Automated banking machine system and method

• US 7,854,378 B1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: McIntyre, Daniel S., Bakerink, Allan R., Smith, Mark D., DePietro, Mark, MEEK, JAMES, Benore, Randolph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Seung H
• Application Number:
  US11/732,407
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/376, 235/379, 902/8, 705/35
• US Class Current: 235/379
• 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 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network

Abstract

A banking transaction processing system includes customer stations and at least one server provider station. The customer stations include automated banking machines. Each automated banking machine includes a card reader that reads indicia on user cards corresponding to financial accounts. Each automated banking machine also includes a cash dispenser. Service providers at service provider stations are enabled to communicate with customers at automated banking machines to help carry out transactions. Customers at automated banking machines may also carry out banking transactions without the involvement of service providers. Pneumatic tube transport systems may be used for moving items between local service providers and customers. In some embodiments, computers operating facial image transformation software and vocal sound transformation software enable outputs at customer stations which correspond to facial images and vocal sounds that customers may find more acceptable than those produced by the actual service provider.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including;

at least one housing;

a card reader in operatively supported connection with the at least one housing, wherein the card reader is operative to read indicia on user cards usable to identify financial accounts;

a display in operatively supported connection with the at least one housing;

an audio speaker in operatively supported connection with the at least one housing;

a cash dispenser in operatively supported connection with the at least one housing;

at least one communication device within the at least one housing;

at least one processor within the at least one housing, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the display, the audio speaker, the card reader, the at least one communication device and the cash dispenser;

wherein the automated banking machine is operative responsive to operation of the at least one processor to carry out financial transactions related to the financial accounts, wherein the financial transactions include cash dispensing transactions;

at least one service provider station remote from the automated banking machine, wherein each service provider station is operable by a respective service provider positioned at the at least service provider station during operation, wherein each service provider station includes;

an image capture device directed toward an area including a face of a service provider when the service provider is at the respective service provider station, wherein responsive to capturing an image of the face of the service provider, the image capture device is operative to generate facial image data;

a sound capture device in the vicinity of the service provider at the respective service provider station, wherein responsive to vocal sounds of the service provider the sound capture device is operative to generate vocal sound data;

at least one manual input device, wherein the at least one manual input device is operative to receive inputs from the service provider;

at least one computer, wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with the image capture device, the sound capture device and the at least one manual input device;

wherein the at least one computer includes facial image transformation software and vocal sound transformation software operative therein, wherein the facial image transformation software is operative responsive to facial image data to produce modified facial image data, wherein the modified facial image data corresponds to a facial image of a face other than that of the respective service provider, wherein the vocal sound transformation software is operative responsive to the vocal sound data to produce modified vocal sound data, wherein the modified vocal sound data corresponds to vocal sounds other than those of the respective service provider;

wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with the at least one processor of the automated banking machine through the at least one communication device, and wherein the display of the banking machine is operative to output a facial image corresponding to the modified facial image data and the audio speaker of the automated banking machine is operative to output vocal sounds corresponding to the modified vocal sound data.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the facial image output through the display moves in generally real time in correspondence with movement of the face of the respective service provider at the service provider station.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the vocal sounds output through the audio speaker correspond in generally real time to vocal sounds made by the respective service provider at the service provider station.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein at least one first input to the at least one manual input device is operative to cause the at least one computer to produce changed modified facial image data, wherein the output facial image on the display is modified responsive to the changed modified image data.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the display is operative to output a facial image of a first entity responsive to the modified image data, and a facial image of a second entity different from the first entity, responsive to the changed modified image data.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the at least one first input to the at least one manual input device is operative to cause the at least one computer to produce changed modified vocal sound data, wherein vocal sounds output through the audio speaker responsive to the changed modified vocal sound data, differ from those produced responsive to the modified vocal sound data.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the audio speaker outputs vocal sounds corresponding to the first entity responsive to the modified vocal sound data, and vocal sounds corresponding to the second entity different from the first entity, responsive to the changed modified vocal sound data.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein at least one second input to the at least one manual input device is operative to cause the at least one computer to produce untransformed facial image data responsive to the facial image data, and untransformed vocal sound data responsive to the vocal sound data, wherein the display is operative to output a generally unmodified facial image of the service provider and the audio speaker is operative to output generally unmodified vocal sounds of the service provider, responsive to the untransformed facial image data and the untransformed vocal sound data respectively.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein at least one of the first entity and the second entity corresponds to a human of a different gender than the respective service provider.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein at least one of the first entity and the second entity corresponds to a human of a different race than the respective service provider.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein at least one of the first entity and the second entity is a human having a substantially different age than the service provider.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the first entity differs from the second entity in at least one of age, race and gender.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein at least one third input to the at least one manual input device is operative to cause the cash dispenser to operate.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the automated banking machine further comprises at least one printer, wherein at least one third input to the at least one manual input device is operative to cause the at least one printer to print at least one document.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the at least one communication device is operative to communicate in an ATM network, wherein the automated banking machine is operative to dispense cash without any activity on the part of a service provider at a service provider station.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one manual interface input device, wherein the service provider station further includes at least one output device, wherein at least one input through the at least one manual interface input device causes at least one output through the at least one output device.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein at least one further input to the at least one manual input device is operative to selectively cause the facial image to be output through the display, and the vocal sounds to be output through the audio speaker.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the display to output instructions to users of the automated banking machine.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the at least one manual interface input device comprises at least one key, and wherein a pneumatic transport tube extends between the machine and at least one service provider station.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause data corresponding to monetary value to be reallocated among accounts corresponding to indicia read from a card through operation of the card reader.

21. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein at least one of the first entity and the second entity corresponds to an entity that is not human.

22. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein at least one of the first entity and the second entity corresponds to a human of a different race than the respective service provider.

23. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein at least one of the first entity and the second entity corresponds to a human having a substantially different age than the respective service provider.

24. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein responsive to at least one first input to the at least one manual input device, the at least one computer is operative to produce untransformed facial image data and untransformed vocal sound data corresponding to a facial image and vocal sounds, respectively, of the respective service provider, wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the display to output a facial image of the service provider responsive to the untransformed facial image data, and to cause the audio speaker to output vocal sounds of the service provider responsive to the untransformed vocal sound data.

25. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the facial image output by the display responsive to the modified facial image data and the vocal sounds output by the audio speaker responsive to the modified vocal sound data, each correspond to an entity, wherein the entity differs from the respective service provider in at least one of age, gender, and race.

26. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the modified facial image data is operative to cause the display to output a facial image of a nonhuman entity.

27. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the display to output instructions usable by a user to conduct transactions at the automated banking machine, and wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the cash dispenser to dispense cash from the automated banking machine, and wherein at least one input to the at least one manual input device is operative to cause the facial image to be output through the display.