Cash Deposit Apparatus and Associated Methods and Devices

• US 20070108267A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scan Coin AB (SUZOHAPP Gaming Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scan Coin AB (SUZOHAPP Gaming Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Skoog, Arne, Lundin, Per, Jonsson, Manfred, Osterberg, Marten
• Granted Patent: US 8,157,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/009 Depositing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/34 Monitoring the contents of devices, e.g. the number of stored valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/14 Apparatus driven under control of coin-sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/008 Feeding coins from bulk
• 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

Abstract

A cash deposit apparatus has a user interface module that provides a user interface at a first external side of the apparatus and allows a user to interact with a cash processing transaction of the apparatus. A cash processing module processes cash deposited by the user and determines a value related to the processed cash, and has a service interface for providing access to the cash processing module. A cash storage module stores cash as processed by the cash processing module and has a cash storage interface for providing access to the cash storage module. The cash processing module and the cash storage module are independently configurable.

Claims

1. A cash deposit apparatus comprising:

a user interface module adapted to provide a user interface at a first external side of said cash deposit apparatus for allowing a user to interact with said cash deposit apparatus to transact a cash processing transaction;

a cash processing module adapted to process cash as deposited by said user for said cash processing transaction and to determine a value related to the processed cash, the cash processing module having a service interface for providing access to said cash processing module; and

a cash storage module for storing cash as processed by the cash processing module, the cash storage module having a cash storage interface for providing access to said cash storage module,

the cash processing module being independently configurable between a first cash processing module configuration wherein said service interface provides access from said first external side of said cash deposit apparatus and a second cash processing module configuration wherein said service interface provides access from a second external side of said cash deposit apparatus, said second external side being different from said first external side, and

the cash storage module being independently configurable between a first cash storage module configuration wherein said cash storage interface provides access from said first external side of said cash deposit apparatus and a second cash storage module configuration wherein said cash storage interface provides access from a third external side of said cash deposit apparatus, said third external side being different from said first external side.

2. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said third external side coincides with the second external side.

3. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the first external side is a front cabinet side of said cash deposit apparatus, and the second external side and third external side are a rear cabinet side of said cash deposit apparatus.

4. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the service interface includes a lockable cabinet generally preventing access to interior elements of said cash processing module but permitting access to the interior elements by a service person.

5. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 4, the service interface providing access from said rear cabinet side, wherein the service interface further comprises a service user interface comprising at least one of a visual output device, a printer and an input device.

6. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the service interface comprises an indicator adapted to indicate to said service person whether there is an ongoing cash processing transaction in the cash processing module.

7. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising an automatic mode switch for detecting opening of said lockable cabinet and for switching a mode of the user interface of the apparatus from a current mode to a service mode.

8. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said automatic mode switch is adapted for detecting an ongoing cash processing transaction in the cash processing module and delaying the switching to the service mode until the ongoing cash processing transaction has reached completion or a predefined stage.

9. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the cash storage interface includes a lockable cabinet generally preventing access to interior elements of said cash storage module but permitting access for a person authorized to remove cash from said cash storage module.

10. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 4, said cash processing module having internal supports for repositionable mounting of said internal elements inside said cash processing module, such that at least one of said internal elements is repositionable from a first operating position to a second operating position to allow reconfiguration of said cash deposit apparatus from the first cash processing module configuration to the second cash processing module configuration.

11. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said at least one of said internal elements is selected from the group consisting of a cash preprocessor, a cash acceptance module, and a transaction value registering unit.

12. A method for producing a cash deposit apparatus to have a user interface module for providing a user interface, a cash processing module for processing deposited cash to determine a value related to the processed cash and having a service interface, and a cash storage module for storing cash as processed by the cash processing module and having a cash storage interface, the method comprising:

selecting, among more than one available orientation, a service interface orientation for said service interface;

configuring the service interface of said cash processing module to have the selected service interface orientation;

selecting, among more than one available orientation, a cash storage interface orientation for said cash storage interface;

configuring the cash storage interface of said cash storage module to have the selected cash storage interface orientation; and

producing said cash deposit apparatus by assembling said user interface module, said cash processing module, and said cash storage module.

13. The method for producing a cash deposit apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said more than one available orientation for the service interface orientation include a forward-facing orientation and a rear-facing orientation.

14. The method for producing a cash deposit apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said more than one available orientation for the cash storage orientation include a forward-facing orientation and a rear-facing orientation.

15. A cash deposit apparatus comprising:

a cash processing module adapted to process cash as deposited by a user in a cash processing transaction and to determine a value related to the processed cash; and

a cash storage module having at least one cash storage receptacle for storing cash as processed by the cash processing module, the cash storage module having a cash storage interface for providing access for an authorized person to said at least one cash storage receptacle, and a user interface, said user interface of said cash storage module having;

a first indicator adapted to indicate to said authorized person whether or not there is an ongoing cash processing transaction in the cash processing module; and

a second indicator adapted to provide to said authorized person an indication related to the presence or absence of coins in said at least one cash storage receptacle.

16. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the indication provided by said second indicator has at least the following possible states:

a first state to indicate that said at least one cash storage receptacle currently is empty;

a second state to indicate that said at least one cash storage receptacle currently contains some cash but is not full; and

a third state to indicate that said at least one cash storage receptacle is currently full of cash.

17. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said user interface means further comprises an actuator for the at least one cash storage receptacle adapted for actuation by said authorized person, wherein said actuation causes said second indicator to indicate current absence of cash in the cash storage receptacle.

18. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said actuation of said actuator causes generation of a verification on an operation performed by said authorized person.

19. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said operation involves emptying or removal by said authorized person of said cash storage receptacle and wherein said verification is a printed receipt containing information related to a total value of cash contained in the cash storage receptacle prior to removal or emptying.

20. A cash deposit apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said user interface is an operator panel mounted on an inside of a cabinet door of said cash storage module.

21. A cash deposit apparatus, comprising at least one input/output port, said apparatus being configured to identify a peripheral device connected to said at least one input/output port and to automatically configure the apparatus for use with the connected peripheral device.

22. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said peripheral device comprises an identifier unit.

23. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said identifier unit comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of a resistor, a capacitor, and an inductor.

24. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said identifier unit is a digital unit capable of providing a digitally represented type identifier.

25. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said input/output port complies with an interface selected from the group consisting of a RS232 serial interface, a Centronics parallel interface, a universal serial bus interface, a FireWire interface, a wireless universal serial bus interface, and a Bluetooth interface.

26. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said apparatus is configured to identify an intended function of said peripheral device and in response automatically configure said cash deposit apparatus to communicate with said peripheral device in accordance with said intended function.

27. A method for initializing a peripheral device when connected to a cash deposit apparatus, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a signal by reading an identifier unit comprised in said peripheral device,

interpreting said signal as a type identity of said peripheral device, and

based on said type identity, automatically configuring said cash deposit apparatus for use with said connected peripheral device.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said step of automatically configuring said cash deposit apparatus involves loading at least one driver from memory.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein said step of obtaining a signal by reading an identifier unit comprised in said peripheral device (401) comprises:

querying said identifier unit for a digitally represented identifier type, and

receiving a response signal from said peripheral device comprising said digitally represented identifier type.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein said identifier unit has a measurable analog value and said step of obtaining a signal by reading an identifier unit comprised in said peripheral device comprises:

measuring said measurable analog value of the identifier unit.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein said step of interpreting involves using a reference table and said measurable analogue value to determine said type identity of said peripheral device.

32. The method according to claim 27, wherein said step of automatically configuring said cash deposit apparatus involves configuring said cash deposit apparatus to communicate with said peripheral device in accordance with said intended function.

33. A license device comprising a memory and adapted to be connected to a cash deposit apparatus, wherein said license device comprises at least one license key in said memory.

34. The license device according to claim 33, wherein each license key enables specific functions in said cash deposit apparatus.

35. The license device according to claim 33, wherein said license device further comprises information about said cash deposit apparatus, said information including model information relating to the cash deposit apparatus and elements comprised in said apparatus.

36. The license device according to claim 33, wherein said license device further comprises software updates and said license device is adapted to transfer said software updates to a memory of said cash deposit apparatus.

37. The license device according to claim 33, wherein said license device further comprises configuration data for said cash deposit apparatus.

38. The license device according to claim 33, wherein said license device is adapted for connection to said cash deposit apparatus using an interface selected from the group consisting of a RS232 serial interface, a Centronics parallel interface, a universal serial bus interface, a FireWire interface, a wireless universal serial bus interface, a Bluetooth interface, and a custom made interface.

39. A cash deposit apparatus comprising a controller capable of executing at least one software function, said controller being configured to enable said at least one software function when a corresponding license key is present in a license device, said license device being connected to said cash deposit apparatus.

40. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said cash deposit apparatus is configured to enable said at least one software function only when a corresponding license key is present in a license device.

41. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising a memory wherein said controller is adapted to receive a software update from said license device, and to write said software update to said memory.

42. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising a memory, wherein said controller is adapted to receive configuration data from said license device.

43. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 42, comprising a cash processing module with a coin sensor unit for discriminating deposited coins, wherein said configuration data includes reference data for said coin sensor unit.

44. A method for synchronizing a license device with a cash processing module, said method comprising the steps of:

said cash processing module starting up;

said cash processing module replacing a software module of said cash processing module with a corresponding software module stored in said license device, if said corresponding software module in said license device is newer than said software module of said cash processing module;

said cash processing module replacing configuration data of said cash processing module with corresponding configuration data stored in said license device, if said corresponding configuration data in said license device is newer than said configuration data of said cash processing module; and

said cash processing module replacing run-time data of said cash processing module with corresponding run-time data stored in said license device if said corresponding configuration is newer than said configuration of said cash processing module.

45. The method according to claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

storing said configuration data in said license device, and

storing said run-time data in a buffer for storage in said license device.

46. A cash deposit apparatus comprising a controller and a network interface for connection to a network, wherein said controller is adapted to execute web server software, allowing a remote user to interact with said cash deposit apparatus over said network using a remote client.

47. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 46, further being adapted to allow said remote user to configure parameters controlling an operation of said cash deposit apparatus.

48. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 46, further being adapted to allow said remote user to retrieve operational information of said cash deposit apparatus.

49. A cash deposit apparatus, comprising a controller, a memory and a printer, wherein said memory comprises a configurable definition of a receipt type, and said controller is configured to control said printer to print said receipt type according to said configurable definition.

50. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said configurable definition may comprise data indicating that error codes along with appropriate full text explanations are to be printed.

51. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said configurable definition contains at least one content item selected from the group consisting of a text item, a data field item, a graphics item and a barcode item.

52. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 51, wherein each of said at least one content item has a position associated with it.

53. A cash deposit apparatus adapted to accept cash of a first currency and to provide a corresponding credit to a user in a second currency, said credit being calculated using an exchange rate and a commission, wherein said credit depends on an identity of said user

54. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 53, wherein a value of said commission depends on said identity of said user.

55. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said exchange rate depends on said identity of said user.

56. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 53, wherein said user is identified using a data carrier readable by said apparatus.

57. A cash deposit apparatus comprising an input device and a display, said cash deposit apparatus being operable in a plurality of languages, wherein an operating language is selectable by an user among said plurality of languages.

58. The cash deposit apparatus according to claim 57, wherein a default language is used if said user fails to select an operating language.