Check accepting and cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method

• US 20060202014A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Crews, Tim, Blackson, Dale H., Smolk, Jasen J., Laskowski, Edward L., Turocy, Kenneth, Lucas, Brian E., Washington, Jon E., Graef, Harry Thomas, Jones, Brian, Dominick, Douglas T., Lightner, Bradley, Peters, David A., VanKirk, Thomas A., Ma, Songtao, Blackford, Damon J., Beskitt, William D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,721,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency

Abstract

An automated banking machine system and method includes ATMs which accept checks and dispense cash to users. The ATMs are operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Cash may be dispensed to the user from the ATM in exchange for the deposited check. The ATMs dispense cash responsive to communications with a transaction host.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) inputting a non-negotiable test document into an automated banking machine including a deposit accepting device adapted to interpret visual and magnetic indicia included on documents input to the machine;

(b) reading at least one output provided by the automated banking machine indicative of how the machine interpreted at least one of visual and magnetic indicia on the test document.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one output provided by the machine includes a visual image of the test document, and wherein (b) includes reviewing the visual image of the test document output by the machine.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the machine includes character recognition software operating in the machine, and wherein the machine is operative to provide at least one output corresponding to at least one character on the test document determined through operation of the character recognition software, and wherein (b) includes reviewing the at least one output corresponding to the at least one character.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the character recognition software is operative to determine at least one numerical value on the test document and to include the at least one numerical value in the at least one output from the machine, and wherein (b) includes reviewing the at least one numerical value in the at least one output.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the character recognition software is operative to determine at least one micr character on the test document and to include data corresponding to the at least one micr character in the at least one output from the machine, and wherein (b) includes reviewing in the at least one output the data corresponding to the at least one micr character.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the machine further includes at least one magnetic sensor, and wherein the machine is operative to read magnetic indicia on the test 5 document through operation of the at least one magnetic sensor and to include data corresponding to magnetic indicia read from the test document by the at least one magnetic sensor in the at least one output, and wherein (b) includes reviewing in the at least one output a representation of magnetic indicia sensed by the at least one magnetic sensor.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the at least one magnetic sensor is operative to read at least one micr character on the test document, and wherein the machine is operative to include in the at least one output, a representation of the at least one micr character, and wherein (b) includes reviewing the representation of the at least one micr character in the at least one output.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the test document further includes at least one RFID tag including tag data, and wherein the machine includes at least one RFID sensor, and wherein the machine is operative to determine tag data and to include in the at least one output data corresponding to the tag data, and wherein (b) includes reviewing in the at least one output the data corresponding to the tag data.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the machine is operative to calculate at least one level of assurance associated with interpretation of at least one of magnetic indicia and visual indicia read from the test document, and wherein the machine includes in the at least one output data corresponding to the at least one level of assurance, and wherein (b) includes reading the data corresponding to the at least one level of assurance in the at least one output.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the machine further includes a cash dispenser, and further comprising:

(c) operating the machine to dispense cash.

11. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

(c) operating the machine to dispense cash through operation of a cash dispenser in the machine.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine is operative to provide at least one output indicative of how the machine interpreted both visual and magnetic indicia on the test document, and wherein (b) includes reading at least one output provided by the machine indicative of how the machine interpreted both the visual and magnetic indicia on the test document.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the machine includes character recognition software operating in the machine, and wherein the machine is operative to provide at least one output corresponding to at least one character on the test document determined through operation of the character recognition software, and wherein (b) includes reading data corresponding to at least one character in the at least one output.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the machine is operative to calculate at least one level of assurance associated with interpretation of at least one of the visual and magnetic indicia on the test document, and to include in the at least one output, data corresponding to the at least one level of assurance, and wherein (b) includes reading the data in the at least one output corresponding to the at least one level of assurance.

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein the machine includes an RFID sensor and wherein the test document includes at least one RFID tag including tag data, and wherein the machine is operative to determine the tag data, and includes data corresponding to the tag data in the at least one output, and wherein (b) includes reading the data corresponding to the tag data in the at least one output.

16. The method according to claim 10 and further comprising:

(d) subsequent to (b), receiving at least one negotiable check in the machine, wherein cash is dispensed in (c) responsive to receipt of the at least one check.

17. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

(c) subsequent to (b) receiving at least one negotiable check in to the machine, whereby the machine is operative to determine visual and magnetic indicia on the check.

18. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

(c) subsequent to (b), retrieving the test document from within the machine.

19. The method according to claim 10 and further comprising:

(d) subsequent to (b), retrieving the test document from within the machine.