System and method for dispensing digital information from an automated transaction machine

• US 20020013771A1
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blackson, Dale, Smith, Mark, Ramachandran, Natarajan, Church, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2575 DVD-RAMs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/913 Digital audio tape [DAT] format
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 : on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 : on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence

Abstract

An automated teller machine (ATM) (10) includes an input device (16) a card reader (20), a cash dispenser (24), and an output device (18). The ATM is operative to read account information from a card with the card reader and validate a user PIN input through the input device. The ATM is also operative to dispense cash with the cash dispenser and dispense digital content with the output device responsive to user input selections. The ATM is further operative to charge a user fee to an account associated with the card for the dispense of cash and digital content. Digital content dispensed by the ATM may include sound recordings such as MP3 files, video files, books, and other digital data. To dispense sound files the output device may include a sound system that is operative to output audio that corresponds to the dispensed sound recording files. The sound files may be acquired by the ATM from a digital information source on the Internet or other network. Licensing fees associated with the dispense of the digital files may be transferred to a source or licensing entity associated with the digital content.

Claims

1. An automated transaction machine apparatus comprising:

at least one computer processor;

at least one data store in operative connection with the computer processor, wherein the computer processor is operative to cause a plurality of digital information files to be retrieved from at least one digital information source located remotely from the machine and saved in the data store;

at least one input device in operative connection with the computer processor;

a cash dispenser device in operative connection with the computer processor, wherein the computer processor is operative to cause the cash dispenser to dispense currency responsive to at least one first input through the at least one input device; and

at least one output device in operative connection with the computer processor, wherein the computer processor is operative to cause the dispense of at least one of the digital information files through the at least one output device responsive to at least one second input through the at least one input device that corresponds to the at least one digital information file.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one input device comprises a card reader device in operative connection with the computer processor, wherein the card reader device is operative to read account indicia from a card, and wherein the computer processor is operative to cause one or more fees to be charged to the account corresponding to the dispense of currency and the dispense of the at least one digital information file.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one digital information file includes a digital sound recording file.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one digital information file includes an MP3 file.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one output device includes a sound system, and wherein the computer processor is operative to cause the output of sound through the sound system responsive to the at least one digital information file.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the computer processor is operative to cause a licensing fee associated with the at least one digital information file, to be transferred to a licensing entity.

7. Apparatus comprising:

an automated transaction machine including;

at least one input device;

a cash dispenser, wherein the cash dispenser delivers cash from the machine responsive to inputs to the at least one input device;

at least one output device, wherein the at least one output device is operative to cause the delivery of digital content responsive to inputs to the at least one input device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one output device is releasibly operatively connectable to a portable computing device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one output device comprises a communications port releasibly operatively connectable to a portable computing device adjacent the machine.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the digital content comprises at least one sound file.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least one sound file comprises a music file.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the digital content comprises at least one audiovisual file.

13. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one input device is adapted to receive at least one input corresponding to an account, and wherein the machine further includes:

at least one processor, wherein the processor is in operative connection with the at least one input device, the cash dispenser and the at least one output device, and wherein the processor is operative to cause the account to be charged for at least one of delivered cash and digital content.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the at least one input device includes a card reader, and wherein the input corresponding to an account is produced responsive to at least one card read by the card reader.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the processor is operative to cause content indicia corresponding to a plurality of portions of the digital content to be output through the at least one output device, and wherein the processor is operative to cause a selected portion of the digital content to be delivered responsive to at least one selection input corresponding to the selected portion, through the at least one input device.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the machine includes a display device and the content indicia is output through the display device.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the content indicia includes a graphic image corresponding to at least one of the portions of the digital content.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the apparatus comprises at least one content data store, wherein the digital content is delivered from the content data store.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the content data store comprises a local content data store located in the machine.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 and further comprising:

at least one network in operative connection with the machine; and

at least one remote computer in operative connection with the network, wherein the content data store is in the at least one remote computer.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 and further comprising:

at least one financial transaction computer in operative connection with the at least one network, wherein the processor is operative to cause the account to be charged through communication with the at least one financial transaction computer through the at least one network.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the at least one input device on the machine is operative to receive a network delivery address, and further comprising:

at least one network in operative connection with the machine, wherein the processor is operative to cause the digital content to be delivered through the at least one network to the network delivery address, whereby a remote computer corresponding to the network delivery address is enabled to receive the digital content.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19 and further comprising:

at least one network in operative connection with the machine; and

at least one remote computer in operative connection with the network, wherein the at least one remote computer includes at least one remote content data store.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the machine is operative to selectively deliver digital content from either the local content data store or the remote content data store responsive to at least one input to the at least one input device.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the processor is operative to cause digital content in the remote content data store to be stored in the local content data store.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the processor is operative on a periodic basis to cause selected digital content in the remote content data store to be stored in the local data store.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the selected digital content comprises at least one sound file corresponding to at least one currently popular song.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the selected digital content comprises at least one sound file corresponding to at least one currently popular book.

29. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the selected digital content comprises at least one audiovisual file corresponding to at least one currently popular movie.

30. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the selected digital content includes at least one graphic image corresponding to the at least one song.

31. The apparatus according to claim 13 and further comprising:

at least one network in operative connection with the machine,

at least one financial transaction computer in operative connection with the network, wherein the processor is operative to cause the account to be charged responsive to communication through the at least one network with the at least one financial transaction computer.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the at least one financial transaction computer includes a source account associated with a source of the digital content, and wherein the source account is credited responsive to delivery of the digital content.

33. The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the at least one financial transaction computer includes a licensing account associated with a licensing entity for the digital content, and wherein the licensing account is credited responsive to the delivery of the digital content.

34. The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the account is associated with a user of the machine, and wherein the at least one financial transaction computer includes the account, and wherein the account is debited responsive to either delivery of cash or delivery of digital content.

35. The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the at least one financial transaction computer holds a content prepay account for delivery of digital content, and wherein the processor is operative responsive to at least one input to at least one input device to cause funds to be transferred from the account to the content prepay account, and wherein the processor is operative to cause the content prepay account to be debited responsive to the delivery of the digital content.

36. The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the output device includes a reproduction device operative to reproduce the digital content on a portable storage medium.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the reproduction device is operative to cause the digital content to be reproduced in a portable computing device releasibly operatively connectable with the machine.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the digital content is reproduced in the portable computing device such that it can only be played in the portable computing device.

39. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the digital content is reproduced in the portable computing device such that it cannot be further transferred in digital form from the portable computing device.

40. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the digital content is reproduced in the portable computing device such that it can only be played a limited number of times.

41. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the digital content is reproduced in the portable computing device such that it can only be played during a limited time period.

42. The apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the machine includes a supply of portable media, and the reproduction device is operative to reproduce the digital content on the portable storage media from the supply.

43. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the digital content is reproduced in the portable computing device such that reproduction of the digital con tent is restricted.

44. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the machine further comprises a supply of portable storage media, and wherein the digital content is delivered by being reproduced on portable storage media from the supply.

45. The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the at least one output device includes a sound system, and wherein the digital content is delivered through audio outputs through the sound system.

46. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one output device includes a sound system, and wherein the digital content is delivered through audio outputs through the sound system.

47. The apparatus according to claim according to claim 31 wherein the at least one output device includes an audiovisual output device, and wherein the digital content is delivered as audiovisual outputs through the audiovisual output device.

48. The apparatus according to claim according to claim 7 wherein the at least one output device includes an audiovisual output device, and wherein the digital content is delivered as audiovisual outputs through the audiovisual output device.

49. The apparatus according to claim according to claim 31 wherein the at least one output device includes a printer device, and wherein the digital content is delivered by printing the digital content with the printer device.

50. The apparatus according to claim according to claim 7 wherein the at least one output device includes a printer device, and wherein the digital content is delivered by printing the digital content with the printer device.

51. The apparatus according to claim 46 wherein the machine is located in an establishment, and wherein the account charged for the delivered digital content is an account of an operator of the establishment.

52. The apparatus according to claim 48 wherein the machine is located in an establishment, and wherein the account charged for the delivered digital content is an account of an operator of the establishment.

53. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the automated transaction machine further comprises:

a currency acceptor, wherein the machine is further operative to deliver digital content responsive to deposit of cash into the currency acceptor.

54. The apparatus according to claim 47 wherein the automated transaction machine further comprises:

a currency acceptor, wherein the machine is further operative to deliver digital content responsive to deposit of cash into the currency acceptor.

55. A method comprising:

(a) providing at least one account identifying input to the at least one input device of the automated transaction machine of claim 7;

(b) providing at least one dispense input to the at least one input device of the machine;

(c) dispensing either cash from the machine or digital content responsive to the at least one dispense input.

56. The method according to claim 55 and further comprising:

(d) charging an amount for the dispense of cash or digital content, to an account associated with the at least one account identifying input.

57. The method according to claim 56 wherein step (a) comprises reading the account identifying indicia from a card with a card reader on the machine, and wherein step (d) comprises communicating with a financial transaction computer remotely located from the machine.

58. The method according to claim 55 wherein step (c) includes recording the dispensed digital content with a portable computing device.

59. The method according to claim 58 wherein step (c) includes placing the portable computing device in releasible operative connection with an output device on the machine.

60. The method according to claim 58 wherein in step (c) the recording is conducted such that reproduction from the portable computing device is restricted.

61. The method according to claim 55 wherein the digital content comprises a sound file.

62. The method according to claim 61 wherein the digital content comprises a music file.

63. The method according to claim 61 wherein the digital content comprises a document file.

65. The method according to claim 55 wherein the digital content comprises an audiovisual file.

64. The method according to claim 61 wherein the digital content comprises an image file.

66. The method according to claim 55 wherein in step (c) the dispense of digital content comprises sending the digital content through at least one network to a network delivery address.

67. The method according to claim 55 and further comprising:

(d) crediting a source account associated with a source of the digital content responsive to the dispense of digital content in step (c).

68. The method according to claim 55 and further comprising:

(d) crediting a licensing account associated with a licensing entity of the digital content responsive to the dispense of digital content in step (c).

69. The method according to claim 55 and further comprising:

(d) debiting an amount from an account associated with the account identifying input; and

(e) crediting the amount to a prepay account;

(f) debiting the prepay account responsive to the dispense of digital content in step (c).

70. The method according to claim 55 wherein in step (c) the dispense of digital content includes delivering sounds through a sound system.

71. The method according to claim 55 wherein in step (c) the dispensing of digital content includes delivering audiovisual material through an audiovisual system.

72. The method according to claim 55 wherein in step (c) the dispense of digital content includes printing digital content with a printer.

73. The method according to claim 70 wherein the machine is located in an establishment, and further comprising:

(d) charging an account associated with the establishment responsive to the dispense of digital content.

74. The method according to claim 55 and further comprising:

d) reproducing in a local content data store in the machine, digital content from at least one remote content data store accessed through at least one network by the machine.

75. The method according to claim 74 wherein in step (c) the digital content is delivered form the local content data store.

76. The method according to claim 74 wherein in step (c) the digital content is delivered from either the local content data store or the remote content data store.

77. The method according to claim 55 wherein in step (a) the account identifying input comprises a biometric input from a user of the machine.

78. The method according to claim 55 wherein step (c) comprises reproducing the digital content on a portable media.

79. The method according to claim 78 wherein in step (c) the portable media is from a supply of portable media in the machine.

80. The method according to claim 55 wherein in step (c) the portable media is supplied by a user of the machine.

81. The method according to claim 55 and further comprising:

(d) receiving currency with a currency acceptor on the machine; and

(e) dispensing digital content responsive to the receipt of currency in step (d).

82. Computer readable media operative to cause at least one processor in the automated transaction machine to carry out step (c) recited in claim 55, responsive to performance of steps (a) and (b).