Automated transaction machine

• US 6,945,457 B1
• Filed: 05/09/1997
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Transaction Holdings Ltd LLC
• Original Assignee: Transaction Holdings Ltd LLC
• Inventors: Barcelou, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/180,558
• Time in Patent Office: 3,056 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/380, 235/379, 283/72, 283/74, 283/75, 283/100, 283/105, 705/39, 705/23, 705/43
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/206 Software aspects at ATMs

Abstract

An automated retail terminal in which a plurality of goods and/or services are provided in an integrated system (40). The integrated system (40) generally avoids duplicating hardware or functions in the course of delivering the goods or services offered, so for example in a combination ATM and Internet kiosk the same credit card or smart card reader (48) is used for both the ATM and the Internet kiosk functions, the same control screen (42, 44) activates the ATM functions and the Internet functions, and etc.

Claims

1. Integrated banking and transaction apparatus for use by a consumer, comprising:

an automated teller machine; and

means for providing a retail transaction to the consumer through an Internet interface to the automated teller machine.

2. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a smartcard reader/encoder.

3. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic stripe card reader/encoder.

4. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a smart card/magnetic stripe reader/encoder.

5. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said automated teller machine is capable of selectively dispensing currency to the consumer.

6. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for selectively dispensing encodable currency.

7. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for selectively dispensing digital cash or electronic cash.

8. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for selectively dispensing encodable credit.

15. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a removable media encoder.

16. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for selectively dispensing a smart card.

17. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for selectively dispensing a credit card.

18. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for selectively dispensing a debit card.

19. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for selectively dispensing a stored value card.

20. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for selectively dispensing a phone card.

21. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for selectively dispensing removable media.

9. A method of providing banking services and transaction capability to a consumer in a single automated transaction machine, comprising the steps of:

providing automated teller machine access to the consumer via the automated transaction machine; and

providing Internet access to the consumer via the automated transaction machine and realizing a retail transaction.

10. The method of providing banking services and transaction capability according to claim 9, further comprising the step of providing a smartcard/magnetic stripe interface to the consumer via the automated transaction machine.

11. The method of providing banking services and transaction capability according to claim 9, further comprising the step of selectively dispensing encodable currency.

12. The method of providing banking services and transaction capability according to claim 9, further comprising the step of selectively dispersing encodable credit.

13. The method of providing banking services and transaction capability according to claim 9, further comprising the step of selectively dispersing digital cash or electronic cash.

14. The method of providing banking services and transaction capability according to claim 9, wherein the consumer can realize a transaction for goods or services, the goods or services being selected from the group consisting of banking services, electromechanical games of skill services, smart card services, insurance services, restaurant services, travel services, sports services, gaming device services, delivery services, coupon services, floral delivery services, gift basket delivery services, introduction services, audio services, news services, transportation services, utility services, physician services, school services, security services, building services, directory services, home services, military services, personal services, automotive services, employment services, recreational services, travelers/check services, children'"'"'s services, videogames of skill services, Internet services, brokerage services, government services, entertainment services, library services, catalogue services, print services, diagnostic services, chat services, video services, database services, barter services, engineering services, pharmacy services, identification services, detective services, church services, loan services, training services, buying services, recruitment services, accounting services, photographic services, food services, radio services, credit services, theme park services, music services, financial services, full-time vending services, health care services, remote access services, payment services, computer services, search services, network services, subscription services, virtual reality services, advertising services, rental services, programming services, beverage services, credit/debit card services, freight services, stored value card services, beauty services, tax services, leasing services, medical services, emergency services, publishing services, counseling services, satellite services, screening services, real estate services, telephone services, ticket services, television services, dating services, information services, lottery services, software services, reservation services, communication services, Intranet services, adult services, referral services, repair services, legal services, consulting services, maintenance services, moving services, trade show services, design services, lodging services, mail services, fast food services, automated services, recording services, clothing services, wireless services, human services, and encryption services.

22. The method of providing banking services and transaction capability according to claim 9, further comprising the step of dispensing a smart card.

23. The method of providing banking services and transaction capability according to claim 9, further comprising the step of dispensing a credit card.

24. The method of providing banking services and transaction capability according to claim 9, further comprising the step of dispensing a debit card.

25. The method of providing banking services and transaction capability according to claim 9, further comprising the step of dispensing a stored value card.

26. The method of providing banking services and transactions capability according to claim 9, further comprising the step of dispensing a phone card.

27. The method of providing banking services and transactions capability according to claim 9, further comprising the step of dispensing removable media.

28. An integrated banking and transaction apparatus for use by a consumer to purchase a floral service from a floral delivery service, comprising:

an automated teller machine;

an Internet interface to the automated teller machine that can provide the consumer access to the floral delivery service; and

a user interface to the automated teller machine;

wherein the consumer can purchase the floral service through the use of the user interface and the Internet connection.

29. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising means for consummating the purchase with currency.

30. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising means for consummating the purchase with encodable currency.

31. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising means for consummating the purchase with digital cash or electronic cash.

32. The integrated banking and transaction apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising means for consummating the purchase with encodable credit.

33. A method for a consumer to purchase a floral service from a floral delivery service on an automated transaction machine, comprising the steps of:

providing automated teller machine access to the consumer via the automated transaction machine;

providing Internet access to the consumer via the automated transaction machine, such that the consumer can access the floral delivery service; and

purchasing the floral service from the floral delivery service.

34. The method for a consumer to purchase a floral service according to claim 33, further comprising the step of purchasing the floral service with currency.

35. The method for a consumer to purchase a floral service according to claim 33, further comprising the step of purchasing the floral service with encodable currency.

36. The method for a consumer to purchase a floral service according to claim 33, further comprising the step of purchasing the floral service with electronic cash or digital cash.

37. The method for a consumer to purchase a floral service according to claim 33, further comprising the step of purchasing the floral service with encodable credit.