Automatic teller system and method of marking illegally obtained cash

• US 6,679,422 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Smith, Newton James Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nowlin, April
• Application Number:
  US10/062,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20030141372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 705/40, 705/45
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

An automatic teller system and a method of operating the system wherein the system can receive a personalized normal PIN or duress PIN from a user. If the user enters the duress PIN, the system determines that it is a duress PIN and actuates a silent alarm to notify authorities of the possible crime. The system will then simulate a normal transaction, perhaps with a reduced maximum withdrawal amount, so as to not alert a thief or potential thief that the alarm has been actuated, while dispensing bills marked with special ink that is visible only when viewed under special light. Also, the serial numbers of the bills dispensed under duress are recorded by the automatic teller system and automatically communicated to authorities. Under duress conditions, it is preferable that the monitoring of the ATM be enhanced.

Claims

1. A method of operating an automatic teller system, comprising the steps of:

receiving entry of an account number and a PIN into the automatic teller system;

determining whether the PIN entered is a duress PIN associated with the account number; and

upon receiving the duress PIN, dispensing a bill marked with a special invisible ink, wherein the bill is marked with a message or code that includes location or transaction information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon receiving the duress PIN, enhancing monitoring at the automatic teller system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the enhanced monitoring is selected from initiating audio monitoring, initiating use of an additional camera, transmitting an audio or video signal to a monitoring service, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scanning the bill as the bill is dispensed to identify a serial number on the bill; and

storing the serial number of the bill scanned.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bill that is dispensed upon receiving the duress PIN is provided from a special supply of marked bills.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

storing the serial number of the marked bill.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon receiving the duress PIN, enforcing an artificial maximum amount of dispensed cash.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a silent alarm, wherein the silent alarm notifies emergency response authorities that a duress situation may exist.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the special invisible ink is visible only under an artificial light source.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling cameras at the automatic teller system upon receiving the duress PIN.

11. An automatic teller system, comprising:

receiving means for receiving entry of an account number and a PIN into the automatic teller system;

determining means for determining whether the PIN entered is a duress PIN associated with the account number;

a bill dispenser for dispensing a bill; and

a marker, wherein the marker uses a special invisible ink to mark the bill with a message or code that includes location or transaction information.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

initiating means for initiating a silent alarm.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the invisible ink is visible only under an artificial light source.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

scanning means for scanning the bill as the bill is dispensed to identify a serial number on the bill; and

memory means for storing the serial number of the marked bill.

15. A computer program product for operating an automatic teller system, comprising:

receiving instructions for receiving entry of an account number and a PIN into the automatic teller system;

determining instructions for determining whether the PIN entered is a duress PIN associated with the account number; and

dispensing instructions for dispensing a bill; and

upon receiving the duress PIN, marking instructions for marking the bill with a message or code, wherein the bill is marked with a special invisible ink, and wherein the bill is marked with a message or code that includes location or transaction information.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

enabling instructions for enabling cameras at the automatic teller system upon receiving the duress PIN.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the bill that is dispensed upon receiving the duress PIN is provided from a special supply of marked bills.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

scanning instructions for scanning the bill as the bill is dispensed to identify a serial number on the bill; and

storing instructions for storing the serial number of the dispensed bill.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

enforcing instructions for enforcing an artificial maximum amount of dispensed cash upon receiving the duress PIN.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the initiating instructions for initiating a silent alarm include notifying instructions for notifying emergency response authorities that a duress situation may exist.

21. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

enhancing instructions for enhancing monitoring at the automatic teller system upon receiving the duress PIN.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the enhancing instructions are selected from initiating instructions for initiating audio monitoring, initiating instructions for initiating use of an additional camera, transmitting instructions for transmitting an audio or video signal to a monitoring service, and combinations thereof.