Secure depository system

• US 6,601,045 B1
• Filed: 09/17/1999
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davis, Steven R., DePietro, Mark A., Artino, Robert V., Rozlosnik, Alan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartuska, F. J.
• Application Number:
  US09/398,176
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 705/43, 235/379, 902/9, 902/12, 902/20, 902/41
• US Class Current: 705/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/0096 Accepting paper currency or other valuables in containers, e.g. in code-marked envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A secure depository system (150; 158, 164, 180, 192) includes at least one secure depository (10, 152, 154, 160, 166, 168, 184, 194, 128). Deposits are enabled to be made into the secure depository by providing appropriate inputs to input devices (20, 22, 24) which are supported on a control panel (16). The control panel includes a processor (70) in operative connection with a data store (72). The data store includes data representative of inputs provided by authorized users who are authorized to operate the depository. Data concerning authorized users is delivered to the data store from a remote computer (174). Data concerning deposits made into the depository is stored in the data store and provided to the remote computer as well as to authorized service persons for purposes of auditing deposits made into the depository.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

(a) removing a key cylinder from a key opening on a face of a depository, wherein the key opening extends between an interior area and an exterior area of the depository;

(b) installing an electrical actuator in an interior area of the depository, wherein the electrical actuator is in operative connection with a depository door and is operative to selectively change the door between a locked condition and an unlocked condition;

(c) mounting a control panel in supporting connection with the face of the depository, wherein the control panel extends in generally overlying relation of the key opening, wherein the control panel includes at least one user input device; and

(d) extending control wiring through the key opening, wherein the control wiring is in operative connection with the actuator and the input device, wherein at least one input to the input device is operative to cause the depository door to change from the locked condition to the unlocked condition.

2. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising the step of:

(e) installing an exterior camera in supporting connection with the depository, wherein the exterior camera has an exterior field of view including at least a portion of the exterior area.

3. The method according to claim 2 and further comprising the step of:

(f) installing an interior camera in supporting connection with the depository, wherein the interior camera has an interior field of view including at least a portion of the interior area, wherein the interior field of view includes at least one item placed in the depository through the depository door.

4. The method according to claim 3 and further comprising the step of:

(g) operatively connecting the exterior camera, interior camera and input device to a recording device, wherein the recording device is operative responsive to at least one input to the input device to record at least one image of the exterior field of view and at least one image of the interior field of view.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein in step (g) the interior camera and the exterior camera are operatively connected to the recording device through a frame splitter, wherein an image of an exterior field of view and an image of an interior field of view are recorded simultaneously.

6. The method according to claim 1 and subsequent to steps (a) through (d) further comprising the steps of:

(e) inputting at least one input to the input device, wherein the input is operative to cause the actuator to cause the door to change to an unlocked condition;

(f) opening the door to enable access through a depository opening to the interior area; and

(g) inserting a deposit item through the depository opening.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the input device includes a card reader, and wherein step (e) includes reading a card with the card reader.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the input device includes a keypad, and wherein step (e) includes pressing at least one key on the keypad.

9. The method according to claim 6 wherein the input device includes a key actuator, wherein step (e) includes inserting a key in the key actuator.

10. The method according to claim 6 and further comprising the steps of

(h) capturing an image of the exterior area adjacent the control panel;

(i) capturing an image of the deposit item in the interior area; and

(j) storing the images captured in steps (i) and (j) with a recording device.

11. The method according to claim 6 and further comprising the step of:

(h) printing a receipt with a printer supported on the control panel.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein step (e) comprises inputting a user identifying input and an amount input, and wherein step (h) comprises printing indicia corresponding to the identifying input and the amount input on the receipt.

13. The method according to claim 11 and prior to step (e) further comprising the step of:

storing in a data store in operative connection with a processor in connection with the depository, data representative of a depository identifier of the depository, and wherein step (h) comprises printing indicia representative of the depository identifier on the receipt.

14. The method according to claim 6 and prior to step (e) further comprising the step of:

storing data in a data store in operative connection with a processor in operative connection with the depository, data representative of at least one authorized user input, and

wherein step (e) comprises comparing the input with the data representative of authorized user inputs stored in the data store through operation of the processor, wherein responsive to the input corresponding in a predetermined manner with at least one authorized user input the processor is operative to cause the actuator to place the door in the unlocked condition.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the input device includes a card reader, and wherein in step (e) the input includes passing a card through the card reader.

16. The method according to claim 6 wherein the control panel further includes an output device, and prior to step (e) further comprising the step of:

storing in a data store in operative connection with a processor in connection with the depository, data representative of at least one output message, wherein the method further comprises outputting an output message through the output device responsive to operation of the processor.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein step (e) comprises inputting a user identifying input and an amount input, and wherein the step of outputting the output message is performed between the input of the user identifying input and the amount input.

18. The method according to claim 6 and further comprising the step of:

(h) storing in a data store in operative connection with a processor located in supporting;

connection with the control panel, data representative of the input.

19. The method according to claim 18 and further comprising the step of:

(i) outputting responsive to operation of the processor, data representative of the input.

20. The method according to claim 18 and further comprising the steps of:

repeating steps (e) through (h) for a plurality of inputs and deposit items wherein data representative of each input is stored in the data store; and

(i) outputting responsive to the processor, data representative of the input corresponding to each deposit item.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein step (i) comprises transferring data representative of the input to a remote computer.

22. The method according to claim 20 and further comprising the steps of:

(j) counting each deposit item inserted in the depository responsive to operation of the processor;

(k) storing data representative of a count of deposits in the data store; and

(l) outputting the count responsive to operation of the processor.

23. The method according to claim 22 and further comprising the steps of:

(m) removing the deposit items from the interior area; and

(n) comparing the number of deposit items removed from the interior area to the count.

24. The method according to claim 23 and further comprising the step of:

(o) resetting the count to zero responsive to operation of the processor.

25. The method according to claim 22 and prior to step (l) further comprising the step of storing in the data store, data representative of at least one service entity input, and wherein step (l) is carried out responsive to an input of the service entity input through the input device.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the control panel includes a printer in supporting connection therewith, and wherein step (l) includes printing indicia representative of the count with the printer.

27. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (c) the control panel is disposed from the face of the depository such that a fluid conduit extends between the face surface and the control panel.