Method and system for remote delivery of retail banking services

• US 20020038289A1
• Filed: 02/22/2001
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1989
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Official Payments Corporation (ACI Worldwide Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Online Resources Corporation (ACI Worldwide Incorporated)
• Inventors: Carmody, Timothy E., Lawlor, Matthew P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,076,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths

Abstract

A practical system and method for the remote distribution of financial services (e.g., home banking and bill-paying) involves distributing portable terminals to a user base. The terminals include a multi-line display, keys “pointing to” lines on the display, and additional keys. Contact is established between the terminals and a central computer operated by a service provider, preferably over a dial-up telephone line and a packet data network. Information exchange between the central computer and the terminal solicits information from the terminal user related to requested financial services (e.g., for billpaying, the user provides payee selection and amount and his bank account PIN number). The central computer then transmits a message over a conventional ATM network debiting the user'"'"'s bank account in real time, and may pay the specified payees the specified amount electronically or in other ways as appropriate. Payments and transfers may be scheduled in advance or on a periodic basis. Because the central computer interacts with the user'"'"'s bank as a standard POS or ATM network node, no significant software changes are required at the banks'"'"' computers. The terminal interface is extremely user-friendly and incorporates some features of standard ATM user interfaces so as to reduce new user anxiety.

Claims

1. A system for conducting financial transactions using an ATM network of the type connected to at least one financial institution, said financial institution maintaining an account for a specific user, said system comprising:

a central computer coupled to a packet data network;

at least one remote data terminal including user-manipulable input keys and a multi-line display, said data terminal coupled to a dial-up telephone line, said remote data terminal including means for generating first data representing a payee and second data representing an amount;

telecommunications means including a modem operatively coupled to said central computer and a modem operatively coupled to said remote data terminal, said telecommunications means for communicating said first and second data from said remote data terminal to said central computer via a said packet data network and dial-up telephone line,

said central computer further including means for generating a digital message responsive to said communicated first and second data and for applying said digital message to said ATM network so as to selectively effecting debiting of said user account in response to user manipulation of said remote terminal input keys.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said terminal comprises:

an alpha-numeric display device capable of displaying a maximum of N lines of text, N being an integer; and

a plurality N of pointer keys manipulable by the user, each of said N pointer keys pointing to a different one of said N display lines.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein:

said packet data network frames messages carried thereby in packets of predetermined length; and

said central computer including means for generating data specifying the display content all of said N lines of said display and for inserting all of said data into a single one of said packets.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein:

said terminal includes a multi-character alphanumeric display;

said packet data frames messages carried thereby into fixed-length packets of a predetermined size; and

said central computer includes means for specifying substantially all of said characters displayed by said terminal display including means for formatting data controlling said terminal display into a single one of said fixed-length packets.

5. A system as in claim 4 wherein said packets have a fixed length of 128 bytes and said said terminal display provides a variable display of less than 128 characters.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said terminal includes encryption means for encrypting at least said second data.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein:

said terminal includes means for generating third data uniquely identifying said terminal and fourth data uniquely identifying said user;

said telecommunications means also communicates said third and fourth data to said central computer; and

said central computer includes means for determining the validity of said third data and means for embedding data representing said fourth data into said digital message.

8. A system as in claim 1 wherein:

said terminal includes an alpha-numeric panel-type display and a plurality of selectively illuminatable prompts having ON and OFF states; and

said central computer includes means for controlling, via said telecommunications means, the information displayed on said display and the ON/OFF states of said illuminatable prompts.

9. A system as in claim 1 wherein said central computer comprises means for generating a 128 byte data packet comprising digital data representing display and prompt information and means connected to said packet generating means for transmitting said generated packet over said packet data network to said terminal.

10. A system as in claim 1 wherein:

said terminal further includes a help key and a cancel key;

said central computer provides context-sensitive help information for display on said terminal display in response to user depression of said help key; and

said central computer ignores the last keystroke provided by said user in response to depression of said cancel key.

11. A system as in claim 1 wherein said terminal further includes alpha-numeric keypad means for facilitating input by said user of said second data.

12. A system as in claim 1 wherein said terminal further includes screen navigation keys for requesting recall of information previously displayed by said terminal.

14. A home banking terminal as in claim 13 further including:

a memory element coupled to said controller, said memory element storing an identification number corresponding to said terminal; and

encryption/decryption means coupled to said controller for encrypting said identification number prior to transmitting said encrypted identification number over a telephone line to said remote device.

15. A terminal as in claim 13 wherein:

said digital controller includes means for creating a user interface similar to interfaces provided by standard automatic teller machines; and

said terminal further includes;

a housing for housing said controller, display panel and controls, and

a telephone handset operatively coupled to said terminal housing.

16. A terminal as in claim 10 wherein:

said terminal includes telephone circuitry and a handset; and

said keypad is also connected to control said telephone circuitry, said keypad including isolation means for electrically isolating said controller from said telephone circuitry.

17. A terminal as in claim 13 wherein said controller includes means for periodically transmitting a random number over said telephone line.

18. A terminal as in claim 13 wherein said modem automatically transmits a tone-blocking signal over a telephone line to prevent intervention by a call interrupt service.

19. A terminal as in claim 13 further including a power supply means coupled to a telephone line, said power supply means for providing power to at least said controller and for recharging in response to voltages present on said telephone line.

20. A terminal as in claim 13 wherein said controller includes memory buffer means for receiving and temporarily storing signals representing user manipulation of said keypad and for supplying said stored signals to said modem for transmission over said telephone line.

21. A terminal as in claim 13 wherein said terminal further includes navigational keys for requesting display of previous and subsequent screens in a predetermined sequence of screens.

22. A home banking terminal as in claim 13 further including means for interfacing with a non-volatile memory element so as to permit credits to be downloaded to said terminal and stored by said memory element.

27. A method as in claim 26 wherein said obtaining step includes the following steps:

collecting refundable deposit fees from said users in return for providing terminals to said users; and

obtaining financing to perform said method through use of said refundable deposit fees.

28. A method as in claim 26 wherein said obtaining step includes the steps of:

minimizing said fees collected from said users so as to maximize said user base; and

subsidizing the costs of providing terminals to said users through collection of fees from said payees, banks and advertisers.

29. A method as in claim 26 wherein:

said obtaining step includes the step of minimizing said fees collected from said users to as to maximize said user base; and

said method further includes the step of offering additional financial and/or non-financial services through said terminals and charging said users fees associated with said additional services.

13. A home banking terminal comprising:

a digital controller;

an alpha-numeric display panel electrically coupled to said digital controller, said display panel capable of simultaneously displaying a plurality N of discrete lines of information;

a plurality N of user-manipulable controls coupled to said controller, each of said N controls associated and corresponding to a different one of said plurality N of discrete display information lines;

at least one selectively illuminatable user prompt message field, including an illuminating element electrically coupled to said controller;

an alpha-numeric keypad coupled to said controller; and

a modem coupled to said controller and adapted to communicate data asynchronously between said controller and a remote device.

23. A method of distributing financial services remotely, comprising the following steps:

providing a plurality of remote home banking terminals to a corresponding plurality of users;

receiving bill paying requests from said plurality of terminals over dial-up telephone lines; and

processing said bill paying requests in real-time at a central computer operatively coupled to said telephone lines, said processing step including the following steps;

generating a POS or other ATM interchange-compatible debit message responsive to information transmitted by a user from a remote home banking terminal to said central computer over a telephone line;

transmitting said debit message over an ATM network coupled to said central computer;

debiting said user'"'"'s bank account in real-time in response to said debit message; and

paying an entity selected by said user via one of said remote home banking terminals with funds obtained by debiting the user'"'"'s bank account.

24. A method of paying bills comprising the following steps:

activating a microprocessor-based home banking terminal coupled to a standard dial-up telephone line;

causing/controlling said home banking terminal to establish communications with a central computer over said telephone line;

inputting a PIN user identification number;

manipulating said terminal to select a payee from a preprogrammed listing of payees;

manipulating said terminal to select a bank account;

manipulating said terminal to select an amount to pay said payee;

transmitting data representing said PIN user identification number, said bank account selection, and said amount from said home banking terminal to said central computer;

generating, in real-time at said central computer in response to said transmitted data, an ATM network transaction debit message specifying said PIN, said bank account selection, and said amount;

transmitting said debit message from said central computer to said user'"'"'s bank in real-time over a standard ATM network;

validating and processing said debit message at said user'"'"'s bank in real-time;

controlling, with said central computer, a means for paying said selected payee said selected amount; and

transferring funds in the amount specified by said POS debit message from said user'"'"'s bank to the operator of said central computer.

25. A method of transferring money between banks comprising the following steps:

providing a user with a home banking terminal;

establishing a telephone connection between said home banking terminal and a central computer;

requesting said user to electronically select, using said home banking terminal, a first account in a first bank;

requesting said user to electronically provide a PIN number of said first account by manipulating said home banking terminal;

requesting said user to electronically select, using said home banking terminal, a second account in a second bank different from said first bank;

requesting said user to electronically provide a PIN number of said second account by manipulating said home banking terminal;

requesting said user to electronically select an amount of money to be transferred from said first account to said second account by manipulating said home banking terminal;

generating, with said central computer, an ATM network transaction debit message specifying said first account and corresponding PIN and said amount;

generating, with said central computer, an ATM network transaction credit message specifying said second account and corresponding PIN and said amount; and

applying said credit message and said debit message to an ATM network in real-time.

26. A method of providing home banking services comprising the following steps:

providing home banking terminals to users;

communicating with said home banking terminals on demand using a central computer;

receiving financial service requests with said central computer from said home banking terminals;

processing said received financial service requests with said central computer, including the steps of;

generating and communicating messages from said central computer to users'"'"' banks resulting in debiting of user'"'"'s bank accounts electronically in real-time, and

disbursing payments electronically with said central computer to payees selected by said users;

obtaining advertising text from advertisers and storing said advertising text on said central computer;

transmitting said advertising text from said central computer to said home banking terminals; and

obtaining revenues by collecting service fees from said users for the convenience and time savings associated with said remote distribution of financial services, collecting fees from said advertisers for distributing said advertising text to users, collecting fees from said payees for the convenience receiving all payments electronically, and collecting fees from said banks for the convenience of electronic debits.

30. A method of providing home banking services comprising the following steps:

providing home banking terminals to users;

communicating with said home banking terminals on demand using a central computer;

receiving financial service requests with said central computer from said home banking terminals, said receiving step including receiving at least a user PIN, an amount, and a payee selection;

processing said received financial service requests with said central computer, including the steps of;

generating and communicating messages from said central computer to users'"'"' banks resulting in debiting of user'"'"'s bank accounts electronically in real-time, including the step of generating a digital ATM network transaction message containing said user PIN, said amount and indicia of said payee selection, and

disbursing payments electronically with said central computer to payees selected by said users;

obtaining advertising text from advertisers and storing said advertising text on said central computer;

transmitting said advertising text from said central computer to said home banking terminals; and

generating, at said users'"'"' banks, unified statements including at least some of the information contained within said ATM network transaction message.

31. A method as in claim 30 wherein:

said method further includes the step of separately communicating said payee selection to said users'"'"' banks; and

said generating step includes the step of generating a report specifying said separately communicated payee selection information.

32. A method as in claim 30 wherein said disbursing step comprises the step of electronically disbursing said payments by communicating data across a network of electronic lockboxes.

33. A method of distributing advertising remotely comprising the following steps:

providing home banking terminals to users;

communicating with said home banking terminals on demand using a central computer;

receiving financial service requests with said central computer from said home banking terminals;

processing said received financial service requests with said central computer;

storing indicia of said processed financial service requests in a database;

obtaining advertising text from an advertiser and storing said advertising text on said central computer;

processing said database to target specific users who may be interested in said advertising text;

transmitting said advertising text from said central computer to only said home banking terminals operated by said specific users;

prompting said users to select whether they want further information with respect to said transmitted advertising text, comprising the step of transmitting prompt text to said home banking terminals;

receiving and testing user responses to said prompts; and

if said user responds to said prompts in the affirmative, only then contacting said advertiser and providing said advertiser with the identity of said user.

34. A method as in claim 33 wherein said contacting step comprises:

providing data representing said user identity to said advertiser in real-time response to receipt of said user response; and

contacting said user in real time in response to said provided user identity.

35. A method as in claim 33 wherein said contacting step comprises:

initiating voice communications with said user in real-time response to receipt of said user response.

38. A method as in claim 37 further including the following steps:

maintaining database information at said central computer corresponding to said payee and amount information;

analyzing said maintained database information so as to target specific users for advertising of third-party goods and services;

providing said specific users with advertising text via said terminals without disclosing the identities of said specific users to said third party;

prompting said specific users to respond, via said terminal, if they desire more information regarding said advertised goods and services; and

if said users respond to said prompting step, only then disclosing said the identity of said users to said third party.

39. A method as in claim 37 further including the following steps:

maintaining database information at said central computer corresponding to said payee and amount information; and

generating a loan application for a specific user in response to said database information and additional alphanumeric information provided by said user via said terminal.

36. A method of paying bills comprising the following steps:

activating a microprocessor-based home banking terminal coupled to a standard dial-up telephone line;

causing/controlling said home banking terminal to establish communications with a central computer over said telephone line;

inputting a PIN user identification number;

manipulating said terminal to select a payee;

manipulating said terminal to select a bank account;

manipulating said terminal to select an amount to pay said payee;

manipulating said terminal to select a begin date to begin periodic payments;

manipulating said terminal to select an end data to end periodic payments;

transmitting data representing said PIN user identification number, said bank account selection, said amount and said begin and end dates from said home banking terminal to said central computer;

calculating a plurality of recurring payment dates between said begin date and said end date at said central computer;

storing said plurality of recurring payment dates in association with said PIN user identification number, said bank account selection and said amount;

subsequently parsing said stored payment dates and determining which of said stored payment dates, if any, correspond to the current date;

if a stored payment date corresponds to the current date, generating, in real-time at said central computer in response to said stored data, a POS debit message specifying said PIN, said bank account selection, and said amount; and

transmitting said POS debit message from said central computer to said user'"'"'s bank in real-time over a standard ATM network.

37. A method of paying bills comprising the following steps:

activating a microprocessor-based home banking terminal coupled to a standard dial-up telephone line, said home banking terminal including a multi-line display;

causing/controlling said home banking terminal to establish communications with a central computer over said telephone line;

manipulating said terminal to input payee and corresponding amount information and to transmit said payee and amount information to said central computer;

repeating said manipulating step a plurality of times;

requesting review of said inputted payee and amount information;

displaying said inputted payee and amount information on said home banking terminal display;

selectively correcting and/or cancelling said payee and amount information by manipulating said terminal and transmitting corrections/deletions to said central computer;

calculating, at said central computer, a total of said plural amounts inputted by said repeated manipulating step;

generating, in real-time at said central computer in response to said stored data, an ATM network transaction message specifying said total; and

transmitting said ATM network transaction message from said central computer to said user'"'"'s bank in real-time over a standard ATM network.

40. A system for conducting financial transactions using an ATM network of the type connected to at least one financial institution, said financial institution maintaining an account for a specific user, said system of the type including a central computer coupled to a packet data network which carries messages in packets of a fixed predetermined length, said system including;

at least one remote data terminal including user-manipulable input keys and a multi-character display, said data terminal selectively operatively connectable to said packet data network,

modem means operatively coupled to said remote data terminal for receiving data packets from said packet data network and for transmitting data packets to said packet data network; and

processor means, coupled to said modem means and to said display and input keys, for controlling substantially the entire display content of said terminal display in response to receipt of a single packet data network packet by said modem means.

41. A system as in claim 46 herein:

said display comprises a two-dimensional display panel capable of displaying up to a predetermined maximum number of characters simultaneously; and

said modem means includes means for receiving from said packet data network a single packet specifying substantially all of said predetermined maximum number of characters said maximum number of characters being optimized for the size of said single packets.

42. A system as in claim 40 wherein said processor means includes means for controlling said display to display new contents substantially entirely defined by the data packet last received by said modem means each time said modem means receives a new data packet from said central computer.

43. A system as in claim 40 wherein said processor means further includes means for:

generating first data representing a payee and second data representing an amount in response to user manipulation of said input keys;

inserting said first and second data into a first of said fixed length packets; and

controlling said modem means to transmit said first packet to said central computer via a said packet data network and dial-up telephone line.

44. A system as in claim 40 wherein said central computer further including:

first data processing means for generating an ATM network transaction message responsive to said communicated first and second data and for applying said generated message to said ATM network so as to effect debiting of said user account; and

second data processing means for disbursing funds to a payee specified by said first data.