Methods involve distributing a data stream in a value-document processing apparatus from at least one sensor to at least one processing unit and a system for distributing sensor data. The value-document processing apparatus has a distributing device and at least one processing unit. The distributing device comprises at least two data interfaces. A sensor data packet is created and comprises the sensor data and a target address. The target address describes a physical memory address of the at least one processing unit. The sensor data packet is sent to one of the data interfaces of the distributing device. The distributing device receives the sensor data packet at a further data interface. The sensor data packet is relayed by the distributing device to the at least one processing unit.

Methods involve distributing a data stream in a value-document processing apparatus from at least one sensor to at least one processing unit and a system for distributing sensor data. The value-document processing apparatus has a distributing device and at least one processing unit. The distributing device comprises at least two data interfaces. A sensor data packet is created and comprises the sensor data and a target address. The target address describes a physical memory address of the at least one processing unit. The sensor data packet is sent to one of the data interfaces of the distributing device. The distributing device receives the sensor data packet at a further data interface. The sensor data packet is relayed by the distributing device to the at least one processing unit.

An authentication system includes an object including an authentication hologram disposed over an area of a surface of the object. The authentication hologram is defined by a pattern of reflective material and includes latent authentication information. The system includes a computer-readable medium including program instructions for execution by one or more processors. The program instructions are executable by the one or more processors to: (i) receive, from an image capture device, a digital image of the authentication hologram, wherein light reflected by the reflective material is captured in the digital image of the authentication hologram, and (ii) detect the latent authentication information in the digital image of the authentication hologram, wherein an effect of the reflected light is reduced to detect the latent authentication information.

A method for providing scratch-off lottery tickets for sale remote from a POS location in a retail establishment includes configuring the tickets with a game play area having play characters covered by a scratch-off coating. A print characteristic is provided in the game play area that is optically scannable but not reproducible when photocopying the game play area. In a database, identification of the printed characteristic is linked to a computer file associated with the lottery ticket at a central lottery computer. An optically scannable random identifier is also provided in the game play area and is linked to the computer file. Upon presentation of the lottery ticket for purchase, the ticket or a scanned image of the ticket is analyzed to verify that the print characteristic is present in the game play area. The scanned image of the ticket is analyzed to verify that the random identifier assigned to the lottery ticket is present in the game play area of the scanned image.

A method for providing scratch-off lottery tickets for sale remote from a POS location in a retail establishment includes configuring the tickets with a game play area having play characters covered by a scratch-off coating. A print characteristic is provided in the game play area that is optically scannable but not reproducible when photocopying the game play area. In a database, identification of the printed characteristic is linked to a computer file associated with the lottery ticket at a central lottery computer. An optically scannable random identifier is also provided in the game play area and is linked to the computer file. Upon presentation of the lottery ticket for purchase, the ticket or a scanned image of the ticket is analyzed to verify that the print characteristic is present in the game play area. The scanned image of the ticket is analyzed to verify that the random identifier assigned to the lottery ticket is present in the game play area of the scanned image.

A valuable-medium monitoring system of the present disclosure includes terminal devices and a server, the terminal devices each including a controller that extracts information on a valuable medium and determines whether or not the valuable medium is a circulation-unsuitable medium based on the extracted information on the valuable medium; and a transmitter that, in response to a determination that the valuable medium is a circulation-unsuitable medium, transmits information on the circulation-unsuitable medium to the server, the server including: a memory that stores pieces of information on circulation-unsuitable media, the pieces of information being grouped into groups; and a transmitter that, in response to transmission of information on a circulation-unsuitable medium from one of the terminal devices, transmits a specific group of information on a circulation-unsuitable medium to which the circulation-unsuitable medium corresponds to any other terminal devices satisfying a predetermined condition.

A valuable-medium monitoring system of the present disclosure includes terminal devices and a server, the terminal devices each including a controller that extracts information on a valuable medium and determines whether or not the valuable medium is a circulation-unsuitable medium based on the extracted information on the valuable medium; and a transmitter that, in response to a determination that the valuable medium is a circulation-unsuitable medium, transmits information on the circulation-unsuitable medium to the server, the server including: a memory that stores pieces of information on circulation-unsuitable media, the pieces of information being grouped into groups; and a transmitter that, in response to transmission of information on a circulation-unsuitable medium from one of the terminal devices, transmits a specific group of information on a circulation-unsuitable medium to which the circulation-unsuitable medium corresponds to any other terminal devices satisfying a predetermined condition.

A safe conduit device having a banknote validator docking station, a banknote cashbox docking station spatially separated from the banknote validator docking station, and a banknote transport module configured to provide a removable bridge spanning the spatial separation between the banknote validator docking station and the banknote cashbox docking station.

A safe conduit device having a banknote validator docking station, a banknote cashbox docking station spatially separated from the banknote validator docking station, and a banknote transport module configured to provide a removable bridge spanning the spatial separation between the banknote validator docking station and the banknote cashbox docking station.

The invention relates to a method for authenticating a secure document comprising data printed by analogue or digital printing, said method comprising the following operations: —definition, from among a set of graphical and/or alphanumeric data of the secure document, of at least one distinct data area including at least one distinctive pattern; —during an operation of fabrication of the secure document, reading the distinct data area onto a storage device so as to form a distinct reference data area; —in the course of an operation of verification of the authenticity of the secure document, extracting the distinct data area from a digitized version of the secure document; and—comparing the extracted distinct data area with the distinct reference data area so as to determine a level of matching between said distinct data areas and to deduce therefrom a positive authentication or negative authentication.