ampLIB MICR OCR SDK

The All My Papers ampLIB MICR OCR SDK provides MICR line data extraction from check image files, image processing, and formatting to make check images ready for exchange in the banking system for Remote Deposit and other Check 21 applications.

The AmpLIB MICR OCR SDK finds, reads, parses, extracts, verifies and saves the MICR data from the check images quickly with low reject rates.

In addition, the All My Papers ampLIB MICR OCR SDK also provides barcode reading delivering accurate and fast barcode data extraction from one dimensional or two-dimensional barcodes that have been scanned as images.

The AmpLIB MICR OCR SDK is a High-Level Programming System for Windows™ application development consisting of Dynamic Linked Libraries (DLLs), associated import libraries, header files, and example source code. The SDK is compatible with many programming environments.

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Description

Description

AmpLIB MICR OCR SDK lets you quickly develop applications for remote deposit and mobile capture of check images. The MICR OCR SDK includes the following functions:

that allow you easily and accurately process incoming check images, prepare them for OCR, reliably extract the MICR data, and format the final images ready for integration into ICL files for exchange. AMP provides sample applications written in C, C++, C#, and VB with source code for quick evaluation and proof of concept testing.

Support for Check Images Captured without Traditional Check Scanners

Both MICR OCR and Image Processing routines have been improved and refined specifically to address the issues of handling check images captured with desktop scanners, cell phone cameras, and similar devices that do not have hardware MICR readers.

Trained Fonts Read Camera Captured Check Images

The ampLIB SDK has retrained the MICR OCR Engines with font data using over two years of real-world Camera capture image data.

Multiple Engine Voting Decreases Substitution Errors

A new feature bit for camera-based check images. The SDK now invokes multiple engine voting on a character by character basis. This can greatly reduce the substitution rate while maintaining a high read rate.

Advanced Function Calls Speed Development and Implementation

A single function call may now be used to implement a MICR OCR and check image processing of remotely captured check images from flatbed scanners and cell phone cameras. The function call is a super-set of functions that takes check images as input and provides formatted MICR line data and UCD187 conforming check images as output.

Applications

Remote Deposit Capture A single application call to take input check images from an RDC client and output verified MICR line data as well as Check 21 compliant 200-DPI TIFF check images for incorporation into ICL files for exchange.

Remittance Check Processing Automatically finds and process checks within larger documents.

MICR OCR Verify Verify MICR data from traditional check scanners that employ magnetic MICR reading.

Benefits

Accurate MICR OCR - provides high read rates with very low substitution error rates

Runtime Licensing - Licensed per machine. Licensing is based on features and performance options selected. Performance is scalable to hundreds of image processing functions per second per server

Works with low-quality images - low contrast and resolution, out of focus and distorted images while providing the lowest possible image rejection rates

Easy integration with your Check21 systems - using .NET or direct DLL calls. Demonstration apps and source code provided for C++, C# and VB NET

For pricing and evaluations Contact Sales (408) 366-6400  sales@allmypapers.com

Features

Features

AmpLIB MICR OCR delivers accurate and fast Optical Character Recognition (OCR) of MICR line data from check images. AmpLIB is a complete SDK consisting of everything you need to reliably extract MICR data using its dual-pass OCR voting algorithm. AmpLIB MICR OCR delivers automated image check processing Check 21 compliant 200-DPI TIFF images ready for incorporation into ICL files for exchange.

Basic Functions

These include loading, decompressing, compressing, and saving of check images. The MICR OCR SDK will correct TIFF tags, resolution, and image dimensions to conform to check image exchange requirements such as X9.100-181 (Tough TIFF) and UCD/187. These basic functions are commonly used in applications built with the ampLIB MICR OCR SDK. Common check image formats such as TIFF, JPEG, and Grayscale can be imported.

IMAGE PREP Functions (Click Here for Example)

These basic image processing functions include finding (whether right-side-up or not) a check within a document image, correcting skewed images, doing trapezoidal adjustment and cropping the check image and fundamental noise removal.

MICR OCR

This set of functions detects a MICR line within a check image, reads it, and parses it into the proper ABA account, RT, and check serial number format. Using multiple proprietary MICR OCR engines, voting, and confidence ratings can be assigned to each character read, thus minimizing inaccurate reads or substitution errors.

Image Repair (Click Here for Example)

For more challenging types of check images such as postal money orders, travelers check and treasury checks Image Repair can automatically remove patterned backgrounds and leave the data for better extraction and CAR/LAR results.  These functions are used to improve the quality of the image for more accurate MICR. Functions include speckle, streak, border, line and background removal, edge detection, dynamic threshold for color or grayscale conversion to black and white and page mode to find checks from within a larger document.

Camera Features

This feature applies algorithms trained to recognize MICR fonts and characters within images captured from devices such as cell phone cameras and flatbed scanners. It employs character-level recognition, multiple OCR engines and may be licensed to improve the performance of existing applications using prior versions of the ampLIB MICR OCR SDK with no code changes.

MICR Verify

When using an external MICR reader such as a magnetic check reader or comparing MICR OCR from another OCR engine, MICR VERIFY applies complex business rules to assure the most accurate MICR read rate. This group of features is used to verify captured MICR data and to parse it to the ABA field level separating out the R/T, ON-US, AUX ON-US, and other data.

Advanced Function Call Library (Click Here for Example)

This group provides two highly-integrated calls (AmpReadMicrCamera & AmpReadCamera). These calls combine many of the processes described above to extract MICR data & create exchange-compliant images to achieve the highest read rates, lowest substitution rates, and best possible throughput with minimal coding effort. Specially trained MICR fonts are included with this function.

OCR A/B (Click Here for Example)

When scanned checks are part of a larger remittance document, recognition of OCR A/B fonts may be employed to extract information such as the customer's account number in order to apply a credit to the proper account.

Usage

Usage Examples

ampLIB Micr SDK can rapidly and accurately extract MICR information from check images and addresses a wide range of ICL file and check image processing applications. Below are examples of applications that can be built using the All My Papers ampLIB MICR OCR SDK.

 

Remote Deposit Capture

A single application call may be used to take input check images from and RDC client and output verified MICR line data as well as Check 21 compliant 200-DPI TIFF check images for incorporation into ICL files for exchange.

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Any Scanner is a Check Scanner - Find check images automatically from any stream of scanned images.

The ampLIB SDK software can find check images from a stream of scanned paper documents such as invoices, business correspondence, remittance documents, etc. The software quickly finds and accurately extracts the MICR data with low substitution errors. The software automatically crops, removes skew and saves the check image to meet exchange standards.

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Remittance Processing

Automatically find and process checks within larger documents.

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Remittance Voucher Processing

Checks can be anywhere on a remittance voucher - top, middle or bottom. The SDK finds and extracts the checks without manually bursting and re-scanning

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MICR OCR Verification

Verify MICR data from traditional check scanners that employ magnetic MICR reading at the time of capture or to verify MICR OCR before check images are archived.

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Datasheet

Requirements

 

Minimum System Requirements

Desktop: Operating System: Windows 10  32 or 64-Bit Server: Operating System: Windows Server 2008 and newer CPU: Pentium 4, 2GHZ RAM: Per Operating System Minimums

Input/Output Compatibility

  • Input File Formats:  Bitonal, grayscale and color image formats BMP, JPEG, JBIG, G4 PCX, DCX, RLC TIFF (Uncompressed, LZW, Packbits, G3 FAX, G3-2D, G4, JPEG, Type 2, Multi-image
  • Output File Formats:  BMP, JPEG, PDF (bi-level multi-image) TIFF (Uncompressed, G3 FAX, G3-2D, G4)

Solutions

Request Evaluation

Evaluation & Production Licenses


All my Papers applications and SDKs are available for evaluation use by qualified customers prior to purchase.

Evaluation Use – To obtain download instructions and a 30-day trial license, please fill-out a software evaluation request.

Production Use – When you purchase an All My Papers product, you will be issued a production license enabling its use in your production environment.  Production licenses are purchased with renewable support and maintenance.

For more information, please contact sales@allmypapers.com or call +1 (408) 366-6400 and press 1 at the prompt.

Licensing

General Licensing Terms


In general. the licensing policy for All My Papers (AMP) software – authorizes one user and one physical hardware device/computer. The AMP enabling license for a given machine authorizes only that single physical hardware computer.

AMP’s software requires license and product codes for every computer running AMP’s software including production, evaluation, disaster recovery and trial computers. License fees include support and maintenance for a three-year renewable term.

Virtual Machine (VM) Licensing


The All My Paper VM license enables use of AMP applications in one VM environment and is available to new and existing customers. AMP includes support for VM environments with static UUIDs such as VMware or Microsoft Hyper-V.  However, installation or configuration support under other VM environments without static UUIDs such as Amazon’s Could Server may be subject to additional installation/configuration support charges.

For details, see the License text loaded during the installation of the software.

Software Development Tool-Kit (SDK) Licensing


AMP delivers three licenses when an SDK license is purchased. These are normally deployed as: development, test and disaster recovery. Every computer running an application developed with the SDK requires a runtime. In addition to the SDK purchase, at least one additional runtime license must be purchased for production.

SDK Deployment Runtime Licensing


Each PC/Server using AMP software must have the appropriate runtime license. Deployment Runtime licensing is sold based on features selected for deployment and maximum processing speed of the application or file size limitations. AMP licensing terms authorize one user and one physical hardware device per software instance.

AMPLIB Speed Licensing Options


Runtime licenses are available for speeds ranging from 0.5 to 1280 images per second per server. Speed licenses determine the theoretical maximum throughput of an application. Actual performance will vary depending on hardware, image quality, number of functions called and other factors.

X9LIB File Size Licensing Options

Runtime licenses are available based on the maximum number of check items in any given check image cash letter file. There are three file size limitations: Less than 5,000 items or less than 10,000 items or greater than 10,000 items.

 Feature Licensing

The following licensable feature groups are available for the ampLIB MICR OCR SDK

BASIC SDK FUNCTIONS

(No licenses Required) File Load & Decompress

AmpLIB (AmpLIB license only)

IMAGE COMPRESS & SAVE - X9.100-181 & UCD X9.100.187 Compatible Images Image scale & Rotation Bitonal, Grayscale & Color Images OCR A/B (AmpLIB license only) For Reading of Coupon and Remittance Documents

MICR OCR (AmpLIB and MICR OCR licenses required)

MICR Line Detection Reads E13B Font Upside Down Read ABA MICR Line Formats

IMAGE REPAIR/PREP (AmpLIB and Image Repair licenses required)

Find Document Images Skew Correction/Crop Speckle, Streak, Border and Line Removal Morphological Image Filters for Background Removal Laplacian Filters for Improved Edge Detection Dynamic Threshold for Color or Grayscale to B&W Conversion Page Mode to Find and Read Checks on a Remittance Page

CAMERA GROUP (AmpLIB, MICR OCR, Image Repair and Camera licenses required)

Uses Trained Fonts from Camera-Based Images such as Cell Phones and Flatbed Scanners Character Level Multiple-Engine Voting as Opposed to Line Level Voting Improves Performance of Existing Applications Using AmpLIB MICR OCR with No Code Changes

MICR VERIFY/PARSE (AmpLIB, MICR OCR, Image Repair and MICR Verify licenses required)

Verify Captured MICR Data Parse MICR Data to Field Level (R/T, ON-US, AUX ON-US, etc.)

ADVANCED FUNCTION CALL LIBRARY (AmpLIB, MICR OCR, Image Repair, MICR Verify and Camera licenses required)

AmpReadMicrCamera & AmpReadCamera - Single-Calls that Extract MICR Data & Output Exchange-Compliant Images Combines Many of the Above Processes to Provide Highest Read Rates, Lowest Substitution Rates, and Best Possible Throughput

SPEED AND PROCESSOR OPTION LICENSES

All options are available for single and multi-core processors at speeds ranging from 0.5 to 1280 images per second per server. Speed licenses determine the theoretical maximum throughput of an application. Actual performance will vary depending on hardware, image quality, number of functions called, and other factors.

Every PC using AMP MCIR OCR software requires a licensed runtime. Runtimes used on single processors are available for distributed applications based on functionality and throughput per the table below.

Runtime MICR OCR Image Repair OCR A & B MICR Verify Max Read Rate
Class 1 SW-8234 SW-8331 SW-8431 SW-8631 One image per every two (2) seconds.
Class 2 SW-8235 SW-8332R SW-8432 SW-8632 One image per second.
Class 2.5 SW-8233 SW-83325 SW-84325 SW-86325 Three images per second.
Class 3 SW-8236 SW-8333 SW-8433 SW-8633 Five images per second.
Class 4 SW-8237 SW-8334 SW-8434 SW-8634 Ten images per second.
Class 5 SW-8238 SW-8335 SW-8435 SW-8635 Twenty images per second.

Advanced Option Licenses Processor Models - A baseline executable is available for single process execution at 20 image file accesses per second. Above that speed, multi-process executables are available at speeds from 40 to 1280 images per second per server. Speed licenses determine the theoretical maximum throughput of an application. Actual performance will vary depending on hardware, image quality, and other factors.

Speed Class Processor Support Max Images Per Second
Class 5 Single Processor 20
Class 6 Multi Processor 40
Class 7 Multi Processor 80
Class 8 Multi Processor 160
Class 9 MultiProcessor 320
Class 10 Multi Processor 640
Class 11 Multi Processor 1,280

Please note that "Max images per second" refers to the speed at which images may be accessed. Many operations (such as the ampProcessCameraCheckImages call) require multiple image accesses. The number of image accesses required for a particular task (MICR extraction for example) will vary depending on the quality of the check images. All My Papers will provide temporary licenses so that customers can characterize application performance under a given speed license class.

Contact sales@allmypapers.com for more information

Whitepapers

White Papers

Check Deposits Without Check Scanners

Remote Deposit Capture (RDC) has been in use by banks and other financial institutions for some time. What is relatively new for RDC is the capture of checks from camera-based devices without hardware magnetic MICR readers.

Working with Image Cash Letter Files

This white paper is for anyone contemplating working with or implementing a system that will process Image Cash Letters (ICLs), AKA X9.37 files, and would like to reduce their implementation costs, time, and ongoing maintenance efforts.

Ramifications of MICR Mis-Match in Check Image Exchange

This white paper discusses the issue of data errors made during the check truncation and exchange process and the privacy and operational risks this creates to the financial institutions involved in Check 21 check clearing.

Combining Remote Capture and IRD Printing

This white paper discusses a Check 21 Strategy for Community and Regional Banks.

Bar Codes in Document Imaging

A White Paper that describes in detail Bar Codes and how they relate to document imaging.

Best Practices for Check Image Capture Without Traditional Check Scanners

This white paper will outline essential good practices for Check Image Capture without traditional check scanners. This whitepaper also provides detailed information about the how's and why's of using smartphones and scanners to capture check images.

Manuals

 

Contact All My Papers
Contact All My Papers to automate check Image Cash Letter (ICL) file processing.