Method and apparatus for automatic check cashing

• US 6,856,965 B1
• Filed: 06/28/1999
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innoventry Corporation
• Original Assignee: ATC Realty Fifteen Incorporated
• Inventors: Clower, Dyron, Templer, John W. Jr., Stinson, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARTUSKA, FRANCIS JOHN
• Application Number:
  US09/340,610
• Time in Patent Office: 2,059 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/382, 235/385, 902/3, 902/5, 902/4, 902/6, 902/16, 902/20, 705/16, 705/18, 705/17, 705/21, 705/42, 705/43, 705/45, 705/44
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• 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 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data

Abstract

An automated check-cashing unit includes an input device configured to generate input signals in response to inputs from a customer, a storage device including a database of customer information, a check reader configured to receive and read a check to be processed, a cash dispenser, and an electronic processor. The processor is configured to receive the input signals from the input device, receive information about the check to be processed from the check reader, access the database of customer information to obtain data about the customer, and determine automatically whether to accept or reject the check based on the input signals, the received information about the check, and the data about the customer. Upon accepting the check, the processor signals the cash dispenser to dispense cash to the customer. The processor may be further configured to confirm the identity of the customer based on biometric information about the customer. Examples of suitable biometric information include the customer'"'"'s fingerprint or an image of the customer'"'"'s face.

Claims

1. A system for automatically cashing a negotiable instrument presented by a user, comprising:

a plurality of point of sale (POS) devices configured to;

receive a negotiable instrument from a user;

collect biometric data relating to the user concurrent with the user presenting the negotiable instrument;

store previously collected data relating to the user, including previously collected biometric data and previously collected transaction history data;

determine whether to exchange cash for the negotiable instrument based upon a comparison of the collected biometric data with the previously collected biometric data and upon predetermined business rules, wherein the business rules comprise approving a transaction if a negotiable instrument is presented by a user who has previously presented a negotiable instrument from a same payor for a similar amount of money; and

a remote service center coupled to the plurality of POS devices, comprising;

a storage device that stores previously collected data transmitted from the plurality of POS devices;

communication circuitry that allows communication between the remote service center and the plurality of POS devices, including communication of voice data, image data, and transaction history data;

a processor coupled to the storage device, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether to exchange cash for the negotiable instrument when one of the POS devices refers a determination to the remote service center, wherein the POS device refers the determination under a plurality of conditions, the plurality of conditions comprising;

the POS device fails to identify the user based upon the comparison of the collected biometric data with the previously collected biometric data; and

the POS device determines that at least one of the predetermined business rules is violated.

2. A method for automatically cashing a negotiable instrument presented by a user, comprising:

receiving user identification data entered at one of a plurality of point of sale (POS) devices;

receiving a negotiable instrument at the POS device;

reading information from the negotiable instrument at the POS device;

collecting biometric data relating to the user at the POS device;

attempting to preform a determination at the POS device, based upon the information from the negotiable instrument, a comparison of the collected biometric data with previously stored biometric data, and upon predetermined business rules, said business rules comprising approving a transaction if a negotiable instrument is presented by a user who has previously presented a negotiable instrument from a same payor for a similar amount of money, whether to;

approve a transaction comprising dispensing cash in exchange for the negotiable instrument;

or

refer the determination to a remote service center; and

if the determination is referred to the remote service center;

transmitting the information from the negotiable instrument, the collected biometric data, and the user identification from the POS device to the remote service center;

using the user identification to access a central storage device at the central service center; and

attempting to perform a determination at the central service center based upon the information from the negotiable instrument, a comparison of the collected biometric data with biometric data stored in the central storage device, and the predetermined business rules whether to;

direct the POS device to approve the transaction;

direct the POS device to disapprove the transaction;

or

refer the determination to a human operator at one of a plurality of work stations.