Banking system operated responsive to data read from data bearing records

• US 8,336,769 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2012
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: McIntyre, Daniel S., DePietro, Mark, MEEK, JAMES, Bakerink, Allan R., Frazzitta, Bartholomew J., Benore, Randolph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US13/450,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20120205442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/381, 705/10, 705/14, 705/41
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A banking system includes automated banking machines that operate responsive to data read from data bearing records. Transactions may also be carried out through communication with local and remote service providers. An automated banking machine is operative to conduct transactions including cash dispensing for users, responsive to data read from user cards and communication with a transaction host. The machine is also operative to provide output signals which drive external displays. A machine processor is operative to cause the machine to receive visual and/or audio content from content sources and to store data corresponding to the content. The content is then output through the external displays.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a banking system including a plurality of transaction terminals,

wherein each respective terminal includes at least one reader operable to read user data usable to identify a financial account on which financial transactions can be carried out,

wherein each respective terminal is operable to allow a user of the respective terminal to request a check cashing transaction responsive at least in part to the user being recognized as an authorized terminal user based at least in part on computer-determined correspondence between user data read by the at least one reader and authorized terminal user information stored in at least one data store,

wherein each respective terminal includes a cash acceptor,

wherein the cash acceptor is operable to receive cash from authorized terminal users,

wherein each respective terminal includes a check acceptor,

wherein the check acceptor is operable to receive checks from authorized terminal users,

wherein each terminal includes a check imager,

wherein the check imager is operable to capture an image of at least one side of a check received by the check acceptor,

wherein each terminal includes a cash dispenser,

a teller station remotely located from the plurality of terminals,

wherein the teller station includes a teller input device,

wherein each respective terminal includes at least one computer,

wherein for each respective terminal,

the at least one computer is operable to resolve from images captured by the check imager, check data including a check amount, and

the at least one computer is operably responsive at least in part to at least one input to the teller input device, to cause the cash dispenser to dispense to an authorized terminal user, a cash amount that corresponds to a check amount resolved from an image captured by the check imager of a check received by the check acceptor,

wherein the teller station includes a communication selector unit,

wherein the communication selector unit allows a teller to selectively establish two-way audio and video communication with a respective customer at each of the terminals,

wherein the teller station includes a queuing indicator,

wherein the queuing indicator is linked to the check imager of each respective terminal,

wherein the queuing indicator is operable to display a queue of session identifiers respectively corresponding to in-progress user sessions at respective terminals,

wherein the queue indicates an order in which user session customers are to be sequentially served by a teller,

 

wherein a session identifier for an in-progress user session which has continued for a predetermined time length after operation of the check imager of the terminal, has queue order priority over a session identifier for the longest in-progress user session.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transaction terminals comprise automated banking machines,

wherein the at least one reader includes

at least one card reader and at least one biometric reader,

wherein the at least one computer is operative during a transaction to

cause card data to be read from a customer card through operation of the at least one card reader, and

cause biometric data to be read from a customer through operation of the at least one biometric reader,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the read card data to be compared with card information stored in the at least one data store,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the read biometric data to be compared with biometric information in the at least one data store,

wherein a customer is authorized to request a check cashing transaction responsive at least in part to both

computer-determined correspondence between the read card data and stored card information, and

computer-determined correspondence between the read biometric data and stored biometric information.

3. Apparatus comprising:

a teller station,

wherein the teller station includes a queuing indicator,

wherein the queuing indicator is in operative connection with at least one customer sensor operable to detect customers at a plurality of transaction terminals, which are operable by respective customers of a banking system using a respective banking account associated with the banking system to conduct each of a cash-depositing transaction and a cash-receiving transaction,

wherein the queuing indicator is operable based at least in part on the at least one customer sensor, to display queuing information indicating an order in which customers at transaction terminals are to be sequentially served by the teller station,

wherein the teller station includes at least one terminal communication selector unit,

wherein the at least one terminal communication selector unit allows the teller to selectively establish two-way audio and video communication with a respective customer at each respective transaction terminal,

wherein the teller station allows the teller to be simultaneously involved with different transactions being conducted at different transaction terminals,

wherein during two-way audio and video communication with a transaction terminal customer conducting a transaction, the teller is able to cause advertising material to be presented to other transaction terminal customers that are conducting other transactions with which the teller is simultaneously involved,

wherein the teller station includes at least one teller output device,

wherein the at least one teller output device includes at least one teller display,

wherein the teller station includes at least one teller input device operable to receive input from the teller,

wherein the at least one teller input device is in operative connection with the queuing indicator,

wherein at least one first input to the at least one teller input device is operative to cause

 

two-way audio and video communication to be established between the teller and a first customer at a first terminal that is to be served next based on the queuing information, and

 

the at least one teller display to output transaction data associated with the first customer,

wherein responsive at least in part to the outputted transaction data associated with the first customer corresponding to a customer authorized to conduct a cash-receiving transaction, the teller is operative to cause through at least one second input to the at least one teller input device, cash to be delivered to the first customer at the first terminal.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3

wherein each respective transaction terminal includes at least one computer, a check acceptor, a check imager, and at least one reader operable to read user data usable to identify a financial account on which financial transactions can be carried out,

wherein the check imager of a respective terminal is operable to capture at least one image of at least one side of a check received by the check acceptor of the respective terminal, and

wherein the at least one computer of the respective terminal is operable to resolve check data from the at least one image captured by the check imager of the respective terminal,

wherein the at least one first input to the at least one teller input device is operative to cause the at least one teller display to output transaction data that includes check data resolved by the at least one computer of the respective terminal.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the queuing indicator is operable based at least in part on the at least one customer sensor detecting customers at a plurality of transaction terminals that comprise automated banking machines.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the automated banking machines are operable by authorized customers to conduct a cash-receiving transaction that includes at least one of a cash withdrawal transaction and a check cashing transaction.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6

wherein each respective automated banking machine includes at least one computer, a check acceptor, and a check imager, wherein a respective check imager is operable to capture an image of at least one side of a check received by a respective check acceptor,

wherein the at least one computer is operable to resolve check data from images captured by the check imager, wherein the check data includes a check amount.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6

wherein each respective automated banking machine includes a respective cash dispenser that is in operative connection with the at least one teller input device,

wherein teller input to the at least one teller input device is operative to cause a respective cash dispenser to dispense cash.

9. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the teller station is connected to each respective transaction terminal by a respective item conveyor system,

wherein each respective item conveyor system is operable to physically move at least one item between the teller station and the respective transaction terminal.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each item conveyor system includes a pneumatic tube.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the teller station and the transaction terminals are located in a same building.

12. A method comprising:

(a) operating at least one queuing indicator at a teller station to display queuing information,

wherein the queuing indicator is in operative connection with at least one customer sensor operable to detect customers at a plurality of transaction terminals, which are operable by respective customers of a banking system using a respective banking account associated with the banking system to conduct each of a cash-depositing transaction and a cash-receiving transaction,

wherein the queuing indicator is operable to display the queuing information based at least in part on the at least one customer sensor,

wherein the teller station includes at least one terminal communication selector unit,

wherein the at least one terminal communication selector unit allows the teller to selectively establish two-way audio and video communication with a respective customer at each respective transaction terminal,

wherein the teller station allows the teller to be simultaneously involved with different transactions being conducted at different transaction terminals,

wherein during two-way audio and video communication with a transaction terminal customer conducting a transaction, the teller is able to cause advertising material to be presented to other transaction terminal customers that are conducting other transactions with which the teller is simultaneously involved,

wherein the teller station includes at least one teller output device,

wherein the at least one teller output device includes at least one teller display,

wherein the teller station includes at least one teller input device operable to receive input from the teller,

wherein the at least one teller input device is in operative connection with the queuing indicator,

wherein the queuing information displayed indicates an order in which customers at transaction terminals are to be sequentially served by the teller station;

(b) operating the at least one teller input device to receive at least one first input,

wherein the at least one first input causes;

(bi) two-way audio and video communication to be established between the teller and a first customer at a first terminal that is to be served next based on the queuing information, and

(bii) the at least one teller display to output transaction data associated with the first customer; and

(c) operating the at least one teller input device to receive at least one second input, responsive at least in part to the transaction data output in (bii) corresponding to a customer authorized to conduct a cash-receiving transaction,

wherein the at least one second input causes cash to be delivered to the first customer at the first terminal.

13. The method according to claim 12

wherein each respective transaction terminal includes at least one computer, a check acceptor, a check imager, and at least one reader operable to read user data usable to identify a financial account on which financial transactions can be carried out,

wherein the check imager of a respective terminal is operable to capture at least one image of at least one side of a check received by the check acceptor of the respective terminal, and

wherein the at least one computer of the respective terminal is operable to resolve check data from the at least one image captured by the check imager of the respective terminal,

wherein the at least one first input received in (b) causes the at least one teller display to output transaction data that includes check data resolved by the at least one computer of the first terminal.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the queuing indicator is operable based at least in part on the at least one customer sensor detecting customers at a plurality of transaction terminals that comprise automated banking machines,

wherein (a) includes displaying queuing information that indicates an order in which customers at automated banking machines are to be sequentially served by the teller station.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the automated banking machines are operable by authorized customers to conduct a cash-receiving transaction that includes at least one of a cash withdrawal transaction and a check cashing transaction,

wherein (c) includes causing cash to be delivered in a cash withdrawal transaction or a check cashing transaction.

16. The method according to claim 15

wherein each respective automated banking machine includes at least one computer, a check acceptor, and a check imager, wherein a respective check imager is operable to capture an image of at least one side of a check received by a respective check acceptor,

wherein the at least one computer is operable to resolve check data from images captured by the check imager, wherein the check data includes a check amount,

wherein (bii) includes operating the at least one teller display to output transaction data that includes check data resolved from images captured by the check imager,

wherein (c) includes causing a cash amount corresponding to a check amount to be delivered in a check cashing transaction.

17. The method according to claim 15

wherein each respective automated banking machine includes a respective cash dispenser that is in operative connection with the at least one teller input device,

wherein (c) includes causing the cash dispenser at the first terminal to dispense cash to the first customer.

18. The method according to claim 12 wherein the teller station is connected to each respective transaction terminal by a respective item conveyor system,

wherein (c) includes causing an item conveyor system to physically move cash from the teller station to the first terminal.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein each item conveyor system includes a pneumatic tube,

wherein (c) includes using a pneumatic tube to physically move cash from the teller station to the first terminal.

20. The method according to claim 18 wherein the teller station and the transaction terminals are located in a same building,

wherein (c) includes causing the item conveyor system to physically move cash from a first area of the building to a second area of the building, wherein the first area is a secured area.