Systems, apparatus, and methods for currency processing control and redemption

• US 7,980,378 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2009
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Mennie, Douglas U., Jones, William J., Hallowell, Curtis W., Blake, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US12/436,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20090320106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 194215-217, 340/5.52, 340/5.53, 340/5.82, 340/5.83, 340/5.84, 340/5.85, 713/186, 382115-127
• US Class Current: 194/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A coin processing and redemption system includes a coin processing machine configured to receive a batch of coins in an input region and process the batch of coins to determine a value thereof. A dispensing device is provided and is configured to output a redemption ticket bearing a code. The coin processing machine is configured to associate the redemption ticket code with a coin processing transaction prior to the determination of a value of a batch of coins.

Claims

1. A method for associating a coin processing event on a coin processing machine with a user, comprising the acts of:

receiving a user'"'"'s first biometric input in a biometric input device operatively associated with the coin processing machine;

storing the user'"'"'s first biometric input in a computer-readable memory device;

processing a batch of coins using the coin processing machine, the coin processing machine comprising a coin processing device configured to sort the batch of coins and determine a total value of the batch of coins;

storing data relating to the batch of coins processed on the coin processing machine on the computer-readable memory device in association with the user'"'"'s first biometric input;

associating, in the computer-readable memory device, data relating to the batch of coins processed on the coin processing machine with the user'"'"'s first biometric input;

receiving a user'"'"'s second biometric input in another biometric input device;

storing the user'"'"'s second biometric input in the computer-readable memory device;

retrieving from the computer-readable memory device, using a processing device, the user'"'"'s first biometric input in association with a redemption operation;

comparing the retrieved biometric input, using the processing device, at a redemption location; and

redeeming the value associated with the processed batch of coins responsive to a favorable comparison of the user'"'"'s first biometric input and the user'"'"'s second biometric input by the processing device.

2. A method for associating a coin processing event on a coin processing machine with a user according to claim 1,:

wherein the coin processing machine is a coin-redemption machine, and

wherein the biometric input device is disposed at the coin-redemption machine.

3. A method for associating a coin processing event on a coin processing machine with a user according to claim 2, further comprising:

updating, in the computer-readable memory device, the data relating to the batch of coins processed on the coin processing machine, in response to the act of redeeming.

4. A method for associating a coin processing event on a coin processing machine with a user according to claim 1, wherein the biometric input device is disposed at an ATM.

5. A method for associating a coin processing event on a coin processing machine with a user according to claim 1, wherein the another biometric input device is disposed at a POS terminal.

6. A method for associating a coin processing event on a coin processing machine with a user according to claim 1, wherein the another biometric input device is disposed at a vending machine.

7. A method for associating a coin processing event on a coin processing machine with a user according to claim 1, further comprising:

deleting the user'"'"'s first biometric input and the user'"'"'s second biometric input responsive to the redemption of the value associated with the processed batch of coins.