Method and system for remote dial-up ATM

• US 5,784,439 A
• Filed: 06/24/1997
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Automated Teller Machines International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cash On Demand, Inc.
• Inventors: Nagelmann, Frank, Averill, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PALAN, STEPHEN C
• Application Number:
  US08/881,556
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 902/8, 902/14, 902/22, 902/39, 395/500, 705/42, 705/43, 379/90.01, 379/91.01, 379/91.02, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.12, 379/93.26
• US Class Current: 379/91.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/305 using wired telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A remote dial-up ATM system having a host emulator located proximate to an ATM and directly connected thereto, separated by a dial-up telephone connection, from an ATM emulator located proximate to the host and directly connected thereto. The host emulator maintains the on-line status of the ATM at the ATM site. The ATM emulator maintains the on-line status of the host. This configuration creates a virtual dedicated circuit linking the ATM and the host via a dial-up telephone connection.

Claims

1. A system for conducting banking transactions using a remote self-service ATM with on-demand access for the ATM'"'"'s host computer for ever transaction, said system comprising,

(a) an automatic teller machine having the capability of directly dispensing monetary funds,

(b) a host computer for the automatic teller machine, and

(c) a non-continuous communications link between the automatic teller machine and the host computer, said non-continuous communications link being the primary communications link between said ATM and said host computer.

2. A system a described in claim 1 wherein the non-continuous communications link is a dial-up telephone connection interface.

3. A system for conducting banking transactions using a remote self-service ATM with on-demand access to the ATM'"'"'s host computer for every transaction, said system comprising,

(a) an automatic teller machine having the capability of dispensing monetary funds,

(b) a host computer for the automatic teller machine,

(c) a non-continuous communications link between the automatic teller machine and the host computer, said non-continuous communications link being the primary communications link between said ATM and said host computer, and

(d) a means for emulation of a continuous communications link between the automatic teller machine and the host computer.

4. A system as described in claim 3 wherein the non-continuous communications link is a dial-up telephone connection interface.

5. A system for conducting banking transactions using a remote self-service ATM with on-demand access to the ATM'"'"'s host computer for every transaction, said system comprising:

(a) an automatic teller machine having the capability of dispensing monetary funds,

(b) a host computer for the automatic teller machine,

(c) a non-continuous communications link between the automatic teller machine and the host computer, said non-continuous communications link being the primary communications link between said ATM and said host computer,

(d) an emulator on the automatic teller machine side of the non-continuous communications link, said emulator emulating to the automatic teller machine a continuous communications link with the host computer, and

(e) an emulator on the host computer side of the non-continuous communications link, said emulator emulating to the host computer a continuous communications link with the automatic teller machine.

6. A system as described in claim 5 wherein the non-continuous communications link is a dial-up telephone connection interface.

7. A system as described in claim 5 wherein the automatic teller machine has apparently continuous communications with the host computer.

8. A system as described in claim 5 wherein the host computer has apparently continuous communications with the automatic teller machine.

9. A system for conducting financial transactions using a remote self-service terminal with on-demand access to an ATM host computer for every transaction, said system comprising:

(a) a remote terminal which includes a communications protocol of an ATM, said remote terminal having the capability of dispensing funds therefrom,

(b) a host computer for said remote terminal,

(c) a non-continuous communications link between said remote terminal and the host computer, said non-continuous communications link being the primary communications link between said remote terminal and said host computer, and

(d) a means for emulation of a continuous communications link between said remote terminal and the host computer.

10. A system as described in claim 9, wherein said means for emulation includes an emulator on the remote terminal side of the non-continuous communications link.

11. A system as described in claim 10, wherein electronic polling communications and electronic responses thereto periodically occur between said remote terminal and said emulator.

12. A system as described in claim 9 wherein said means for emulation includes an emulator on the host computer side of the non-continuous communications link.

13. A system as described in claim 12 wherein electronic polling communications and electronic responses thereto periodically occur between said host computer and said emulator.

14. A system as described in claim 9 wherein said means for emulation includes:

(e) a first emulator on the remote terminal side of the non-continuous communications link, said first emulator emulating to the remote terminal a continuous communication link with the host computer; and

(f) a second emulator on the host computer side of the non-continuous communications link, said second emulator emulating to the host computer a continuous communications link with the remote terminal.

15. A system as described in claim 14 wherein host computer electronic polling communications are periodically sent from said remote terminal to said first emulator, and responses thereto are sent from said first emulator to said remote terminal;

and wherein ATM electronic polling communications are periodically sent from said host computer to said second emulator, and responses thereto are sent from said second emulator to said host computer.

16. An emulation system for installation within an electronic interconnection between a host computer and a remote terminal having the capability of dispensing funds therefrom, comprising:

a first emulator for interconnection in electronic communication with said remote terminal;

a second emulator for interconnection in electronic communication with said host computer;

said first emulator and said second emulator being electronically adapted for a non-continuous communications link therebetween, said non-continuous communications link being the primary communications link between said first emulator and said second emulator.

17. An emulation system as described in claim 16 wherein said first emulator is adapted to provide electronic signals responsive to polling electronic signals received from said remote terminal.

18. An emulation system as described in claim 16 wherein said second emulator is adapted to provide electronic signals responsive to polling electronic signals received from said host computer.

19. An emulation system as described in claim 16 wherein said first emulator is designed to electronically communicate with said second emulator through said non-continuous communications link upon the receipt of electronic signals from said remote terminal.

20. A method for establishing a non-continuous communications link between a remote terminal having the capability of dispensing funds and a host computer, wherein said remote terminal and said host computer require an apparently continuous communications link there between, comprising the steps of:

(a) interconnecting a first emulation means with said remote terminal, said first emulation means acting to emulate a host computer;

(b) interconnecting a second emulation means with said host terminal, said second emulation means acting to emulate a remote terminal;

(c) establishing a non-continuous communications link between said first emulation means and said second emulation means, said non-continuous communications link being the primary communications link between said first emulation means and said second emulation means.

21. A method as described in claim 20 wherein said first emulation means provides signals to said remote terminal representative of a host computer in continuous communication therewith;

and said second emulation means provides electronic signals to host computer representative of a remote terminal in continuous communication therewith.

22. A method as described in claim 20 including the further steps of interconnecting said remote terminal and said host computer in a direct communications mode to establish communication therebetween, said establishment of direct communication mode including the steps of:

(a) providing a communication between said remote terminal and said first emulation means;

(b) providing a communication between said first emulation means and said second emulation means;

(c) providing a communication between said second emulation means and said host computer;

(d) providing a communication between said host computer and said remote terminal; and

(e) providing further communications between said remote terminal and said host computer.