Application service provider and automated transaction machine system and method

• US 7,025,255 B1
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Drummond, Jay Paul, Smith, Mark D., Blackson, Dale A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, UYEN CHAU N
• Application Number:
  US10/357,191
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/381, 235/375, 235/382, 235/380, 705/43, 705/42, 705/40, 705/53, 705/51, 705/16, 705/38, 705/45, 709/203, 709/218, 709/219
• US Class Current: 235/379
• 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 application service provider (ASP) and automated transaction machine method and system is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of individually accessible server side ATM applications through at least one ASP server. The method further includes enabling a plurality of ATMs to selectively access each server side ATM application through communication with the at least one ASP server. The method also includes performing services for the ATMs with the at least one ASP server responsive to the plurality of server side ATM applications.

Claims

1. An article bearing server instructions executable by at least one server and comprising at least one ATM application, wherein the at least one ATM application when accessed remotely by at least one ATM including a cash dispenser, is operative to cause ATM instructions to be delivered to the at least one ATM, wherein the ATM instructions include content which is output through at least one output device of the at least one ATM, wherein the ATM instructions are operative to cause the at least one ATM to carry out at least one transaction function, and wherein the server instructions are operative to cause the ATM instructions to be delivered to the at least one ATM on a temporary basis during a time for which an entity associated with the at least one ATM has paid for use of the at least one ATM application.

2. The article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one transaction function comprises dispensing cash from the at least one ATM.

3. The article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one ATM application comprises documents, and wherein the ATM instructions which include output content and which cause the at least one ATM to carry out at least one transaction function are included in at least one document.

4. The article according to claim 3 wherein the ATM instructions are included in at least one markup language document.

5. The article according to claim 4 wherein the ATM instructions are included in at least one HTML document.

6. The article according to claim 4 wherein the ATM instructions are included in at least one XML document.

7. The article according to claim 1 wherein the server instructions are further operative to cause the server to assess at least one charge to at least one entity associated with the at least one ATM for use of the at least one ATM application.

8. The article according to claim 7 wherein the server instructions are operative to cause the server to assess at least one charge to an entity owning the at least one ATM.

9. The article according to claim 7 wherein the server instructions are operative to cause the server to assess the at least one charge to a consumer using the ATM.

10. The article according to claim 7 wherein the server instructions are operative to cause the server to assess a first charge to a first entity associated with a first ATM and to assess a second charge to a second entity associated with a second ATM.

11. The article according to claim 10 wherein the first entity is an owner of the first ATM and the second entity is an owner of the second ATM.

12. The article according to claim 10 wherein the first entity is an owner of the first ATM and the second entity is a consumer using the second ATM.

13. The article according to claim 12 wherein the server instructions are further operative to cause at least a portion of the second charge to be credited to a third entity owning the second ATM.

14. The article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one ATM application includes at least one service related application, and wherein the at least one service related application is operative to cause service related data to be delivered to a first entity associated with the at least one ATM.

15. The article according to claim 14 wherein the server instructions are operative to assess at least one charge to the first entity for the service related data.

16. The article according to claim 14 wherein the server instructions are operative to assess at least one charge to the first entity for use of the at least one service related application.

17. The article according to claim 14 wherein the at least one service related application comprises a cash management application.

18. The article according to claim 14 wherein the at least one service related application comprises an ATM diagnostic application.

19. The article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one transaction function includes receiving an item for deposit in the at least one ATM.

20. The article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one transaction function includes receiving a check in the at least one ATM.

21. The article according to claim 20 wherein the at least one transaction function includes cashing a check through operation of the at least one ATM.

22. The article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one transaction function includes dispensing pay to a person through operation of the at least one ATM.

23. The article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one transaction function includes paying a bill through operation of the at least one ATM.

24. The article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one transaction function includes dispensing tickets from the at least one ATM.

25. The article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one transaction function comprises dispensing digital content from the at least one ATM.

26. The article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one transaction function comprises providing a digital signature through operation of the at least one ATM.

27. The article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one transaction function includes providing at least one gaming function through operation of the ATM.

28. The article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one transaction function comprises outputting advertising information through the at least one ATM.

29. The article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one transaction function comprises ordering goods or services through operation of the at least one ATM.

30. An article bearing server instructions executable by at least one server and comprising at least one ATM application, wherein the at least one ATM application when accessed remotely by at least one ATM including a cash dispenser, is operative to cause ATM instructions to be delivered to the at least one ATM, wherein the ATM instructions include content which is output through at least one display device of the at least one ATM wherein the ATM instructions are operative to cause the at least one ATM to carry out at least one transaction function, wherein the server instructions are operative to cause the ATM instructions to be delivered to the at least one ATM on a temporary basis during at least one time period, wherein the server instructions are operative to cause the at least one server to assess at least one charge to at least one entity associated with the at least one ATM for access to the at least one ATM application.

31. The article according to claim 30, wherein the server instructions are operative to cause the at least one server to determine the at least one charge responsive to a length of the at least one time period.

32. The article according to claim 30, wherein when the at least one application is accessed by the at least one ATM a plurality of times, and the server instructions are operative to cause the at least one server to determine the at least one charge responsive to the plurality of times the at least one application is accessed by the at least one ATM.

33. The article according to claim 30 wherein the at least one ATM application comprises documents, and wherein the ATM instructions which include output content and which cause the at least one ATM to carry out at least one transaction function are included in at least one document.

34. The article according to claim 33 wherein the ATM instructions are included in at least one markup language document.

35. The article according to claim 34 wherein the ATM instructions are included in at least one HTML document.

36. The article according to claim 34 wherein the ATM instructions are included in at least one XML document.

37. An article bearing server instructions executable by at least one server and comprising at least one ATM application, wherein the at least one ATM application when accessed remotely by at least one ATM including a cash dispenser, is operative to cause ATM instructions to be delivered to the at least one ATM, wherein the ATM instructions include content which is output through at least one output device of the at least one ATM, wherein the ATM instructions are operative to cause the at least one ATM to carry out at least one transaction function, and wherein the server instructions are operative to cause the ATM instructions to be executed by the at least one ATM on a temporary basis during a time for which an entity associated with the at least one ATM has paid for use of the at least one ATM application.

38. An article bearing server instructions executable by at least one server and comprising at least one ATM application, wherein the at least one ATM application when accessed remotely by at least one ATM including a cash dispenser, is operative to cause ATM instructions to be delivered to the at least one ATM, wherein the ATM instructions include content which is output through at least one output device of the at least one ATM, wherein the ATM instructions are operative to cause the at least one ATM to carry out at least one transaction function, and wherein the at least one ATM application is operative to cause the ATM instructions to be delivered to the at least one ATM on a temporary basis during a time period for which an entity making the at least one ATM available for public use is assessed at least one fee for delivery of the ATM instructions to the at least one ATM.

39. The article according to claim 38 wherein the entity making the at least one ATM available for public use is an owner of the ATM.

40. The article according to claim 39 wherein the server instructions are operative to cause the at least one server to assess the at least one fee to the entity making the at least one ATM available for public use.

41. The article according to claim 40 wherein the at least one server is operative to determine the at least one fee responsive to the duration of the at least one time period.

42. The article according to claim 39 wherein the at least one ATM application comprises a plurality of markup language documents, and wherein the markup language documents include the ATM instructions which include output content and which cause the at least one ATM to carry out at least one transaction function.

43. An article bearing server instructions executable by at least one server and comprising at least one diagnostic application, wherein the at least one diagnostic application when accessed remotely by at least one ATM including a cash dispenser, is operative to cause ATM instructions to be delivered to the at least one ATM, wherein the ATM instructions include content which is output through at least one output device of the at least one ATM and which includes information to assist an operator in servicing the at least one ATM, and wherein the at least one diagnostic application is operative to cause the ATM instructions to be delivered to the at least one ATM on a temporary basis during a time period for which an entity associated with the at least one ATM is assessed at least one fee for delivery of ATM instructions to the at least one ATM.

44. The article according to claim 43 wherein the entity associated with the at least one ATM is an owner of the at least one ATM.

45. The article according to claim 43 wherein the at least one ATM includes a plurality of devices including the cash dispenser, wherein the diagnostic application is operative to cause the ATM instructions to be delivered responsive to at least one status of at least one of the ATM devices provided to the diagnostic application by the at least one ATM.

46. The article according to claim 45 wherein the ATM instructions include diagnostic content corresponding to at least one condition of at least one device in the at least one ATM.

47. The article according to claim 46 wherein the at least one condition includes at least one fault condition associated with at least one of device in the at least one ATM.

48. The article according to claim 46 wherein the diagnostic content includes instructions related to a service activity for the at least one device in the at least one ATM.

49. The article according to claim 48 wherein the diagnostic content includes at least one audio output including at least one repair instruction.

50. The article according to claim 45, wherein the ATM instructions are operative to cause at least one of the devices to operate.

51. The article according to claim 50, wherein the ATM instructions are operative to cause at least one of the devices to perform a test operation.

52. The article according to claim 43 wherein the at least one server includes an HTTP server.