Automated banking machine

• US 7,815,104 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miller, Greg, Miller, Willis, Graef, H. Thomas, Laskowski, Edward L., Galloway, Todd, Carpenter, Keith, Barnett, Robert W., Ryan, Mike, Ward, Mark A., Brown, Martin J., Peters, David A., Kay, James R., Meek, James, Phillips, Thomas B., Burns, Paul, Drozda, Laura, Altier, Joseph M., Laha, Arindam, Valcore, John C., Hockman, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US11/408,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 705/9, 705/14, 705/16, 705/35
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/206 Software aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A cash dispensing automated banking machine (10) includes a user interface (12) including an opening (20). Users of the machine deliver individual sheets and stacks of sheets to and from the machine through the opening. Stacks of sheets may include sheets such as notes, checks or other documents. Stacks input to the machine may include mixtures of various types of sheets. The machine operates to receive notes, process checks and perform other operations. Notes received in the machine may be recycled and dispensed to other users. Checks processed by the machine may be imaged by an imaging device, cancelled and stored in the machine or alternatively returned to a user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) installing on an automated banking machine including a card reader, a cash dispenser, a check imaging device and at least one processor, first check processing software adapted to analyze image data corresponding to visual appearance of checks received in the automated banking machine and produced through operation of the check imaging device, at least one software application operable to produce transaction data, and second check processing software; and

(b) operating the second check processing software, wherein through operation of the at least one processor including therein a plurality of different software communications interfaces, each of which is operable to receive the transaction data from the at least one software application on behalf of the second check processing software, the second check processing software is operative to receive the image data, receive the transaction data through one of the communications interfaces, and cause the automated banking machine to send the transaction data and image data from the automated banking machine to at least one remote computer.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (b) the transaction data includes data corresponding to data included in a micr line of the at least one check, and wherein in (b) the second check processing software is operative to send the transaction data and image data to a selected one of a plurality of remote computers responsive to the data included in the micr line of the at least one check.

3. A method comprising:

(a) installing on an automated banking machine including a card reader, a cash dispenser, a check imaging device and at least one processor, first check processing software adapted to analyze image data corresponding to visual appearance of checks received in the machine and produced through operation of the check imaging device, at least one software application, and second check processing software comprising at least one translator software component, at least one image processing software component, and at least one transport software component;

(b) operating the second check processing software, wherein through operation of the at least one processor the second check processing software is operative to receive the image data and transaction data produced through operation of the at least one software application, and to cause the banking machine to send the transaction data and image data from the banking machine to at least one remote computer;

wherein (b) includes;

(b)(i) receiving through operation of the at least one translator software component from the at least one software application, transaction data related to a transaction carried out through operation of the machine in which at least one check is received in the machine, wherein the transaction data is received by the at least one translator software component through one of a plurality of different first software communications interfaces operating in the at least one processor, each of which is adapted to receive transaction data for the at least one translator software component;

(b)(ii) operating the at least one image processor software component to cause receipt of the image data produced through operation of the check imaging device corresponding to the at least one check received in the transaction, and to correlate the image data and the transaction data; and

(b)(iii) sending from the machine responsive at least in part to operation of the at least one transport software component, data corresponding to the correlated image data and transaction data through one of a plurality of different second software communications interfaces in the at least one processor, each of which adapted to send correlated image and transaction data to at least one remote computer.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the plurality of first software communications interfaces includes at least two of COM, .Net, and Java interfaces, and wherein in (b)(i) the at least one translation software component receives the transaction data through one of the COM, .Net, and Java interfaces.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein the plurality of second software communications interfaces includes at least two of .Net, Java, and Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) interfaces, and wherein in (b)(iii) the correlated image and transaction data is sent through one of the .Net, Java, and ESB interfaces.

6. The method according to claim 3 and further comprising:

(c) analyzing image data corresponding to a visual image of at least a portion of a check through operation of the first check processing software; and

(d) analyzing image data corresponding to the visual image of the at least a portion of the check through operation of the second check processing software.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein in (c) the first check processing software is operative to cause the at least one processor to determine at least one visual character included on the check and provide data corresponding to the at least one character to the at least one software application, wherein in (b) the at least one translation software component is operative to receive data corresponding to the at least one character as part of the transaction data.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein in (d) the second check processing software determines at least one visual character included on the check.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein in (b)(iii) the transport software component is operative to cause the machine to send transaction data including data corresponding to the at least one visual character determined in (c) and data corresponding to at least one visual character determined in (d).

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the banking machine includes a first software application and a second software application operating in the at least processor, wherein in (b)(i) the at least one translator software component receives transaction data from the first software application through a first one of the plurality of first software communications interfaces, and further comprising:

(e) operating the machine to carry out a further transaction in which at least one further check is received in the machine responsive to the second software application;

(f) receiving through operation of the at least one translator software component from the second software application, further transaction data corresponding to the further transaction, wherein the further transaction data is received by the at least one translator software component through a second one of the first software communications interfaces different from the first one of the first software communications interfaces.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein in (b)(iii) the correlated image and transaction data is sent responsive to the at least one transport software component through a first one of the second software communications interfaces to a first remote computer, and further comprising:

(g) producing further image data corresponding to the at least one further check through operation of the check imaging device;

(h) operating the at least one image processing software component to produce the further image data and to correlate the further image data and the further transaction data;

(i) sending responsive to operation of the at least one transport software component, data corresponding to the correlated further image data and further transaction data from the machine to a second remote computer different from the first remote computer, through a second one of the second software communications interfaces different from the first one of the second software communications interfaces.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein in (b) the transaction data includes data in a micr line on the at least one check and wherein in (f) the further transaction data includes data in a micr line of the at least one further check, and wherein in (b) the at least one transport software component is operative to cause the machine to send the correlated image data and transaction data to the first remote computer responsive to data included in the micr line of the at least one check, and wherein in (i) the at least one transport software component is operative to cause the machine to send the correlated further image data and further transaction data to the second remote computer responsive to data included in the further micr line on the at least one further check, and further comprising:

(j) operating the at least one processor of the banking machine to communicate with a remote ATM host computer different from the first remote computer and the second remote computer;

(k) operating the cash dispenser to dispense cash from the banking machine responsive to communication with the remote ATM host computer.

13. The method according to claim 3 wherein the banking machine includes a first software application and a second software application operating in the at least one processor, and wherein in (b)(i) the at least one translator software component receives transaction data from the first software application through a first one of the plurality of first software communications interfaces, and further comprising:

(c) operating the banking machine to carry out a further transaction in which at least one further check is received in the machine responsive to operation of the second software application;

(d) receiving through operation of the at least one translator software component from the second software application, further transaction data corresponding to the further transaction, wherein the further transaction data is received by the at least one translator software component through a second one of the first software communications interfaces different from the first one of the first software communications interfaces.

14. The method according to claim 3 wherein in (b)(iii) the correlated image and transaction data is sent responsive at least in part to the at least one transport software component through a first one of the second software communications interfaces to a first remote computer, and further comprising:

(c) producing further image data corresponding to at least one further check received in the machine in a further transaction through operation of the check imaging device;

(d) operating the at least one image processing software component to correlate the further image data and further transaction data corresponding to the further transaction; and

(e) sending through operation of the at least one transport software component, data corresponding to the correlated further image data and further transaction data from the machine to a second remote computer different from the first remote computer through a second one of the second software communications interfaces different from the first one of the second software communications interfaces.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein in (b) the transaction data includes data in a micr line of the at least one check, and wherein in (d) the further transaction data includes data included in a further micr line of the at least one further check, and wherein in (b) the at least one transport software component is operative to cause the machine to send the correlated image data and transaction data to the first remote computer responsive to data included in the micr line of the at least one check, and wherein in (e) the at least one transport software component is operative to cause the machine to send the correlated further image data and further transaction data to the second remote computer responsive to data included in the further micr line of the at least one further check.

16. A method comprising:

(a) installing on a banking machine including a display, a card reader, a cash dispenser, a check imaging device and at least one processor, computer software including at least one application software component and at least one check processing software component, wherein the check processing software component includes at least one transport software component including a plurality of different software communications interfaces adapted to communicate with a plurality of remote computers;

(b) operating the banking machine responsive to the at least one application software component to receive a check in the machine, to cause the check imaging device to produce image data corresponding to visual appearance of the check and to produce transaction data, wherein the transaction data includes data included in a micr line on the check;

(c) operating the at least one check processing software component to selectively send the image data and transaction data responsive to the at least one transport software component through a selected one of the plurality of software communications interfaces to a selected remote computer, wherein the image data and transaction data are sent to the selected remote computer responsive to the data included in the micr line of the check.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein in (a) at least two check processing software components are installed on the banking machine, wherein in (b) each of the check processing software components determines at least one visible character on the check responsive to the image data, and wherein in (b) a first check processing software component delivers data corresponding to the at least one character to the at least one application software component, and wherein the at least one application software component delivers the transaction data including data corresponding to the at least one character determined by the first check processing software component, to a second check processing software component.

18. The method according to claim 16

wherein in (b) a plurality of further software communications interfaces are operated in the at least one processor,

wherein each of the further software communications interfaces is adapted to deliver transaction data from the at least one application software component to the second check processing software component,

wherein the transaction data is received by the second check processing software component through a first one of the further software communications interfaces.

19. The method according to claim 18

wherein (a) includes installing a first application software component and a second application software component for operation in the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one check processing software component comprises a first check processing software component and a second check processing software component,

wherein in (b) the transaction data is received by the second check processing software component from the first application software component, and further comprising:

(d) operating the machine to receive a further check in a further transaction and to cause the check imaging device to produce further image data corresponding to a visual image of the further check;

(e) operating the second application software component to produce further transaction data corresponding to the further transaction;

(f) receiving the further transaction data with the second check processing software component from the second application software component through a second one of the further software communications interfaces.

20. A method comprising:

(a) operating an automated banking machine including a check imaging device and at least one processor including therein different software communications interfaces, first check processing software, and second check processing software differing from the first check processing software, to receive at least one check;

(b) operating the check imaging device to cause to be produced, image data associated with the at least one check received in (a);

(c) operating the first check processing software to cause to be determined from the image data, at least one of a check amount and at least one micr line character;

(d) operating the automated banking machine to cause data corresponding to the at least one check amount and at least one micr line character determined in (c) to be sent to a first remote computer capable of authorizing a transaction at the machine;

(e) operating the second check processing software to cause to be determined from the image data, at least one micr line character;

(f) operating the at least one processor to cause to be selected based on the at least one micr line character determined in (e), a second remote computer different from the first remote computer; and

(g) operating the at least one processor to cause to be sent to the second remote computer selected in (f), data corresponding to the image data.