Banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records

• US 8,479,978 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Block, James, Zaugg, Matthew R., Miller, Willis, Blackson, Dale H., Scanlon, Michael, Douglass, Mark A., Enright, Jeffery M., Ramachandran, Natarajan, Graef, H. Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US12/803,255
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 705/1.1, 705/35, 705/39, 705/42, 705/43
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/2055 Anti-skimming aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network

Abstract

An automated banking machine is part of a banking system that operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that operates to read data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. A card account'"'"'s status is listed in a data store as either blocked or unblocked for use in approving transactions on the account. A transaction on an account cannot be carried out unless the account has an unblocked status. Similarly, no transaction is carried out on an account having a blocked status. Read card data is sent from the machine to a remote card security computer which determines the card account status from the data store. If the account is unblocked, then the machine can continue with the transaction and seek transaction approval from a host computer associated with the automated banking machine.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine, wherein the machine is part of a banking system that is operative to cause financial transfers responsive at least in part to data read from customer cards, including a customer card of a customer having a customer account with a financial entity,

wherein the automated banking machine includes a card reader,

wherein the card reader is operative to read customer account data corresponding to the customer account from the customer card, wherein the customer account data is useable in determining whether the customer account is available to conduct a transaction thereon,

wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser,

wherein the cash dispenser is operative to cause cash stored in the machine to be dispensed from the machine,

at least one data store,

wherein the at least one data store includes status information on each of a plurality of currently open accounts, including the customer account,

wherein for each respective account, the status information indicates a status of the respective account with respect to whether the respective account is currently available to conduct at least one transaction thereon,

wherein the status information for the customer account is indicative of;

 

an available status, wherein the customer account is open and is available to conduct transactions thereon, or

 

an unavailable status, wherein the customer account is open but is prevented from being used to conduct transactions thereon,

a cell phone of the customer,

at least one computer associated with the financial entity,

wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with the at least one data store,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to determine from the at least one data store the status of each respective account,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to modify status information in the at least one data store,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to receive in response to customer input provided to the cell phone outside of performing a transaction with the cell phone, a block account request to have the status information for the customer account be changed to indicate the unavailable status,

wherein the at least one computer is programmed to automatically operate without intermediate human assistance to either the customer or the at least one computer, to immediately cause information in the at least one data store to be changed to have the status information for the customer account indicate the unavailable status, in response to receiving the block account request,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to receive in response to customer input provided to the cell phone outside of performing a transaction with the cell phone, an unblock account request to have the status information for the customer account be changed to indicate the available status,

wherein the at least one computer is programmed to automatically operate without intermediate human assistance to either the customer or the at least one computer, to immediately cause information in the at least one data store to be changed to have the status information for the customer account indicate the available status, in response to receiving the unblock account request,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to communicate with a plurality of remote transaction computers, including the automated banking machine,

wherein the at least one computer is programmed to confirm to a respective remote transaction computer while the status information for the customer account indicates the available status, customer account availability to conduct at least one transaction thereon,

wherein the at least one computer is programmed to deny to a respective remote transaction computer while the status information for the customer account indicates the unavailable status, customer account availability to conduct at least one transaction thereon,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to receive from the automated banking machine, a computer request to confirm whether the customer account corresponding to the customer account data read by the card reader is available to conduct at least one transaction thereon,

wherein responsive at least in part to the computer request, the at least one computer is programmed to operate to determine from the at least one data store whether the customer account is available to conduct at least one transaction thereon,

 

wherein the at least one computer is operative responsive at least in part to determining that the status information for the customer account indicates the available status, to inform the automated banking machine that the customer account is available to conduct at least one transaction thereon,

 

wherein the automated banking machine is configured to operate to cause a transaction on the customer account to be allowed, responsive at least in part to being informed that the customer account is available to conduct at least one transaction thereon,

 

wherein the at least one computer is operative responsive at least in part to determining that the status information for the customer account indicates the unavailable status, to inform the automated banking machine that the customer account is unavailable to conduct at least one transaction on the customer account,

 

wherein the automated banking machine is configured to operate to cause a denial of a transaction on the customer account, responsive at least in part to being informed that the customer account is unavailable to conduct at least one transaction thereon.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the machine is part of a banking system including a plurality of automated banking machines,

wherein each machine includes a machine computer, a card reader, and a cash dispenser, wherein for each machine the machine computer is operative to cause card data read by the card reader to be compared with card information stored in a user identification data store,

wherein each machine further includes a biometric reader, wherein for each machine the machine computer is operative to cause user biometric data read by the biometric reader to be compared with biometric information in the user identification data store,

wherein for each machine, a machine user is authorized to use the machine to request a transaction responsive at least in part to both

a computer-determined relationship between read card data and stored card information, and

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

3. Apparatus comprising:

at least one data store that includes status information on each of a plurality of currently open accounts,

wherein for each respective account, the status information indicates a status of the respective account with respect to whether the respective account is available to conduct transactions,

at least one computer associated with a financial entity,

wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with the at least one data store,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to determine from the at least one data store the status of each respective account,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to modify the status information in the at least one data store,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to receive,

responsive to first customer input provided to a personal mobile communication device outside of performing a transaction,

wherein the personal mobile communication device is associated with a customer having a customer account with the financial entity,

wherein the personal mobile communication device enables the customer to independently change the status of the customer account between available and unavailable for use in conducting transactions,

at least one first message including a block account request that the customer account be temporarily blocked from being used to conduct transactions thereon,

wherein the at least one computer is programmed to automatically operate without intermediate human assistance to either the customer or the at least one computer, to immediately cause the status information in the at least one data store to be modified to indicate that the status of the customer account is unavailable to conduct transactions, responsive at least in part to receiving the block account request,

 

wherein the status information as modified prevents the customer account from being used to conduct transactions,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to receive, responsive to second customer input provided to the personal mobile communication device outside of performing a transaction, at least one second message including an unblock account request that the customer account temporarily not be blocked from being used to conduct transactions thereon,

wherein the at least one computer is programmed to automatically operate without intermediate human assistance to either the customer or the at least one computer, to immediately cause the status information in the at least one data store to be modified to indicate that the status of the customer account is available to conduct transactions, responsive at least in part to receiving the unblock account request,

wherein the status information as modified permits the customer account to be used to conduct transactions,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to communicate with a plurality of remote transaction computers, including a first remote transaction computer,

wherein the at least one computer is programmed to confirm to a respective remote transaction computer while the status of the customer account is available to conduct transactions, customer account availability to conduct transactions,

wherein the at least one computer is programmed to deny to a respective remote transaction computer while the status of the customer account is unavailable to conduct transactions thereon, customer account availability to conduct transactions,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to receive from the first remote transaction computer, a computer request to confirm whether the customer account is available to conduct transactions,

wherein the at least one computer is programmed to access the status information in the at least one data store;

responsive at least in part to receiving the computer request,

 

wherein the at least one computer is programmed to indicate to the first remote transaction computer that the customer account is available to conduct transactions, responsive at least in part to the status information indicating that the status of the customer account is available to conduct transactions,

 

wherein the at least one computer is programmed to indicate to the first remote transaction computer that the customer account is unavailable to conduct transactions, responsive at least in part to the status information indicating that the status of the customer account is unavailable to conduct transactions.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3

wherein the at least one personal device of the customer includes a cell phone,

wherein the cell phone enables the customer to independently change the status of the customer account between available and unavailable to conduct transactions,

wherein the at least one computer includes a server,

wherein the server is operative to receive responsive to operation of the cell phone, both the block account request and the unblock account request.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3

wherein the at least one personal device of the customer includes a personal computer,

wherein the personal computer enables the customer to independently change the status of the customer account between available and unavailable to conduct transactions,

wherein the at least one computer includes a server,

wherein the server is operative to receive responsive to operation of the personal computer, both the block account request and the unblock account request.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3 and further comprising an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a card reader operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts, wherein the automated banking machine includes the first remote transaction computer, wherein the at least one computer is operative to indicate to the automated banking machine whether the customer account is available or unavailable to conduct a transaction thereon.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the at least one computer includes an account security server, wherein the server is operative to receive from the automated banking machine, a request to verify whether the customer account is authorized to be used in a transaction performed through operation of the automated banking machine.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the automated banking machine comprises a POS terminal, wherein the at least one computer is operative to indicate to the POS terminal whether the customer account is available or unavailable to conduct a transaction thereon.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one computer includes an account security server, wherein the server is operative to receive from the POS terminal, a request to verify whether the customer account is authorized to be used in a transaction performed through operation of the POS terminal.

10. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein in response to the block account request, the at least one computer operates to set the customer account status to unavailable, wherein the status prevents the customer account from being used in a financial transaction.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein in response to the unblock account request, the at least one computer operates to set the customer account status to available for transactions, wherein the status permits the customer account to be used in a transaction.

12. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the at least one computer is part of a security system that provides consumer card control capability, wherein the security system includes software that enables a customer, without human service provider assistance, to independently respectively activate and deactivate a card account while the card account remains open.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the security system includes software that enables the customer to use a cell phone to both automatically activate the card account, whereby a transaction may be conducted on the account, immediately prior to a transaction and then automatically deactivate the card account immediately after the transaction.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the software enables the customer to use a cell phone to both automatically activate a debit card account immediately prior to a transaction on the account and then automatically deactivate the debit card account immediately after the transaction.

15. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine,

wherein the automated banking machine includes a card reader,

wherein the card reader is operative to read from user cards, card data that corresponds to financial accounts;

at least one computer associated with at least one data store that includes status information on a customer financial account with a financial entity,

wherein the at least one computer is operable to modify the status information in the at least one data store,

wherein the at least one computer is operable to receive without intermediate assistance from a human service provider, at least one communication sent from a mobile communication device of a customer having the account,

wherein the at least one communication causes without intermediate assistance from a human service provider, the at least one computer to modify the status information in the at least one data store,

wherein the at least one computer allows the customer to automatically without intermediate assistance from a human service provider, activate and deactivate the account in real time a plurality of times while the account remains open,

wherein while the account is activated, transactions on the account are permitted to be conducted through the automated banking machine,

wherein while the account is deactivated, transactions on the account are prevented from being conducted through the automated banking machine.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the mobile communication device comprises a mobile phone, and wherein customer input to the mobile phone is operative to cause the account to be activated and deactivated in real time.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15 and further comprising at least one computer remotely located from the machine,

wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with at least one data store,

wherein the at least one data store includes status information that indicates whether the account is activated or deactivated,

wherein the at least one computer is operable to inform the machine whether transactions on the account are permitted to be conducted.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the at least one computer is operable to communicate with the mobile communication device,

wherein the at least one computer is operable to receive from the mobile communication device, customer requests to activate and deactivate the account,

wherein the at least one computer is operable to automatically modify the at least one data store to change the status information to reflect a received customer request.

19. Apparatus comprising:

at least one computer associated with a financial entity,

wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with at least one data store that includes status information on each of a plurality of currently open financial accounts, including a customer account of a customer associated with a personal mobile communication device,

wherein the customer account is associated with the financial entity,

wherein the customer account is open,

wherein while remaining open the customer account has a customer-changeable availability status,

wherein the availability status indicates whether the customer account is currently active or inactive,

 

wherein when the customer account is active, then transactions attempted on the customer account are allowed to be approved,

 

wherein when the customer account is inactive, then transactions attempted on the customer account are prevented from being approved,

wherein the at least one computer is operable to cause the availability status to be switched in the at least one data store from;

indicating that the customer account is active to indicating that the customer account is inactive, and

indicating that the customer account is inactive to indicating that the customer account is active,

wherein the at least one computer is operable to communicate with the personal mobile communication device, including receiving without any intermediate human assistance, messages sent from the personal mobile communication device by the customer,

wherein the at least one computer is operable to receive at least one change status message sent from the personal mobile communication device while the personal mobile communication device is not being used in performing a financial transaction,

wherein the at least one change status message includes authorization to change the availability status in the at least one data store,

 

wherein the at least one computer is configured to automatically operate responsive at least in part to receiving the at least one change status message, to immediately cause the availability status to be switched in the at least one data store,

 

wherein the availability status is switched from either;

 

indicating that the customer account is active to indicating that the customer account is inactive, or

 

indicating that the customer account is inactive to indicating that the customer account is active,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to receive during a requested automated transaction machine transaction involving user data read by at least one data reader of the machine that corresponds to the customer account, a computer request from at least one remote computer for information regarding whether the transaction is allowed to be approved on the customer account,

wherein the at least one computer is programmed to operate responsive at least in part to receiving the computer request, to determine the availability status from the at least one data store,

 

wherein the at least one computer is programmed to operate responsive at least in part to determining the availability status, to indicate to the at least one remote computer whether the transaction is allowed to be approved on the customer account.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19

wherein the personal mobile communication device comprises a mobile phone,

wherein the mobile phone allows the customer to independently change the availability status between inactive and inactive,

wherein the at least one computer includes a server,

wherein the server is operable to receive in communication from the mobile phone, the at least one change status message.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the automated transaction machine includes a card reader operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts, wherein the automated transaction machine includes a first computer, wherein the first computer is operable to send the computer request to the server.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the at least one computer includes programming that allows the customer to use the personal mobile communication device to automatically activate the account,

whereby a transaction may be conducted on the account immediately prior to a transaction and then automatically deactivate the account immediately after the transaction.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the at least one computer allows the customer to use the personal mobile communication device to communicate directly with the at least one computer to activate and deactivate the account in real time.

24. Apparatus comprising:

a system associated with a financial entity,

wherein the system includes at least one data store,

wherein the at least one data store includes a usability status of a card held by a customer of the financial entity,

wherein the card is associated with an open account,

 

wherein the status indicates whether the account is temporarily blocked or temporarily unblocked,

 

wherein when temporarily blocked, then the system allows usage of the account for transactions requested at automated transaction machines that include at least one card reader that is operable to read card data from the card,

 

wherein when temporarily unblocked, then the system denies usage of the account for transactions requested at the automated transaction machines,

wherein the system includes at least one server that is in operative connection with at least one data store,

wherein the at least one server is operable to cause modification of data in the at least one data store, including changing the status from being temporarily unblocked to being temporarily blocked,

wherein the system allows customer communication with the at least one server through a mobile communication device, to initiate a status change operation,

wherein the at least one server is configured to automatically operate responsive to receiving the customer communication, to immediately cause modification of the at least one data store in performing the status change operation to change the status from being temporarily unblocked to being temporarily blocked,

wherein the status change operation does not need card data to be read from the card by a card reader.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24

wherein the at least one server is operative to receive from at least one remote computer, a computer request for information regarding whether the account is usable for a machine transaction requested at a first automated transaction machine,

wherein the at least one server is programmed to operate responsive at least in part to receiving the computer request, to:

determine the usability status from the at least one data store, and then

indicate to the at least one remote computer whether the account is usable for the machine transaction.

26. The apparatus according to claim 24

wherein the system allows later customer communication with the at least one server through the mobile communication device, to initiate a status change operation that results in the account being temporarily unblocked,

wherein the at least one server is configured to operate responsive to receiving the later customer communication, to modify the at least one data store to change the status from being temporarily blocked to being temporarily unblocked.

27. The apparatus according to claim 24

wherein the mobile communication device comprises a mobile phone,

wherein the mobile phone allows the customer to independently communicate with the server, to initiate the status change operation that results in the account being temporarily blocked.