Currency system

• US 20020120572A1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Doig, James N.T., Kerr, Charles F., Bellucci, Diane R., Fisher, Dennis M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,219,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• 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 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network

Abstract

A currency system (10) is described. The system (10) comprises a currency network (12) for handling and distributing currency, an information router (40) for receiving currency information from the currency network (12), a currency analyzer (48) for locating the position of all the currency in the network (12) and for determining how the currency should be located in the network (12) to fulfil a predetermined criterion, and a currency transfer reporter (44) for receiving currency transfer requests from the analyzer (48), for issuing currency transfer instructions to a cash mover (18), for receiving currency transfer confirmations from the cash mover (18), and for automatically reconciling currency transfer instructions with currency transfer confirmations. A method of managing a currency network is also described.

Claims

1. A currency system comprising:

a currency network for handling and distributing currency;

an information router for receiving currency information from the currency network;

a currency analyzer for locating the position of all the currency in the network and for determining how the currency should be located in the network to fulfil a predetermined criterion; and

a currency transfer reporter for receiving currency transfer requests from the analyzer, for issuing currency transfer instructions to a cash mover, for receiving currency transfer confirmations from the cash mover, and for automatically reconciling currency transfer instructions with currency transfer confirmations.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a dispatcher for dispatching a resource to the currency network.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein (i) the information router is operable to receive state of health information, and (ii) the router is operable to direct state of health information to the dispatcher, and to direct currency information to the currency analyzer.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined criterion is to minimize the cost of the currency network while providing a high level of service.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the currency network comprises a number of automated teller machine terminals.

6. A system according to claim 2, wherein the dispatcher is in conmmunication with a service center for dispatching service personnel for servicing terminals in the currency network, and also in communication with a cash mover for dispatching replenishment personnel for replenishing terminals in the currency network.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the currency transfer reporter is operable to issue electronic currency transfer requests to the cash mover, and to receive electronic currency transfer confirmations from the cash mover.

8. A currency transfer reporter comprising:

a transfer request interface; and

a replenisher interface for cooperating with the transfer request interface to issue, receive, and reconcile currency transfer information.

9. A reporter according to claim 8, wherein the reporter is operable to receive a currency transfer request via the transfer request interface, prepare instructions for transferring the requested currency, transmit the instructions to the replenisher interface, receive currency transfer confirmation via the replenisher interface on successful execution of the instructions, reconcile the currency transfer confirmation with the currency transfer request, and transmit a report to the transfer request interface indicating that the currency transfer request has been successfully executed.

10. A reporter according to claim 9, wherein the reporter is operable to notify the replenisher interface if the currency transfer confirmation does not match the currency transfer request.

11. A currency optimization system for use with a currency network, the system comprising:

a currency analyzer for locating the position of all the currency in the network and for determining how the currency should be located in the network to fulfil a currency optimization criterion; and

a currency transfer reporter for receiving currency transfer requests from the currency analyzer and for issuing currency transfer instructions to transfer currency within the network to optimize the position of the currency within the network.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

receiving electronic currency transfer confirmations; and

reconciling the issued instructions with the received confirmations.

12. A method of managing a currency network, the method comprising the steps of:

locating all the currency in the network;

determining how the currency should be located in the network to fulfil a currency optimization criterion;

issuing electronic currency transfer instructions to transfer currency within the network to optimize the position of the currency within the network;