Network of self-service terminals

• US 6,588,664 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Davies, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/804,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20010023893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/383, 235/385, 705/5, 705/35, 705/43
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered

Abstract

There is provided a network of self-service terminals, in the form of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs): the ATMs comprising a printer and a means for communicating with a remote database. The printer is arranged to print first information onto a token, which includes a unique bar code. The remote database contains second information regarding the purchase of each token.

Claims

1. A method for printing a purchased secure token at a self service terminal, the self service terminal having a card reader, a standard receipt printer and central processing unit, the steps comprising:

inserting a financial card into the card reader to provide data about a user;

communicating with a remote database to transmit token transaction related data to a remote database and to receive token information including security information from the remote database;

printing the secure token with the standard receipt printer, the central processing unit being further operable to control the printer to print a unique bar code based upon the security information on the secure token;

presenting the secure token to a first bar code scanner located in close proximity to a first venue requiring authorized access;

reading the unique bar code from the secure token,

communicating the read bar code information to the remote database;

validating the secure token by comparing the read bar code information against token transaction related data stored in the remote database;

presenting the secure token to a second bar code scanner located in close proximity to a second venue requiring authorized access;

reading the unique bar code from the secure token;

communicating to the remote database the read bar code information and time and location information of token presentment; and

authonizing, access to second venue by considering an expected time to travel between first and second venue and the time and location of token presentment.