Automated teller machine, software and distribution method

• US 6,854,645 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zahorec, Kenneth W., Brunt, Richard P., Steinmetz, Richard A., Somers, Charles H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US10/349,208
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/381, 235/382, 235/382.5, 902/8, 902/14, 902/37, 902/38, 902/39, 902/40, 902/41, 705/43, 705/44, 705/35, 705/39, 713/100, 717/174, 709/221
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/206 Software aspects at ATMs

Abstract

An automated teller machine (12) includes at least one processor (36) which operates to cause transaction function devices (16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34) to operate to carry out banking transactions for users of the machine. A software environment (54) operates in the processor and includes a hardware independent software application (60) which application may be operated successfully in a plurality of brands of automated teller machine hardware. The automated teller machine verifies that the software application has been authorized by an appropriate authorizing entity before the application is enabled to cause operation of transaction function devices. In some distribution methods the software application is provided in source code form at generally no charge to ATM owners and software developers, who are required to contribute modifications to the entity offering the software, which modifications are further made available to facilitate the development and use of platform independent software applications in automated teller machines.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) providing an automated teller machine including at least one software verification device;

(b) installing first software on the automated teller machine;

(c) verifying through operation of the at least one verification device that the first software is authorized by an entity to operate the machine;

(d) enabling the automated teller machine to operate to carry out at least one transaction type responsive to the verification in (c).

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (c) the entity is associated with a manufacturer of the machine.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein (c) includes verifying at least one verification feature provided by the entity and included in the first software.

4. The method according to claim 3 and prior to (b) further comprising:

providing the first software to the entity; and

the entity including in the first software the at least one verification feature.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the at least one verification feature included in the software by the entity includes at least one digital signature.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein (c) includes verifying the at least one digital signature.

7. The method according to claim 4 wherein in (b) the first software comprises an automated teller machine application adapted to operate automated teller machines produced by a plurality of different manufacturers.

8. The method according to claim 4 wherein in (b) the first software comprises service provider software adapted to operate only in a type of automated teller machine produced by a manufacturer associated with the entity.

9. The method according to claim 8 and prior to (b) further comprising:

(e) providing the service provider software to a third party;

(f) the third party modifying the service provider software.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein (f) includes modifying the service provider software to support at least one transaction function device not provided in the type of automated teller machine.

11. The method according to claim 3 and prior to (c) providing the first software from a third party to the entity, the entity including in the first software the at least one verification feature, and the entity returning the first software including the verification feature to the third party.

12. The method according to claim 11 and further comprising the third party distributing the first software, wherein in (b) the first software installed is distributed by the third party.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein in (c) the entity is associated with a manufacturer of the machine, and further comprising:

(d) the entity making the first software available at no charge to a plurality of owners of automated teller machines produced by the manufacturer.

14. The method according to claim 13 and further comprising:

(f) the entity making the source code associated with the software and the right to modify the source code available to third party developers at no charge, on the condition that all modified forms of the software be provided to the entity.

15. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

(e) providing the first software to the entity;

and wherein (c) comprises communicating data corresponding to at least one identifying feature of the first software with at least one remote computer associated with the entity.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein in (c) the at least one identifying feature comprises a hash of at least a portion of the first software.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein in (c) the at least one identifying feature comprises a measured parameter of at least a portion of the first software.

18. The method according to claim 15 and further comprising:

operating the remote computer utilizing the first software provided to the entity in (e) to calculate the data corresponding to the at least one identifying feature.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein in (b) the first software comprises an automated teller machine software application adapted to operate automated teller machines produced by a plurality of different manufacturers.

20. The method according to claim 18 wherein in (b) the first software comprises service provider software adapted to operate only in automated teller machines produced by a manufacturer associated with the entity.

21. The method according to claim 1 and prior to (d) further comprising:

(e) installing second software in the automated teller machine;

(f) verifying through operation of the at least one verification device that the second software is authorized by the entity to operate in the machine;

wherein in (d) the machine is enabled to carry out the at least one transaction type responsive to the verification in both (c) and (f).

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein in (a) the first software comprises application software adapted to operate automated teller machines of a plurality of different manufacturers, and wherein the entity is associated with one of the plurality of different manufacturers.

23. The method according to claim 21 wherein in at least one of (c) and (f) at least one verification feature included in at least one of the first software and the second software by the entity, is verified by the at least one software verification device.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein in (c) the at least one verification device is operative to verify at least one verification feature included in the first software by the entity, and in (f) the at least one verification device is operative to verify at least one verification feature included in the second software by the entity.

25. The method according to claim 21 and prior to (d):

(g) determining through operation of the machine that the first and second software are indicated by the entity to be suitable for operation together; and

(h) enabling the machine to carry out the at least one transaction type responsive to the determination in (g).

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the determination in (g) is made by the machine responsive to verification features included in the first and second software by the entity.

27. The method according to claim 25 where the determination in (g) is made by the machine through communication with a remote computer associated with the entity.

28. A method comprising:

(a) providing a first software from a third party to an entity

(b) including in the first software at least one verification feature by the entity;

(c) returning the first software including the verification feature to the third party;

(d) providing an automated teller machine including at least one software verification device;

(e) installing the first software on the automated teller machine;

(f) verifying through operation of the at least one verification device that the first software is authorized by the entity to operate the machine, including verifying the at least one verification feature provided by the entity and included in the first software; and

(g) enabling the automated teller machine to operate to carry out at least one transaction type responsive to the verification in (f).

29. A method comprising:

(a) providing a first software to an entity;

(b) providing an automated teller machine including at least one software verification device;

(c) installing first software on the automated teller machine;

(d) verifying through operation of the at least one verification device that the first software is authorized by an entity to operate the machine, including communicating data corresponding to at least one identifying feature of the first software with at least one remote computer associated with the entity;

(e) enabling the automated teller machine to operate to carry out at least one transaction type responsive to the verification in (d).

30. A method comprising:

(a) providing a first software to an entity, wherein the first software comprises an automated teller machine application adapted to operate automated teller machines produced by a plurality of different manufacturers;

(b) including in the first software at least one verification feature by the entity;

(c) providing an automated teller machine including at least one software verification device and a cash dispenser;

(d) installing the first software on the automated teller machine;

(e) verifying through operation of the at least one verification device that the first software is authorized by the entity to operate the machine;

(f) enabling the automated teller machine to operate to carry out at least one transaction type responsive to the verification in (e).

31. A method comprising:

(a) providing a service provider software to a third party, wherein the service provider software is adapted to operate only in a type of automated teller machine produced by a manufacturer associated with an entity,

(b) modifying the service provider software by the third party;

(c) providing the service provider software to the entity,

(d) including in the service provider software at least one verification feature by the entity,

(e) providing an automated teller machine including at least one software verification device and a cash dispenser;

(f) installing the service provider software on the automated teller machine;

(g) verifying through operation of the at least one verification device that the service provider software is authorized by the entity to operate the machine;

(h) enabling the automated teller machine to operate to carry out at least one transaction type responsive to the verification in (g).

32. A method comprising:

(a) providing an automated teller machine including at least one software verification device;

(b) installing first software on the automated teller machine, wherein the first software comprises application software adapted to operate automated teller machines of a plurality of different manufacturers;

(c) verifying through operation of the at least one verification device that the first software is authorized by an entity to operate the machine, wherein the entity is associated with one of the plurality of different manufacturers;

(d) installing second software in the automated teller machine;

(e) verifying through operation of the at least one verification device that the second software is authorized by the entity to operate in the machine;

(f) enabling the automated teller machine to operate to carry out at least one transaction type responsive to the verifications in both (c) and (e).

33. A method comprising:

(a) providing an automated teller machine including at least one software verification device;

(b) installing first software on the automated teller machine;

(c) verifying through operation of the at least one verification device that the first software is authorized by an entity to operate the machine;

(d) installing second software in the automated teller machine;

(e) verifying through operation of the at least one verification device that the second software is authorized by the entity to operate in the machine;

(f) verifying through operation of the machine that the first and second software are indicated by the entity to be suitable for operation together; and

(g) enabling the automated teller machine to operate to carry out at least one transaction type responsive to the verifications in (c), (e), and (f).