Cash dispensing automated banking machine

• US 7,850,073 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Steinbach, Klaus, Hill, Jeff, Ramachandran, Natarajan, Modi, Ashok, Motz, Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US12/321,967
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.44, 235/462.45, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03, 235/379, 705/14.66, 705/14.7, 705/27, 709/206, 725/34
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/223 based on the use of peer-to-peer networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0081 the reader being a portable scanner or data reader G07G1/009 takes precedence

Abstract

An automated banking machine that operates responsive to data bearing records such as user cards includes a user interface having electronic ink displays. Displays can be used as identification labels. A display identifying the function of a transaction function device can be located adjacent to that device. Displays can also be used to provide instructions to machine users. A display on how to insert a card into the ATM can be located adjacent the card input slot. A system that operates to carry out financial transfers operates in response to data read from data bearing records. A cell phone having a camera or other reader operates to cause item identifying data and account data to be transmitted to a transaction system to enable item purchase.

Claims

1. A method of carrying out financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records, through operation of a system including,

a purchasable item located in a merchant store, wherein the item has an anti-theft device associated therewith, wherein the item is associated with a bar code,

a transaction payment system, wherein the transaction payment system includes a system host and a checkout terminal, wherein the terminal is associated with an anti-theft device neutralizer, wherein the host is remote from the merchant store, wherein the terminal is located in the merchant store, wherein the host is operative to communicate with the terminal, wherein the host is in operative connection with a data store, wherein the data store includes data usable to correlate bar code data with price amount data,

a phone, wherein the phone includes a camera and programmable memory, wherein the camera is operative to capture at least one image, wherein the memory includes account data corresponding to a customer account;

comprising;

(a) operating the transaction payment system to establish operative communication between the phone and the host, wherein the communication enables the item to be purchased via self-service purchase at the merchant store;

(b) operating the transaction payment system to receive bar code data corresponding to the bar code, wherein the bar code data corresponds to an image of the bar code captured with the camera;

(c) responsive to (b), determining through operation of the transaction payment system a price amount corresponding to the bar code via the data store;

(d) operating the transaction payment system to receive account data sent from the phone via wireless communication to the terminal;

(e) operating the transaction payment system to cause the account data to be communicated from the terminal to the host;

(f) determining through operation of the transaction payment system that the transmitted account data corresponds to an account that is acceptable for payment of the item;

(g) operating the transaction payment system to

cause association of at least the price amount and the customer account and

cause the customer account to be assessed a charge amount corresponding to the price amount; and

(h) operating the transaction payment system to cause the host to generate at least one instruction, wherein the at least one instruction is usable to enable the neutralizer to neutralize the anti-theft device.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the phone comprises a cell phone, wherein (d) includes operating the transaction payment system to receive account data sent from the cell phone.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (b) the bar code data corresponds to a visual image of the bar code.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein (h) further includes operating the transaction payment system to cause neutralizing data corresponding to the at least one instruction to be communicated to the phone, and further comprising:

(i) operating the transaction payment system to receive data corresponding to the neutralizing data through the terminal.

5. A method of carrying out financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records, comprising:

(a) operating an automated transaction host affiliated with a plurality of merchant stores to receive item identifying data originating from a wireless phone of a customer located in a merchant store of the plurality of merchant stores, wherein the item identifying data corresponds to at least one of a digital image captured by a camera of the phone and signals received by a radio frequency identification reader of the phone, wherein the item identifying data corresponds to an identification code of an item located in the merchant store, which item is subject to being purchased by the customer during a purchase transaction, wherein the transaction host is remotely located from the plurality of merchant stores, wherein the transaction host includes at least one computer;

(b) responsive to the item identifying data received in step (a), operating the transaction host to cause a price associated with the item to be determined responsive to data in at least one data store respectively linking prices to items located in at least some of the plurality of merchant stores;

(c) operating the transaction host to cause data corresponding to the price determined in step (b) to be sent to the phone;

(d) subsequent to step (c), operating the transaction host to receive user agreement data originating from the phone, wherein the user agreement data corresponds to an agreement by the customer to purchase the item at the price;

(e) operating the transaction host during a self-service checkout portion of the purchase transaction to receive account data originating from the phone, wherein the account data corresponds to a customer account of the customer, wherein the customer account comprises a charge account or a debit account;

(f) responsive to the account data received in step (e), operating the transaction host to cause the price to be associated with the customer account, and wherein the customer account is assessed an amount corresponding to the price in payment for the item; and

(g) responsive at least in part to step (f), operating the transaction host to cause at least one communication to be sent to the merchant store that allows the customer to leave the merchant store with the item without causing an indication of theft of the item.

6. A method comprising:

(a) transmitting data corresponding to visual appearance of an item identifier to a transaction payment system via a portable hand-held device during a transaction, wherein the item identifier corresponds to an item being purchased, wherein the hand-held device includes programmable memory, wherein the hand-held device comprises a phone;

(b) responsive at least in part to (a), determining with the transaction payment system a purchase price corresponding to the item;

(c) transmitting account data corresponding to a customer account from the phone via wireless communication to the transaction payment system, wherein the memory includes the account data; and

(d) associating the purchase price and the customer account through operation of the transaction payment system, whereby payment is made for the item.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the phone comprises a customer phone, and wherein (c) includes transmitting the account data from the customer phone during a self-service checkout at a merchant store.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the phone includes a camera, and further comprising

(e) prior to (a), capturing an image of the item identifier via the camera.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein (e) includes capturing an image corresponding to a bar code, and wherein (a) includes transmitting data corresponding to at least a portion of the bar code to the transaction payment system via the phone.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein (a) includes transmitting data corresponding to a bar code image to the transaction payment system via the phone.

11. The method according to claim 6 wherein an anti-theft device is associated with the item, and further comprising:

(e) responsive to (d), operating the transaction payment system to cause neutralizing of the anti-theft device.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the transaction payment system includes a system host, wherein the host is remote from a merchant store, and wherein the store includes a terminal including an anti-theft neutralizer, and wherein the host is operative to communicate with the terminal, and further comprising:

(f) transmitting data corresponding to an image of a terminal identifier corresponding to the neutralizer to the host responsive to operation of the hand-held device.

13. The method according to claim 12 and further comprising transmitting transaction data corresponding to the purchase price to the terminal responsive to operation of the transaction payment system.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein (c) includes transmitting the account data to the terminal.

15. The method according to claim 14 and further comprising determining via the host responsive to the account data whether payment of the item from the customer account is approved, and responsive to approval operating the neutralizer to neutralize the anti-theft device.

16. The method according to claim 6 wherein (b) includes comparing transmitted item identifier data to identifier data in a data store, wherein the data store associates respective identifier data with respective price, and wherein (b) further includes associating transmitted item identifier data to a respective price.

17. The method according to claim 6 wherein the account data includes at least one of charge account data and debit account data, wherein (c) includes transmitting charge account data or debit account data.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein (c) includes transmitting charge account data, and wherein (d) includes charging to the customer account a value corresponding to the purchase price.

19. The method according to claim 6 wherein the transaction payment system includes a system host, wherein the host is remote from a merchant store, wherein (a) includes transmitting data from the phone that is received by the host while the phone is in the merchant store.

20. The method according to claim 19 and further comprising:

(e) prior to (a), receiving inputs corresponding to a phone number through operation of the phone to establish operative communication between the phone and the host.

21. The method according to claim 19 and further comprising:

(e) prior to (c), responsive to operation of the transaction payment system, transmitting the purchase price to a display screen for viewing by a customer in the merchant store.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the phone includes the display screen, and wherein (e) includes displaying the purchase price on the display screen of the phone.

23. A method comprising:

(a) operating a transaction payment system to receive during a transaction, identifier data transmitted from a portable hand-held device, wherein the identifier data corresponds to visual appearance of an item identifier, wherein the item identifier corresponds to an item being purchased, wherein the band-held device includes memory, wherein the memory includes account data, wherein the account data corresponds to a customer account, wherein the hand-held device includes a phone, wherein the phone is operative to wirelessly transmit the account data;

(b) responsive at least in part to (a), operating the transaction payment system in determining during the transaction, a purchase price corresponding to the item;

(c) operating the transaction payment system during the transaction to receive the account data, wirelessly transmitted from the phone; and

(d) operating the transaction payment system in associating the purchase price and the customer account in allocating payment for the item.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the identifier data comprises digital image data captured by the hand-held device, wherein (a) includes operating the transaction payment system to receive the digital image data,

wherein (b) includes:

(bi) operating the transaction payment system to convert the digital image data to numerical data, and

(bii) operating the transaction payment system to compare the numerical data to stored price data to determine the purchase price.

25. The method according to claim 23 and further comprising

(e) prior to (c), wirelessly transmitting the account data from the phone.