RFID tracking for currency transfers and transportation

• US 8,177,132 B1
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Bohen, Daniel Christopher, Folk, Amy Baker, Sanders, William Thomas, Johnson, Shane Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marshall, Christle
• Application Number:
  US12/277,875
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/30 Tracking or tracing valuable papers or cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00

Abstract

Methods and devices provide for a cash handling device to dispense funds for a transfer into a container. RFID indicia may be generated as a receipt and imprinted directly on the container. Alternatively, RFID indicia may be printed and affixed to the container in the form of a tag, ticket, label, sticker, etc. Transportation carriers may use an RFID reader to read the receipt one or more times at one or more locations in order to collect data for data tracking purposes. Notifications may be provided to a bank regarding the transfer. A bank may alter staffing needs based on any such notification. The bank may use an RFID reader to read data from the receipt and compare to verified data in order to identify any discrepancies for the transfer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

authorizing access at a cash handling device;

dispensing funds from the cash handling device into a container;

generating RFID indicia as a receipt, the RFID indicia including information regarding a dispensed amount that corresponds to the funds that were dispensed into the container;

affixing the RFID indicia to the container;

prior to transporting the container to a bank, reading the RFID indicia to determine whether the dispensed amount corresponds to an actual amount of funds included in the container; and

providing a notification to the bank about an amount of the dispensed funds while the container is in transit to the bank.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the RFID indicia is selected from the group consisting of a tag, ticket, sticker, and label.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the generated RFID indicia includes an electronically readable identifier and transaction information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the transaction information includes the dispensed amount that corresponds to the funds that were dispensed into the container.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

reading the RFID indicia affixed to the container at the bank;

counting the funds in the container in order to determine a bank amount; and

comparing the dispensed amount to the bank amount in order to identify any differences.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the RFID indicia is generated by printing.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the container is a bag.

8. A method comprising:

authorizing access at a cash handling device;

dispensing funds from the cash handling device into a bag;

printing RFID indicia as a receipt;

affixing the RFID indicia onto the bag;

reading the RFID indicia to collect data for carrier data tracking; and

providing a notification to a bank about an amount of the dispensed funds while the bag is in transit to the bank.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of altering staff needs based on the notification to the bank regarding the dispensed funds.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the printed RFID indicia includes an electronically readable identifier and transaction information.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the transaction information includes a dispensed amount that corresponds to the funds that were dispensed into the bag.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

reading at the bank the RFID indicia affixed onto the bag;

counting the funds in the bag in order to determine a bank amount; and

comparing the dispensed amount to the bank amount in order to identify any differences.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a communication interface;

a display;

an input means for receiving user input;

means for generating RFID indicia;

a transportation bin; and

a memory having stored therein machine executable instructions, that when executed, cause the apparatus to;

display on the display a graphical user interface that allows access to the apparatus to be granted upon using the input means to log into the apparatus;

enable a transfer to be requested;

dispense funds from the apparatus into a bag in the transportation bin;

utilize the means for generating RFID indicia in order to generate an RFID receipt, the RFID indicia including, information regarding a dispensed amount that corresponds to the funds dispensed into the bag;

transfer information from the RFID indicia to a reader to determine whether the dispensed amount corresponds to an actual amount of funds included in the bag;

provide a notification through the communication interface to a bank regarding the transfer while in transit to the bank, said notification including an identifier for the transfer and an amount of the funds dispensed into the bag; and

enable the bag to be removed from the transportation bin in the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the RFID receipt is generated by printing and affixing the RFID receipt to the bag.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the RFID receipt is generated by imprinting on the bag.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

authorizing access at a cash handling device;

dispensing funds from the cash handling device into a container;

generating RFID indicia as a receipt, the RFID indicia including information regarding a dispensed amount that corresponds to the funds that were dispensed into the container;

affixing the RFID indicia to the container;

prior to transporting the container to the bank, reading the RFID indicia to determine whether the dispensed amount corresponds to an actual amount of funds included in the container; and

providing a notification to the bank about an amount of the dispensed funds while the container is in transit to the bank.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

authorizing access at a cash handling device;

dispensing funds from the cash handling device into a bag;

printing RFID indicia as a receipt;

affixing the RFID indicia onto the bag;

reading the RFID indicia to collect data for carrier data tracking; and

providing a notification to a bank about an amount of the dispensed funds while the container is in transit to the bank.

18. A method comprising:

authorizing access to a cash handling device;

dispensing funds from the cash handling device into a container;

printing RFID indicia as a receipt, wherein the printed RFID indicia includes an electronically readable identifier, information regarding a dispensed amount that corresponds to the funds that were dispensed into the container, and carrier tracking information;

affixing the RFID indicia to the container;

withdrawing the container from the cash handling device;

responsive to withdrawing the container, printing a receipt for the withdrawal;

reading the RFID indicia to collect carrier tracking information;

providing a notification to a bank about an amount of the dispensed funds while the container is in transit to the bank;

altering staff needs based on the notification to the bank regarding the dispensed funds;

reading the RFID indicia affixed to the container at the bank;

counting the funds in the container in order to determine a bank amount;

comparing the dispensed amount to the bank amount in order to identify any differences; and

responsive to identifying a difference between the dispensed amount and the bank amount, notifying appropriate personnel or agencies of a problem.