Emergency services notification from an ATM systems and methods

• US 7,549,574 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Algiene, Kenneth, Crowell, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze; Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US11/534,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/375, 235/382, 705/44, 705/43, 705/72
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM

Abstract

Systems, methods, and software are described for facilitating contact with an emergency services provider from an ATM. An ATM network host computer system may receive a first communications signal from the ATM, comprising a request for emergency services. The ATM network host may determine at least one financial account associated with the user. The ATM network Host may then transmit a second communications signal directed at the financial institution to freeze the user'"'"'s account.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating contact with an emergency services provider from an Automatic Teller Machine (“

ATM”

) comprising;

receiving, at and ATM network host computer system an initiating communications signal from the ATM comprising an encrypted, formatted message including an ATM card number and a personal identification number (“

PIN”

);

receiving, at the ATM network host computer system, a first communications signal from the ATM comprising a request for emergency service from a user of the ATM;

wherein the request for emergency services comprises a response to a query displayed at the ATM to ascertain whether emergency services are required;

determining at least one financial account associated with the user; and

transmitting a second communications signal to a financial institution computer system, wherein the second communications signal comprises information of the user that may have been stolen; and

further comprising freezing the financial account upon receipt of the second communications signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the financial account is selected from a group consisting of a credit card account, a debit card account, a stored value account, a phone account, a brokerage account, a checking account and a savings account.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for emergency services comprises input of the personal identification number (“

PIN”

) by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communications signal comprises the encrypted, formatted message including the ATM card number, the personal identification number (“

PIN”

), and an identifier for the ATM.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the identifier for the ATM includes location information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a user is associated with a first PIN and a second PIN, and the selection of one of the PINs by the user authorizes a transaction at the ATM from an account associated with the user;

the other PIN further comprises an emergency PIN, wherein selection by the user initiates the request for emergency services; and

the transmitting step is undertaken without any notice of receipt of the request for emergency services from the ATM network host computer system to the ATM.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communications signal comprises the initiating communication signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the response comprises the selection of an option from a graphical menu displayed on a screen of the ATM.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises:

communication with a database which stores information on a plurality of financial accounts and associated financial institutions; and

a query of the database by the ATM network host computer system to determine the financial institution that is associated with the user'"'"'s financial account.

10. A system for facilitating contact with an emergency services provider from an Automatic Teller Machine (“

ATM”

) comprising;

an ATM, wherein the ATM is configured to;

receive input from a user comprising a request for emergency services; and

transmit a first communications signal comprising a request for emergency service from a user; and

an ATM network host computer system, in communication with the ATM, wherein the ATM network host computer system is configured to;

receive the first communications signal comprising an encrypted, formatted message including an ATM card number, a personal identification number/(“

PIN”

), and an identifier for the ATM;

determine at least one financial account associated with the user; and

transmit a second communications signal to a financial institution computer system that account information of the user that may have been stolen; and

further comprising freezing the financial account upon receipt of the second communications signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the financial account is selected from a group consisting of a credit card account, a debit card account, a stored value account, a phone account, a brokerage account, a checking account and a savings account.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the request for emergency services comprises input of the personal identification number (“

PIN”

) by the user.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a database in communication with the ATM network host computer system.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the database stores information on a plurality of financial institutions;

and

the ATM network host computer system is configured to query the database to determine the financial institution that is associated with the user'"'"'s financial account.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the user comprises a user identifier selected from the group consisting of;

an ATM card account number, a credit card account number, a social security number, a bank account number, a savings account number, a stored-value account number, a personal identification number, a unique character set, a unique data set, and any combination thereof; and

the ATM card number comprises a number printed upon the ATM card.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the ATM is further configured to:

delay dispersing cash to the user in response to the input.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the ATM is further configured to:

capture an image, in response to the input, of an area adjacent the ATM with a camera which is communicatively coupled with the ATM.

18. An ATM network host computer system, the system having at least one computer readable storage medium having at least one computer-readable program for operation of the computer system, wherein the computer-readable program includes instructions to:

receive from the ATM an encrypted, formatted message including an ATM card number, a personal identification number (“

PIN”

), and an identifier for the ATM, the message comprising a first communications signal including request for emergency services from a user;

determine at least one financial account associated with the user; and

transmit a second communications signal directed to a financial institution associated with the user'"'"'s financial account indicating that the user'"'"'s account may have been compromised; and

further comprising freezing the financial account upon receipt of the second communications signal.