Goods/Information Distribution Method by an ATM Terminal Without Using a Debit/Credit Card

• US 20090319360A1
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Roberto Salemi
• Original Assignee: Roberto Salemi
• Inventors: Salemi, Roberto
• Application Number:
  US12/375,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20090319360A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.250
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs

Abstract

A goods/information distribution method by ATM terminal (TE1) operationally associated with a plurality of banks is described, said method including steps of:

• • supplying, on behalf of a bank (B1) of said plurality, an identification code (CDB) to a first mobile communication terminal (TM1) associated with a first user (U1), said code (CDB) being representative of a plurality of attributes (PAT) indicative of the distribution of goods/information;
  • visualising, on a display with which the first mobile terminal (TM1) is equipped, said identification code (CDB);
  • placing, on behalf of the first user (U1), said first mobile terminal (TM1) close to an identification code optical reading device (LTC) with which the ATM terminal (TE1) is equipped;
  • acquiring, on behalf of the ATM terminal (TE1), said identification code;
  • recognising said identification code;
  • making said goods/information available to said first user, on behalf of said ATM terminal.

Claims

1. A goods/information distribution method by an ATM, Automated Teller Machine, terminal (TE1) operationally associated with a plurality of banks (PB), said method including steps of:

supplying (INVM1, CNFP, CLCDB, INVSC, INVM2), on behalf of a bank (B1) of said plurality (PB), an identification code (CDB) to a first mobile communication terminal (TM1) associated with a first user (U1), said code (CDB) being representative of a plurality of attributes (PAT) indicative of the distribution of goods/information;

visualizing (VISM2), on a display with which the first mobile terminal (TM1) is equipped, said identification code (CDB);

placing (M2LTC), on behalf of the first user (U1), said first mobile terminal (TM1) close to an identification code optical reading device (LTC) with which the ATM terminal (TE1) is equipped;

acquiring (AQCDB), on behalf of the ATM terminal (TE1), said identification code;

recognizing (CHKTSF), at the ATM terminal (TE1) said identification code;

making the goods/information available (RNDERG) to the first user, on behalf of the ATM terminal.

2. A distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the step of supplying the identification code includes the step of supplying (INVM1), on behalf of a second user (U2) and through a second communication terminal, a first message (M1), including said plurality of attributes (PAT), to the bank (B1).

3. A distribution method according to claim 2, wherein the step of supplying the identification code further includes the step of comparing (CNFP), on behalf of a first computer associated with the bank (B1), at least a part of the plurality of attributes (PAT) with a plurality of reference information (PIR) stored in the bank (B1).

4. A distribution method according to claim 3, wherein the step of supplying the identification code further includes the step of supplying, on behalf of the bank (B1), said plurality of attributes (PAT) to a validation and control center (200), operationally connected to said bank (B1), when at least said part of said plurality of attributes corresponds to said plurality of reference information.

5. A distribution method according to claim 4, wherein the step of supplying the identification code further includes the step of calculating (CLCDB), on behalf of a second computer (CE2) with which the validation and control center is equipped, said identification code (CDB) based on said plurality of attributes (PAT).

6. A distribution method according to claim 5, wherein the step of supplying the identification code further includes the step of sending (INVSC), on behalf of the validation and control center (200), an activation signal (SC) to an identification code dispatch center (300) operationally connected to said validation and control center (200), said activation signal having attached therewith said identification code (CDB) and a telephone number associated with the first mobile communication terminal (TM1).

7. A distribution method according to claim 6, wherein the step of supplying the identification code further includes the step of dispatching (INVM2), on behalf of a third computer (CE3) with which the dispatch center (300) is equipped, after receiving said activation signal (SC), a second message (M2), including said identification code (CDB), to the first mobile communication terminal (TM1).

8. A distribution method according to claim 7, wherein the second message (M2) further includes an alphanumeric character string (STR) associable with said identification code (CDB).

9. A distribution method according to claim 8, wherein the step of visualizing (VISM2) said identification code includes the step of visualizing, on behalf of the first user (U1) said second message (M2) on the display of the first mobile communication terminal (TM1).

10. A distribution method according to claim 9, wherein the step of placing (M2LTC) said first mobile communication terminal (TM1) close to the reading device (LTC) includes a step of acquiring (AQCDB), on behalf of the second computer (CE2), said identification code (CDB).

11. A distribution method according to claim 10, wherein the step of recognizing (CHKTSF) said identification code (CDB) further includes a step of comparing, on behalf of the second computer (CE2), the plurality of attributes (PAT) extractable by said identification code with the plurality of reference information (PIR).

12. A distribution method according to claim 11, wherein the step of making said goods/information available (RNDERG) includes a step of confirming (CNVLD), on behalf of the first user (U1), the distribution of the goods/information.

13. A distribution method according to claim 12, wherein the step of confirming (CNVLD) includes a step of supplying, to the second computer (CE2), evidence capable of demonstrating that said first user (U1) is the beneficiary of the goods/information.

14. A distribution method according to claim 2, further including the step of confirming (CNFR) to the second user (U2), on behalf of the second computer (CE2), the provided availability, on behalf of the ATM terminal (TE1), of the goods/information.

15. A distribution method according to claim 14, wherein the step of confirming (CNFR) includes a step of sending, on behalf of the dispatch center (300), a third message (M3), on request by the second computer (CE2), to the second user (U2) including information representative of the provided availability of the goods/information.

16. A distribution method according to claim 15, wherein the second message (M2) is of SMS type, the first mobile communication terminal (TM1) is a first cellular telephone, said step of dispatching (INVM2) said second message using a communication network of mobile radio type (RDM).

17. A distribution method according to claim 16, wherein the third message (M3) is of SMS type and the second mobile communication terminal (TM2) is of mobile type, said step of sending the third message (M3) using the mobile radio network (RDM).

18. A distribution method according to claim 17, wherein the first message (M1) is of SMS type and the second communication terminal (TM2) is of mobile type, said step of supplying the first message (M1) using the mobile radio network.

19. A distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the step of supplying the identification code (CDB) includes a step of supplying said plurality of attributes (PAT) to the bank (B1) by calling, on behalf of the second user (U2), a call center.

20. A distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the step of supplying the identification code (CDB) includes a step of supplying said plurality of attributes (PAT) to the bank (B1) by calling, on behalf of the second user (U2), an IVR system.

21. A distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the step of supplying the identification code (CDB) includes a step of supplying said plurality of attributes (PAT) to the bank (B1) by filling in special fields of a web page of a home/remote banking service associated with said bank (B1).

22. A distribution method according to claim 2, further including a step of obtaining, on behalf of the second user (U2), permission for a service of goods/information distribution.

23. A distribution method according to claim 22, wherein the step of obtaining permission includes a step of taking out the subscription to a distribution service.

24. A distribution method according to claim 23, wherein the step of taking out the subscription is feasible in a mode belonging to the following group:

subscription through home banking, subscription through remote banking, subscription through ATM terminal, subscription through an operator of a bank teller.

25. A distribution method according to claim 24, wherein the step of taking out the subscription includes a step of supplying to the bank (1) said plurality of reference information (PIR).

26. A distribution method according to claim 25, wherein said plurality of reference information (PIR) includes:

a first mobile telephone number of the second user (U2);

a second fixed telephone number of the second user;

a list of mobile telephone numbers of benefitting users;

password to access the service of goods/information distribution on behalf of the second user (U2);

debit account.

27. A distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the goods/information is cash.

28. A distribution method according to claim 27, wherein said plurality of attributes (PAT) includes:

mobile telephone number of the first user (U1);

an amount of cash;

a first indication representative of the time validity of the cash distribution at the ATM terminal (TE1);

a second indication representative of the geographic restriction on the presence of the ATM terminal (TE1);

a third indication indicative of banking restrictions on the distribution of cash;

password or secret question to permit the withdrawal by the first user (U1).

29. A distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the goods/information is a prepaid card.

30. A distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the goods/information is a customized promotional message (MPP).

31. A distribution method according to claim 30, wherein the step of supplying the identification code (CDB) to the first user (U1) takes place on behalf of a computer (EE) operationally associated with a database (DB) including the profiling data of a plurality of users.

32. A distribution method according to claim 31, further including the step of choosing, on behalf of the computer (EE), the customized promotional message (MPP) based on a profile of the first user (U1) contained in the database (DB).

33. A distribution method according to claim 30, wherein the step of making the goods/information available includes the step of visualizing said promotional message (MPP) on a monitor with which the ATM terminal (TE1) is equipped.

34. A distribution method according to claim 33, further including the step of printing from the ATM terminal (TE1), on behalf of the first user (U1), a coupon associated with said customized promotional message (MPP) and representative of a discount coupon on the purchase, at a sales outlet, of an item object of said message.

35. A distribution method according to claim 34, wherein said coupon includes a payment code of said item, said payment code being calculated and supplied to the ATM terminal (TE1) by the bank (B1).

36. A distribution method according to claim 35, further including the step of sending, on behalf of the dispatch center (300), a prepayment password to associate with the payment code.

37. A distribution method according to claim 36, including the step of acquiring said item, on behalf of the first user (U1), by exhibiting and using, at the sales outlet, the payment code and the prepayment password to transfer to the sales outlet an amount prepaid by the first user (U1) for the purchase of the item.

38. A distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the goods/information is a payment invoice notice.

39. A distribution method according to claim 38, wherein the identification code is supplied by a utility company for the issue of the payment invoice issued to the first user (U1).

40. A distribution method according to claim 39, wherein the identification code (CDB) is associated with a fourth message (M4) of SMS type and sent to the first mobile communication terminal (TM1) through a mobile radio network.

41. A distribution method according to claim 40, wherein the step of making the goods/information available (RNDERG) includes the step of visualizing said payment invoice notice on the monitor with which the ATM terminal (TE1) is equipped.

42. A distribution method according to claim 41, wherein the step of making said goods/information available further includes the step of paying, on behalf of the first user (U1), the invoice.

43. A distribution method according to claim 41, wherein the step of making the goods/information available further includes the step of inserting, on behalf of the first user (U1), on the ATM terminal (TE1), a remind to visualize on a further terminal with which the first user is equipped.

44. A distribution method according to claim 41, wherein the step of making the goods/information available further includes the step of printing, on behalf of the first user (U1), the invoice paid through a printer with which the ATM terminal (TE1) is equipped.

45. A distribution method according to claim 1, wherein said identification code (CDB) is a bar code.

46. A distribution method according to claim 1, wherein said identification code (CDB) is a two-dimensional code.

47. A distribution method according to claim 27, wherein the step of supplying the identification code includes the step of supplying to the bank (B1), on behalf of the first user (U1), a respective message including said plurality of attributes (PAT).

48. A network architecture (1) of goods/information distribution including:

at least one ATM, Automated Teller Machine, terminal (TE1), equipped with a code reading optical device (LTC);

at least one first mobile communication terminal (TM1) equipped with a visualization display;

a plurality of banks (PB) operationally connected, through a communication network (NTW, RDM), to said at least one first mobile communication terminal (TM1) and to at least one ATM terminal (TE1);

said architecture being characterized by being configured to execute the steps of the distribution method of claim 1.

49. An ATM terminal including:

an optical reading device (LTC) for the acquisition of identification codes;

a control unit (UE) connected to the reading device (LTC) of an identification code representative of a plurality of attributes (PAT) indicative of a goods/information distribution;

at least one goods/information delivery device capable of distributing the goods/information under the control of the control unit following the recognition of said identification code.