenario assumes that the analyzing software has at least established an amount for the check from the scanned image. The first circumstance would be where the image of the check, typically the back of the check, reveals the supporting till or cashier identification data. Although not mentioned earlier, the Source NDP scanner has the capability of creating images of both the front and back of the check, as do other similar scanners. At the time of the receipt of the check at the point of sale register, where this capability might need to be exploited in the check validation stage, the register would enter the till and/or cashier id number, typically on the back of the check. Assuming, in fact, that this information was available, such that the image would be able to associate the established amount with a supporting till and/or cashier then the data would be stored for subsequent attribution, again through the reconciliation software, i.e., the CP4000™ software package, for example, to an appropriate till or cashier thus enhancing the probabilities of reconciliation when considered together with the available MICR line data. The second circumstance would be where the till and/or cashier id is not anywhere present on the check image. In this situation, an exception would be identified and highlighted in the returned work product of the validation software. Upon receipt back from the validation activity, the reconciliation software, again the CP4000™ package, would prompt an operator at the work station 400 to look at the physical check, perhaps assisted by an image of the check, to see if the check can be associated with a particular till or cashier. If the work station operator is successful, he/she would accordingly attribute the check to the appropriately stored till file accessible through the reconciliation software. If the work station operator can not resolve the issue, he/she enters it into the system through the reconciliation software as an un-reconciled item to be dealt with as the retailer's procedures direct.
A second scenario which the validation software is adapted to resolve involves the circumstance where the MICR line obtained through the check scanning cannot be matched to a POS MICR line, and further, the validation software was unable to establish an amount for the check. Again, an exception report would be issued in this circumstance and made available to the retailer with the return of the validation and exception files, with a prompt to the work station operator to look at the physical check. Again the image could be made available at the work station to facilitate the subsequent investigation. If the amount and till identification can be established, the work station would enter this data and process it through the reconciliation software. If the amount could be established but not the till, then the operator would enter the event as an unreconciled item. If, however, the till could be established but not the amount from the operator's observation of the check, the operator of the work station would access the till data file and enter a note that the check writer be contacted to resolve the discrepancy.
Yet another scenario that might be encountered during the validation process involves the situation where MICR data lines can be matched between the POS data and the scanned data, however, the OCR software was unable to establish an amount from the check image. Again, as an exception, upon review by the work station operator, he/she would be prompted to once again look at the physical check to see if in fact an amount could be established. If so, the operator enters the amount through the interface and the reconciliation software seeks appropriate disposition by comparing the keyed amount to the POS data file for the corresponding MICR line. If in fact, a review of the physical check still leaves the amount in question, once again the operator would prompt the system to contact the check writer to resolve the amount.
And yet another possible exception which might arise would involve the circumstance where the POS MICR data is unmatched with the MICR data from the scanned image. This event would be highlighted for the involved check, once again in the exception report accompanying the returned validation file(s) to be further analyzed in accordance with the reconciliation process inherent in the reconciliation software such as the CP4000™.
As noted, the validated check file 500 and an exception file 510 are prepared and transmitted back to the sending site. Once at the site, the file data is imported into the reconciliation software system such as included in the CP4000™ system. The CP4000™ system extracts the data and places check items in each till record for balancing and prepares the add list through printer 420, for example, to accompany a bank deposit slip. The CP4000™ system can direct the printer to print the add listing, check exception report and other pertinent information extracted from the POS and image scan data bases as required. See
Once the check data has been captured and quality assured, it can be further processed to provide added value to the retailer. As noted above, some of the results of the process of the reconcilement of the POS check data and the check image data is the balancing of the till register; the development of an add list to accompany the bank deposit slip and physical bundle of checks S210; and the creation of an exception report S220 which highlights for example the discrepancies between the POS and check image data as relates to missing entries in either data base to facilitate validation and subsequent reconciliation; and image availability for transfer to third parties, S230, S240.
By automatically generating the add list to accompany the deposit slip, rather than having this done manually, a significant time saving can be made. Automatic generation of the add list also limits the possibility of human error. The bank deposit information may be handled in isolation to the banking data for other media (bills, coins, etc.) or in combination with that payment media. The add list would include at least the check amount of each check and the checks would be sequentially listed thereon in the order they appear in the physical stack, which meets the standard bank check deposit requirements.
Obviously the handling of checks according to the processes described herein generates a significant amount of valuable data, all or some of which may be of use to the retailer. It is therefore possible to generate reports (step S220) both automatically and on request. In addition to the exception reports noted above, typically the reports will outline various aspects of check activity such as number of checks passed within a period, value of checks passed, number of mis-tendered checks, number of checks for re-presentment, etc.
In addition to this reporting of check activity it also is possible to use information present on the check for other non-payment related purposes. For example many checks carry a significant amount of data about the payer. For example the payer's name, address, bank details, ZIP or postcode, and in some instances their phone number. Such information can be extracted from the check and then combined with POS data to build up a profile of the customer. For example, POS data not only contains information on the cost of goods but also details of the goods purchased. The invention therefore makes it possible to provide a link between the check payer and their purchases in a similar manner to loyalty card schemes. If the check also carried information such as the customer's home or business address, the retailer can send the customer details of special offers or discount coupons based upon the customer's past purchase history. Similar to the handling of the POS and check image information by the off-site center, the check image and its associated POS data could be transmitted to the retailer's home office (HO) (step S240), which would perform the processing described above. Further, the home office can have ready access to the data on a near real time basis. Together with information involving other forms of payment media, for example notes and coin, corporate decisions can be better made concerning optimizing safe values for individual stores and more broadly so as to enable better investment strategies as to surpluses. Still further, the home office can identify on a relative basis, trouble areas so that losses can be investigated thoroughly and quickly.
Check images can be archived, S270, to support and facilitate check re-presentment and eventually, if necessary, NSF collections. Also the archived checks are available to provide check reconstruction if the physical check is lost or mutilated.
Various alternative embodiments of the elements of the invention or the invention as a whole may be employed without departing from the broad scope of the invention. Additional features may be added again without diminishing the breadth of the invention heretofore described.
While the exemplary embodiment of the invention elaborated on the application of its principles to personal check media, the invention must be seen to have broader application so as to include other forms of payment media within its scope, for example money orders, travelers checks and other media where the transaction amount entered at the POS may differ from the value of the payment media exchanged for the goods or services.
While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments or constructions. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements. In addition, while the various elements of the preferred embodiments are shown in various combinations and configurations, which are exemplary, other combinations and configurations, including more, less or only a single element, are also within the spirit and scope of the invention.
|Cited Patent
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|Sep 14, 1981
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|Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
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|Check transaction processing, database building and marketing method and system utilizing automatic check reading
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|Mar 26, 2002
|Cummins-Allison Corp.
|Automated document processing system using full image scanning
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|Sep 12, 2002
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|Automatic funds processing system
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|Jones John E.
|Remote automated document processing system
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|Oct 17, 2002
|Ncr Corporation
|Method of determining usability of a document image and an apparatus therefor
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|Oct 17, 2002
|International Business Machines Corporation
|Method and apparatus for processing a check within a financial system
|Jun 21, 2001
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|Pomerleau Daniel Guy
|Point-of-sale transaction system
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|Jones John E.
|Automated payment system and method
|Aug 9, 2001
|Feb 13, 2003
|Buttridge Kelly A.
|Methods and systems for check processing using blank checks at a point-of-sale
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|Jones John E.
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|Image processing network
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|International Business Machines Corporation
|Point-of-sale bill authentication
|Mar 27, 1997
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|Electronic Data Systems Corporation
|Automated system and method for point-of-sale (pos) check processing
|Citing Patent
|Filing date
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|Sep 13, 2006
|Dec 13, 2011
|Certegy Check Services, Inc.
|Methods and systems for validating negotiable instruments
|Jan 30, 2007
|Nov 13, 2012
|System and method for processing checks and check transactions
|Oct 29, 2010
|Jul 2, 2013
|Intuit Inc.
|Dynamic query sequences for retrieval of negotiable instrument image
|Feb 21, 2008
|Aug 6, 2013
|Paul Ward Houghtaling
|System and method of tracking and encoding electronic transactions
|Feb 3, 2012
|Nov 19, 2013
|System and method for processing checks and check transactions
|Feb 3, 2012
|Feb 25, 2014
|Control features in a system and method for processing checks and check transactions
|Nov 3, 2011
|May 27, 2014
|Certegy Check Services, Inc.
|Methods and systems for validating negotiable instruments
|Jul 6, 2012
|Aug 26, 2014
|Pfu Limited
|Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable, non-transitory medium
|Jul 6, 2012
|Sep 2, 2014
|Pfu Limited
|Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable, non-transitory medium
|Oct 14, 2009
|Mar 17, 2015
|Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
|Method and system for micropayment transactions
|Jun 20, 2013
|Nov 24, 2015
|Intuit Inc.
|Dynamic query sequences for retrieval of negotiable instrument image
|Mar 4, 2015
|Sep 13, 2016
|Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
|Paper sheets processing apparatus and data transfer method
|Sep 13, 2006
|Sep 6, 2007
|Bates Michael R
|Methods and systems for validating negotiable instruments
|Jan 30, 2007
|Oct 18, 2007
|Kari Hawkins
|System and method for processing checks and check transactions
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|Aug 27, 2009
|Thomas Gschwind
|Temperature regulating system for fuel cells and method for regulating the temperature of fuel cells
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|Kari Hawkins
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|Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
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|U.S. Classification
|235/378, 235/379, 235/385, 235/383
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Jan 26, 2005
Owner name: DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL, LIMITED, UNITED KINGDOM
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HALPIN, JAMES H.;MACBEATH, KEITH;REEL/FRAME:015623/0444;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050116 TO 20050117
|Mar 12, 2009
Owner name: TALARIS HOLDINGS LIMITED, UNITED KINGDOM
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED;REEL/FRAME:022407/0926
Effective date: 20080615
Owner name: TALARIS HOLDINGS LIMITED,UNITED KINGDOM
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED;REEL/FRAME:022407/0926
Effective date: 20080615
|Jul 6, 2012
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Jul 7, 2016
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8


text:
New Economy Price Predation Appeal is Dismissed
Culhane v. ATP Aero Training Products
Shawn C.D. Neylan
On April 11, 2005 the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal in Culhane v. ATP Aero Training Products. The case involved alleged predatory pricing in circumstances in which examination guides, formerly sold in a paper format, were made available at no charge on the Internet as a marketing tool. The trial judge had found that such activities amounted to selling a product at an unreasonably low price, but also found the plaintiff could not prove that it had been harmed by this activity. The Court of Appeal found that the trial judge had not made any palpable or overriding error in finding that proof of loss or damage resulting from the alleged predatory conduct was not made out. It therefore dismissed the appeal on that basis. Consequently, the Federal Court of Appeal did not need to address the issue of whether making the examination guides available on-line at no charge amounted to selling the guides at an unreasonably low price within the meaning of the criminal provision in the Competition Act concerning predatory pricing. Stikeman Elliott was co-counsel for the respondent on the appeal.
1155 René-Lévesque Blvd. West
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Phone: (604) 631-1300
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Ottawa, ON K1P 6L2
Phone: (613) 234-4555
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Dauntsey House
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London EC2R 8AB England
Phone: +44 20 7367 0150
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Amazing Opportunity To Locate Your Business In This Newer High Volume Retail Plaza, Anchored By Shoppers Drug Mart, Royal Bank, Subway Listen Up Canada And Others. Located Steps To The Newer Residential Development On The West Side Of Orangeville. Well Suited For Retail, Medical, Health And Wellness, Professional Offices, Home Care Or Restaurant. **** EXTRAS **** Easy Access To Highways And Public Transit. Prime Location In A Growing Area Of Town. Great Exposure To Downtown Traffic. Signalled Intersection. 20 Minutes To Brampton, 40 Minutes To Pearson, Less Than An Hour To Toronto.


text:
Picks and Pans
Jason Isbell at Von Braun Center (A Gallery)
May 21, 2014
Alabama singer/songwriter Jason Isbell took the stage close to home in Huntsville, AL at the Von Braun Center. Performing tracks from his 2013 effort Southeastern, the former Drive-By Truckers member felt right at home as the Alabama crowd welcomed him with open arms. Todd Powers shared some images from the show.


text:
« Senate Endorses the CIC Provosts' Statement on Publication Agreements | Main | Provost's Letter in Support of Retaining Publishing Rights »
May 21, 2007
Link to Full-text Articles from EndNote
Are you an EndNote user? If so, you'll be interested in learning how you can set up EndNote so it communicates with our OpenURL resolver to provide you with links to the full-text of journal articles!
You may have seen the Discover link in PubMed, Web of Science, and many other article databases. When you click on the Discover link in these databases a new browser window pops up that provides links to the full text of the article (if we have an e-subscription), and several other facets about the article [read more about Discover].
You may enable this same technology in EndNote by following the instructions provided on the page, Linking to Full-text Journal Articles from EndNote Using Discover.
Posted by florador at May 21, 2007 4:33 PM


text:
Instead he deputed another representative of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).
CAB is being represented by Biswarup Dey at the one-day sitting of the BCCI at its headquarters here.
Dalmiya, fighting a court battle with the parent body for alleged embezzlement of 1996 World Cup funds, could now be seen at the AGM next month-end.
Dalmiya, arrested on March 26 this year and released on bail for alleged misappropriation of PILCOM (Pak-India-Lanka Committee) funds worth Rs 2.90 crore, stormed back to the helm of affairs of CAB at the recent elections.
The ex-chief of the International Cricket Council, expelled by the current ruling group in the BCCI in December 2006 from the apex cricket body, had to step down as President of CAB, but after lengthy legal battles he was allowed to contest the elections in July 2007.
Today's Working Committee meeting meanwhile will finalise the dates and venue of next month's AGM at which President-elect Shashank Manohar will take over the reins from incumbent chief Sharad Pawar.
''With the last AGM paving way for paid selectors, the modalities of the new system would be discussed and finalised at the Working Committee meeting,'' said BCCI sources.
A meeting of the Finance Committee of the board, headed by Sudhir Nanavati of Gujarat Cricket Association, was held yesterday. The decisions taken in the meeting are to be ratified today.
The Working Committee meeting would also finalise the annual report, ahead of tabling it at the AGM.


text:
Face Glitter in Eros
Brand: Little Black Diamond
Sparkle and shine in our Little Black Diamond glitter!
This is cosmetic fine glitter which is safe to use on your face, body, nails and hair! This glitter vile includes 6 grams of fuscia iridescent glitter. This dreamy glitter is perfect for highlighting your cheekbones and collarbones. Also it looks beautiful on its own or over the top of eyeshadow. Sprinkle it in your hair on your cheeks and on your nails.
- We recommend using a safe multi purpose balm as your base to apply our face and body Glitter. Apply a small amount of balm on to your skin or hair then with finger tips or cotton buds place the glitter over the balm.
- The glittery looks are endless…Glitter your cheeks at festivals, Glitter your sunkissed chest and shoulders, Glitter your lips for a big night out, Glitter your nails dipping into the pot with wet clear polish on or take your pots along to your local salon for a pro to help you, Glitter the parting in your parting to hide roots to basically look amazing!
- To remove use makeup remover or cotton pad soaked in water or baby oil.
Show Reviews


text:
From Diapers to Dating with The Reverend Debra W. Haffner - Westchester Reform Temple
Hours: 7:30pm
Ages: AD
Price: Free
255 Mamaroneck Road - 914-723-7727
Scarsdale, NY 10583
Description: The Reverend Debra W. Haffner explores "How to Talk to Your Children From Birth to Adolescence About Sexuality Issues." Rev. Haffner will touch on Values Exercises to help you identify and communicate your beliefs to your children, Special Issues to advise you on discussing difficult topics, and Teachable Moments to help you recognize opportunities or entry points into a discussion of important issues. The Reverend Debra W. Haffner is Co-founder and President of Religious Institute, Inc. An ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, she is also the endorsed community minister with the Unitarian Church in Westport, CT. Rev. Haffner was the chief executive officer of SIECUS, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, from 1988 through May 2000. During her tenure at SIECUS, she created the Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing; the National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education; the Commission on Adolescent Sexual Health; and the Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education, Kindergarten - Grade Twelve. She is the author of several guides for congregations on sexuality, as well as two award-winning books for parents: "From Diapers to Dating: A Parent's Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Children" and "Beyond the Big Talk: Every Parent's Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Teens." Her most recent book is "What Every 21st-Century Parent Needs to Know: Facing Today's Challenges with Wisdom and Heart."


text: Yes, it will start to rain again. But we can make the most of it with rain gardens. They are a great way to optimize our region's bountiful rainfall for growing plants and vegetables, while controlling surface water runoff. Kirkland is creating rain gardens at various properties around town, and several will be installed on Finn Hill on October 13 (revised date) at 138th Street between 88th and 90th. Click here for details. You're invited to stop by and learn how you can create your own rain garden. (And the city wouldn't mind a bit if you decided to roll up your sleeves on the 29th and volunteered to help plant.)


text:
It is understood the approaches have been made in the past few days and involve splitting off the Vintage Cellars chain in a clean sale out of the larger Coles liquor division.
Vintage Cellars operates 77 stores around Australia and has been battling to make headway with its smaller footprint stores in a highly competitive market, increasingly dominated by superstores such as rival Dan Murphy's, owned by
Coles does not separate the financial performance of its individual liquor retailing brands. Industry sources suggested annual sales at Vintage Cellars are currently around $250 million and that it makes profits of between $15 million and $20 million.
But it has been weighed down by onerous head office costs that have crimped its performance.
The approaches have been made by at least two different parties as part of deals involving Coles' underperforming liquor division and are centred on a spinoff of Vintage Cellars.
A Coles spokesman said on Thursday: "We don't comment on media or market speculation around mergers, acquisitions or divestments."
New South Wales provides a large chunk of the sales revenue of Vintage Cellars; 35 of the stores are in that state.
There are 15 stores in Victoria and 12 in Western Australia, nine in Queensland and four in South Australia, with one each in the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
Vintage Cellars has struggled to lift its performance in the past few years, and operates at the upper end of the market.
Major overhaul
Speculation has intensified about major changes at the Coles liquor division after
It is understood internal structural changes were made inside the broader Coles liquor operations around six to eight weeks ago, which in practical terms separated Vintage Cellars from its stablemates Liquorland and the 1st Choice Liquor Superstore brand, and made it more autonomous.
Speculation has been bubbling in the liquor trade in the past 48 hours about the possibility of a sale of Vintage Cellars, and the prospect of a future public float of the business.
Mr Durkan, currently chief operating officer of Coles, signalled last week at a Wesfarmers strategy briefing there would be a comprehensive review of the entire Coles liquor business and its performance was unacceptable.
He was blunt in his assessment of the performance of the Coles liquor retailing portfolio, at the briefing on May 28 .
"The returns, quite frankly, have been unacceptable, and we've got a lot of work to do,'' Mr Durkan told investors. He also said on that day in a specific reference to Vintage Cellars that "we actually see a really good business in Vintage Cellars''.
He foreshadowed a major overhaul of the liquor operations and a focus on liquor outlets located adjacent to Coles supermarkets.
Liquor sales make up about 10 per cent of Coles' total profits. Wesfarmers has been concentrating on the turnaround of its supermarkets business since paying $19 billion for the Coles Group in late 2007 in a takeover. The supermarkets business has delivered an impressive turnaround under
But Coles has been unable to produce the same performance in liquor, where the first-mover advantage of Woolworths' Dan Murphy's has made the gap hard to bridge.
Fresh look
Coles hired former prime minister Kevin Rudd's economic adviser
Mr Durkan's review of the liquor business will include a fresh look at all the executives in charge of the various Coles operations.
Woolworths' general manager of the Dan Murphy's business, Martin Smith, signalled earlier this week that he intended to open between 10 and 12 stores annually for at least the next six years, which would take the chain up to about 250 stores.
The private equity interest in the Vintage Cellars business comes just weeks after US-based giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts launched a $3.05 billion proposal to buy out the struggling
The Australian Financial Review


text:
Why Would Anyone Watch A Male Spin-Off Of "The View"?
Rumor has it Barbara Walters is in talks to start a spin-off of "The View" aimed towards men, starring a cast of both men and women. It hopes to air during the time slot soon-to-be vacated by Oprah. The D-list talent rounded up so far includes Bryant Gumbel as moderator; comedian Alec Mapa, who played Suzuki St. Pierre on "Ugly Betty"; BET news anchor Jacque Reid; and former Fox News host E.D. Hill. According to The New York Daily News, "[the show] will attempt to inject a male perspective into the topics of the day." Um, that's called nearly all of nighttime news/chat TV already. Allow me to introduce to you Larry King, David Letterman, Brian Williams, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Jay Leno, Sean Hannity, Alan Colmes, Conan O'Brien, Shephard Smith … … Neil Cavuto, Anderson Cooper, Glenn Beck, Keith Olbermann, Bill O'Reilly, and Greg Gutfeld. Fret not, Baba Wawa, but men are voicing their opinions just fine on TV. I'm not saying "no more men on television again ever!"— just saying the sausage-fest is far from lacking. But hey, let's at least give them credit for not exhuming Ronald Reagan's corpse to be the show's resident Elisabeth Hasselbeck, right? [New York Daily News]
Images via Splash News and iStockphoto


text:
This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
A growing body of research focusing on African Americans' mental health is showing that this group relies heavily on their religious/spiritual beliefs and practices to cope with mental health issues including depression. Unfortunately, the psychotherapy literature provides little guidance on how to incorporate religion/spirituality into psychotherapy with African American women. With the growing cultural diversity of the U.S. population, there has been more emphasis on providing patient-centered culturally sensitive care, which involves providing care that is respectful of, and responsive to, individual patient preferences, needs, and values. This paper provides a synthesis of literature that psychotherapists could use to become more culturally sensitive and patient-centered in their clinical practices; that is, to recognize and integrate religion/spirituality into their work with African American women experiencing depression, and possibly other groups with similar needs.
African American women's use of mental health services is lower than other groups, and when they do seek professional treatment many of them terminate treatment prematurely in part because their racial and or cultural needs have not been addressed [
There is a growing body of literature indicating that African American women rely on religious beliefs and practices to cope with health problems including depression. Chatters, Taylor, Jackson, and Lincoln [
African American women's low use of mental health services, high rates of premature termination from counseling, and high reliance on religious/spiritual coping to manage depression, raises two questions: (1) are African American women's low use of professional mental health services related to receiving conventional mental health services rather than psychotherapy incorporating religion/spirituality? and (2) do psychotherapists know when and how to incorporate religion/spirituality into psychotherapy in working with African American women with major depressive disorders (MDD)? Currently, these two questions are unanswered due to: (1) limited use of religion/spirituality in psychotherapy; (2) little or no training provided to psychologists and clinical social workers regarding use of religious/spiritual psychotherapy [
Use of the Patient-Centered Culturally Sensitive Health Care Model (PC-CSHC) has the potential to address some of the issues discussed above. The PC-CSHC Model postulates: (a) training provided to both the patient/client and health care provider can promote provision of patient-centered culturally sensitive health care; (b) when patient-centered culturally sensitive health care is provided to patients/clients it influences patients/clients perceived levels of provider cultural sensitivity and interpersonal control (psychological empowerment), which in turn impact patient/client level of engagement in healthier behaviors, and satisfaction with health care; (c) patient/client satisfaction with health care in turn influences treatment adherence; (d) level of treatment adherence and level of engagement in healthier behaviors which directly influence patients health outcomes [
Figure 1. Patient-Centered Culturally Sensitive Health Care Model.
Given the importance of religion/spirituality for African American women with life stressors and mental health challenges; use of the PC-CSHC can potentially aid in providing patient-centered culturally sensitive care in a manner that recognizes these women's religious/spiritual beliefs and incorporates those beliefs into psychotherapy.
Using the tenets of PC-CSHC, the purpose of this paper is to provide a synthesis of literature that can be used to inform training of psychotherapists to become more patient-centered and culturally sensitive in their clinical practices. Such training can potentially help psychotherapists to recognize and integrate religion/spirituality into their work with African American women experiencing depression. A further aim is to use the synthesis of the literature to inform future research. To this end, we: (1) Examined current mental health literature with a focus African American women, depression, mental health service use and quality of care, use of religious/spiritual coping, and the role of Black churches. (2) Discussed implications for future research, training, and clinical practice with a focus on religion/spirituality among African American women.
For the purpose of this paper we will use the terms religious/spiritual, and religion/spirituality. Koenig, McCullough & Larson, [
To remain consistent with the PC-CSHC model we decided to focus our definitions of these constructs on the self-definitions common among African Americans. When examining self-definitions of religiosity and spirituality, Chatters found that Americans irrespective of race/ethnicity generally characterize themselves as both spiritual and religious [
Since African Americans tend to identify as both religious and spiritual, and use these terms interchangeably in their identification, for the purpose of this paper, we chose to use the terms religious/spiritual, and religion/spirituality as defined by Koenig, McCullough & Larson, [
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV-TR), the guidelines used by mental health providers to diagnose mental illness, MDD symptoms cluster on five dimensions: emotional; behavioral; physiological; motivational; and cognitive [
MDD is increasingly becoming a national health crisis. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), in any one-year period, MDD affects more than 12 million women (12%) and more than 6 million men (7%) in America. MDD is also the most common mental illness among all women, especially women of childbearing and childrearing ages [
Although the 12-month prevalence of MDD among African Americans and Caucasians are similar, 5.9% and 6.9% respectively, African Americans (56.5%) report more severe symptoms and associated disability than Caucasians (38.6%) [
The high prevalence of MDD among African American women does not translate to increased use of mental health services. Historically and currently, African American women tend to underutilize mental health services, relative to other groups [
The issue of quality of care specifically culturally insensitive care or care that does not meet the cultural needs of clients is a concern among African American clients/patients [
Poor quality of care is also evident in disparities in rates of diagnoses. Cheung and Snowden [
There have also been reports of problems with communication. An analysis of patient-physician encounters indicates that physicians may be more likely to minimize emotional symptoms of African American than of Whites [
Missing from the quality of care research is use of religion/spirituality practices in psychotherapy. Is it possible that incorporating religion/spirituality in psychotherapy with African American will improve quality of care? Furthermore, is it possible that because African American women rely on religion/spirituality, incorporating religion/spirituality into psychotherapy might actually increase use of mental health services by this group? The section below will help to answer some of these questions.
Research suggests religiosity and spirituality are integral to African American culture, identity, and coping [
Despite African American's heavy reliance on religious/spiritual coping, research examining religious/spiritual coping in association with MDD outcomes is limited. In addition most of the studies available have used small sample sizes, which were often not representative of African Americans, and were conducted in the 1990s. However, more recently, there has been an increase in research in this area. For the purpose of this paper, we chose to focus on studies using larger samples, and some of the more recently published literature examining religious/spiritual coping in association with MDD and other mental health outcomes.
Brown & Gary [
Brown and colleagues used data from a community survey of African American adults from a northeastern city (N = 451) to examine the relationship between several measures of religiosity and scores on the CES-D [
Another study of religion and depression by the same investigators was based on a sample of 537 African American adult men from an eastern U.S. city [
A subsequent investigation by Brown and colleagues included a more explicitly clinical and epidemiological focus using data from a sample of African American men (
In a more recent study, in which data from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL) and the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication (MCS-R) were used to examine racial and ethnic differences in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for the treatment of mental disorder and substance use disorders among African Americans, Black Caribbean and Whites. CAM "is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products (
Although the research by Brown and colleagues make a significant contribution to the sparse literature in this area, most of the study samples were primarily African American men, thus limiting generalizability of study results to African American women. Similarly, although more recent literature documents African Americans tendency to rely on spirituality and religious coping to address mental health needs, none of the studies examined effectiveness of psychotherapy incorporating religion/spirituality in reducing symptoms of MDD. Given that within the African American community, women, the elderly and those facing health problems are more likely to tap into religion/spirituality as a coping mechanism [
With the increasing focus on cultural competence in an effort to meet the needs of culturally diverse individuals, psychologists and researchers are challenged to integrate multicultural strategies into psychotherapy [
The slow pace in which religion and spirituality is emphasized in the psychotherapy literature is not surprising given the limited courses and training in religious/spirituality. For instance, Young
In a similar helping professional field, social work, the limited training in religion/spirituality is also a concern for clinical social workers who provide psychotherapy [
It is evident that while a growing body of research suggests use of religious/spiritual coping to deal with mental health issues including depression is quite common among African American women [
African Americans have reported significant levels of religious involvement in their churches [
Black Churches have been the longest standing and most influential institution in African American history [
Lincoln and Mamiya [
In contrast to African Americans relatively low use of the formal health system, research indicates that they report a relatively high use of clergy and Black church as a resource to solve or discuss many health problems, including mental illness [
Outcome studies examining the effectiveness of religious/spiritual psychotherapy interventions are still in their infancy [
Recognizing the prominent role of Black churches in the African American community, mental health researchers could explore opportunities for collaboration to develop and test effectiveness of religious/spiritual psychotherapy interventions. Giving voice to religious/spiritual African Americans in development of such interventions is critical in providing patient-centered culturally sensitive care. More specifically, studies examining African American women's needs for religious/spiritual integrated psychotherapy, and what such psychotherapy should entail is needed. Thus, studies using qualitative approaches and community based participatory design would be useful. There is also a need for studies using longitudinal design examining changes and fluctuations in religious/spiritual coping over time and implication for adjustment and mental health treatment [
Researchers and academicians might also explore working with Black churches to develop training programs for psychology and social work students interested in receiving training to work with religious/spiritual clients, as well as continuing education training for licensed psychologists and clinical social workers. Also needed are clear practice guidelines regarding incorporation and use of religious/spiritual interventions in psychotherapy. Researchers can collaborate with clergy from various faiths and denominations to inform development training programs and practice guidelines.
According to the competencies developed by Burke [
1. "Explain the relationship between religion and spirituality, including similarities and differences;"
2. "Describe religious and spiritual beliefs and practices in a cultural context;"
3. "Engage in self-exploration of his/her religious and spiritual beliefs in order to increase sensitivity, understanding and acceptance of his/her belief system;"
4. "Describe one's religious and/or spiritual belief system and explain various models of religious/spiritual development across the lifespan;"
5. "Demonstrate sensitivity to and acceptance of a variety of religious and/or spiritual expressions in the client's communication;"
6. "Identify the limits of one's understanding of a client's religious/spiritual expression, and demonstrate appropriate referral skills and general possible referral sources;"
7. "Assess the relevance of the spiritual domains in the client's therapeutic issues;"
8. "Be sensitive to and respectful of the spiritual themes in the counseling process as befits each client's expressed preference;" and
9. "Use a client's spiritual beliefs in the pursuit of the client's therapeutic goals as befits the clients expressed preference" [
Below is a more detailed description and discussion of some of the above-mentioned competencies, and some additional approaches generated from our review of current literature and the Patient-Centered Culturally Sensitive Health Care Model.
According to Burke's [
Prior to working with religious/spiritual clients, psychotherapists should become more self-aware of their own religious/spiritual beliefs and practices as well as their concerns and skepticism about religion and spirituality. According to Post [
Although it is helpful for psychotherapists to be somewhat knowledgeable about basic doctrines of their clients' religion/spirituality, they do not have to be experts. However, they could be open [
During the initial clinical intake assessment, a scale/questionnaire capturing clients' religious/spiritual beliefs and practices could be included in the clinical assessment. Although few of the measures of religion and spiritual have been evaluated for validity and reliability [
In cases where clients' self-identify in the intake that they are religious/spiritual, as early as possible psychotherapists need to let clients know that they are open to discussing religion/spirituality. In particular, they should explicitly state, possibly in the first session, that they are open to and welcome a discussion of religion/spirituality if clients are interested. In addition, psychotherapists can further assess/inquire about clients' religious/spiritual beliefs, and preferences and expectations for treatment.
Some clients may come to therapy with religious/spiritual concerns/struggles; in such cases therapists should assess clients concerns by first conducting a religious/spiritual history and present religious/spiritual status in a manner similar to conducting a psychosocial history [
Engaging clients in developing an appropriate treatment plan of care is important because not all religious/spiritual clients may want their psychotherapy to focus on their religious/spiritual needs. In some cases, religious/spiritual clients may prefer to have religious/spirituality issues addressed by their religious/spiritual leader [
Religious/spiritual interventions involve the use of techniques from formal religious traditions, which are used as adjuncts to counseling or traditional theories of counseling and are adapted to the needs and preference of religious/spiritual clients [
Religious and spiritual interventions that can be incorporated into psychotherapy when working with clients include: therapist prayer or client and therapist prayer, teaching scriptural concepts, reference to Scriptures, religious or spiritual self-disclosure, spiritual confrontation, spiritual assessment, religious relaxation or imagery, blessing by the therapist, encouraging forgiveness, use of religious or faith community, client prayer, encouragement of confession, referral for blessing, religious journaling, spiritual meditation or relaxation, religious bibliotherapy, scripture memorization and dream interpretation [
It is important to note that outcomes studies on the effectiveness of these interventions are still in an infancy stage [
Psychotherapists could also establish partnerships with clergy and religious/spiritual leaders in an effort to seek consultation when necessary [
In this paper, we provided a synthesis of literature and discussed implications for research and clinical practice that can aid psychotherapists in developing the skills necessary in providing patient-centered culturally sensitive care to African American women. Based on our review of the literature, we found a growing body of research suggests African American women rely heavily on religious/spiritual beliefs and practices to cope with mental health issues including depression. However, outcome studies examining the effectiveness of religious/spiritual psychotherapy interventions are still in an infancy stage [


text:
A Canadian JET Alumni, David Namisato has just launched his official book: 'Life after the B.O.E'
Have a peek if you would like to re-live life as a JET! Click here for further information.
Latest posts by Josy A (see all)
- Withdrawal of A-level Japanese – Please help! - 19th May 2015
- Japanese Plus: Japanese for Jobs - 29th May 2014
- JLPT Study support campaign - 14th May 2014


text:
Hollywood Dominoes and Divas Hit NYC
Hollywood's hottest board game descended on New York City Sunday night for a good cause—and a better celebrity turnout.
Creator and girl-about-town Daya Fernandez has thrown the bash several times the world over, most recently in L.A. with a 1950's Havana vibe, to beneift The Art of Elysium, a children's charity network of which Fernandez is patron.
It's got some pretty heavyweight supporters as well. Lovely ladies like Salma Hayek, Molly Sims, Ali Larter and Jennifer Morrison showed in elaborate cocktail frocks for the bash.
While Hayek was visibly solo for her strut down the red carpet, worry not, she's got some adorable company when she hits the street.


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Community service message: Please help to conserve the environment. As more and more people visit these places every week, we need to be more careful to conserve the plants and vegetation. Please educate your friends. Pick up rubbish, keep your own rubbish, don't throw everywhere. Set a good example....
"Kebersihan alam sekitar adalah tanggungjawab bersama"
"Sungai adalah sumber kehidupan ..."
20 June, 2009
Ulu Yam dam ?
Meet up at Kuala Kubu Baru for breakfast
Shoo Chan finds the curry mee too spicy
Wan Tan Mee
Nasi Lemak
Proceed to Sg Chilling
Park by the side of the road
Walk to the entrance
Santuary ikan Sungai chilling
Short walk and we arrive at the registration office
Su Ping
Start trekking
Most part of the trail is wet
Another big group ......
Time to get wet.... cross the river
Rescue Team.......
Another river to cross
NG looking at termites
Walking up to the view point
Saw Hoon taking photos
Who wants to jump down ..... ?
Heily, Shoo Chan and Kelly
Me on a rock......
Trek a bit more to reach the waterfall picnic area....
Start eating your pack lunch
Whoo hooo.......
Me again......
Go and swim...
Trekking back
Another favourite spot where the kids can play
Su Ping and Kelly
Ok, finish.... sign out....
Sg. Chilling Map
back to Travel Photos Mainpage


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Dear Barbara: I'm having friends over for dinner next week and I have a great cake recipe given to me by a neighbor.
I happen to know that my dinner guests really dislike frosting. What else can I do to 'decorate' the cake so that it doesn't look so plain? — Sara from Lodi
Dear Sara: There are a lot of things you can do to a cake besides using frosting. The first thing that comes to mind is to bake the cake in a decorative bundt pan. Make a simple syrup of equal parts sugar and water. Simmer the mixture, stirring constantly, until all the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool to room temperature and add a little (or a lot) of rum to the syrup. Using a pastry brush, generously brush the cake with the syrup, being careful not to use so much that the cake gets soggy. Sprinkle with a little bit of sparkling white decorating sugar.
If you would like more of a design, lay a paper doily on top of a single layer cake and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Carefully remove the doily and you will have a lovely pattern on the top.
Cake stores usually sell candied flowers that can be used for decorating cakes and cookies.
You can serve your cake slices by putting a nice mixture of berries over the top and a dollop of whipped cream on the side. A scoop of ice cream always makes a slice of cake taste special.
However you decide to serve the cake, if there is no frosting, I'm sure your friends will thank you for remembering.
Dear Barbara: I spent all afternoon yesterday making strawberry jelly, and it didn't set up. I know I followed the instructions correctly. I have gone over and over the directions and I left nothing out. What should I do? I don't want to throw it out, but I don't know what to use it for. — Pat from Lodi
Dear Pat: I haven't canned anything in years, so I had to have a little help on this one.
According to "Food Facts" by Dr. Myles H. Bader, if you have any problems with fruit jelly not setting up, place the jars in a shallow pan half-filled with cold water, then bake in a moderate oven for 30 minutes. This should help the jelly set up.
Dear Barbara: I know that some fruits will not ripen once they are picked. I have a terrible time picking out a good cantaloupe. My last one was hard and had no flavor. What should I look for? — Melinda from Lodi
Dear Melinda: You are definitely not alone. Pick the melon up and smell the stem end. It should have the sweet aroma of a melon. You also want to see a nice yellow 'mesh' on the cantaloupe with little or no green. If you don't have a lot of choices, pick the one closest to looking ripe. Take it home and place it on the counter. It will ripen. When it is ripe, put it in the refrigerator so it won't over-ripen. Whole melons will last about a week if kept cold. Cut melons should be eaten within a few days.
Barbara Spitzer is a Lodi home cook who also develops recipes for specific consumer products. Do you have a cooking question? Send it to Barbara Spitzer at firstname.lastname@example.com. Please include your first name and city.


text:
April 30th, 2012by RogueShadow1281
I have begun writing a story on war. Hopefully, I can make it detailed and descriptive, yet still interesting. It's a war story, based on the near future where the government goes completely corrupt, ruled by the Illuminati and the rich. There are the NUSA, which is the New United States Army/of America, but might change it to something less to the point.Â
There's  Rogue Shadow's Units/Union(RSU), introducing Rogue Shadow as the leader and consists of a expanding band of Rogues, which are plainly living shadows most likely infused with humans, some are shadows that move of their own free will. Religious people would consider them demons, but I'm not religious. They are created by the dark shards, fragments of glass-like emeralds that give the power of darkness. They are based on the chaos emeralds from Sonic the Hedgehog, my absolute favorite TV show. Rogue Shadow is by far the most powerful, and is half-human with a boy named Nate (my name is Nathan, and Rogue is my alter-ego, so it suits him).Â
There's a militia, gangs, and even bandits/raiders. There's plenty of mercenaries, and PMC's. Blackwater is referenced a lot as being contractors for the NUSA.Â
Anyways, back to my life and not some story that I will probably never finish. I won't explain if I'm depressed or not just explain my situation. I am currently madly in love with my cousin and no matter what you say, I can't change the fact that I wish to be with her. I was close to dying, if the gun show actually permitted live ammo there or a shooting range. Sadly it did not, but my cousin confessed she has feelings for me, and saved me from certain death. I have a choice, follow through with her being my secret girlfriend, or give up completely and that will probably be a long, winding, and dark road. My story, for example, will take a pessimistic and dark turn, and I will have a higher tendency for suicide.Â
I forgot to begin with a few questions. What is love? What is true love? What does it mean to be in love? Does love really triumph over all? If so, would true love be considered bad just because it's between relatives? Einstein and Poe married their cousins. Why not I?Â
Is it really because of them being in a earlier time? I envy them for being allowed to fall in love. I fell in love with Nycolle and was rejected, that ripped me apart, now I fall again for my cousin and I should just give up? After how she feels the same. I expected people to relate to me, maybe feel sympathy. I guess not.Â
Anyways that's just a rant, maybe I'm missing some key point. I am ignorant of people hating me for it, but I guess I should be completely secretive about it. I am also ignorant of the fact that people don't think it's right. I want to be happy, and not depressed, it will take time getting used to. I love Jasmine and yet I feel horny for her and vice versa, that will most likely not happen, or I won't tell anyone about it, from the reactions you people have. Society makes us hide, we are our own society on OSP, I guess I must hide incest on here too.Â
Ut mortem occupet nos.Â
May death overtake us. See you in hell or wherever we may be taken, especially as an atheist with Christian footings (as in grown up as a christian-esque thing.Â


text:
I tend to be relaxed most of the time, but can get excited over topics or people I find interesting. Politically libertarian, so I tend to both annoy and encourage the left and the right. Rebuilding after a divorce, but it has been a couple years. I have my finances mostly fixed, so now it is time to meet more potential friends and lovers. I am mostly trying to see who is around, interesting, and interested by me as well.
Learning about these sites to meet people. I was married for several years and have been divorced for 5 years. Now that my financial life is (mostly) back in order I am starting to try to get out and meet more women.


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Yea its tooo dark in here, I forgot the link to the website wit h list of
all MIMO chipsets:
Now we have it, just keep in mind senao isn't there and I didn look wht
chipset they are running
-----Original Message-----
From: Alex M [mailto:radiussupport at lrcommunications dot net]
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 1:22 AM
To: Monowall Support List
Subject: RE: [m0n0wall] 802.11 draft N miniPCI cards for ALIX
I've been doing research on N cards for last 2 years :) Here is the link to
the chipset summary that we were able toput together about a year ago (I'f
some one wanna add more cards, let me know and ill give you password to
input page)
Point is the earlier pre-N draft N cars where build with "internal" driver
so even if you have regular say atheros driver (supported in mono I believe)
the card would operate as MIMO. However, the standard itself (current
version of .11n revision) says that device has to combine reflected radio
signals... which means we can use either card CPU to do algorithms ==> more
expansive cartds or we can use PC to do calculation ==> new drivers for new
chipset are needed.
SUMMARY: Old versions of atheros mimo cards should work on mono w/ old
driver (they are a bit big, didn't fit WRAP. Don't know about ALIX)
Also SENAO released theur "smaal" mimo card recently, I dint try it yet but
I bvelive its only comercialy useful solution out there, since it has
acceptable dimensions (unfortunatlyy it supots only 2 antennas comparing to
native atheros cards that have 4 antennas)
PS: Sorry for typos... its kinda dark in here
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Gustafson [mailto:bobgus at rcn dot com]
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 10:33 AM
To: m0n0wall at lists dot m0n0 dot ch
Subject: Re: [m0n0wall] 802.11 draft N miniPCI cards for ALIX
Yes, I'm waiting too. It would be good to have some idea about how much
'draft' and how much 'N' it supports..
Bob G
On Mon, 2008-01-21 at 11:13 +0100, Sebastian Davie wrote:
> Hi All
> Is there a 802.11 draft N card around with would work with m0n0wall and an
> ALIX board? Has anyone played around with one yet?
> Thanks
> Sebastian
To unsubscribe, e-mail: m0n0wall dash unsubscribe at lists dot m0n0 dot ch
For additional commands, e-mail: m0n0wall dash help at lists dot m0n0 dot ch
To unsubscribe, e-mail: m0n0wall dash unsubscribe at lists dot m0n0 dot ch
For additional commands, e-mail: m0n0wall dash help at lists dot m0n0 dot ch


text:
Simple and clean low profile styling make the Smith Allure Helmet stand out in a crowd, whether it be the lift line or beer line on the patio. You'll appreciate the light weight and simple functionality of the Allure, making it one piece of protective gear you'll never be tempted to go without.
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Snapfit SL2 Ear Pads Smith ear pads, with their inner surface of technical materials, provide a comfortable seal from the wind and weather on even the stormiest days. For a warm spring day, remove the ear pads entirely to reduce weight and maximize cooling. All ear pads are fully removable and machine washable.
Removable Goggle Lock
Snapfit SL Ear Pads
Skullcandy™ Drop-In Audio Systems Available Separately
CE EN 1077:2007 Class B


text:
Battle over village dissolution continues in Medina
MEDINA – The battle for hearts and minds continues in Medina, with Mayor Andrew Meier touting dissolution of the village and the towns of Ridgeway and Shelby rejecting the notion.
Every property owner in the towns, including village residents, was to receive a letter from the town governments this weekend criticizing the dissolution plan.
Supervisors Brian Napoli of Ridgeway and Merle Draper of Shelby said in Buffalo News interviews that the estimated budgetary savings that would result from dissolution is small, and the projections have been decreasing as time goes on. They accused Meier of exaggerating the tax impact, too.
Meanwhile, Meier responded in an interview that he thinks the amount being saved is worth the effort.
The mayor, in his third year in office, began pushing for dissolution after talks for shared services among the three localities fell apart last year. The dissolution plan would turn the village's employees over to the towns, which, Meier concedes, are not obliged to keep them on the payroll.
"They were asking us to subsidize services for them rather than share services," Napoli said.
The border between Ridgeway and Shelby cuts the Village of Medina roughly in half. All village property owners pay town taxes as well as village taxes. Although admitting town taxes would rise if the dissolution plan were implemented as it stands, Meier says village residents still would see their tax rates drop by about 30 percent.
His estimate is that the owner of a village home assessed at $80,000 would see a net reduction of about $500 a year.
Draper said the average assessment is closer to $70,000 and accused Meier of using the larger figure to make the plan look better. Meier responded, "OK, so it's $70,000. Let's use that. That's $420 a year."
Napoli said that the leading complaint of town residents who live outside the village borders is that only residents inside the village are to be allowed to vote in a referendum on dissolution. That's dictated by state law.
The estimates by the Center for Government Research, the Rochester think-tank that has helped draw up the dissolution plan, project a reduction of $277,000 in total spending when one adds up the budgets of the village and the two towns. Draper said that's about 2 percent of the total spending of the three communities.
"I think it's foolish to turn everything upside-down for 2 percent," Draper said.
Meier said, "Pooh-poohing $277,000 tells me they're not willing to work to save the taxpayers money. I think $277,000 a year forever is worth working for."
Napoli noted that there is a history of sharing services that didn't produce tax savings. In 2010, the village court was abolished and its caseload was turned over to the towns. The village tax rate that year fell by 26 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation to $15.12, but it has gone up every year since then, and currently stands at $16.45.
Dissolution might find village residents paying special district taxes for fire protection and other services the towns don't want to offer as a general expense. But the main controversy is the future of the village's 11-member police force.
The plan calls for turning the cops over to Ridgeway, which may not want to keep them.
email: firstname.lastname@example.com