Value token dispensing system and method

• US 20060287065A1
• Filed: 06/15/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Talaris Holdings Limited (Glory Limited)
• Original Assignee: De La Rue International Limited (De La Rue PLC)
• Inventors: Gunther, Dieter
• Application Number:
  US11/152,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287065A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• 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 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/203 Dispensing operations within ATMs dispensing in general G07D11/00

Abstract

A value token dispensing system comprising a value token dispenser for securely storing value tokens and for dispensing value tokens to a customer in response to a dispense command; a control system for issuing dispense commands when validly authorised to do so; and an input system for inputting a quantity or value of value tokens to be dispensed and including a validation system which enables a dispense command to be issued by the control system when authorised by a supervisor supplying secure data which has been read and validated by the validation system.

Claims

1. A value token dispensing system comprising a value token dispenser for securely storing value tokens and for dispensing value tokens to a customer in response to a dispense command;

a control system for issuing dispense commands when validly authorised to do so; and

an input system for inputting a quantity or value of value tokens to be dispensed and including a validation system which enables a dispense command to be issued by the control system when authorised by a supervisor supplying secure data which has been read and validated by the validation system.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the validation system includes a biometric reading system for reading biometric characteristics of the supervisor.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the dispenser is at least overseen by a teller, the validation system being adapted to read and validate secure data identifying the teller.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the validation system includes a biometric reading system for reading biometric characteristics of the teller.

5. A system according to claim 2, wherein the biometric reading system is adapted to read one or more of a fingerprint, eye pattern, palm print, handprint, signature, facial image and voice.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein the biometric reading system comprises two biometric readers.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the input system is located such that the supervisor, in use, can see the value token dispenser.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the dispenser is at least overseen by a teller, and wherein the input system is located such that the supervisor, in use, can see the teller.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the validation system validates secure data by comparing it with prestored valid data.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the value token dispenser is adapted to dispense one or more of banknotes, ID cards, credit cards, cheques, bank cards and prepayment cards.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the value token dispenser includes a normally locked container containing value tokens, the container being unlocked in response to issue of said dispense command.

12. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a store for storing the identity of the supervisor who validated the dispense transaction.

13. A system according to claim 3, further comprising a store for storing the identity of the teller.

14. A method of controlling the dispensing of value tokens to a customer from a value token dispenser, the method comprising validating the identity of the customer, obtaining and validating secure data from a supervisor to authorise a transaction and, if validated, dispensing a required quantity or value of value tokens.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the secure data comprises biometric characteristics of the supervisor.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the operation of the dispenser is at least overseen by a teller, the method further comprising reading and validating secure data identifying the teller, whereby value tokens are only dispensed if a teller is present.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the secure data identifying the teller comprises biometric characteristics of the teller.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the biometric characteristics comprise one or more of a fingerprint, eye pattern, palm print, signature, handprint, facial image and voice.

19. A method according to claim 14, wherein validation is achieved by comparing the secure data obtained with prestored data.

20. A method according to claim 14, wherein the operation of the dispenser is at least overseen by a teller, and wherein the step of obtaining secure data is carried out while the supervisor can see the teller.

21. A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of obtaining secure data is carried out while the supervisor can see the value token dispenser.

22. A method according to claim 14, wherein the value tokens comprise one or more of banknotes, ID cards, credit cards, cheques, bank cards and prepayment cards.

23. A method according to claim 14, wherein the validating step is carried out automatically.

24. A method according to claim 14, further comprising recording the identity of the supervisor who authorised the transaction.

25. A method according to claim 16, further comprising recording the identity of the teller.

26. A value token dispensing system comprising a value token dispenser for securely storing value tokens and for dispensing value tokens to a customer in response to a dispense command;

a control system for issuing dispense commands when validly authorised to do so; and

an input system for inputting a quantity or value of value tokens to be dispensed and including a supervisor recording system for recording the identity of a supervisor of a dispense transaction and thereafter enabling the control system to issue a dispense command.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein the operation of the dispenser is overseen by a teller, the validation system being adapted to read and validate secure data identifying the teller.

28. A method of controlling the dispensing of value tokens from a value token dispenser to a customer, the method comprising obtaining authority to dispense a required quantity or value of value tokens from a supervisor;

and recording the identity of the supervisor.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the operation of the dispenser is at least overseen by a teller, the method further comprising reading and validating secure data identifying the teller, whereby value tokens are only dispensed if a teller is present.