Method and system for connecting services to an automated transaction machine

• US 7,555,461 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2000
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blackson, Dale, Drummond, Jay Paul, Gilger, Mikal R., Weis, David, Smith, Mark D., Church, James, Cichon, Bob
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swartz, Jamie H
• Application Number:
  US09/913,701
• Time in Patent Office: 3,422 Days
• Field of Search: 705/21, 705/39, 705/43, 705/40, 705/35, 235/379, 235/280, 235/420, 209/534, 709/203, 902/8
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/548 Object oriented; Remote method invocation [RMI] non-remote method invocation G06F9/449
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• 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: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network

Abstract

A system for connecting transaction services to an ATM (10, 500) that includes a network (20). A user interface service (12) and a lookup service (22) are in operative connection with the network. Transaction services such as a printer service (16), card reader service (18), and cash dispenser service (14) are also in operative connection with the network. These transaction services are operative to register with the lookup service and to upload a service proxy to the lookup service. The user interface service is operative to locate transaction services on the network by invoking a remote lookup method on the lookup service. The lookup service is operative to return service proxies that match the type of service that is required. The user interface service is further operative to invoke methods of the service proxies that remotely control the functionality of the transaction services on the network. The user interface service is further operative to register events with the service proxies for notification when certain events on the services occur.

Claims

1. An automated transaction machine system comprising:

an automated teller machine (ATM) including a transaction service,

wherein the transaction service includes;

a processor,

a transaction device in operative connection with the processor, and

a service proxy software component in operative connection with the processor,

wherein the processor is operative to register with at least one other service in the ATM, wherein the processor is operative to cause a copy of the service proxy software component to be delivered to the at least one other service, and wherein the copy of the service proxy software component in the at least one other service is operative to cause at least one command to be communicated to the processor, wherein the processor is operative responsive to the command to cause the transaction device to perform a transaction function,

a cell phone including an ATM service proxy software component,

wherein the ATM service proxy software component is operative to output an ATM transaction menu on a display screen of the cell phone,

wherein the menu includes indicia corresponding to the transaction function that the ATM is operative to perform,

wherein the cell phone includes a data store,

wherein the data store includes account information,

wherein responsive to the ATM service proxy software component, the account information, and at least one cell phone user input corresponding to menu indicia, the cell phone is operative to cause the ATM to perform the transaction function.

2. The automated transaction machine system according to claim 1, wherein the service proxy software component is operative in a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) of the ATM.

3. The automated transaction machine system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to register with the at least one other service responsive to the processor receiving a discovery announcement message from the at least one other service.

4. The automated transaction machine system according to claim 1, wherein the ATM comprises a lookup service, and wherein the processor is operative to cause the service proxy software component to register with the lookup service.

5. The automated transaction machine system according to claim 1 wherein the cell phone is operative to cause the ATM to dispense cash through operation of a cash dispenser.

6. The automated transaction machine system according to claim 1 wherein the cell phone is operative to cause the ATM to print at least one document through operation of a printer device.

7. A method comprising the steps of:

(a) operatively connecting a personal automated transaction machine and a host system, wherein the personal automated transaction machine includes a cell phone, wherein the host system includes a cash dispenser device, wherein the personal automated transaction machine does not include the cash dispenser device;

(b) receiving with the cell phone at least one transaction service proxy from the host system, wherein the transaction service proxy corresponds to a transaction service of the host system;

(c) outputting a user interface menu through a display screen of the cell phone, wherein the user interface menu includes indicia corresponding to at least one selectable transaction function that the transaction service is operative to perform through operation of the host system, wherein a first selectable transaction function involves operation of the cash dispenser device;

(d) providing at least one input through an input device of the cell phone, wherein the at least one input corresponds to a selected transaction function;

(e) acquiring account information from a data store in the cell phone; and

(f) performing the selected transaction function through operation of the host system responsive to the transaction service proxy, the at least one input, and the account information.

8. The method according to claim 7 and prior to step (d) further comprising the steps of:

(g) displaying a prompt for a user to enter a password;

(h) receiving an input that corresponds to a user entered password; and

(i) validating that the user entered password corresponds to a password value stored in the data store.

9. The method according to claim 7 and further comprising the steps of:

(g) receiving with the cell phone an event notification message from the transaction service that includes a status indicative of the outcome of the performed transaction function; and

(h) displaying event indicia through the display screen that corresponds to the event notification message.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein in step (d) the selected transaction function includes dispensing cash, and wherein in step (f) the transaction service is operative to cause cash to be dispensed from the cash dispenser.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein in step (d) the selected transaction function includes charging an account that corresponds to the account information for a purchase, and wherein in step (f) the transaction service is operative to cause the account to be charged for the purchase.

12. The method according to claim 7 wherein the host system includes a terminal including the cash dispenser, and wherein in step (d) the selected transaction function includes a dispense of cash and wherein in step (f) cash is dispensed by the cash dispenser.

13. The method according to claim 7 wherein the host system includes a terminal including a printing device, and wherein in step (d) the selected transaction function includes printing a document, and wherein in step (f) a document is printed by the printing device.

14. A method comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling communication between a portable personal automated transaction machine and a host terminal, wherein the host terminal includes a sheet dispenser, wherein the host terminal includes at least one transaction service, wherein the at least one transaction service includes a first transaction service, wherein the first transaction service includes operation of the sheet dispenser, wherein the portable personal automated transaction machine includes a cell phone, wherein the portable personal automated transaction machine does not include the sheet dispenser;

(b) sending to the cell phone, a transaction service proxy from the host terminal, wherein the transaction service proxy corresponds to at least the first transaction service;

(c) dispensing at least one sheet from the sheet dispenser responsive to operation of the transaction service proxy in the cell phone.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein step (c) includes dispensing the at least one sheet responsive to user input to the cell phone.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the host terminal comprises an automated teller machine (ATM), wherein the sheet dispenser comprises a currency sheet dispenser, wherein step (c) includes dispensing at least one currency sheet from the currency sheet dispenser.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the host terminal comprises an automated teller machine (ATM), wherein the sheet dispenser comprises a receipt printer, wherein step (c) includes dispensing a transaction receipt.