Automatic Generation of Change Orders

• US 20100082443A1
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Johnson, Shane Anthony, Folk, Amy Baker, Sanders, William Thomas, Bohen, Daniel Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,812,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• 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 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/00 Complete banking systems; Coded card-freed arrangements adapted for dispensing or receiving monies or the like and posting such transactions to existing accounts, e.g. automatic teller machines data processing equipment for bank accounting G06Q40/02

Abstract

A method for automatically generating change orders may be performed at a point of sale system. The point of sale system may determine an amount of funds in the point of sale system and whether additional funds are necessary. If so, a change order may be automatically requested from a back office system (e.g., a cash recycler) or a financial institution. The back office system may determine whether it is able to fulfill the change order request and if not, forward the request to the financial institution. In one or more arrangements, a notification that a change order request has been received may be transmitted to a manager or other change order personnel. The change order request and funds delivered to the point of sale system in response thereto may be reconciled with the back office system.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A method comprising:

receiving, at a back office system, a change order request from a point of sale system;

determining whether the back office system is able to fulfill the change order request; and

in response to determining that the back office system is able to fulfill the change order request, preparing funds for delivery to the point of sale system in accordance with the change order request.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein preparing funds for delivery includes transmitting a notification to change order personnel for authorization to fulfill the change order request.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising forwarding the change order request to a financial institution in response to determining that the back office system is unable to fulfill the change order request.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the change order request is forwarded to the financial institution as part of a group of change order requests.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the point of sale system and the back office system are located in a retail location.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the change order request is received through a data network connection.

21. The method of claim 7, wherein the change order request is automatically generated at the point of sale system.

22. The method of claim 9, wherein financial institution is located remote from the retail location.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to;

receive, at a back office system, a change order request from a point of sale system;

determine whether the back office system is able to fulfill change order request; and

in response to determining that the back office system is able to fulfill the change order request, prepare funds for delivery to the point of sale system in accordance with the change order request.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein preparing funds for delivery includes transmitting a notification to change order personnel for authorization to fulfill the change order request.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising forwarding the change order request to a financial institution in response to determining that the back office system is unable to fulfill the change order request.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the change order request is forwarded to the financial institution as part of a group of change order requests.

17-20. -20. (canceled)