Automated transaction system and method

• US 7,100,819 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Mark, Barker, David A., Ramachandran, Natarajan, Hill, Jeffrey A., Delaney, Daniel J., Theriault, Franklin M., Herrera, Elizabeth, Douglas, Mark, Green, Patrick C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Seung H
• Application Number:
  US10/231,212
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/375, 235/384, 902 9- 10, 902/8, 902/30, 705/35, 705/43
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs

Abstract

An automated transaction system includes an automated transaction machine (10) for carrying out banking transactions. The machine includes a plurality of customer stations (16, 18, 20) at which customers may conduct transactions. Each of the transactions requested by customers is carried out using a set of transaction function devices (34) positioned within or adjacent to the machine housing. The robotic item handling device (42) is included among the transaction function devices and enables moving items between the customer stations and the transaction function devices included in the machine. The machine is enabled to carry out transactions for multiple users simultaneously. The machine is also readily configured to add and delete transaction function devices, thereby more readily changing the types of transactions which may be conducted.

Claims

1. An automated banking machine apparatus comprising:

a plurality of user interfaces,

wherein each of the user interfaces includes at least one input device through which at least one transaction input may be provided,

wherein the plurality of user interfaces include at least a first user interface and a second user interface,

wherein the first user interface enables a user to request a cash withdrawal transaction independent of the second user interface, wherein the first interface is arranged at a first height,

wherein the second user interface enables a user to request a cash withdrawal transaction independent of the first user interface, wherein the second interface is arranged at a second height,

wherein the first user interface is vertically disposed from the second user interface.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first interface is arranged at a first horizontal position, wherein the second interface is arranged at a second horizontal position, and wherein the first horizontal position differs from the second horizontal position.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of the user interfaces are arranged at various heights from one another and at various horizontal positions from one another.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the user interfaces enable a user to request a transaction, wherein the first interface and a second interface enable a user to request at least one common transaction function.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of the user interfaces enable a user to request the same transaction functions.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each of the user interfaces includes at least one output device, and wherein each of the user interfaces include at least one identical input device and at least one identical output device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the at least one input device comprises plural input devices, wherein the at least one output device comprises plural output devices, and wherein each of the user interfaces include identical input devices and output devices.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the at least one identical output device comprises an identical display screen.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising at least one common device, wherein at least two of the user interfaces are operatively associated with the at least one common device, wherein the at least one common device is operative to perform at least a portion of a first type of banking transaction.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one common device comprises a transaction function device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one common device comprises a robotic handling device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a controller, wherein the controller is operatively connected to the first interface and the second interface, wherein the controller is operative to receive a transaction request from each of the first interface and the second interface, and wherein the controller is operative to perform a received transaction request.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the controller is operatively connected to each of the user interfaces, wherein the controller is operative to receive a transaction request from each of the user interfaces, and further comprising at least one transaction function device operative to perform at least a portion of a transaction request, and wherein the controller is operatively connected to the at least one transaction function device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the controller is operative to perform a plurality of respective requested transactions, wherein the at least one transaction function device comprises plural transaction function devices, wherein each respective plural transaction function device is operative to perform at least a portion of a respective transaction request, and wherein the controller is operatively connected to each of the plural transaction function devices.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the controller is operative to concurrently perform a first transaction requested from the first interface and a second transaction requested from the second interface.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a fascia panel, wherein each of the user interfaces are commonly arranged on the fascia panel.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the user interfaces is arranged at a wheelchair accessible height.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a controller, wherein each user interface includes a sensor device, wherein the controller is operative to perform a transaction requested at a particular user interface responsive to the sensor device sensing user activity at that particular user interface.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein each user interface includes a display, wherein the controller is operative to present a message on the display of the particular user interface responsive to the sensor device sensing the user activity.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the sensor device is adapted to sense insertion of a card.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 further comprising a card slot, wherein the sensor device is adapted to sense a card in the card slot.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising at least one currency dispenser, wherein the at least one currency dispenser is operative to dispense cash associated with a cash withdrawal request.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the at least one currency dispenser comprises a shared currency dispenser, wherein the shared currency dispenser is operatively associated with both the first interface and a second interface, and wherein the shared currency dispenser is operative to dispense cash responsive to a cash withdrawal request at either the first interface or the second interface.

24. A method comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of user interfaces, wherein the plurality of user interfaces include at least a first user interface and a second user interface, wherein each of the user interfaces includes at least one input device through which at least one transaction input may be provided, wherein the first user interface enables a user to request a cash withdrawal transaction independent of the second user interface, wherein the second user interface enables a user to request a cash withdrawal transaction independent of the first user interface,

(b) arranging the first user interface at a first height on an automated banking machine apparatus,

(c) arranging the second user interface at a second height on the automated banking machine apparatus, wherein the first user interface is vertically disposed from the second user interface.

25. The method according to claim 24 and further comprising a controller and at least one shared transaction function device,

wherein the controller is operatively connected to the first interface and the second interface, wherein the controller is operative to receive a transaction request from the first interface and the second interface, and wherein the controller is operative to perform the requested transaction,

wherein the at least one shared transaction function device is operative to perform at least a portion of a requested transaction, and wherein the controller is operatively connected to the at least one shared transaction function device, and further comprising:

(d) receiving with the controller a first transaction request inputted at the first interface,

(e) operating the at least one shared transaction function device to perform at least a portion of the first transaction request,

(f) receiving with the controller a second transaction request inputted at the second interface,

(g) operating the at least one shared transaction function device to perform at least a portion of the second transaction request.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the at least one shared transaction function device includes a shared currency dispenser, and wherein the shared currency dispenser is operative to dispense cash,

wherein (d) includes receiving a cash withdrawal request,

wherein (e) includes operating the shared currency dispenser to dispense cash,

wherein (f) includes receiving a cash withdrawal request,

wherein (g) includes operating the shared currency dispenser to dispense cash.

27. An automated banking machine apparatus comprising:

a plurality of customer interfaces,

wherein each of the customer interfaces includes at least one input device through which a cash withdrawal request may be provided by a customer,

wherein the plurality of customer interfaces include at least a first customer interface and a second customer interface,

wherein the first customer interface includes a display screen, and wherein the first customer interface is arranged at a first height,

wherein the second customer interface includes a display screen, and wherein the second customer interface is arranged at a second height,

wherein the first height differs from the second height.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein each first customer interface input device is arranged laterally of the first customer interface display screen, and wherein each second customer interface input device is arranged laterally of the second customer interface display screen.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the first interface and a second interface are vertically aligned.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the plurality of user interfaces comprises three vertically aligned user interfaces.

31. The apparatus according to claim 29 further comprising a vehicle drive-up lane, wherein the user interfaces are located adjacent the vehicle drive-up lane.