Automated banking machine system and method

• US 20070181676A1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blackson, Dale, Smith, Mark, Ramachandran, Natarajan, Mateen, Atta, Kolinski-Schultz, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2575 DVD-RAMs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/913 : Digital audio tape [DAT] format
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 : Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 : on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 : on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence

Abstract

An automated banking machine (152) includes a plurality of transaction function devices. The transaction function devices include a card reader (170), a keypad (172), a printer (174), a bill dispenser (176), a coin dispenser (178), a code reading device (180), a display (182), a cash acceptor (184), a check acceptor (186) and a biometric reader (188). The banking machine operates responsive to indica read from user cards. The banking machine operates responsive to instructions executed by at least one processor (190) in the machine. The banking machine is operative responsive to reading gaming tickets or other items through operation of the code reading device, and/or a biometric feature reading device, to dispense cash or provide other value to users. The banking machine is also operative to cause value to be transferred by users for the purchase of gaming items. Other transactions may be conducted, including redeeming or changing forms of value including forms of value that can be used within a gaming establishment (154).

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including;

a housing;

a card reader in operatively supported connection with the housing;

a display in operatively supported connection with the housing;

a printer in operatively supported connection with the housing;

a bill dispenser in operatively supported connection with the housing;

a code reader in operatively supported connection with the housing;

at least one processor and at least one data store within the housing, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the at least one data store, the code reader, the bill dispenser, the printer, the card reader and the display;

at least one communications device in operative connection with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the banking machine to communicate in at least one banking network and in at least one accrued value processing network.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to card data read from cards through operation of the card reader, to cause the machine to communicate in the at least one banking network, and is operative responsive to item data read from items through operation of the code reader, to cause the machine to communicate in the at least one accrued value processing network.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the machine is operative to dispense bills through operation of the bill dispenser, responsive to communications in each of the at least one banking network and the at least one accrued value processing network.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the machine is operative to cause monetary value to be transferred between a first financial account associated with an individual and accessible through the at least one banking network, and a second account associated with at least one of an individual and a gaming item, accessible through the at least one accrued value network.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the second account comprises a temporary account usable for the payment of royalties.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the second account comprises a temporary account associated with at least one gift certificate.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the second account comprises a temporary account including data corresponding to value associated with a gaming item.

8. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the at least one accrued value processing network comprises a first network through which each of a plurality of individuals can access at least one respective account including value associated with the respective individuals'"'"' gaming activities.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the code reader includes a bar code reading device.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the code reader is operative to accept within the machine, gaming items including bar codes thereon.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to bar code read by the bar code reading device, to cause the banking machine to access through the first network at least one record associated with an accrued value account corresponding to the read bar code.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the automated banking machine further comprises a coin dispenser in operative connection with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause both the bill dispenser and the coin dispenser to operate responsive to communication through the first network.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein communication by the automated banking machine through the first network is operative to cause a value represented in the at least one record associated with the accrued value account to be reduced, and the at least one processor is operative to cause the bill dispenser and the coin dispenser to operate to dispense cash corresponding to the value.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the automated banking machine is operative responsive to accessing a financial account through the banking network, to cause a further value associated with the financial account to be reduced by a further amount, and wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the printer to print at least one item bearing a further bar code and to communicate through the first network to cause to be produced in the first network, at least one record corresponding to an accrued value account having a value associated therewith corresponding to the further amount, as well as data corresponding to the further bar code.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the at least one item printed comprises a gaming ticket acceptable by a gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine is in operative connection with the first network.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the at least one item printed comprises an item redeemable for cash at a cashier in a gaming establishment.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 and further comprising:

a gaming establishment, wherein the automated banking machine is located within the gaming establishment;

at least one server remote from the automated banking machine within the gaming establishment, wherein the at least one server is in operative connection with the automated banking machine in the first network, and wherein the at least one server includes at least one server data store that includes data corresponding to a plurality of accrued value accounts;

a plurality of gaming machines within the gaming establishment, wherein each of the plurality of gaming machines is in operative connection with the at least one server;

wherein each of the plurality of gaming machines operates responsive to items printed by the at least one printer of the automated banking machine.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein each of the plurality of gaming machines is operative to add value and debit value from each of the plurality of accrued value accounts responsive to games played at the gaming machines.

19. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including;

a housing;

a card reader in operatively supported connection with the housing wherein the card reader is operative to read indicia on user cards, wherein the indicia corresponds to financial accounts;

a display in operatively supported connection with the housing;

a printer in operatively supported connection with the housing;

a bill dispenser in operatively supported connection with the housing;

a coin dispenser in operatively supported connection with the housing;

a code reader in operatively supported connection with the housing;

at least one processor and at least one data store within the housing, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the at least one data store, the code reader, the bill dispenser, the coin dispenser, the printer, the card reader and the display;

at least one communications device in operative connection with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the automated banking machine to communicate with (i) at least one computer remote from the machine but located within a gaming establishment in which the automated banking machine is located, and (ii) at least one banking network;

wherein the at least one computer is in operative communication with a plurality of gaming machines in the gaming establishment, and wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to communication with the at least one computer to pay out from the automated banking machine at least one of bills and coin which represent winnings at least one of the gaming machines in the gaming establishment, through operation of at least one of the bill dispenser and the coin dispenser of the automated banking machine.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the automated banking machine to communicate with the at least one computer and to pay out at least one of bills and coin, responsive to reading at least one item produced by at least one gaming machine, through operation of the code reader of the automated banking machine.

21. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the automated banking machine is operative responsive to operation of the at least one processor and communication with the at least one computer, to print items through operation of the printing device, wherein the printed items are usable to cause at least one gaming machine in the gaming establishment to play at least one game.