Automated banking machine apparatus and system

• US 6,963,333 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1998
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Drummond, Jay Paul, Blackson, Dale, Smith, Mark D., Weis, David W., Cichon, Bob A., Moales, Mark A., Ess, Joseph C., Church, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US09/193,624
• Time in Patent Office: 2,548 Days
• Field of Search: 705/43, 345/163, 345/173, 345/156, 345/157, 345/160, 345/168, 235/379, 235/381
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network

Abstract

An automated banking machine (12) is operative to conduct transactions in response to HTML documents and TCP/IP messages exchanged with a local computer system (14) through an intranet (16), as well as in response to messages exchanged with foreign servers (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 96) in a wide area network (18). The banking machine includes a computer (34) having an HTML document handling portion (76, 80, 82). The HTML document handling portion is operative to communicate through a proxy server (88), with a home HTTP server (90) in the intranet or the foreign servers in the wide area network. The computer flurther includes a device application portion (84) which interfaces with the HTML document handling portion and dispatches messages to operate devices (36) in the automated banking machine. The devices include a sheet dispenser mechanism (42) which dispenses currency as well as other transaction devices. The device application portion communicates with a device interfacing software portion (64) in the banking machine through a device server (92) in the intranet. The device server maintains local control over the devices in the banking machine including the sheet dispenser. The banking machine operates to read indicia on the user'"'"'s card corresponding to a system address. The computer is operative to connect the banking machine to the home or foreign server corresponding to the system address, which connected server operates the banking machine until the completion of transactions by the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

(a) producing a first function key input signal by pressing a first function key on an automated banking machine;

(b) converting the first function key input signal to a first mouse input signal including indicia corresponding to a first mouse input location; and

(c) delivering the first mouse input signal to a mouse input stream of a computer in operative connection with the automated banking machine.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the machine includes a screen, and wherein the first function key is adjacent to the screen on the machine, and wherein the first mouse input location is on the screen adjacent to the first function key.

3. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising the steps of:

(d) producing a second function key input signal by pressing a second function key on the automated banking machine;

(e) converting the second function key input signal to a second mouse input signal including indicia corresponding to a second mouse input location disposed of the first location; and

(f) delivering the second mouse input signal to the mouse input stream of the computer.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the automated banking machine includes a screen, wherein the first function key is disposed on the machine adjacent the screen, and wherein the second function key is positioned on the machine adjacent the screen and is disposed from the first function key, and wherein the first mouse input location is on the screen adjacent the first function key and the second mouse input location is on the screen adjacent the second function key.

5. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising the steps of:

(d) producing a first keypad input signal by pressing a first keypad key on the automated banking machine;

(e) converting the first keypad key input signal to a first keyboard input signal; and

(f) delivering the first keyboard input signal to a keyboard input stream of the computer.

6. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising the steps of:

d) producing a first keypad input signal by pressing a first keypad key on the automated banking machine;

e) converting the first keypad input signal to a second mouse input signal including indicia corresponding to a second mouse input location disposed of the first location; and

f) delivering the second mouse input signal to the mouse input stream of the computer.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the machine includes a data store, and wherein the data store includes conversion data, wherein the conversion data is usable to convert at least one function key input signal to a mouse input signal, and prior to step (e) further comprising the step of:

(d) obtaining from the data store the conversion data and converting the first function key input signal to the first mouse input signal using the conversion data.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the conversion data includes coordinate data corresponding to at least one mouse input location, and wherein in step (d) the conversion data includes coordinate data.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the machine includes at least one server in operative connection with the computer, and prior to step (d) further comprising the step of:

(e) accessing a first HTTP record through the server, wherein in step (d) the conversion data is obtained responsive to accessing the first record.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the conversion data includes a plurality of sets, and wherein each set corresponds to at least one HTTP record, and wherein in step (d) the conversion data is obtained from a first set corresponding to the first record.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the machine includes a plurality of function keys, and prior to step (a) further comprising the step of:

selectively enabling the first function key, wherein the first function key input signal is generated responsive to the first function key being pressed.

12. The method according to claim 7 wherein the machine includes a plurality of function keys and further comprising the step of:

(e) disabling operation of a second function key on the machine responsive to the conversion data provided in step (d), wherein pressing the second function key does not result in the delivery of a signal to the mouse input stream.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the machine includes at least one server in operative connection with the computer, and prior to step (d) further comprising the step of:

(f) accessing a first HTTP record through the server, wherein the conversion data in step (e) operative to disable the second function key is obtained responsive to accessing the first record.

14. An automated banking machine operated in accordance with the method recited in claim 1.

15. At least one article including computer software stored thereon, wherein the computer software is operative when executed in a computer in an automated banking machine to operate the machine in accordance with the method recited in claim 1.

16. The method according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine comprises a screen, and wherein the computer is operative to provide a mouse location indicator visible on the screen, and further comprising the step of:

suppressing the mouse location indicator, wherein the mouse location indicator is generally not visible when viewing the screen.

17. The method according to claim 9 wherein in step (e) the HTTP record includes an HTML document.

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

d) producing a second function key input signal responsive to a second function key being pressed on the automated banking machine;

e) converting the second function key input signal to a second mouse input signal including indicia corresponding to a second mouse input location disposed of the first location; and

f) delivering the second mouse input signal to the mouse input stream of the computer.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the automated banking machine includes a screen, wherein the first function key is disposed on the machine adjacent the screen, and wherein the second function key is positioned on the machine adjacent the screen and is disposed from the first function key, and wherein the first mouse input location is on the screen adjacent the first function key and the second mouse input location is on the screen adjacent the second function key.

18. A method comprising the steps of:

a) producing a first keypad key input signal by pressing a first keypad key on an automated banking machine;

b) converting the first keypad key input signal to a first mouse input signal including indicia corresponding to a first mouse input location; and

c) delivering the first mouse input signal to a mouse input stream of a computer in operative connection with an automated banking machine.

19. An automated banking machine operated in accordance with the method steps recited in claim 18.

20. At least one article including computer software thereon, wherein the computer software is operative when executed in a computer of an automated banking machine to operate the machine in accordance with the method recited in claim 18.

21. A method comprising:

a) receiving a function key input signal responsive to pressing of a function key on an automated banking machine, wherein the function key is adjacent a display screen on the automated banking machine;

b) obtaining conversion data from a data store, wherein the conversion data includes mouse input location data that corresponds to a location on the display screen that is adjacent the function key;

c) converting the function key input signal to a mouse input signal responsive to the conversion data; and

d) delivering the mouse input signal to a mouse input stream of a computer operating system of a computer in operative connection with the automated banking machine.

22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising:

e) accessing a document from a server in operative connection the computer, wherein in step (b) the conversion data is obtained responsive to the document.

23. A method comprising:

a) producing a first function key input signal responsive to a first function key being pressed on an automated banking machine;

b) converting the first function key input signal to a first mouse input signal including indicia corresponding to a first mouse input location; and

c) delivering the first mouse input signal to a mouse input stream of a computer in operative connection with the automated banking machine.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the machine includes a screen, and wherein the first function key is adjacent to the screen on the machine, and wherein the first mouse input location is on the screen adjacent to the first function key.

27. The method according to claim 23 and further comprising:

d) producing a first keypad input signal responsive to a first keypad key being pressed on the automated banking machine;

e) converting the first keypad key input signal to a first keyboard input signal; and

f) delivering the first keyboard input signal to a first keyboard input steam of the computer.

28. The method according to claim 23 and further comprising:

d) producing a first keypad input signal responsive to a first keypad key being pressed on the automated banking machine;

e) converting the first keypad input signal to a second mouse input signal including indicia corresponding to a second mouse input location disposed of the first location; and

f) delivering the second mouse input signal to the mouse input stream of the computer.

29. The method according to claim 23 wherein the machine includes a data store and wherein the data store includes conversion data, wherein the conversion data is usable to convert at least one function key input signal to a mouse input signal, and prior to step (e) further comprising:

d) obtaining from the data store the conversion data and converting the first function key input signal to the first mouse input signal using the conversion data.

30. The method according to claim 29 wherein the conversion data includes coordinate data corresponding to at least one mouse input location, and wherein in step (d) the conversion data includes coordinate data.

31. The method according to claim 29 wherein the machine includes at least one server in operative connection with the computer, and prior to step (d) further comprising:

e) accessing a first HTTP record through the server, wherein in step (d) the conversion data is obtained responsive to accessing the first record.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein the conversion data includes a plurality of sets, and wherein each set corresponds to at least one HTTP record, and wherein in step (d) the conversion data is obtained from a first set corresponding to the first record.

33. The method according to claim 23 wherein the machine includes a plurality of function keys, and prior to step (a) further comprising:

selectively enabling the first function key, wherein the first function key input signal is generated responsive to the first function key being pressed.

34. The method according to claim 29 wherein the machine includes a plurality of function keys and further comprising:

e) disabling operation of a second function key on the machine responsive to the conversion data provided in step (d), wherein pressing the second function key does not result in the delivery of a signal to the mouse input stream.

35. At least one article including computer software thereon, wherein the computer software is operative to cause an automated banking machine to perform the method steps recited in claim 23.