Cash withdrawal from ATM via videophone

• US 7,201,313 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ramachandran, Natarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US11/415,531
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/203 Dispensing operations within ATMs dispensing in general G07D11/00

Abstract

Apparatus and method for purchasing cash from an ATM. The ATM has a unique identifier visibly located thereon. A customer phone includes a camera and a programmable memory. The camera can be used to capture an image of the ATM'"'"'s identifier. The memory includes customer account data. A customer uses their phone to establish wireless communication with a transaction host. The customer can transmit to the host a request for cash from the ATM. The request includes the account data and the image. The host can use the account data in payment for the requested cash. The host can use the image to identify the particular ATM associated with the request. After payment, the host causes the identified ATM to dispense the requested cash.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a portable hand-held device,

wherein the hand-held device includes memory,

wherein the memory includes a financial account number,

wherein the hand-held device is operative to communicate wirelessly,

wherein the hand-held device is operative to wirelessly transmit the financial account number,

a transaction system,

wherein the transaction system includes a network,

wherein the network includes at least one automated teller machine (ATM),

wherein the at least one ATM includes at least one cash dispenser,

wherein the transaction system is operative to receive via wireless communication the financial account number transmitted from the portable hand-held device,

wherein the transaction system is operative to receive a request for an amount of cash having a cash value,

wherein the transaction system is operative to associate at least the cash value to the financial account number as payment for the amount of cash requested,

wherein the transaction system is operative to instruct the at least one ATM to dispense via the at least one cash dispenser, a cash amount corresponding to the amount of cash requested.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1

wherein the network includes a plurality of ATMs,

wherein the hand-held device is operative to receive image data corresponding to a unique identifier of a particular ATM in the network,

wherein the hand-held device is operative to wirelessly transmit to the transaction system a request that includes the amount of cash and the financial account number and the image data,

wherein the transaction system is operative to receive transmitted from the hand-held device, the request including the amount of cash and the financial account number and the image data,

wherein the transaction system is operative to identify the particular ATM in the network via the image data received,

wherein responsive to identification of the particular ATM, the transaction system is operative to instruct the particular ATM to dispense the cash amount.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the particular ATM includes the unique identifier, wherein the memory comprises programmable memory, wherein the hand-held device comprises a phone, wherein the phone includes a camera, and wherein the phone is operative to capture an image of the unique identifier via the camera.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the hand-held device comprises a phone, wherein the phone is operative to wirelessly transmit the financial account number, and wherein the transaction system is operative to wirelessly receive the financial account number transmitted from the phone.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the phone is operative to wirelessly transmit the request for an amount of cash having a cash value, and wherein the transaction system is operative to wirelessly receive the request transmitted from the phone.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the phone is operative to wirelessly transmit data corresponding to a unique ATM identifier corresponding to a particular ATM, and wherein the transaction system is operative to wirelessly receive the data corresponding to the unique ATM identifier transmitted from the phone.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the phone includes a camera, and wherein the phone is operative to capture an image of a unique ATM identifier via the camera.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the phone is operative to wirelessly transmit image data corresponding to the image, and wherein the transaction system is operative to wirelessly receive image data transmitted from the phone.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transaction system is operative to determine the ability of a particular ATM to dispense the cash amount, and wherein the transaction system is operative to cause the particular ATM to dispense the cash amount responsive to a positive determination.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the memory comprises programmable memory.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the programmable memory includes at least one of charge account data and debit account data, wherein the hand-held device is operative to wirelessly transmit at least one of charge account data and debit account data, and wherein the transaction system is operative to wirelessly receive at least one of charge account data and debit account data transmitted from the hand-held device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the programmable memory includes signature data corresponding to a customer signature, wherein the hand-held device is operative to wirelessly transmit the signature data, and wherein the transaction system is operative to wirelessly receive signature data transmitted from the hand-held device.

13. Apparatus comprising:

a portable hand-held device,

wherein the hand-held device is operative to receive image data corresponding to a unique identifier of an automated teller machine (ATM),

wherein the hand-held device is operative to wirelessly transmit a cash request for an amount of cash, wherein the cash request includes the image data,

a transaction system,

wherein the transaction system is operative to receive a cash request transmitted from the hand-held device,

wherein the transaction system is operative to determine a particular ATM corresponding to image data received in the cash request,

wherein the transaction system is operative to authorize the cash request,

wherein responsive to authorization of the cash request, the transaction system is operative to instruct the particular ATM to dispense cash corresponding to the amount of cash requested.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the hand-held device is operative to obtain the image data from the particular ATM.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the transaction system is associated with a network, wherein the network includes a plurality of ATMs.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the transaction system is operative to determine which ATM in the network corresponds to the image data received.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the hand-held device is operative to wirelessly transmit a cash request that includes both the image data and customer account data, wherein the transaction system is operative to receive a cash request including both the image data and the customer account data transmitted from the hand-held device.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the portable hand-held device includes a phone, and wherein the particular ATM includes at least one cash dispenser.

19. Apparatus comprising:

a phone,

wherein the phone includes a camera,

wherein the camera is operative to capture at least one image, including an image of a unique identifier corresponding to an automated teller machine (ATM),

wherein the phone includes programmable memory,

wherein the memory includes account data corresponding to a customer account,

wherein the phone is operative to transmit the account data via wireless communication,

a cash dispensing system,

wherein the system includes a network,

wherein the network includes at least one ATM,

wherein the system is operative to communicate with the phone,

wherein the system is operative to receive from the phone, a request for cash having a cost associated therewith,

wherein the system is operative to receive from the phone, data corresponding to a captured image of a unique identifier corresponding to a particular ATM,

wherein the system is operative to receive via wireless communication, account data transmitted from the phone,

wherein the system is operative to associate the cost to the customer account as compensation for cash requested,

wherein the network is operative to instruct the particular ATM to dispense the cash requested.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the particular ATM is located in a retail establishment.