Multi-transactional architecture

• US 6,308,887 B1
• Filed: 07/02/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cash Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cash Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Korman, Bruce R., Bergman, Darryl Jesse
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/347,069
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 705/35, 705/43, 705/44, 705/17, 902/8, 902/4, 902/25, 902/26, 902/27, 350/25, 350/24
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An automated transaction machine network which supports multiple-destination transactions and a variety of communication protocols and/or message formats including standard and proprietary protocols and/or message formats. The automated transaction machine network includes a Super-ATM (Automatic/Automated Transaction Machine) which interfaces with a variety of peripherals: standard-ATM peripherals and/or sensors, and nonstandard ATM peripherals and/or sensors. The Super-ATM can process traditional ATM transactions, non-traditional ATM transactions, and Point-of-sale (POS) transactions.

Claims

1. A transaction network, comprising:

a first service provider responsive to a message having a first format;

a second service provider responsive to a message having a second format different from said first format; and

a transaction terminal adapted to communicate with the first service provider with the first formatted message in response to a first user input, and with the second service provider with the second formatted message in response to a second user input.

2. The transaction network of claim 1 wherein said first service provider comprises a banking network, said second service provider comprises a non-banking network, and said transaction terminal is adapted to dispense money in response to the first user input.

3. The transaction network of claim 1 further comprising a third service provider responsive to a message having a third format different from said first and second formats, and wherein said transaction terminal communicates with both the second service provider using the second formatted message and the third service provider using the third formatted message in response to the second user input.

4. The transaction network of claim 1 further comprising a processor adapted to convert the first user input into the first formatted message, and convert the second user input into the second formatted message.

5. The transaction network of claim 4 wherein the processor is included within the transaction terminal.

6. The transaction network of claim 4 wherein the processor comprises a host computer remote from said transaction terminal.

7. The transaction network of claim 6 wherein said processor further comprising a workflow processor that processes and controls said first and second messages from said transaction terminal asynchronously.

8. The transaction network of claim 7 wherein the workflow processor processes and controls said first and second messages in at least one of a multi-threading and multi-state processing manner.

9. The transaction network of claim 1 wherein said transaction terminal further comprises a multimedia printer adapted to generate printed media in response to the first user input.

10. The transaction network of claim 1 wherein said transaction terminal further comprises a sensor adapted to extract identification information in response to one of said first and second user inputs.

11. The transaction network of claim 10 wherein one of said first and second formatted messages comprises the identification information in response to the respective user input.

12. The transaction network of claim 10 wherein said sensor comprises a magnetic ink character recognition reader.

13. The transaction network of claim 10 wherein said sensor comprises a validator.

14. The transaction network of claim 10 wherein said sensor comprises a biometric system.

15. The transaction network of claim 10 wherein said sensor comprises a signature pad.

16. The transaction network of claim 10 wherein said sensor comprises an optical character recognition scanner.

17. The transaction network of claim 1 wherein said transaction terminal further comprises a product multimedia dispenser adapted to dispense a multimedia product in response to the first user input.

18. The transaction network of claim 1 wherein said transaction terminal further comprises a card dispenser adapted to dispense a card in response to the first user input.

19. The transaction network of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second formatted messages includes user identification information.

20. The transaction network of claim 19 wherein the user identification information is based upon user input at said transaction terminal.

21. The transaction network of claim 20 wherein the user input further comprises biometric information.

22. An transaction network, comprising:

a first service provider responsive to a message having a first format;

a second service provider responsive to a message having a second format different from said first format; and

a transaction terminal adapted to communicate with both the first service provider with the first formatted message and the second service provider with the second formatted message in response to a first user input.

23. The transaction network of claim 22 wherein said first service provider comprises a banking network, said second service provider comprises a non-banking network.

24. The transaction network of claim 22 wherein said transaction terminal further comprises a product multimedia dispenser adapted to dispense a multimedia product in response to the first user input.

25. The transaction of claim 22 wherein said transaction terminal further comprises a card dispenser adapted to dispense a card in response to the first user input.

26. The transaction network of claim 22 wherein said transaction terminal further comprises a multimedia printer adapted to generate printed media in response to the first user input.

27. The transaction network of claim 22 wherein said transaction terminal further comprises a sensor adapted to extract identification information in response to one of said first and second user inputs.

28. The transaction network of claim 27 wherein said one of said first and second formatted messages comprises the identification information in response to the respective user input.

29. The transaction network of claim 27 wherein said sensor comprises a magnetic ink character recognition reader.

30. The transaction network of claim 27 wherein said sensor comprises a validator.

31. The transaction network of claim 27 wherein said sensor comprises a biometric system.

32. The transaction network of claim 27 wherein said sensor comprises a signature pad.

33. The transaction network of claim 27 wherein said sensor comprises an optical character recognition scanner.

34. The transaction network of claim 22 further comprising a third service provider responsive to a message having a third format different from said first and second formats, and wherein said transaction terminal communicates with the third service provider using the third formatted message in response to a second user input.

35. The transaction network of claim 34 wherein said third service provider comprises a banking network, and said transaction terminal is adapted to dispense money in response to the second user input.

36. The transaction network of claim 22 further comprising a processor adapted to convert the first user input into the first formatted message, and convert the second user input into the second formatted message.

37. The transaction network of claim 36 wherein the processor is included within the transaction terminal.

38. The transaction network of claim 36 wherein the processor comprises a host computer remote from said transaction terminal.

39. A transaction terminal, comprising:

a data entry device for selecting between plural requests, said data entry device providing respective outputs responsive to each of the plural requests;

a processor for formatting a message in response to the output, said formatted message comprising the selected message; and

at least one of;

a product multimedia dispenser for dispensing a multimedia product corresponding to a first one of the plural requests;

a card dispenser for dispensing a card corresponding to a second one of the plural requests; and

a multimedia printer for generating printed media corresponding to a third one of the plural requests.

40. The transaction terminal of claim 39, further comprising a sensor for extracting identification information in response to the selected request, wherein said sensor is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic ink character recognition reader, a validator, a biometric system, a signature pad, and an optical character recognition scanner.

41. A method for performing a transaction with one of a plurality of service providers from single transaction terminal, each of the service providers being responsive to a message having a format different than the other service providers, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting a request into the transaction terminal from a user;

sensing, at the transaction terminal, identification information;

confirming the identification information;

selecting, at the transaction terminal, a service offered by one of the service providers in response to the request if said identification information is confirmed;

converting the request into a message having the format for said one of the selected service providers if said identification information is confirmed; and

transmitting the formatted message to said one of the selected service providers if said identification information is confirmed.

42. A method for performing transactions with at least one of a plurality of destination computers from a transaction terminal through a host computer, each of the destination computers communicating with said transaction terminal via said host computer, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one transaction request from a user through said transaction terminal;

providing a transaction request message to said host reflecting said at least one transaction request;

parsing said transaction request message into plural transaction components corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of destination computers;

identifying dependencies between said plural transaction components; and

communicating with said plurality of destination computers in an order defined at least in part by said dependencies.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said communicating step further comprises communicating with said plurality of destination computers using a communication protocol unique to each corresponding destination computer.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein said communicating step further comprises communicating with at least two of said plurality of destination computers simultaneously.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein said communicating step further comprises communicating with at least two of said plurality of destination computers asynchronously.

46. The method of claim 42, further comprising the steps of sensing identification information of said user and confirming the identification information.

47. A transaction network, comprising:

at least one transaction terminal having a user interface responsive to user inputs to initiate and conduct transactions with a plurality of destination computers; and

a host computer connected to said at least one transaction terminal through a communication network, said host computer being further connected to said plurality of destination computers over separate communication networks, said host computer parsing a transaction message received from said at least one transaction terminal into plural transaction components corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of destination computers, and communicating with said plurality of destination computers in an order defined at least in part by dependencies between said plural transaction components.

48. The transaction network of claim 47, wherein at least one of said plurality of destination computers further comprises a banking network.

49. The transaction network of claim 47, wherein at least one of said plurality of destination computers further comprises a non-banking network.

50. The transaction network of claim 47, wherein said plural transaction components are executed simultaneously and independently by said host computer.

51. The transaction network of claim 47, wherein said host computer communicates with said plurality of destination computers using respective communication protocols unique to each of said destination computers.