Count and login management

• US 7,765,135 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Talaris Holdings Limited (Glory Limited)
• Original Assignee: Talaris Holdings Limited (Glory Limited)
• Inventors: Murphy, Brendan K., Hurwitz, Harlan A., Pickles, Robert, Kautsch, Stewart A., Wobser, Daniel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalinowski; Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scarito; John D
• Application Number:
  US10/524,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20060112007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,517 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A method of controlling a machine that accepts payment media and that requires a user login operation, the method includes receiving payment media in an input receptacle of the machine, starting processing of the payment media that has been received in the input receptacle, and performing the user login operation. The step of performing the user login operation can be done before, during and after the step of processing the payment media.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a machine that accepts payment media and that requires a user login operation, the method comprising:

receiving the payment media in an input receptacle of the machine wherein the payment media consists of one or more of currency notes, currency coins and currency checks;

starting processing of the payment media as soon as the payment media has been received in the input receptacle wherein the processing of the payment media comprises validating and counting the payment media;

storing the payment media received in the input receptacle in a secure device until the user login operation is completed;

performing the user login operation when initiated by the user, wherein the user login operation is initiated either during or after the processing of the payment media,

returning the same payment media stored in the secure device to the user following an unsuccessful login operation or

storing the payment media in the machine upon a determination of a successful login operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the secure device comprises one or more of a roll store in the machine, an escrow device in the machine, or a secure compartment in the machine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user login operation is performed at the machine, is performed from a location electronically coupled to the machine over a local communication network or is performed from a location electronically coupled to the machine over a wide area communication network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine is located in a retail store, and the user is a cashier of the retail store, a teller or an individual not skilled in the operation of payment media handling devices, wherein the retail store includes at least one of:

a single store, multiple stores, at least one third party concession stand located within the single store and a plurality of stores located within a mall.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein users of the machine are employees from plural companies and the machine is located to allow access by the users.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing of the payment media further includes determining a denomination of the payment media.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine dispenses payment media previously received in the input receptacle and stored in the machine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing of the payment media is cancelled following a plurality of failures of the user login operation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, following the plurality of failures of the user login operation, the machine returns to the user the same payment media that was received into the input receptacle from the user.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the user that the processing of the payment media has been completed upon occurrence of a successful user login operation and the completion of the processing.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing the payment media in the machine upon the completion of the processing.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the user login operation is performed using a user interface of the machine.

13. A machine-readable storage medium that provides instructions for controlling a machine that accepts payment media and that requires a user login operation, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving the payment media in an input receptacle of the machine wherein the payment media consists of one or more of currency notes, currency coins and currency checks;

starting processing of the payment media as soon as the payment media has been received in the input receptacle wherein the processing of the payment media comprises validating and counting the payment media;

storing the payment media received in the input receptacle in a secure device until the user login operation is completed;

performing the user login operation when initiated by a user, wherein the user login operation is initiated either during or after the processing of the payment media,

returning the same payment media stored in the secure device to the user following an unsuccessful login operation or

storing the payment media in the machine upon a determination of a successful login operation.

14. A machine that accepts payment media and that requires a user login operation, the machine comprising:

an input receptacle into which a user of the machine places the payment media wherein the payment media consists of one or more of currency notes, currency coins and currency checks;

a user interface through which the user of the machine initiates a user login operation;

a secure device that stores the payment media placed in the input receptacle until the user login operation is completed; and

a controller that;

starts processing of the payment media as soon as the payment media has been received into the input receptacle wherein the processing of the payment media comprises validating and counting the payment media

performs the user login operation when initiated by the user, wherein the user login operation is initiated either during or after the processing of the payment media,

returns the same payment media stored in the secure device to the user following an unsuccessful login operation or

stores the payment media in the machine upon a determination of a successful login operation.