Computerized drop safe and control software

• US 7,264,150 B1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tidel Engineering LP (Tidel)
• Original Assignee: Tidel Engineering LP (Tidel)
• Inventors: Hoffmaster, James, Dillen, Todd, Powers, Doug, Busch, Douglas, Moreland, Flynt
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/896,414
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 194/206, 194/217, 194/302, 902/11, 902/13
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 7/001 Bank depositories automatic safe-deposit box systems E05G1/06
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/10 for means for safe-keeping of property, left temporarily, e.g. by fastening the property
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/06 Coin boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0009 Details of the software in the checkout register, electronic cash register [ECR] or point of sale terminal [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0027 Details of drawer or money-box

Abstract

A computerized drop safe running control and security software on a central processing unit controlling (CPU) operating features on and access to the drop safe. A user hierarchy has different access policies for making different transactions into the safe. Vault door access is controlled by the CPU to allow user access according to enabled policies. Transactions into and out of the safe vaults, motovend tube dispenser, and currency recyclers are recorded by the amounts and the user making the transaction into a memory coupled to the CPU. This data is also reported to a point of sale control interface at another location using a modem or Ethernet connection. The CPU can also receive data and control inputs by the modem and Ethernet, permitting centralized accounting and vending control options. A back office at the store can also easily access the safe for data retrieval or control inputs into the CPU using an Ethernet local area network computer system.

A unique report script subprogram is also operated on the CPU. This subprogram is a report script program that allows a user lacking computer language knowledge and code writing expertise to design customized report formats. The report script program executes instructions to generate the specified reports as a stream of Unicode characters at the specified times using the transaction data stored in the memory.

Claims

1. A drop safe apparatus with operating software on an integrated central processing unit comprising:

control and security software operating on the central processing unit controlling access to the drop safe and recording currency transactions and vault access by users and couriers into a memory interfaced with the central processing unit;

at least one compartment secured by a vault door programmably accessed using a personal identification number;

at least one compartment accessed using a hardware identification signature;

at least two bill acceptors able to accept paper currency having denomination sensors and able to recycle deposited cash from a storage cassette; and

a report script execution program operating on the central processing unit that permits the user to customize and generate printed reports, said report script execution program allowing users to write customized report parsing instructions.

2. The drop safe apparatus with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a generated report formatted using commands written using the report script parsing program wherein a data input for a currency deposit is parsed into a report.

3. The drop safe apparatus with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a generated report formatted using commands written using the script report generating program wherein a data input for a vault access is parsed into a report.

4. The drop safe apparatus with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a communication connection to a modem allowing point of sale data collection, accounting report generation, and command inputs to the central processing unit from a remote location; and

a communication connection to a communication network for remote access to the central processing unit.

5. The drop safe apparatus with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 4 wherein the communication connection modifies software operating on the central processing unit.

6. The drop safe apparatus with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a communication connection to an Ethernet network allowing point of sale data collection, accounting report generation, and command inputs to the central processing unit; and

a communication connection to an Ethernet network for remote access to the central processing unit.

7. The drop safe apparatus with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 6 wherein the communication connection updates software operating on the central processing unit.

8. The drop safe apparatus with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a programmable timed access control providing user selected time delay options.

9. The drop safe apparatus with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a programmable access policy for a hierarchy of users.

10. The drop safe apparatus with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 9 wherein the hierarchy of users possesses different control options.

11. The drop safe apparatus with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a touch sensitive display for displaying data from the central processing unit and providing data inputs into the central processing unit.

12. The drop safe apparatus with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 11 further comprising:

control inputs to the central processing unit for drop safe operations.

13. The drop safe apparatus with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 1 wherein the hardware identification signature can be programmed with accounting data for a courier pickup.

14. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit comprising:

control and security software operating on the central processing unit controlling access to the drop safe and recording currency transactions and vault access by users and couriers into a memory interfaced with the central processing unit;

at least one compartment secured by a vault door programmatically accessed using a hardware identification signature or a personal identification number and recording the access into a memory;

a motovend that stores tubes or rolls of currency in columns that the software controls to dispense by a currency transaction into a sound deadened drop pan or receive tubes or rolls deposited by a user in a currency transaction;

a bill acceptor with a denomination sensor able to accept paper currency into a storage cassette during a currency transaction;

a report script parsing program operating on the central processing unit that permits the user to customize and parse printed reports, said report script parsing program allowing users with minimal computer language and developer skills to write customized report format program instructions; and

a parsed report formatted using commands written with the report script parsing program wherein a data input for a currency transaction is used to parse the report into a customized report format.

15. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 14 wherein the currency transaction includes a value data element, a user data element, and a time and date data element.

16. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 15 wherein the currency transaction further includes a tube count data element.

17. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 15 wherein the currency transaction further includes a denomination data element.

18. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 15 wherein the currency transaction further includes a check value data element.

19. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 14 wherein the central processing unit is connected to a modem.

20. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 19 wherein the memory can be accessed using the modem.

21. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 19 wherein a data input from the modem provides secure vault access.

22. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 14 wherein the central processing unit is connected to an Ethernet.

23. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 22 wherein the memory can be accessed using the Ethernet.

24. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 22 wherein a data input from the Ethernet provides secure vault access.

25. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 14 wherein the central processing unit controls access to each vault door independently in the drop safe using the operating software according to access policies specific to hierarchal user accounts accessible by personal identification numbers.

26. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 25 wherein the hierarchal levels of user accounts include two or more of:

clerk;

manager,

executive; and

courier.

27. The apparatus of a drop safe with operating software on an integrated central processing unit of claim 26 wherein a courier account access is granted using a hardware identification signature.