Module

• US 20070188804A1
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jim Henderson, Martin Smith, Mel Walter, Paul Nielsen, Wolf Rossmann
• Original Assignee: Jim Henderson, Martin Smith, Mel Walter, Paul Nielsen, Wolf Rossmann
• Inventors: Nielsen, Paul, Walter, Mel, Henderson, Jim, Smith, Martin, Rossmann, Wolf
• Granted Patent: US 7,426,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

A module (38), a terminal (12) including the module, and a system (10) including the terminal (12), are described. The module may be a printer module (38) comprising a print engine (60), a microcontroller (62), and a wireless receiver (66), such as a wireless modem, so that the module (38) is operable to receive data from a remote server (18) and to print the received data. The module (38) also includes a coupler (70 or 270) for directing data received from the wireless modem (66) to the microcontroller (62) and for directing data from the terminal (12) to the microcontroller (62). A method of printing tickets at a terminal (12) and a method of retro-fitting a self-service terminal (12) are also described.

Claims

1. A method of fulfilling an electronic media purchase at a self-service terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly communicating with a server which has access to a pre-arranged transaction for the electronic media purchase;

receiving by wireless communication from the server a request to dispense electronic media at the self-service terminal, the self-service terminal further communicating over a secure network connection;

preparing electronic media comprising music or software written on a disk in response to the request; and

dispensing the electronic media to a user to fulfil the electronic media purchase.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the electronic media includes a music item.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the dispensing step further comprises:

writing the electronic media to a compact disk (CD).

4. An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising:

a fixed channel for communicating between modules disposed in the ATM, the fixed channel receiving financial information over a secure financial network;

a printer module comprising;

a printer engine;

a wireless receiver for receiving data from a remote source; and

a coupler coupling the wireless receiver, the printer engine and the fixed channel, the coupler operating to direct print data from both the wireless receiver and the fixed channel to the printer engine for alternatively printing data received by both the wireless receiver and the fixed channel onto documents to support both the printing of tickets and financial transaction data.

5. An ATM according to claim 4, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a wireless transceiver including means for confirming printing to the remote source.

6. An ATM according to claim 4, wherein the print module includes a controller for controlling the print engine to print the received data onto a document.

7. An ATM according to claim 6, wherein the controller includes means for storing a number of templates, each template representing a predefined image, to avoid having to receive an image each time a document is to be printed.

8. An ATM according to claim 4, wherein the coupler includes a certificate authentication component which verifies that the data received by the wireless receiver is authentic to avoid a fraudulent third party printing data via the wireless receiver.