Lock interaction with software to facilitate access to cash handling device functionality

• US 7,940,176 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Johnson, Shane Anthony, Mattison, Paul Martin, Folk, Amy Baker, Sanders, William Thomas, Bohen, Daniel Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US12/212,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20100066491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 340/542, 340/5.8, 340/5.85, 340/5.9, 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.22, 340/5.23, 340/5.24, 340/5.25, 340/5.26, 340/5.28, 340/5.3, 340/5.31, 340/5.41, 340/5.73, 235/79, 70/91, 701/26, 702/781, 109/2, 109/21, 109/39, 109/44, 109/58
• US Class Current: 340/542
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/125 Secure containers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/245 Replenishment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]

Abstract

Methods and devices provide for lock interaction with software in order to facilitate access to a vault in a cash handling device and display of a transportation utility interface. A user may access an electromechanical lock on a cash handling device. The lock may determine whether the user is authorized. If unlocked, access may be provided to a transportation utility interface and to a vault that may contain currency in order to facilitate removal and transportation of the currency. If desired, stackers in the cash handling device may automatically transfer the currency to a container in the vault after the lock is unlocked. The vault may be subsequently closed, access to the transportation utility interface may be disabled, and the lock may be re-locked.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a cash handling device, an input to an electromechanical lock, wherein the cash handling device comprises the electromechanical device;

determining, by the electromechanical lock, whether the input is authorized;

unlocking the electromechanical lock if the input is authorized;

providing access to a transportation utility screen only in response to the unlocking of the electromechanical lock, wherein the transportation utility screen displays information about transportation of currency from the cash handling device; and

providing access to a vault in response to the unlocking of the electromechanical lock.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling the currency to be removed from the vault.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising enabling the vault to be closed.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising disabling access to the transportation utility screen.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising locking the electromechanical lock.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising preventing further said input to the electromechanical lock after a pre-determined number of failed attempts to obtain authorization.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically transferring the currency to a container in the vault prior to said providing said access to the vault in response to the unlocking of the electromechanical lock.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising enabling the container containing the currency to be removed from the vault.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising enabling the vault to be closed.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising disabling access to the transportation utility screen.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising locking the electromechanical lock.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising preventing further said input to the electromechanical lock after a pre-determined number of failed attempts to obtain authorization.

13. The method of claim 5 wherein one or more of the steps of the method are implemented as computer-executable instructions stored on at least one computer-readable medium.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein one or more of the steps of the method are implemented as computer-executable instructions stored on at least one computer-readable medium.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, by a cash handling machine, an input to an electromechanical lock in the cash handling machine;

determining, by the electromechanical lock, whether the input is authorized;

unlocking the electromechanical lock if the input is authorized;

displaying information about transporting currency from the cash handling machine on a transportation utility screen only in response to the unlocking of the electromechanical lock;

transferring said currency to a container in a vault in response to the unlocking of the electromechanical lock;

providing access to the vault in response to the unlocking of the electromechanical lock;

enabling the container in the vault to be removed;

enabling the vault to be closed;

disabling access to the transportation utility screen; and

locking the electromechanical lock.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the transfer of said currency to the container is performed automatically when the electromechanical lock is unlocked.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the vault is closed automatically after the container is removed from the vault.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein one or more of the steps of the method are implemented as computer-executable instructions stored on at least one computer-readable medium.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a processor for executing computer-executable instructions;

a memory that stores the computer-executable instructions;

a display configured to display a transportation utility screen in accordance with signals received from the processor executing the computer-executable instructions;

an electromechanical lock in communication with the processor and a vault, said vault storing a container;

at least one stacker holding said currency;

an input means for receiving user input;

wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive user input;

determine, based on said user input, whether said user is authorized to remove said currency from the apparatus;

unlock the electromechanical lock;

provide access to the transportation utility screen only in response to unlocking the electromechanical lock;

display, on the transportation utility screen, information about transporting said currency from the apparatus;

transfer said currency from said at least one stacker to the container in the vault;

enable access to the vault;

enable the container to be removed from the vault;

close the vault;

disable access to the transportation utility screen; and

lock the electromechanical lock.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the apparatus is a cash recycler and the input means is part of the electromechanical lock.