Module

• US 7,233,408 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Nielsen, Paul, Henderson, Jim, Smith, Martin R., Walter, Mel, Rossmann, Wolf D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): SINGH, SATWANT K
• Application Number:
  US09/992,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20020060808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,051 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/231, 709/224, 358/1.12, 358/1.15, 358/1.14, 235/383, 235/379, 235/380, 713/182, 705/14
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

A module (38), a terminal (12) including the module, and a system (10) including the terminal (12), are described. The module may be a printer module (38) comprising a print engine (60), a microcontroller (62), and a wireless receiver (66), such as a wireless modem, so that the module (38) is operable to receive data from a remote server (18) and to print the received data. The module (38) also includes a coupler (70 or 270) for directing data received from the wireless modem (66) to the microcontroller (62) and for directing data from the terminal (12) to the microcontroller (62). A method of printing tickets at a terminal (12) and a method of retro-fitting a self-service terminal (12) are also described.

Claims

1. A method of supporting self-service terminal transactions and printing tickets at a self-service terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving authorizations for self-service terminal transactions at a self-service terminal from a transaction host over a secure network connection;

wirelessly transmitting the identity of the self-service terminal from a portable communication device to a remote server, the self-service terminal having a printer engine, the printer engine coupled to both a wireless receiver and a fixed channel, the printer engine operating to receive print data from both the wireless receiver and the fixed channel;

requesting the remote server to print a ticket at the identified terminal by the portable communication device;

wirelessly transmitting ticket information to the wireless receiver from the remote server; and

receiving ticket information at the printer engine from the wireless receiver.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the self-service terminal is an automated teller machine (ATM).

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

printing the ticket information at the self-service terminal by the printing engine.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting confirmation of the printed ticket to the remote server.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the self-service terminal includes a coupler to determine whether data received from the wireless receiver or the fixed channel is directed to the printer engine at any given time.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing a plurality of templates, each template representing a predefined image to limit the amount of ticket information wirelessly transmitted.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

downloading specific web pages to assist a user in ticket printing from the remote server to the portable communication device.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting authentication data from the portable communication device to the self-service terminal;

authenticating said authentication data by the self-service terminal; and

printing the ticket by the self-service terminal only upon authenticating said authentication data.

9. A method of retro-fitting a self-service terminal supporting self-service terminal transactions to add the ability to print tickets at the self-service terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a self-service terminal having a printer module, the printer module coupled to a fixed channel of the self-service terminal;

coupling a wireless receiver to the printer module; and

providing the fixed channel and the wireless receiver alternative access to the printer module to retrofit the self-service terminal to support printing of self-service terminal transaction data when the fixed channel has access to the printer and to print tickets when the wireless receiver has access to the printer.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the self-service terminal is an automated teller machine (ATM) and wherein the fixed channel couples the ATM to an ATM network, the method further comprising:

receiving authorization for a financial transaction at the ATM from a transaction host over a secure ATM network connection; and

printing financial transaction information received from the ATM network by the printer module.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

printing customized data received from the wireless receiver.