On demand transportation for cash handling device

• US 8,210,429 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• 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): Frech, Karl D
• Application Number:
  US12/262,659
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/24 Managing the stock of valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/209 Monitoring, auditing or diagnose of functioning of ATMs

Abstract

Methods and devices enable inventory levels to be monitored in one or more cash handling devices. A cash handling device may be stocked with inventory. Deposits to and withdrawals from the cash handling device may be made. Changes in the inventory due to the deposits and the withdrawals may be monitored. Armored service for transport may be dispatched when: 1) the cash handling device requires replenishment for one or more denominations, 2) the inventory rises above or falls below desired thresholds, and/or 3) is approaching maximum capacity for one or more denominations. The inventory in the cash handling device may then be adjusted.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

stocking a cash handling device with inventory;

allowing transactions at the cash handling device;

monitoring changes in the inventory in the cash handling device as a result of the transactions; and

adjusting the inventory in the cash handling device responsive to at least one threshold for the inventory being reached,

wherein the inventory is adjusted to a target level after said at least one threshold for the inventory is reached, and

wherein said at least one threshold is a maximum threshold and indicates that at least one denomination is at or above a maximum desired level.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising issuing at least one alert when said maximum threshold is reached.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the changes in the inventory are monitored from a remote location through a communication network.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the transactions include deposits to and withdrawals from the cash handling device.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the inventory includes paper currency as well as coins.

6. A method comprising:

stocking a plurality of cash handling devices with inventory of a plurality of denominations of currency;

allowing deposits to and withdrawals from the cash handling devices;

monitoring from a remote location changes in the inventory in the cash handling devices as a result of the deposits and the withdrawals;

issuing an alert for one of said plurality of cash handling devices if either a minimum threshold is reached or a maximum threshold is reached, said minimum threshold indicating that at least one of said denominations is at or below a minimum desired level, said maximum threshold indicating that at least one of said denominations is at or above a maximum desired level;

dispatching a carrier to the cash handling device for which the alert was issued;

replenishing, by the carrier, each said currency denomination that is below a target level; and

withdrawing, by the carrier, each said currency denomination that is above a target level.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the alerts are issued automatically by said plurality of cash handling devices.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the carrier is scheduled automatically to be dispatched when the remote location receives said alert.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of cash handling devices are cash recyclers.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the currency includes paper money as well as coins and each of the cash recyclers include a coin recycler.

11. A system comprising:

a plurality of cash recyclers, each said cash recycler including;

a first processor for executing first computer-executable instructions;

a first memory that stores the first computer-executable instructions;

at least three stackers for storing currency, each said stacker holding different currency denominations;

user input means for receiving user input to request a deposit or withdrawal;

an input mechanism to receive said currency to be deposited;

an output mechanism to dispense said currency to be withdrawn

a scanner to scan said currency in order to determine its said currency denomination;

a display for displaying messages in accordance with the first computer-executable instructions; and

a first communication interface;

wherein the first computer-executable instructions cause the cash recycler to;

allow said currency to be deposited into the cash recycler after the input means receives said user input requesting said deposit;

scan the deposited currency in order to determine its said denomination;

route the deposited currency to one of said at least three stackers corresponding to the denomination;

allow said currency to be withdrawn from the cash recycler after the input means receives said user input requesting said withdrawal;

route the currency be withdrawn to the output mechanism;

monitor whether the currency in any said stacker equals a maximum threshold;

monitor whether the currency in any said stacker equals a minimum threshold;

provide a notification through the first communication interface when said maximum threshold or said minimum threshold is reached for any said stacker;

at least one server including;

a second processor for executing second computer-executable instructions;

a second memory that stores the second computer-executable instructions;

a second communication interface in communication with said first communication interface;

wherein the second computer-executable instructions cause said at least one server to;

receive said notification through the second communication interface when said maximum threshold or said minimum threshold is reached for any said stacker in any said cash recycler; and

schedule a carrier to service said cash recycler from which the notification was received to adjust the currency in each said stacker in the cash recycler to target levels.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said at least one server automatically schedules the carrier to be dispatched when the notification is received.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the currency includes paper money as well as coins and each of the cash recyclers include a coin recycler.