Automated banking machine system and method

• US 7,959,067 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ramachandran, Natarajan, Smith, Mark D., Blackson, Dale H., Kolinski-Schultz, David E., Mateen, Atta
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Thien T
• Application Number:
  US11/732,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20070235521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/492, 235/462.01, 235/493, 235/385, 463/25, 463/29, 463/30, 463/42, 463/27, 463/31, 705/39, 705/43, 705/14, 705/14.14, 705/35
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]

Abstract

An automated banking machine (152) includes a plurality of transaction function devices. The transaction function devices include a card reader (170), a keypad (172), a printer (174), a bill dispenser (176), a coin dispenser (178), a code reading device (180), a display (182), a cash acceptor (184), a check acceptor (186) and a biometric reader (188). The banking machine operates responsive to indica read from user cards. The banking machine operates responsive to instructions executed by at least one processor (190) in the machine. The banking machine is operative responsive to reading gaming tickets or other items through operation of the code reading device, and/or a biometric feature reading device, to dispense cash or provide other value to users. The banking machine is also operative to cause value to be transferred by users for the purchase of gaming items. Other transactions may be conducted, including redeeming or changing forms of value including forms of value that can be used within a gaming establishment (154).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) reading indicia on a user card through operation of a card reader of a cash dispensing automated banking machine, wherein the indicia corresponds to a financial account,

wherein the automated banking machine is located in a gaming establishment,

wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one code reader, a cash dispenser, and at least one display,

wherein the automated banking machine is associated with at least one computer that is operable to both

access a particular cash amount from data in at least one data store, wherein the particular cash amount is a predetermined amount,

and

determine whether a cash worth is less than the predetermined amount;

(b) operating the automated banking machine to dispense cash to a user of the automated banking machine and to cause a charge corresponding to the dispensed cash to be assessed to the financial account;

(c) reading a code bearing item corresponding to a gaming value associated with the gaming establishment, through operation of the at least one code reader; and

(d) subsequent to each of a determination of cash worth of the gaming value, and accessing by the at least one computer of the predetermined amount from the at least one data store, and a determination by the at least one computer of whether the cash worth is greater than the predetermined amount,

operating the automated banking machine,

wherein the automated banking machine is configured to dispense an amount of cash corresponding to at least a portion of the cash worth, responsive at least in part to a determination by the at least one computer that the cash worth is less than the predetermined amount,

wherein the automated banking machine is configured to display at least one user instruction to request redemption of the gaming value at least one different gaming value redeeming location in the gaming establishment, wherein the at least one user instruction includes directions to a cashier location, responsive at least in part to a determination by the at least one computer that the cash worth is greater than the predetermined amount,

to either

(di) dispense an amount of cash corresponding to at least a portion of the cash worth, responsive at least in part to a determination by the at least one computer that the cash worth is less than the predetermined amount,

or

(dii) display at least one user instruction to request redemption of the gaming value at least one different gaming value redeeming location in the gaming establishment, responsive at least in part to a determination by the at least one computer that the cash worth is greater than the predetermined amount,

wherein the at least one user instruction includes directions to a cashier location.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine includes at least one communication device, and further comprising:

(e) communicating through operation of the at least one communication device, with at least one computer of a credit card network or a debit card network;

(f) communicating through operation of the at least one communication device, with at least one computer of an accrued value network, wherein the accrued value network is in operative connection with at least one gaming machine;

wherein cash is dispensed from the automated banking machine in (b) responsive at least in part to (e), and wherein cash is dispensed from the automated banking machine in (d) responsive at least in part to (f).

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the code bearing item includes first data corresponding to a gaming account, and wherein in (f) the first data is communicated to the at least one computer of the accrued value network.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein in (c) the code bearing item comprises an item that is usable to cause a gaming machine to play at least one game.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the code bearing item includes a bar code, and wherein in (c) the bar code is read through operation of the at least one code reader of the automated banking machine.

6. The method according to claim 5 and further comprising:

(g) prior to (c), dispensing the code bearing item through operation of a gaming machine.

7. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising

(e) prior to (c), printing the code bearing item through operation of a printer of the automated banking machine.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the code bearing item in (c) is usable to cause a gaming machine to play at least one game.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the code bearing item is usable to cause a gaming machine to play at least one game, and wherein the code bearing item includes a bar code, and wherein in (c) the bar code is read through operation of the at least one code reader of the automated banking machine.

10. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

(e) prior to (c), dispensing the code bearing item through operation of a gaming machine.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the code bearing item has at least one associated code thereon, and further comprising:

(f) prior to (c), responsive at least in part to operation of the gaming machine, causing the at least one associated code and the gaming value to be stored in correlated relation in an accrued value network.

12. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

(e) reading at least one biometric feature through operation of a biometric reading device of the automated banking machine; and

(f) determining that the at least one biometric feature read in (e) corresponds to the code bearing item read in (c);

wherein the automated banking machine operates to dispense cash in (di) responsive at least in part to (f).

13. A method comprising:

(a) operating at least one computer responsive at least in part to a request from a customer to redeem a gaming value associated with a gaming establishment, to cause at least one code reader of a gaming value redeeming banking machine to read at least one code corresponding to the gaming value,

wherein the machine is located in the gaming establishment,

wherein the machine is associated with a currency dispenser and at least one display;

(b) operating the at least one computer to access a particular cash amount from data in at least one data store, wherein the particular cash amount is a predetermined amount;

(c) subsequent to a determination of cash worth of the gaming value, operating the at least one computer to compare

a cash amount corresponding to the cash worth

and

the predetermined amount accessed in (b);

(d) responsive at least in part to the comparison in (c), operating the at least one computer to determine whether the cash amount is greater than the predetermined amount; and

(e) subsequent to the determination in (d), operating the at least one computer to either

(ei) cause the currency dispenser to dispense an amount of currency corresponding to the cash amount, responsive at least in part to a determination in (d) that the cash amount is less than the predetermined amount,

or

(eii) cause the display to instruct the customer to request redemption of the gaming value at least one different gaming value redeeming location in the gaming establishment, responsive at least in part to a determination in (d) that the cash amount is greater than the predetermined amount,

wherein the at least one different gaming value redeeming location includes a cashier location, and wherein (eii) includes displaying walking directions to the cashier location;

wherein the at least one computer is configured to separately perform each of (ei) and (eii).

14. The method according to claim 13

wherein the machine comprises an automated banking machine,

wherein the automated banking machine is operative to carry out cash withdrawal transactions,

wherein the automated banking machine includes the at least one computer, the currency dispenser, the at least one code reader, and the at least one display,

wherein in (a) the at least one code reader comprises at least one of a gaming card reader, a gaming ticket reader, and a biometric reader,

and further comprising

(f) operating the at least one computer to cause the cash worth to be determined based at least in part on the at least one code read in (a).

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein a code bearing item includes the at least one code, wherein (a) includes operating the at least one code reader to read the at least one code from the code bearing item.

16. The method according to claim 15 and further comprising

(f) prior to (a), operating the machine to receive the code bearing item.

17. The method according to claim 16 and further comprising

(g) operating the at least one computer to cause the cash worth to be determined based at least in part on the at least one code read in (a).

18. The method according to claim 13

wherein (b) includes operating the at least one computer to determine the predetermined amount,

wherein the machine includes stored currency notes, wherein in (b) the determination is based at least in part on at least one of

quantity of the stored currency notes

and

value of the stored currency notes.

19. The method according to claim 18

wherein (d) includes determining whether the cash amount is less than the predetermined amount determined in (b).

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein (b) includes determining a predetermined amount that avoids dispense of all the stored currency notes.

21. The method according to claim 13 wherein the predetermined amount is a maximum gaming pay out amount which the machine is permitted to dispense, wherein (d) includes determining whether the predetermined amount exceeds the maximum gaming pay out amount.

22. The method according to claim 13 wherein a code bearing item includes the at least one code, wherein the code bearing item includes first data corresponding to a gaming account, wherein the code bearing item is usable to cause a gaming machine associated with the gaming establishment to play at least one game,

wherein (a) includes operating the at least one code reader to read the at least one code from the code bearing item,

and further comprising:

(f) prior to (a), dispensing the code bearing item through operation of a gaming machine associated with the gaming establishment.

23. At least one article including computer executable instructions configured to cause at least one computer associated with a gaming value redeeming banking machine which is located in a gaming establishment and which includes at least one code reader, a currency dispenser, and at least one display, to carry out a method comprising:

(a) operating the at least one computer responsive at least in part to a request from a customer to redeem a gaming value associated with the gaming establishment, to cause the at least one code reader to read at least one code corresponding to the gaming value;

(b) operating the at least one computer to access a particular cash amount from data in at least one data store, wherein the particular cash amount is a predetermined amount;

(c) subsequent to a determination of cash worth of the gaming value, operating the at least one computer to compare

a cash amount corresponding to the cash worth

and

the predetermined amount accessed in (b);

(d) responsive at least in part to the comparison in (c), operating the at least one computer to determine whether the cash amount is greater than the predetermined amount; and

(e) subsequent to the determination in (d), operating the at least one computer to either

(ei) cause the currency dispenser to dispense an amount of currency corresponding to the cash amount, responsive at least in part to a determination in (d) that the cash amount is less than the predetermined amount,

or

(eii) cause the display to instruct the customer to request redemption of the gaming value at least one different gaming value redeeming location in the gaming establishment, responsive at least in part to a determination in (d) that the cash amount is greater than the predetermined amount,

wherein the at least one different gaming value redeeming location includes a cashier location, and wherein (eii) includes displaying walking directions to the cashier location;

wherein the at least one computer is configured to separately perform each of (ei) and (eii).

24. The at least one article according to claim 23 wherein the machine comprises an automated banking machine which includes the at least one computer, the currency dispenser, the at least one code reader, and the at least one display,

wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to cause the automated banking machine to carry out cash withdrawal transactions,

wherein the method further comprises

(f) operating the at least one computer to cause the currency dispenser to dispense currency during a cash withdrawal transaction.

25. The at least one article according to claim 23 wherein in (a) the at least one code reader comprises at least one of a gaming card reader, a gaming ticket reader, and a biometric reader, and further comprising

(f) operating the at least one computer to cause the cash worth to be determined based at least in part on the at least one code read in (a).

26. The at least one article according to claim 23 wherein a code bearing item includes the at least one code, wherein (a) includes operating the at least one code reader to read the at least one code from the code bearing item.

27. The at least one article according to claim 26 and further comprising

(f) prior to (a), operating the machine to receive the code bearing item.

28. The at least one article according to claim 27 and further comprising

(g) operating the at least one computer to cause the cash worth to be determined based at least in part on the at least one code read in (a).