Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
AUTOMATED BANKING MACHINE
SYSTEM AND DEVELOPMENT METHOD
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to automated banking machines. Specifically
this invention relates to an automated banking machine apparatus and system
that are capable of use in a wide area network, which provides a user with a
familiar interface from their home institution at banking machines operated by
other institutions, and which provides greater options for machine outputs.
BACKGROUND ART
Automated banking machines are well known. A common type of
automated banking machine used by consumers is an automated teller machine
("ATM"). ATMs enable customers to carry out banking transactions.
Common banking transactions that may be carried out with ATMs include the
dispensing of cash, the receipt of deposits, the transfer of funds between
accounts, the payment of bills and account balance inquiries. The type of
banking transactions a customer can carry out are determined by capabilities
of
the particular banking machine and the programming of the institution
operating the machine. Other types of automated banking machines may
allow customers to charge against accounts or to transfer funds. Other types
of
automated banking machines may print or dispense items of value such as
coupons, tickets, wagering slips, vouchers, checks, food stamps, money orders,
scrip or travelers checks. For purposes of this disclosure an automated
banking machine or automated transaction machine shall encompass any
device which carries out transactions including transfers of value.
Currently ATMs are operated i.n proprietary communications networks.
These networks interconnect ATMs operated by financial institutions and
other entities. The interconnection of the networks often enables a user to
use
a banking machine operated by another institution if the foreign institution's
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banking machine is interconnected with the network that includes the user's
institution. However when the customer operates the foreign institution's
machine the customer must operate the machine using the customer interface
that has been established by the foreign institution for its banking machines.
In addition the user is limited to the transaction options provided by the
foreign institution.
A customer may encounter difficulties when using a foreign
institution's machine. Problems may occur because the user is not familiar
with the type of machine operated by the foreign institution. Confusion may
result because the customer does not know which buttons or other mechanisms
to actuate to accomplish the desired transactions. The transaction flow for a
customer at a foreign institution machine may be significantly different from
machines operated by the user's home institution. This may be particularly a
problem when the user is from another country and is not familiar with the
type of banking machine or the language of the interface provided by the
foreign institution. Likewise, the documents which are printed by printers in
an automated banking machine are generally limited to a limited group of
defined formats in a single language.
A foreign institution may also provide different types of trarisactions
than the user is familiar with at their home institution. For example the
user's
home institution may enable the transfer of funds between accounts through
their automated banking machines, to enable the user to maintain funds in
higher interest bearing accounts until they are needed. If the foreign
institution does not provide this capability, the user will be unable to do
this
when operating the foreign machine. The inability of a user at a foreign
machine to conduct the transactions that they are accustomed to may present
problems.
The networks that operate automated teller machines and other types of
automated banking machines generally operate proprietary networks to which
access is restricted. This is necessary to prevent fraud or tampering with the
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network or user's accounts. Proprietary networks are also generally used for
the transmission of credit card messages and other financial transaction
messages. Access to such credit card processing systems is also restricted
primarily for purposes of maintaining security.
Communication over wide area networks enables messages to be
communicated between distant locations. The best known wide area network
is the Internet which can be used to provide communication between
computers throughout the world. The Internet has not been as widely used for
financial transaction messages because it is not a secure system. Messages
intended for receipt at a particular computer address may be intercepted at
other addresses without detection. Because the messages may be intercepted
at locations that are distant in the world from the intended recipient, there
is
potential for fraud and corruption. I
Companies are beginning to provide approaches for more secure
transmission of messages on the Intenrnet. Encryption techniques are also
being applied to Internet messages. However the openness of the Internet has
limited its usefulness for purposes of fmancial messages, particularly
financial
messages associated with the operation of automated banking machines.
Messages in wide area networks may be communicated using the
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet protocol ("TCP/IP"). U.S. Patent No.
5,706,422 shows an example of a system in which financial information stored
in databases is accessed through a private wide area network using TCP/IP
messages. The messages transmitted in such networks which use TCP/IP may
include "documents" (also called "pages"). Such documents are produced in
Hypertext Markup Language ("HTML") which reference to mark up language
herein being to a type of programming language used to produce documents
with commands or 'tags" therein. The tags are codes which define features
and/or operations of the document such as fonts, layout, imbedded graphics
and hypertext links. Mark up language documents such as HTML documents
are processed or read through use of a computer program referred to as a
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"browser". The tags tell the browser how to process and control what is seen
on a screen and/or is heard on speakers connected to the computer running the
browser when the document is processed. HTML documents may be
transmitted over a network through the Hypertext Transfer Protocol ("HTTP").
The term "Hypertext" is a reference to the ability to embed links into the
text
of a document that allow communication to other documents which can be
accessed in the network.
Thus there exists a need for an automated banking machine and system
that can be used in a wide area network such as the Internet while providing a
high level of security. There further exists a need for an automated banking
machine and system which provides a user with the familiar interface and
transaction options of their home institution when operating foreign
institution
machines. There further exists a need for a machine which may provide more
transaction options and types of promotional and printed materials to users.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automated banking
machine at which a user may conduct transactions.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine that may be operated through connection to a wide area
network.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine and system that provides a user with a familiar interface and
transaction options of their home institution at machines operated by foreign
institutions.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine that communicates using HTML documents and TCP/IP
messages.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine that enables the connection of the banking machine to a
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user's home institution through mark up language documents and TCP/IP
messages generated responsive to indicia on a card input by a user.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine and system that accomplishes transactions over a wide area
5 network while maintaining a high level of security.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine and system that controls connection of the banking machine
to foreign addresses through a proxy server.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine that limits the operation of devices in the machine through a
local device server.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine and system that is operable through connection to the
Internet.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine that may be used to provide a user with more types of
messages including messages targeted to particular users.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine which is capable of providing users with a wider variety of
printed documents.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine which provides additional options for identifying authorized
users.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine that can be used in connection with existing transaction
systems while providing enhanced functionality.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine which provides enhanced diagnostic and service capabilities.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated
banking machine which performs transactions at a rapid pace.
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It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved
systems in which automated banking machines are used.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved
methods of operation for automated banking machines and systems.
Further objects of the present invention will be made apparent in the
following Best Modes for Carrying Out Invention and the appended Claims.
The foregoing objects are accomplished in an exemplary embodiment
of the invention by an automated banking machine that includes output
devices such as a display screen, and input devices such as a touch screen
and/or a keyboard. The banking machine further includes devices such as a
dispenser mechanism for sheets of currency, a printer mechanism, a card
reader/writer, a depository mechanism and other transaction function devices
that are used by the machine in carrying-out banking transactions.
The banking machine is in operative connection with at least one
computer. The computer is in operative connection with the output devices
and the input devices, as well as with the sheet dispenser mechanism, card
reader and other physical transaction function devices in the banking machine.
The computer includes software programs that are executable therein. The
software includes a document handling portion for handling HTML or other
documents. The document handling portion operates to send and receive
HTML documents and HTTP messages. The HTML document handling
portion is preferably in operative connection with the output device to
display
screens including hypertext link indicators. The document handling portion is
also preferably in operative connection with the input device which enables
user selection and the generation of response messages from the computer.
The document handling portion preferably operates in connection with a
JAVA software environment and has the capability of executing instructions
in JAVA script transmitted with documents.
The software in the computer of the exemplary embodiment further
preferablv includes a device application portion. The device application
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portion includes software that is operative to control the sheet dispenser and
other devices. In the exemplary form of the invention the device application
portion includes a plurality of JAVA applets for operating devices in the
machine.
The computer in the exemplary automated banking machine further
includes a device interfacing software portion. The device interfacing
software portion operates to receive messages from the device application
portion and to cause the devices to operate through appropriate hardware
interfaces. In one exemplary form of the automated banking machine, the
document handling portion, device application portion and device interfacing
software portion each reside on the same computer and communicate at
different IP ports.
The automated banking machine of the invention in one exemplary
configuration communicates using TCP/IP messages in an intranet which
includes a plurality of such machines. The intranet is in turn connected to at
least one computer which is operated by a home institution. The home
institution is the entity that operates the banking machines.
The computer of the home institution preferably includes a home
HTTP server, a proxy server and a device server. The proxy server
communicates through the intranet with the document handling portion of the
software in each of the banking machines. The proxy server is also
connectable to a wide area network, such as the Internet, to which foreign
servers are connected. The device server is operative to pass messages
between the device application portion and the device interfacing software
portion of the banking machines. The device server may include monitor
software which monitors and selectively limits the use and operation of the
devices in the banking machine. This provides a level of security.
The automated banking machine and system of an exemplary
embodiment is operative to place a user in connection with the institution
where they have their accounts. This can be either the home institution that
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operates the banking machine where the user is present, or a foreign
institution
which is connected to the wide area network. To operate the banking machine
a user provides inputs which correspond to an address, such as a URL address,
through an address input device. The document handling portion operates to
cause the banking machine to be connected to the server corresponding to that
address. This may be accomplished in an exemplary embodiment by the user
having indicia representative of the address on a card that is read by a card
reader in the banking machine, or other input device which identifies the user
or an institution or entity with which the user has accounts.
The document handling portion is responsive to the address on the card
or other input data to connect through the proxy server to the user's
institution.
If the user's home institution address corresponds to the home server, the
banking machine operates responsive to-messages from the home server. If
however the user's input address corresponds to an address of a foreign
server,
the proxy server is operative to communicate through the wide area network
with the foreign server at the customer's home institution. If the customer
causes the machine to connect a server operated by a foreign institution, the
documents sent from the foreign institution correspond to those normally
provided by the foreign institution. As a result the customer is familiar with
the interface produced by these documents and will be able to more readily
operate the banking machine.
The foreign server or home server operates the banking machine by
sending documents that include instructions which enable operation of the
devices in the banking machine. The instructions are transmitted from the
document handling portion to the device application portion of the software,
which operates the devices in response to the instructions. The instructions
from the device application portion to the devices in the automated banking
machine are passed through the device server of the home institution. This
helps to maintain security. Ir. addition, the proxy server may include
screening
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software which limits the foreign servers which may connect to and operate
the banking machine. This is referred to as a "fire wall."
Embodiments of the present invention also provide enhanced user
interfaces and for the printing of a wide variety of documents with the
banking
machine. The invention also enables achieving enhanced functionality while
utilizing existing transaction networks and automated transaction machines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a network configuration including an
exemplary embodiment of the automated banking machine apparatus and
system of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic view of the exemplary embodiment of an
automated banking machine of the present invention.
Figures 3 through 24 show schematic views of the automated banking
machine, an intranet connecting the banking machine to a computer system of
a home bank and a wide area network connecting the computer system of the
home bank to a foreign bank.
Figures 3 through 18 schematically represent steps in a transaction
carried out at the banking machine with the computer system of the home
bank.
Figures 19 through 24 schematically represent steps in a transaction
carried out at the banking machine with the computer system of the foreign
bank.
Figure 25 is a schematic view of a network configuration including an
alternative embodiment of the automated banking machine of the present
invention.
Figure 26 is a schematic view of frames in the HTML document
handling portion of the alternative embodiment of the automated banking
machine shown in Figure 25.
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Figure 27 is a schematic view of a customer interface of an automated
banking machine and the function keys and keypad keys included in the
interface.
Figures 28-30 schematically represent exemplary steps in converting
5 function key and keypad key inputs to keyboard stream and mouse stream
inputs.
Figure 31 schematically represents exemplary steps in printing
documents with the automated banking machine.
Figure 32 is a screen output representing combined outputs from five
10 browsers operated in an automated banking machine.
Figure 33 is a screen output representing outputs from three browsers
operating in an automated banking machine.
Figure 34 is a screen output representing outputs from nine browsers
operating in an automated banking machine.
Figure 35 is a screen output representing outputs from two browsers
operating in an automated banking machine.
Figure 36 is a screen output representing a visual programming
environment for creating terminal directors.
Figure 37 is a portion of the visual workspace representing event to
method connections and parameter connections between ATM objects.
Figure 38 is a screen output representing a window for creating,
viewing or modifying an event to method connection.
Figure 39 is a chart representative of ATM objects and associated
visual icons.
Figures 40-53 schematically represent exemplary ATM objects with
associated methods, events and properties.
Figure 54 schematically represents the interaction between a consumer,
a terminal director, a database, a host, and a plurality of ATM devices.
Figure 55 is a schematic view representative of the interaction between
the customer profile object and a plurality of data stores.
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Figure 56 is a schematic view representative of an exemplary ATM
that enables ATM objects to determine the capabilities of devices and to
specify rules for using fallback devices when an original device becomes
inoperative.
Figure 57 is a schematic view representative of an alternative
embodiment of an ATM that includes a modified J/XFS kernel for enabling
ATM objects to determine the capabilities of devices and to specify rules for
using fallback devices.
Figure 58 is a schematic view representative of an alternative
embodiment of an ATM that includes an enhanced ODS Layer for enabling
ATM objects to determine the capabilities of devices and to specify rules for
using fallback devices.
Figure 59 is a schematic view representative of an alternative
embodiment of an ATM that includes an ODS layer for providing an interface
between a modified J/XFS kernel and a WOSA/XFS Manager.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, there is
shown therein a network configuration schematically indicated 10, which
includes the automated banking machine apparatus and system of one
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Network 10 includes a
plurality of automated banking machines 12 which in the exemplary system
are ATMs. ATMs 12 are connected to a computer system of a home bank
schematically indicated 14. Home bank computer system 14 is the computer
system that is operated by the bank or other institution which has primary
responsibility for the ATMs 12. Home bank computer system 14 is connected
to the ATMs 12 through an intranet 16. Intranet 16 is preferably a local or
proprietary network that provides communication between the computer
system 14 and the banking machines 12 using messages in the transmission
control protocol/internet protocol ("TCP/IP") format.
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The messages that are communicated through the intranet 16 in the
exemplary embodiment are preferably TCP/IP messages and hypertext mark
up language ("HTML") documents. In one exemplary embodiment of the
invention the HTML documents sent through intranet 16 include embedded
object oriented progranuning instructions, preferably in the JAVA format
which has been developed by Sun Microsystems. The messages sent through
intranet 16 may be sent in an encrypted or unencrypted form depending on the
nature of the system and the security needs of the home bank.
It should be understood that embodiments of the invention may process
other forms of documents which include tags or instructions therein. For
example a form of "extended" HTML ("XML") has recently been developed
which may be used in embodiments of the invention. For purposes of the
invention all such forms of languages and variants which include documents,
which documents include instructions therein shall be referred to as mark up
language documents. Likewise, while JAVA is used in the described
embodiment, other programming languages may be used. For example,
Active-XTM developed by Microsoft Corporation or other languages may be
used in other embodiments. Further it should be understood that the
instructions included in documents may be operative to cause a computer to
access other documents, records or files at other addresses to obtain a
program
to carry out an operation.
Home bank computer system 14 is also connectable as shown to a wide
area network 18. In some embodiments of the invention the wide area
network 18 is the Internet. In other embodiments of the invention, other wide
area networks may be used. The wide area network preferably communicates
messages in TCP/IP between numerous computer systems connected to the
wide area network. These foreign computer systems are schematically
represented by servers 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28. It should be understood that
servers 20 through 28 may be operated by or connected to other financial
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institutions throughout the world. Servers 20 through 28 preferably operate by
communicating mark up language documents and other HTTP messages.
Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the ATM 12 used in connection
with one exemplary embodiment of the invention. ATM 12 includes a touch
screen 30. Touch screen 30 includes a display screen which serves as an
output device for communication with a user of the machine. Touch screen
30, because it is a touch screen, also serves as an input device for receiving
input instructions from a user. Touch screen 30 is connected through an
interface 32 to at least one computer 34 which is preferably housed within the
machine. Alternative embodiments of the invention may include other types
and/or additional output devices such as audio speakers.
Computer 34 is also in connection with a plurality of transaction
function devices 36 which are included in ATM 12. Devices 36 include for
example, a reader such as a card reader/writer mechanism 38 and a keyboard
40. Devices 36 further include a sheet dispenser mechanism 42 which is
operative to dispense sheets, which in some preferred forms of the invention
are currency or bank notes. Devices 36 also include a depository 44 for
accepting deposits into a secure location in the machine. Deposits in
embodiments of the invention may include sheets such as notes and checks,
and/or items of value housed in containers such as deposit envelopes. A
receipt printer 46 for providing transaction receipts to customers is also
included among devices 36. A journal printer 48 is also included among the
devices for keeping a hard copy record of transaction information. In other
embodiments other or additional transaction function devices which carry out
other transaction functions may be used. Other embodiments may include
fewer transaction function devices. It should be further understood that while
the described embodiment of the invention is an automated banking machine,
the principles of the invention may be employed in many types of transaction
machines that do not necessarily carry out banking transactions.
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Each of the devices is operatively connected to an internal control bus
50 within the banking machine 12. The control bus 50 outputs the internal
messages to the particular devices. Each device has an appropriate hardware
interface which enables the particular device to operate to carry out its
respective function in response to the messages transmitted to it on control
bus
50. Card reader/writer 38 has a hardware interface schematically shown as 52.
Hardware interfaces 54, 56, 58, 60 and 62 are respectively operative to
connect
keyboard 40, sheet dispenser mechanism 42, depository mechanism 44, receipt
printer mechanism 46 and journal printer mechanism 48 to the control bus 50.
Computer 34 has several software programs that are executable
therein. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention these software
programs include a device interfacing software portion generally indicated 64.
Device interfacing software portion 64 preferably includes a software device
interface 66 that causes the computer to communicate electronic messages
through the control bus 50. The device interface software portion 64 also
preferably includes a device manager 68. The device manager is preferably
operative to manage the various devices 36 and to control their various states
so as to be assured that they properly operate in sequence. The device
manager is also preferably operative to communicate with software device
objects so as to enable operation of the devices responsive to at least one
object-oriented program 70. Device interfacing software portion 64 also
includes the object oriented program portion 70, which in one exemplary
embodiment is an application written in the JAVA language. Program 70
works in conjunction with the device manager to receive messages which
cause the devices to operate, and to transmit device operation messages
indicative of a manner in which devices are operating and/or are receiving
input data.
The device interfacing software portion 64 in the described
embodiment operates on computer 34 and communicates through a physical
TCP/IP connection 72 with the intranet 16. The physical connection may be
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analog dial-up, serial port, ISDN connection or other suitable connection. In
the configuration of the system as shown, device interfacing software portion
64 communicates at the IP address of computer 34 and at an IP port or socket
indicated 74 that is different from the other software applications. In other
5 embodiments of the invention, device interfacing software portion 64 may
operate in a different computer than the other software applications.
It should further be understood that although in the exemplary
embodiment of the invention the device interfacing portion 64 is software, in
other embodiments of the invention all or portions of the instruction steps
10 executed by software portion 64 may be resident in firmware or in other
program media in connection with one or more computers, which are
operative to communicate with devices 36. For purposes of the invention all
such forms of executable instructions shall be referred to as software.
Other software also operates in computer 34. This software includes
15 document handling software which includes a browser, schematically
indicated 76. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention the document
handling software includes a Netscape Navigator browser provided by
Netscape Communications. However in other embodiments other document
handling and communicating software and browser software, such as Hot
JAVA by Sun Microsystems or Internet ExplorerTM from Microsoft, may be
used. Browsers used in embodiments of the invention may be operative to
process documents and cause a computer to produce outputs that can be used
to produce visible outputs on a screen, as well as other types of signals or
messages. In the exemplary embodiment browser 76 communicates in
computer 34 at an IP port indicated by 78.
Browser 76 is in operative connection with JAVA environment
software 80 which enables computer 34 to run JAVA language programs.
JAVA language programs have the advantage that they may operate the same
on a variety of hardware platforms without modification. This "write once\run
anywhere" capability makes the JAVA environment well-suited for the
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described embodiment of the invention. However other embodiments may use
different types of software programs.
The JAVA environment software 80 enables computer 34 to execute
instructions in JAVA script, schematically indicated 82. The instructions that
are executed by the computer in JAVA script are preferably embedded JAVA
script commands that are included in HTML documents which are received
through the browser 76. In this exemplary embodiment the browser 76 in
connection with the JAVA environment software 80 which executes
instructions in the embedded JAVA script 82, serve as an HTML document
handling software portion for transmitting and receiving HTML documents
and TCP/IP messages through the IP port indicated by 78. In other
embodiments other browsers and/or software may be used for handling HTML
documents.
Computer 34 also has software executable therein having a device
application portion 84. The device application portion 84 contains executable
instructions related to operation of the devices 36. In the exemplary
embodiment of the invention, the device application portion includes a
plurality of JAVA applets. In the described embodiment the applets are also
preferably programs operable to control and keep track of the status of the
devices with which they are associated. Certain applets are also preferably
operable to configure the browser to communicate messages. Certain applets
manage security and authenticate entities that use the ATM.
In the described form of the invention, JAVA applets are associated
with functions such as enabling the card reader mechanism, notifying the
browser when a user's card data has been entered, operating the receipt
printer
mechanism, operating the journal printer mechanism, enabling the customer
keyboard and receiving data input through the keyboard, operating the sheet
dispenser mechanism, operating the depository, navigating to document
addresses, timing device functions, verifying digital signatures, handling
encryption of messages, controlling the mix of bills dispensed from multiple
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sheet dispenser mechanisms, calculating foreign exchange, and ending a
transaction and instructing the browser to return to communication with the
home server. Of course in other embodiments, other applets may be used to
control devices and use data to carry out various desired functions with the
machine. The device application portion 84 communicates in the computer 34
at an IP port indicated 86.
In the described embodiment of the invention, the device application
portion 84 of the software does not communicate its messages directly to the
device interfacing software portion 64. As later explained, this is one
approach to providing heightened security. However it should be understood
that embodiments of the invention may provide for the device application
portion 84 to directly communicate device operation messages to the device
program 70. This may be done either internally using TCP/IP, by delivery of
messages in a conventional manner through a queue established in the
operating system of the computer that is associated with the software that
interfaces with the devices, or by direct call to this software.
From the foregoing discussion it will also be appreciated that certain
applets in the device application 84 may correspond to devices which are not
present in all automated teller machines. For example an automated teller
machine that operates only as a cash dispenser does not include a depository
mechanism like depository 44. To accommodate the situation where a user
requests a transaction that is not physically possible with the ATM 12, the
device interfacing software portion 64 may be programmed to provide an
appropriate response message to indicate that the function is not available.
Alternatively, the device interfacing software portion may include a
function which checks for the presence or absence of each type of physical
device within the ATM. Information indicative of the devices present in the
ATM may be included as part of the messages generated by the ATM. For
example, information indicative of the devices which are operative in the
ATM may be included as a portion or several parts of the URL addresses to
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which messages are directed by the ATM. In this way, the URL in the server
to which the ATM connects may be configured for providing only documents
which correspond to the types of transactions that the ATM is capable of
performing. As a result the browser avoids displaying documents which
include references to transaction types that the machine is not capable of
performing. Thus for example, a machine may avoid producing a display in
response to a document which includes a reference to a deposit transaction if
the machine does not include a depository.
Alternatively the machine may include in memory, data representative
of the functional devices included in the machine. This may include for
example data representative of a plurality of devices in the machine and the
configurations of such devices, or alternatively, a designator such as a
machine
number sufficient to identify the capabilities of the machine. The device data
indicative of the functional devices in the machine is communicated to a
server and the server is operative to deliver the appropriate documents for
the
devices present in the machine. This may be done based on the data
corresponding to the device data from the machine or may be resolved from a
memory which holds data representative of the functional devices in a
machine associated with a particular designator. Documents selectively
delivered by the server to the browser of the machine will include the
appropriate references to the functional devices present in the machine. In
alternative embodiments messages from the machine may indicate the type of
transaction being requested or other information which corresponds to devices
or transaction capabilities available at the particular machine where a
transaction is requested by a customer. Documents accessed may be static
documents or may be generated at run time from sub-documents or other data,
to provide the appropriate outputs and instructions to the output devices of
the
transaction machine.
Figure 3 shows the A T M 12 in communication through the intranet 16
with the home bank computer system 14. Computer system 14 includes a
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proxy server 88. System 14 further includes a home HTTP server 90.
Computer system 14 further includes a device server 92. The proxy server,
home HTTP server and device server may be included in a single computer as
shown, or in other embodiments may be separate computers. Additional
servers may be operative in other embodiments.
The home HTTP server 90 is preferably in communication with a data
store and is in electronic communication with a back office computer system,
schematically indicated 94. Back office computer system 94 is operative to
keep track of debiting or crediting customers' accounts when they conduct
transactions at the automated banking machines. In addition back office 94 is
also preferably operative to track transactions for purposes of accomplishing
settlements with other institutions who are participants in the system and
whose customers conduct transactions at the ATMs 12.
As later explained, proxy server 88 is also operative in the described
embodiment to communicate through the wide area network 18 with foreign
servers such as foreign server 96. Foreign server 96 is an example of a server
operated by an institution or entity other than the institution which operates
computer system 14. It should be understood that while foreign server 96 is
indicated as operated by a "foreign" institution, this is not necessarily
indicative that the institution is located in another country from the
institution
that operates computer system 14. However, it is possible that foreign server
96 could be located in such a foreign country, including a country in which
the
language spoken is different from that generally used in the country where
ATM 12 is located.
The conduct of transactions using the ATM 12 is now explained with
reference to Figures 3-24. It should be understood that the following
described transaction flows are merely examples of the operation of the
apparatus and system, and the apparatus and system may be configured and
operated in numerous ways to carry out transactions.
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
At the start of an exemplary transaction, as schematically represented
in Figure 3, the browser 76 commiinicates through the intranet 16 with the
proxy server 88. The communication is established preferably in a manner so
that HTML documents intended to attract customers to the ATM 12 are
5 processed and produce outputs displayed on the touch screen 30. This is
referred to as the "attract mode." These HTML documents which are
processed in the browser to produce the outputs in the form of screens on the
touch screen 30 (and/or outputs through other output devices included in the
machine) may originate from home HTTP server 90 which is operative to
10 deliver the HTML documents to the proxy server. The home HTTP server
sends the messages addressed to the IP port associated with browser 76, so as
to cause their display at the proper ATM machine. It should be understood
that while in this example, home server 90 is described as communicating with
the ATMs through the proxy server 88, the server 90 may in other systems
15 encompassed by the invention communicate directly with the ATMs.
A fundamental advantage of the system is that home HTTP server 90
may deliver documents selectively to the ATMs 12 connected to the intranet
16. These documents may include messages or material tailored to the
particular location in which an ATM 12 is located. Examples of particularly
20 tailored screens may include bilingual messages in certain neighborhoods or
information concerning currency exchange at various ports of entry. The
material or messages could include advertising for various products or
services
or other material targeted to particular machine locations. The JAVA applets
and JAVA script are loaded from a central location providing selective
software distribution in the ATMs which may also be used to tailor the ATM
to its environment by causing i'L to access documents which include material
intended to be useful in that location, and which is not provided in documents
delivered to at least some other machines in the system.
Systems of the present invention may be configured to have selected
machines access HTML documents at different addresses, so that the
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
21
particular documents accessed include the material targeted to users of the
particular machine. Alternatively, a machine may communicate machine data
indicative of its identity and/or location to a server. From the machine data,
and data stored in a data store in connection with the server, the server may
operate to deliver the documents including the targeted material. This may be
accomplished by assembling subdocuments, or otherwise, to generate the
documents that will be delivered to the browser of the particular machine. In
addition it should be understood that while in the embodiment shown the
HTML documents are accessed through a server of an institution associated
with the machine, the documents used for the attract mode may be accessed
from other servers operated by other entities.
The touch screen 30 in this exemplary transaction sequence displays a
screem which includes an icon which indicates in one or more languages that to
commence a transaction a user should touch the screen. If a user touches the
screen in the area of the icon an input signal is generated. The input signal
or
HTTP message is transmitted through the browser 76 to the home address of
the home HTTP server 90 to which the ATM 12 is currently in
communication. The message generated back to the home HTTP server is
represented by the arrows directed from the browser 76 to the intranet 16,
from
the intranet 16 to the proxy server 88, and from the proxy server to the HTTP
server 90 in Figure 3.
In response to the home HTTP server 90 receiving the message
indicating that a customer has touched the icon on the screen, the home server
is operative responsive to the address accessed to send a message through the
proxy server 88 (or in other embodiments directly) to the browser 76. This
message preferably includes an HTML document which when processed
through the browser produces a screen instructing the customer to insert their
card into the card reader mechanism 38. The HTML document flow which is
represented graphically in Figure 4, preferably also includes embedded JAVA
script or other instructions which operate in the JAVA environment to
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
22
communicate a message to the JAVA applet responsible for enabling the card
reader in the device application portion 84. In one exemplary embodiment the
instructions provide a pointer or tag to the applet which executes responsive
to
receipt of the document instructions. Of course in other embodiments other
software and approaches may be used.
As schematically represented in Figure 5, in response to the embedded
JAVA script activating the JAVA applet associated with the enable card reader
function, the JAVA applet in the device application portion 84 communicates
with the device server 92. The device server 92 includes a device server
program 98 which in the exemplary embodiment is a JAVA program that
enables communication with the JAVA applets and the device server
application 100. The device server 92 further preferably includes a monitor
software application 102 which is operative to monitor device operation
instructions. The monitor software minimizes the risk of fraud or abuse in a
manner later explained.
Returning to the sample transaction, as represented in Figure 5, in
response to receiving the enable card reader message from the device
application portion 84, the device server 92 is operative to generate a
message
through the intranet 16 to the device interfacing software portion 64 of the
ATM 12. This message which comprises an HTTP record including
instructions for operating the card reader, is directed to the IP port
indicated 74
where the device interfacing software portion 64 communicates. In response
to receiving this message, the software portion 64 is operative to send a
message or messages on the control bus 50 which enables card reader
mechanism 34.
Continuing with the exemplary transaction, as represented in Figure 6,
the input of the card by the customer to the card reader 34 is operative to
cause
the card data to be read and the device interfacing program portion 64 to send
a message to the device server 92 indicating the card data has been read. This
message is transmitted by the device server through the intranet 16 to the
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
23
device application portion 84. The device application portion then sends a
message to the device server requesting the card data. The device server 92
transmits a message with instructions to deliver the card data from the device
interfacing software portion 64 which responds with a message sending the
card data through the intranet to the device server. The device server, if
there
is no basis for stopping the transaction, transmits an HTTP record including
card data back through the intranet 16 to the device application portion 84.
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the card input by a user
or customer includes indicia which corresponds to an address associated with
the user in the network. In such an embodiment the indicia corresponds to a
uniform resource locator ("URL") address which provides information on the
computer where the user information resides, as well as a directory or
subdirectory which includes the user information and the name of the
document or resource that includes the user information. The URL address
may be encoded on a customer's card. The address may be encoded on track 3
of a magnetic stripe, in other locations within the magnetic stripe data or
through encoding other readable indicia on the card. Alternatively, if the
customer's card is a "smart" card which includes semiconductor storage
thereon, the URL address associated with the customer may be included as
part of the stored data on the integrated circuit chip on the customer's card.
Alternatively, a URL could be derived from other data on the card by
accessing a database in which address data is correlated with other data read
from the card. For example, conventionally encoded magnetic stripe cards
include as part of the encoded account information identifying indicia which
indicates the institution or entity with which the customer's account is
associated. For example, in the use of debit cards the card data includes a
"bank identification number" (BIN). Exemplary embodiments of the
invention may include in operative connection with the computer, a data store
which includes data corresponding to BIN number or other entity data
identifying associated network address data. The machine may operate to
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
24
resolve a network address for the customer's "home" institution in response to
the identifying data. The machine may use the resolved address information
from the card data, access the server operated by the entity with which the
user
has an account relationship. As user later explained, this feature can be used
to present a customer with HTML documents or other type documents which
provide interface screens and transaction flows from their familiar home
institution or entity, even though the machine they are operating is not
controlled by that entity.
As can be appreciated from the following disclosure, the entity owning
the banking machine may be a totally independent entity from the entity with
which the customers have accounts. Nonetheless the customer is provided
with interface outputs which suggests that the machine is one operated by
"their" particular bank or entity with whom they have an account relationship.
The customer may be charged a transaction fee for the convenience of using
the banking machine. In exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of this fee
will be shared between the customer's institution and the entity operating the
banking machine which provides this capability.
The data necessary to derive the address for accessing documents
associated with a customer could also be derived from inputs to readers or
other input devices other than or in addition to card data, including for
example biometric data which is input by a customer through a biometric
reading device. Such biometric data may include for example, data
corresponding to one or more fingeiprints, data from the user's appearance
such as face or iris scan, inputs from a user's voice, including voice prints
or
spoken passwords, or combinations thereof.
For example and without limitation, data input by a customer such as
through a card input to a card reader may correspond to or otherwise be
useable to determine an address for accessing an HTTP record, which may be
a file or document which includes inforr.nation which can be used for
verifying
the identity of a user. This record could include data corresponding to a PIN
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
number. The information may include biometric data corresponding to the
authorized user of the card. The browser may access the record and use the
contents of the record such as data and/or instructions to verify that the
indicia
corresponding to biometric data in the record corresponds to the biometric
data
5 of the user entering the card. Alternatively, input data representative of
appearance, voice, other features (or combinations thereof) or other input
data,
may be used to generate one or more addresses which correspond to a user,
and the content of the record at the accessed address used to verify that the
user at the machine corresponds to the user associated with the record.
10 Numerous approaches within the scope of the invention may be used. The
information in the record corresponding to a user may likewise be used to
authorize certain functional devices on the machine to operate for the user
while other devices may not. For example, a user who is overdrawn may have
information in the record accessed that prevents them from actuating the cash
15 dispenser, while users who are not overdrawn may include information which
enables such operation. Alternatively, the absence of information in a
corresponding record may enable operation, while the inclusion of information
selectively limits the operation of devices.
Alternatively or in addition, in embodiments of the invention the
20 information which is useable to determine the identity of the customer
and/or
their accounts may be usable by a computer in connection with the machine to
generate documents such as XML documents. Such documents may be used
to generate outputs from the machine presented to the customer. Such
documents may alternatively or additionally include information
25 corresponding to one or more network addresses. Such network addresses
may be used to access documents appropriate for the particular customer or
their transaction.
Returning to an exemplary transaction, the card data from a
successfully read card is delivered responsive to the programming of the
device application portion 84 to a JAVA applet associated with notifying that
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
26
the card data has been entered. In response, the JAVA applet operates to
generate JAVA script which configures the browser with the URL address
corresponding to the data read from the card. The JAVA applet is also
preferably operative to open a record schematically indicated 104 concerning
the transaction, which includes the user's network address, the time and other
card data. This record in the exemplary embodiment may be stored in memory
as data in an object in software. The object is preferably used to accumulate
data as the transaction proceeds. The data stored in the transaction data
object
preferably includes data input through input devices by the user as well as
data
representative of operations carried out by transaction function devices.
The record or transaction data object provides persistence through what
may be several different transaction steps executed by the customer. The
ability to use and share the data in a number of different operations avoids
the
need to derive it or obtain it from a customer more than once in the course of
a
user session involving a number of transaction steps. The use of a transaction
data object enables applets to run largely independently, obtaining needed
data
from the transaction object. The transaction data object can be instantiated
or
accessed from various documents. Its content can also be instantiated and
used to populate forms presented in HTML documents. The record or data
object may also be used to produce an appropriate record at the end of the
transaction session. This record may be stored, collected into a batch or
delivered to selected addresses in a local or wide area network.
In alternate forms of the invention the customer's card or other article
presented by the customer to the banking machine may include additional
personal data concerning the customer. Such personal data may include
demographic and/or marketing preference data related to the customer. This
personal data may also be read by the card reader and stored in the
transaction
data object or other suitable storage. Such data may be used by the system to
make targeted marketing presentations and,/or to present other material
specifically for the particular customer. The inclusion of personal data on
the
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
27
customer's card enables the customer to exercise greater control over their
personal data that is made available to the machine and to third parties who
make marketing presentations to the customer. Such an approach may be used
as an alternative or as an adjunct to systems that utilize a central
repository of
customer personal information. The approach of allowing the customer to
control what information about them is made available to others may be more
acceptable to customers from a privacy protection standpoint.
As schematically represented in Figure 7, in the exemplary transaction
in response to the browser 76 receiving the URL network address data, the
browser is operative to transmit a message through the intranet 16 to the
proxy
server 88. For purposes of this example, the network address associated with
the card data is that of a customer associated with the home bank which
operates system 14. As a result, the customer's address will cause the message
to be directed from the proxy server 88 to the home HTTP server 90 and to
access the address corresponding thereto. Alternatively, in other systems the
connection may be made directly with server 90 without the intervening proxy
server 88. As previously discussed, the network address may also include
portions indicative of data representative of the devices which are operative
in
the ATM.
In the exemplary transaction in response to receiving the message,
home HTTP server 90 finds the data corresponding to the customer's address
data (or other data) in its associated memory and delivers to the browser at
its
IP port one or more HTML documents. These HTML documents may include
a screen acknowledging the particular customer by name as well as the name
of the banking institution or other entity which operates the home bank
computer system 14.
In addition, the HTML document preferably includes embedded JAVA
script which has a digital signature or a means to obtain a digital signature
associated with the home HTTP server 90. The script instruction included in
the document in certain embodiments causes the device application portion to
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
28
access an HTTP address on a server, which in the described embodiment is
server 90. The HTTP address corresponds to an HTTP record which includes
at least one instruction and preferably includes a program such as a JAVA
applet or Active-X file. The instruction is used to operate the appropriate
transaction function device. The HTTP record preferably includes data
representative of a signature, such as a digital signature. This digital
signature
is received responsive to the JAVA script 82 and processed in the device
application portion 84. A JAVA applet processes the digital signature to
authenticate it, and if it is an acceptable signature authorizes operation of
the
banking machine. In certain embodiments the applet may compare the
signature to signature data stored in memory for a predetermined relationship,
such as a match. Of course other approaches of verifying the authority of
servers, documents or instructions to operate the machine or particular
devices
therein may be used in embodiments of the invention.
After the applet verifies that HTTP server 90 or other accessed HTTP
record has sent a proper digital signature, or other authorization, the
transaction will be allowed to continue. If for some reason a proper digital
signature has not been sent, the JAVA applet will stop the transaction and
return banking machine 12 back to the condition prior to the start of the
transaction by connecting the ATM to the address associated with the attract
mode in home server 90. The use of signed instructions may be used to assure
that the various transaction function devices are only operated in response to
appropriate messages. The use of signed instructions may be particularly
appropriate for instructions that run the sheet dispenser or otherwise provide
value to the user of the machine.
For purposes of this example it will be assumed that the digital
signature received is a proper signature, in which case a message is returned
from the browser 76 to home server 90 indicating that the transaction may
proceed. As shown in Figure 8, in this exemplary transaction the HTTP home
server 90 then operates to deliver at least one HTML document to the browser
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
29
76. This document includes instructions which when processed produce a
visible page or screen which instructs the customer to enter their personal
identification number or PIN. This HTML document preferably includes
embedded JAVA instructions or other instructions which operate to cause the
device application portion 84 enable the keyboard 40 of the ATM so the
machine may receive the PIN number. Such a message is schematically
shown in Figure 8 with the JAVA script 82 signaling the JAVA applet
responsible for the keyboard that it has been requested to enable the
keyboard.
In response the JAVA applet in the device application portion 84 sends a
message through the intranet 16 to the device server 92. The device server 92
sends a message through the intranet to the device interfacing software
portion
64 in the ATM. The instructions in this message cause the device software to
enable keyboard 40. The JAVA applet responsible for enabling the keyboard
is also preferably operative to update the transaction record 104 to indicate
that
the PIN was requested.
As shown in Figure 9, the PIN entered through the keyboard 40 is
transmitted in a message from the device interfacing software portion 64 to
the
device server 92. The device server 92 returns a message to the responsible
JAVA applet in the device application portion. The JAVA applet then
operates to send a message back through the HTML document handling
portion and the browser 76 to the HTTP address of home server 90. This
message includes data representative of the PIN input by the customer. In
some embodiments it is not desirable to display the customer's PIN on the
screen. In such embodiments the keyboard applet may be operative to display
a default character on the screen such as a"*" symbol or other symbol in lieu
of the PIN digits. Further as later discussed it may be desirable to avoid
transmission of PIN or other data through the browser, in which case PIN data
may be handled as a separate HTTP message or in other manner to reduce the
risk of detection.
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
The software operating in connection with HTTP server 90 is then
operative to either verify the PIN itself or to verify the customer's PIN
number
and account number by sending it to the back office 94 and waiting for a
response. Alternatively, customer PIN verification may be carried out in the
5 ATM through an appropriate applet. This can be done in situations where data
on a customer's card, such as an account number, or portions thereof can be
correlated to the customer's PIN number through an algorithm. The embedded
JAVA script in the HTML messages may include or point to an address to
obtain the data and/or instructions which the applet may use to perform this
10 verification function, including certain encryption key data. This may
include
user information in the HTML document or other record data that was
accessed in response to the user's card data. The BIN number read from the
customer's card may alternatively be used as an indicator of the approach to
be
used in verifying PIN data. As shown schematically in Figure 9, the
15 transaction data object 104 is also appropriately updated by the applet to
indicate the entry of the customer's PIN.
In alternative embodiments the machine may include a biometric
reader device or other reader type input device to accept data from a user.
The
user may input data through such a device which may be used in lieu of, or in
20 addition to, PIN data to verify that the user is an authorized user. This
may be
done for example by comparing the user data input to information
corresponding to the authorized user of the card included in a record or a
document which has an HTTP address and is accessed by a browser or by an
HTTP client application through an HTTP server in response to card data.
25 Alternatively input data may be used to generate addresses for documents or
records which are accessed by the browser or client, and which records or
documents contain information that is used to verify the user's identity. For
example, data concerning users may be stored in a data store in connection
with an HTTP server, which delivers data from a record responsive to the user
30 data, which data is used to verify the user's identity.
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
31
It should be noted that the page or screen which requests the customer
to enter their PIN is shown generated from the home HTTP server 90. This is
preferably a screen that is associated with the particular URL address
associated with the customer. This will be the interface of the customer's
home bank and will be familiar to the customer. Alternatively, the customer
address may access what may be essentially the customer's personal "home
page" with the institution that operates computer system 14. As such, it is
not
only something the user is familiar with, but is ideally tailored to the
user's
particular transaction needs.
Alternatively, the document(s) or record(s) which contain the customer
data may be used to generate the addresses for other documents. The
information may also be used by the computer to dynamically generate a
document for the particular customer in=the particular circumstances. This
approach may be useful to reduce the effort associated with developing in
advance a personal visual page or document for each customer.
Approaches for accomplishing this may involve including various
types or categories of user information in the document(s) or record(s) that
pertain to a particular customer. This may include information such as gender,
related persons, account types, permitted transactions, customer preferences,
customer interests, account balances, previous offers declined or accepted and
other information. This customer information can be used by an appropriate
applet among applets 86 to address and/or generate an appropriate document
for the browser to access based on the customer "profile". In addition, the
profile applet may take into consideration the transaction devices present in
the particular machine, information on which is stored in a data store in the
machine or elsewhere in the system, as well as other factors such as the day
of
the week and time of day based on a system clock. In this way the machine
determines the appropriate document to access or generate for the particular
customer under the particular circumstances. As previously discussed some
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
32
personal data may be obtained from information encoded on the customer's
card.
The logic used in the profile applet may act to cause documents to be
built or accessed for the customer which include transaction options based on
the customer information, information about the terminal and other factors.
The profile applet may operate to offer transaction options or information
selectively based on the customer information. For example, the operator of
the machine may offer incentives, premiums, additional transaction options or
advertising information selectively to customers. Certain types of customers
of the institution operating the machine may receive screen outputs with
options that encourage them to do more business or different types of business
with the institution. Likewise, customers that are identified as customers of
foreign institutions may be provided with incentives to do business with the
institution operating the machine.
The profile applet may operate to cause the computer to access other
documents in other servers, such as stock market data, and selectively provide
it to customers. It should be understood that the profile applet may operate
to
determine an address or generate documents to produce initial display screens
of a transaction sequence. The profile applet may also operate to provide
information or access or produce documents which generate visual outputs to
the customer at other points in a transaction or between transactions. This
may further be used in systems in which the operator of the machine is able to
sell paid advertising to third parties and then access the HTTP records such
as
HTML files corresponding to those third parties' products or services. Such
accessing may be done based on a periodic or other basis, but may be done
effectively by selecting the HTTP record to access in response to the profile
of
the particular customer. As later described, advertising documents may be
accessed from advertising servers connected to the network. Advertising
materials may be delivered to customers from the machine at various times
during transactions, such as between steps controlled by documents from the
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
33
server operated by the customer's institution. Advertising materials may be
displayed when transaction function devices, such as a sheet dispenser are
operated. The operator of the machine and/or a system in which the machine
is connected, may also require payment from advertisers for presenting the
advertising materials.
The continuation of the transaction flow from the point represented in
Figure 9 for this exemplary transaction by a customer of the institution that
operates computer network 14, is schematically represented in Figure 10. The
home HTTP server 90 is operative in response to the customer inputting the
correct PIN to send HTML documents to the HTML document handling
portion of the software in the computer which operates the ATM. These
messages may include information and instructions used to generate screens
which prompt the customer to select a transaction. For purposes of this
example, it will be assumed that the customer inputs at the touch screen 30 a
selection which corresponds to the dispense of cash, which is a common
transaction at an automated banking machine.
The selection of the customer through the input device of the touch
screen is communicated back through the HTML document handling portion
which communicates an HTTP message to the home HTTP server 90. Server
90 then responds by sending another HTML document to the banking machine
which prompts the customer to select an amount. Again the customer may
input a selection on the touch screen which indicates the amount of cash
requested by the customer. This HTTP message passes through the HTML
document handling portion and the browser 76 to the home server 90.
In response to the receipt of amount data from the customer, the home
server 90 is preferably operative to communicate electronically with the back
office 94 to verify that the customer has the amount requested in their
account.
This may be accomplished through a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) 106
which is in operative connection with the home server 90. For purposes of
this transaction it will be assumed that the back office 94 indicates that the
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
34
money is available in the customer's account and sends a message through the
CGI 106 to the home server 90 indicating that it may proceed.
As schematically represented in Figure 11, the home server 90 then
operates to send a document back to the HTML document handling portion in
the ATM software. This message when processed by the browser preferably
will cause information to be displayed on the screen which advises the
customer that the transaction is being processed. In addition the HTML
document returned preferably includes JAVA script which includes embedded
instructions which are executed and communicated to a JAVA applet
associated with the operation of the sheet dispensing mechanism 42.
The document returned from the home server 90 may include
advertising or other information instead of or in addition to the customer
message. The document returned may also include an instruction which
causes the machine to access or generate another document. These
instructions may invoke methods in the profile applet which depend on the
properties associated with the customer, the machine, the current time and/or
other circumstances. This enables accessing documents that provide
promotional messages such as advertising or other information to the customer
while the customer is waiting for the sheet dispenser or other transaction
function device in the machine to operate. It should be understood that these
documents may be accessed from servers connected to the system anywhere,
including servers connected to the Internet. This makes it possible to
selectively present a wide range of materials to customers. It also enables
operators of ATMs and other transaction machines to present advertising to
customers, on a broad basis, or targeted to categories of customers or even
targeted to individual customers on a segment of one basis. This could be
advertising of the machine operator such as a bank, or advertising pertaining
to
virtually any type of goods or services. T he advertising may also be
selectively presented based on the particular transaction device being
operated,
the amount of funds involved or other parameters. The documents may also
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
enable the presentation of video and sound to the customer which may
enhance the effectiveness of promotions. Access to advertising documents
may be tracked and payments made to the customer's institution, the operator
of the system and/or the owner of the machine, by the entity associated with
5 the advertising materials presented to the customers.
In the exemplary embodiment, the message to the JAVA applet in the
device application portion 84 of the software to enable operation of the sheet
dispenser results in generation of a message to the device server 92. The
message to the device server 92 to dispense cash is preferably analyzed by the
10 monitor software 102 to check to see if the message is appropriate. For
example the monitor software 102 is preferably operative to assure that the
amount of cash being requested does not exceed a preset amount. It can also
optionally check to verify that the amount provided to this customer within a
prior period has not exceeded an amount. This may be done by the device
15 server sending a message to the back office which includes the card data or
other data it has previously received from or resolved concerning this
customer. This message may pass through server 90 and its associated CGI, or
other connection. Assuming that the dispense instruction is not prevented by a
message from the back office or the monitor software, the device server 92 is
20 operative to send a dispense message to the device interfacing software
portion
64 in the ATM. The software portion 64 is thereafter operative responsive to
the message to operate the sheet dispensing mechanism 42 to dispense the
amount of cash requested by the customer.
The monitor software 102 preferably performs additional functions in
25 the device server. For example, government regulations or good business
practice may require limiting the size and amounts of deposits which may be
made into an ATM. This may be advisable to prevent "money laundering" or
other suspicious activities. The monitor software preferably operates to limit
the amount of any single deposit to below a set limit. It may further operate
by
30 communicating with the home bank back office system 94 to prevent a series
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
36
of deposits within a preset time from exceeding a certain limit. The monitor
software may also work in connection with the proxy server to limit certain
transactions that may be carried on at the banking machine responsive to
instructions from foreign servers as later discussed.
It should be noted that in this exemplary embodiment of the invention,
the JAVA applet which is operative to send the message which causes cash to
be dispensed, works in connection with another applet which controls the mix
of bills dispensed to a customer. Many automated teller machines have the
ability to dispense two or more denominations of currency bills. It is
desirable
to control the mix of bills dispensed to a customer to suit that which is
available in the machine and to avoid running out of one denomination of bills
before the other. The bill mix applet is preferably operable to control the
bill
mix in accordance with the desires of the institution operating the ATM
machine as well as is in accordance with the ATM machine's capabilities.
Alternatively, a JAVA applet for controlling bill mix may reside in device
program 70 in device interfacing software portion 64.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the particular JAVA
applets and/or configuration data in the machine may be selectively loaded
from the home server 90 at machine start up or at other times. Because the
applets and configuration data may be selectively delivered to particular
machines, the machines may be tailored specifically to the particular currency
dispensing and other capabilities of the ATM. For example, the ATM may be
configured so that certain applets or groups of applets must be present to
enable the machine to operate. One approach to loading such data or programs
is to provide address values in the terminal software to indicate where the
needed instructions to acquire the applets or data may be obtained. If the
applets or groups of applets are not already present in memory of the ATM
terminal at start up, the software is operative to access the system addresses
for
the documents which contain the required records or instructions which will
cause the machine to load the required records. A browser may be used to
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
37
access the addresses, and the software loads data corresponding to the
instructions from the accessed documents into a memory in the ATM terminal
so that the terminal has the required applets and data. Such document
addresses may be accessible through the home server 90.
Alternatively the addresses may be on a separate development server
connected to the intranet 16. In this way each transaction machine is able to
load the applets and data which include the operative code needed to operate
the transaction devices in the machine. Alternatively, the documents may be
provided through a development server or other server that is accessible to
the
machine through a wide area network. The documents may be provided on the
development server to provide the machine with instructions on how to
acquire the operating code to carry out a wide variety of functions. The
instructions may direct the machine to acquire the necessary data and code
from addresses accessible through HTTP servers by an HTTP client in the
machine. The data and code can be acquired responsive to instructions in one
or several documents. The machine may also require that the applets loaded in
this manner be signed applets including digital signatures or other
authenticating features to achieve operation of certain devices in the
machines.
Alternatively, embodiments of the invention may acquire the necessary
applets and data from a remote data store. The data store preferably includes
the data and/or programs that enable the machine to operate as desired, or
have
instructions on where the machine may acquire the necessary instructions and
data for operation. The data may be accessible from a database server. The
transaction machine addresses a query to the database server. The query
includes or is accompanied by indicia from the machine which identifies the
machine. This may be the particular machine such as a machine number,
and/or may include indicia representative of the type or functional device
capabilities of the machine.
The data store preferably includes records which have the data or
programs that are to be transmitted to the machine. In response to the query
to
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
38
the server, the server retrieves records from the data store and responsive
thereto delivers one or more messages to the HTTP client in the transaction
machine. The message(s) includes the configuration data or applets to enable
the machine to operate in the manner desired or may include instructions
which indicate how the machine is to acquire such programs from servers
connected in the system.
In the example shown the configuration server and data store may
operate on the same computer as home bank server 90. In other embodiments
the database server may reside elsewhere in the networks to which the
machine is operatively connected.
An advantage of the machines and systems which employ such features
is the flexibility to change the operation and customer interface of the
machine
to respond to changing conditions. This may include a change in a transaction
function device. Conditions may change so that certain transactions are
limited or are not available. For example, a machine may normally accept
deposits but its depository is full. In that situation the machine may change
the documents it accesses to present messages to users through its output
devices so that the deposit option is no longer offered. This can be
accomplished by the applets and data loaded into the machine initially, which
provide for instructions when such event is sensed. Alternatively, the machine
programming may be modified by loading new applets and/or data from an
HTTP server responsive to its then current status. This may be done
responsive to a query to a database server which includes or is accompanied by
data representative of the changed conditions or capabilities of the machine.
In response the server delivers the applet(s), data and/or instructions which
will operate the machine in the modified mode.
This approach eliminates the situation with conventional transaction
machines where the static interface presentation on output devices offers a
transaction option to a customer. Sometimes, after the customer has made the
selection an indication is given that the selected transaction option is not
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
39
available. The approach described herein may be used with numerous
transaction options and variations of transactions. The transaction options
can
be readily changed from the database server on a machine by machine basis or
even a customer by customer basis as previously discussed, based on the
desires of the entity operating the transaction machine.
The discussion of the exemplary transaction will now be continued
from the point schematically represented in Figure 11. In response to the cash
dispenser 42 dispensing the requested amount of cash, device interfacing
software program 64 preferably operates to send a dispense operation message
confirming the dispense back to the JAVA applet responsible for the dispense
in the device application program 84. As represented in Figure 12, the
particular applet is operative to update the transaction record 104 to
indicate
the dispense of currency to the customer-in the particular amount. The
embedded JAVA script instructions which were operative to cause the
dispense of currency to the customer, also preferably include instructions to
send a confirming message back to the home server 90 that the dispense is
complete. The receipt of the dispense operation message indicating the cash
was dispensed causes the JAVA applet to configure the HTML document
handling portion to send a device response message back to the home server.
The home server then is preferably operated in accordance with its
programming to indicate to the back office 94 that the customer received the
amount of funds dispensed. This amount is deducted from the customer's
account in the records maintained by the back office system.
Generally during a transaction it is common to ask the customer if they
wish to have a receipt for the transaction. This may be done at various times
during the transaction flow. In the present example, after the cash has been
dispensed the customer operating the machine is sent such a message as
reflected in Figure 13. The home server 90 is operative to send an HTML
document which when processed by the browser produces a screen asking the
customer if they would like a receipt. This message is displayed as part of a
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
page on the touch screen 30 responsive to receipt of the message through the
browser 76. Alternatively the document may be generated by the machine. In
response to the customer indicating that they either do or do not want a
receipt,
a message is returned to the home server. Again it should be understood that
5 the screens displayed to the customer are preferably those that the customer
is
accustomed to from his or her home institution, and may be a part of his or
her
unique home page.
Assuming that the customer wishes to receive a transaction receipt, the
home server 90 in the exemplary embodiment operates as shown in Figure 14
10 to send a document back to the ATM with embedded JAVA script indicating
that a transaction receipt is to be printed. These instructions in JAVA script
are communicated to the device application portion 84 which sends a TCP/IP
message through the intranet to the device server 92. The device server 92 in
turn communicates a message with instructions to the device interfacing
15 software portion 64 in the ATM. In response to receiving the message,
software portion 64 is operative to cause the printer 46 to print the
customer's
transaction receipt. The JAVA applet responsible for enabling the printer is
also preferably operative to update the transaction data object or record 104.
As later discussed, the applet which controls the printing of the receipt may
20 obtain the data used in printing the receipt from the transaction data
object.
It should be understood that even if the customer does not wish to have
a receipt it may be desirable to print a record of the transaction in hard
copy
through the joumal printer 48. This may be accomplished in response to
imbedded instructions which are part of the same document from the home
25 server 90 which causes the transaction receipt for the customer to be
printed,
or may be part of a separate document which indicates that the customer has
declined the option to receive a transaction receipt. Alternatively, the
journal
printer may be actuated responsive to other applets such as the applet which
causes the dispense of cash, or in another manner chosen by the operator of
the
30 ATM. Alternatively or in addition, an electronic record of the infonnation
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
41
concerning the transaction may be stored in a data store. Such information may
later be recovered remotely from the machine, from other system addresses.
As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the operation of the
exemplary embodiment of the ATM is inherently flexible and programmable
to meet the needs of the system operator.
As shown in Figure 15 upon completion of the printing of the
transaction receipt, the software portion 64 is preferably operative to send a
device operation message to the device server 92 which is indicative that the
requested device function was carried out successfully. The device server 92
is operative to send a corresponding device operation message to the device
application portion 84, and in the exemplary embodiment to the particular
JAVA applet responsible for the printing of the receipt. The JAVA applet in
turn configures the HTML document handling portion to generate a message
back to the home server in the form of a device response message to indicate
that the receipt was printed for the customer.
Having received cash and a receipt, the customer is then prompted by a
display screen generated from an HTML document from the home server 90,
to indicate whether they wish to conduct another transaction. The visual page
or screen prompting the customer in this regard is displayed on the touch
screen 30. For purposes of this example it will be assumed that the customer
does not want another transaction and a message to that effect is returned
through the HTML document handling portion back to the home server 90.
As shown schematically in Figure 17 in response to receiving a
message that the customer is done, the home server 90 is operative to send a
"go home" message to the ATM. This message preferably includes an HTML
document which when processed by the browser produces a screen display
thanking the customer. This message also preferably includes embedded
JAVA script which calls the JAVA applet which eventually returns the HTML
document handling portion of the ATM back into connection with the URL
address on the home server 90 or other network address which provides the
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42
documents that are used to output the messages for the so called "attract
mode". It should be remembered that the script or instructions included in
documents used in some embodiments may operate to cause a message to be
sent from the document handling portion to an address on the home server
which causes a corresponding HTTP record including the instructions
comprising the desired applet to load.
As schematically indicated in Figure 18, the "go home" command
applet is operative to configure the browser 76. After the HTML document
handling portion is configured by the JAVA applet to return home, the JAVA
applet may be configured to deliver to home server 90 information from the
transaction record 104 concerning the transaction that was just completed.
Because the exemplary transaction was with a customer of the institution that
operates the computer system 14, all the- data concerning that transaction
should already be recorded in the back office 94. However it will be
appreciated that this will not be the case if the transaction was conducted in
response to messages from a server operated by a different institution. Also
this may not be the case with certain types of transactions such as some
credit
card transactions, where an authorization is provided during the transactions,
and at a later time transaction details are sent for purposes of settlement.
Thus, all or a portion of the information from the transaction record 104 may
be delivered in response to a "go home" command to the home server 90 and
through the CGI to the back office system 94 where it can be identified as
duplicate information and discarded. This may be done using remote method
invocation (RMI) to pass or deliver the object to server 90 and then
transmitting the data through messages from the server to the back office, or
through messages or other techniques.
Of course in other embodiments transaction information may be stored
in a database for extended periods rather than being returned after each
transaction. Alternatively the ATM 12 of the present invention may include
applets which are operable to deliver transaction record information to
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43
addresses other than that of the home server, if that is desired by the
operator
of system 14. The computer may be configured through an appropriate applet
or other instructions to deliver the stored transaction record data to
selected
network addresses in the system. Such record data may be delivered in
encrypted form as appropriate for the particular system. Such record data may
be delivered through the document handling portion of the banking machine.
In alternative embodiments such data may be delivered through a separate
server component operating in a computer associated with an automated
banking machine. By accessing this record data the machine operator or other
settlement authority may recover record data relating to transactions. Such
data may also be used for recovering data that is used for determining the
number and types of transactions conducted at the machine involving other
institutions and/or transaction fees associated therewith. Such information
may also include information on advertising materials presented to customers.
Such information may be processed and used as the basis for sharing
transaction fees or receiving payment from advertising entities.
The operation of an exemplary computer system when a "foreign" user
uses the ATM 12 is graphically represented with regard to Figures 19 through
24. A transaction with a foreign user who is not a customer of the institution
that operates ATM 12 and computer system 14, will be operated under the
control of the home server 90 and will proceed in the manner of the prior
example through the point where the customer inputs their card. The customer
inputs a card having indicia corresponding to a network address that does not
correspond to the home server 90. The HTML document handling portion is
operative to configure a message addressed to access a URL address that
corresponds to the indicia on the customer's card or other address responsive
to such indicia. For example, the network address may be based on the BIN
number encoded on a customer's card. The BIN number can be correlated
with an entry in a Financial Institution Table (FIT) or similar cross
reference
for determining network address data and/or other parameters. This message
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
44
is delivered to the proxy server 88 which in turn passes the message to the
wide area network 18. From the wide area network the message proceeds to
the foreign server corresponding to the customer's URL address. For purposes
of this example the foreign server corresponds to server 96 which is connected
to the Internet.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention proxy server 88
includes screening software graphically indicated 107. Screening software is
preferably operable to check addresses to which messages are being directed
by the ATM and to selectively prevent the sending of messages to particular
addresses. This serves as a "fire wall" and is desirable for purposes of
preventing fraud in the system.
As shown in Figure 20, the foreign server 96 is preferably operable to
communicate HTTP messages, including HTML documents, to the ATM 12
back through the wide area network 18. This may be done using a secure
socket connection ("SSC") so as to minimize the risk of interception of the
messages. Of course other techniques, including message encryption
techniques may be used to minimize the risk of interception of the messages.
As schematically represented in Figure 20 the response document from
foreign server 96 preferably includes embedded JAVA script is representative
of or corresponds to a digital signature which identifies the foreign server
96.
This may be accomplished by loading an HTTP record including a signed
applet, as previously discussed. An applet in application portion 84 in the
ATM preferably operates to verify the digital signature in the manner
described in the prior example, and sends a message indicating that the
transaction has been authorized. The digital identity of the foreign
institution
will be stored in memory in the ATM for example in the transaction record
data, and eventually is recorded in the back office 94.
It should be noted that the HTML documents from the foreign server
96 include instructions so that when they are processed by the browser, the
visual pages or screens of the foreign institution which the foreign customer
is
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
accustomed to seeing are output. These pages may correspond to a foreign
user's "home page" which are tailored specifically to the needs of the
particular
user.
Figure 21 shows a schematic example of a document accessed through
5 the foreign server 96 and delivered to the ATM 12. The document from the
foreign server may include embedded JAVA script which enables operation of
the JAVA applets in the manner previously discussed to operate the devices 36
in the ATM. As shown in Figure 21 the TCP/IP messages to the devices from
the JAVA applets pass from the device application portion 84 to the device
10 server 92, and the instructions therefrom are passed to the device
interfacing
software portion 64 in the ATM. Device operation messages take a reverse
path. As these messages pass through the device server 92, monitor software
102 monitors them to minimize the risk of fraud or abuse.
As indicated in Figure 21, the documents from the foreign server 96
15 may be operative to output through the touch screen 30 a request for the
customer to input their PIN. The embedded JAVA script instructions would,
as in the sample transaction previously discussed, include instructions that
enable the keyboard 40 to accept the customer's PIN. As in the prior example,
a transaction record 104 which includes a shared data object concerning this
20 transaction would be opened by the device application software portion. As
previously discussed, provisions may be made to prevent the passage of PIN
data through the browser if desired.
Figure 22 indicates the return of the device operation message and PIN
data to the JAVA applet, which in turn transmits the data back to the foreign
25 server 96 through the wide area network 18 using the secure socket
connection. From this point the transaction proceeds generally as previously
described, except that the foreign server 96 sends the HTTP records, including
HTML documents, and receives the messages from the document handling
portion of the ATM. The foreign server 96 includes the JAVA application
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
46
software necessary to include the embedded JAVA script in the documents
that are sent to the ATM to operate the devices 36 in the machine.
As the foreign server 96 operates the machine, the monitor software
102 in the device server 92 is operative to monitor the messages in the manner
previously discussed. Such monitoring would for example, operate to prevent
the dispense of unduly large amounts of currency out of the machine. The
monitoring software may also operate to restrict certain foreign institutions
to
a subset of the transaction machine devices or capabilities. This is done
based
on data stored in memory which limits the devices or activities that can be
carried out from documents at certain addresses. This may be achieved for
example through the use of code plug-ins which implement a class of the
transaction objects which limits the operations that can be performed. For
example, the operations which enable connection to the foreign server may
instantiate the objects which provide specified limited capabilities for
messages received from the foreign server. This may for example limit the
amount of money dispensed, prevent operation of a check acceptance device,
limit the dispense to printed documents such as tickets, prevent operation of
the cash dispenser or limit use of the machine in other appropriate ways. This
may be done based on the addresses or portions of addresses for documents.
If the capabilities of the machine exposed to the foreign customer are
limited, the foreign customer may be provided with a visual interface from the
foreign bank based on the transactions the machine can perform and that the
owner of the machine will allow. As a result the documents accessed at the
foreign bank server may be a variation of what the customer would be
provided at a machine operated by the foreign bank. This could be based on
documents specifically developed for operating foreign machines, or could be
a variant of the usual foreign bank interface with visual indications that
certain
transactions are not available. In some instances the interface may indicate
that some transactions are available with an associated service charge.
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
47
The ATM of the described embodiment may enhance security by
limiting the addresses that the browser may access. This may be done by
maintaining a list in the memory of the machine. This list may be maintained
in HTTP record(s) (including documents) accessible through the home bank's
intranet. The machine may access the record periodically and update the
memory data. This record may itself require a digital signature corresponding
to a signature in the terminal memory before the data will be loaded into
terminal memory. This information may also include the instructions and
information for the ATM to verify that the messages it receives by accessing
documents on the foreign server are genuine. This may include digital
signatures which when transferred using public key or private key encryption
techniques verify the messages as genuine. The machine checks to be sure the
signature in the records accessed from the foreign server corresponds to the
digital signature for that address stored in memory, and enables operation of
transaction devices, such as the cash dispenser, only when such
correspondence is present. Of course various approaches to verifying and
encrypting messages may be used in various embodiments. As used herein
signatures or signed records encompass any indicia which is included in or is
derivable from a record which is indicative that it is authorized.
As can also be appreciated from the foregoing disclosure, the foreign
server 96 may conununicate to the user with outputs through the touch screen
in a language that is different from that normally used by the customers of
the
institution that operates the computer system 14. As a result the HTML
documents may cause the display of requests to dispense currency of a type or
in an amount which is not included in the ATM. To accommodate this
situation an applet may be included in the device application portion 84 to
deal
with requests for foreign currency. The foreign currency applet causes the
ATM to send a message back to its home server for purposes of calculating a
closest amount which may be provided to the customer in the available
currency in the ATM which corresponds to what the customer requested. As
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
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will be appreciated, this applet will be operative to call the particular
function
address within the home server 90 that is capable of providing this function.
When the dispense is made the applet is also operative to indicate to server
96
that the amount dispensed differs somewhat from the amount the customer
requested. Of course in other embodiments, other approaches may be used.
Alternatively an applet in the machine may generate visual displays that show
equivalents in local currency when foreign currency amounts are displayed or
processed. This may include presenting both amounts on visual displays
presented to a user. Alternatively additional browsers operating in the bank
machine as later discussed may produce visual outputs that advise the user of
information such as exchange rates or other information pertinent to the
customer's transaction.
As represented in Figure 23, when the foreign customer has completed
their transactions as indicated through the touch screen 30, the foreign
server
96 is operative to send the "go home" message back to the ATM. The receipt
of this message is operative in the manner previously described to cause the
device application portion 84 to operate responsive to the embedded JAVA
script instructions to configure the HTML document handling portion to cause
the browser 76 to reestablish communication with the home server 90, or other
designated document address.
As indicated in Figure 24 the applet in the device application portion
84 which processes the "go home" message is preferably operative to
reconnect to the home server 90 as well as to send the transaction record
information in record 104. This transaction record information which in an
exemplary embodiment is packaged in a data object, includes the customer
name, the foreign institution name, digital identifier, amount information
concerning amounts dispensed, transferred or deposited, and all other
pertinent
transaction data. The transaction data is used by applets in performing
transaction steps in which any portion of the data is required. At the
completion of the customer's activity at the machine an applet provides a
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
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transaction data message which includes at least a portion of the collected
data. This data is communicated from server 90 through the CGI 106 to the
home bank's back office 94. This information is stored in the back office for
later use for purposes of settlement with the foreign bank operating the
foreign
server 96. Altematively or in addition, transaction data may be recorded in
the
terminal in memory such as in an electronic journal as well as in hard copy on
a joumal printer. Transaction data may be stored for downloading in a batch
or by passing objects including data from many transactions. Objects can be
instantiated from a remote server such as by remote method invocation. Batch
data may be communicated at times and to addresses as may be stored in
memory in the terminal configuration data.
An advantage of embodiments of the invention is that transaction data
may be delivered to addresses in a local area network or in a wide area
network such as the Internet. This facilitates conducting wide varieties of
transactions and enables directing messages related to tracking use (such as
for
electronic purse type smart cards) or for settlement of various transaction
types
to a selected system address.
It will be appreciated that the described embodiment of the automated
banking machine and system of the present invention provides the advantage
that when the machine is connected to a wide area network such as the
Internet, customers are able to carry out their banking transactions virtually
anywhere in the world. Further, despite the broad capabilities of the system,
because the machine may be monitored locally, both in terms of connection
and activity, the risk of fraud is minimized.
Embodiments of the invention may include a further feature to
facilitate access to documents in the network to which the machine is
connected. This feature is operative to determine if an HTTP record such as
an HTML document or other item is accessible at an address for downloading
before the computer will attempt to access the record. This avoids transaction
time outs that might otherwise occur as a result of inability to access a
record
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
due to the server througr. which the record is normally accessed being down.
Other embodiments may consider both the size of the record and the transfer
rate and determine that a transfer speed for the record is not sufficiently
rapid,
so that an alternative record should be transferred.
5 In one embodiment this feature is achieved through use of a separate
program or applet which checks to see if a server that the computer will
subsequently want to access is alive. The applet operates responsive to
receiving an address or portion thereof, to which a connection will be made.
The applet operates to make a socket connection to the address and loads a
10 small but sufficient amount of the record or otherwise operates to
determine
that the server through which the record must be accessed is alive. In
response
to the applet verifying the operation of the remote server, or otherwise
determining that conditions indicative that the record may be accessed or
loaded, the computer then operates so that the browser or similar software
15 component is enabled to navigate to the address at the appropriate time in
the
transaction sequence. If the applet is unable to detect that the remote server
is
alive, or determines that it does not appear the record may be successfully
accessed or loaded, steps may be taken to access alternative addresses,
generate another output or to discontinue the transaction. Alternative
20 addresses to access may be based on data stored in the memory of the
terminal
or may be obtained by accessing documents either locally or remotely which
include data from which alternative addresses may be obtained or derived.
Alternative addresses are similarly checked to make a determination that the
records can be accessed before attempts are made to access the alternative
25 records. This approach avoids delays in carrying out transactions.
Alternative embodiments may employ other approaches to determine if
desired HTTP records such as HTML documents may be successfully accessed
and/or downloaded adequately before the browser providing the customer
interface attempts to access the document. Such embodiments may consider
30 in determining whether the document can be successfully accessed, the
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51
transfer speed or other conditions related to system operation or document
content. For example, the applet which tests to determine that the HTTP
record can be accessed, or a further applet, may determine the transfer rate
at
which the record can be transferred to the computer. The rate at which the
data can be transferred may be compared to data stored in memory, and if the
rate is slower than the data representative of the desired stored rate an
alternative record is accessed. This may be for example an HTML document
stored or generated locally in the machine. Other embodiments may include
programs which consider the size of the HTTP record and the transfer rate in
determining a transfer speed. Such programs then determine if the record can
be transferred fast enough to suit the parameters established in the
configuration in memory, and if not, alternative addresses are accessed. Such
alternative records may be similarly tested for transfer speed before being
transferred.
Programs may also consider other factors in deciding to access a
particular address, such factors may include for example day and time
information, or information from sensors such as sensors in a floor or video
imaging systems indicating that other persons are waiting to use the machine.
In this way access to documents that have extensive outputs which may tend to
prolong transactions can be avoided even when records can be loaded at an
adequate speed.
In alternative embodiments of the invention multiple browsers may be
operated in the computer(s) of the ATM for purposes of processing
instructions in documents. Some browsers may operate to process instructions
and may not provide outputs that may be perceived by users of the machine.
Such browsers may be operated to provide instructions that are used for
operating transaction function devices. For example, a browser which does
not produce an output which is visible on a display, may process documents
which produce outputs that are operative to cause a printer to produce printed
documents.
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Other embodiments may operate multiple browsers which provide
outputs which can be perceived by customers operating the machine. For
example, multiple browsers which are each capable of providing visual (and/or
audio) outputs may be operated in respective servers in the machine
simultaneously to process documents and provide simultaneous outputs to the
user. Such browsers may also process instructions for operating transaction
function devices. This may provide the capability for a machine to conduct
simultaneous transaction types.
In an exemplary embodiment an ATM has operating therein five (5)
visible browsers. Each of these browsers is capable of providing a visible
output on the screen of the ATM. Figure 32 shows an exemplary output
screen 196 in which each of the browsers produces a visible output. The main
browser output 198 is shown centered on the screen. The main browser output
198 is flanked vertically by a top browser output 200 and a bottom browser
output 202. The main browser output is flanked horizontally by a left browser
output 204 and a right browser output 206. Each of these browsers are capable
of processing documents and communicating with network addresses in the
manner previously discussed. Some or all of the browsers may also be
operative to pass instructions so as to control transaction function devices
in
the machine. Alternatively, some browsers may be used primarily to provide
outputs to the customer and may not be configured to utilize instructions in
accessed documents to operate certain devices in the machine.
In the exemplary embodiment, all five (5) browsers are operated
although they may not all provide visible outputs. Initially only the output
198
from the main browser is made visible. The other browsers are made visible
using a "show" method which identifies the browser output size. This is done
in response to show and size instractions included in documents such as
HTML documents. Such instructions are preferably included in documents
accessed by the main browser, but may be in documents accessed by other
browsers. In the exemplary embodiment browser size is defined by a single
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53
thickness indicator. In the case of the "top" and "bottom" browsers, thickness
refers to a vertical dimension from the adjacent top or bottom edge of the
display, respectively. In the case of the "left" and "right" browsers, the
thickness is a horizontal thickness from the respective adjacent edge of the
screen. In the exemplary embodiment the output of the main browser is
resited automatically to fill the remaining visible space on the screen not
occupied by the outputs of the other browsers. In this embodiment the top and
bottom browsers when activated occupy the entire width of the screen, while
the left and right browsers occupy the space between the top and bottom
browser outputs if visible. Other approaches may be used in alternative
embodiments.
The use of multiple visible browsers provides the capabilities of
providing multiple simultaneous visible qutputs based on different documents
accessed at different network addresses. This also enables the development of
applications providing a series of documents that enable making outputs
produced from documents visible at various selected points in a transaction
sequence. Such capabilities may be particularly useful in presenting
advertising or promotional materials to customers during a transaction. Such
capabilities may also be useful for displaying messages in multiple languages
for operating the machine. Such capabilities may also be useful in presenting
exchange rate information in transactions involving a cardholder from a
different country or in conducting currency exchange transactions. The
outputs of multiple browsers might also be useful in displaying to the
customer documents generated for the customer or documents including
information of particular interest to the customer such as the current status
of
particular stocks or investment opportunities.
Figures 33 through 35 show examples of screens generated in the
exemplary embodiment when certain different browsers are used to produce
visible outputs on a screen. Figure 33 shows a screen 208 in which the left
browser output 204 and the top browser output 200 are visible with the main
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browser output. Figure 34 shows a screen 210 in which the top browser output
200 and the bottom browser output 202 are visible with the main browser
output 198. Figure 35 shows a screen 212 which the right browser output 206
and the main browser output 198 are visible. It should be understood that
many variations of screens are possible and that such screens may include
configurations in which the main browser output is not visible.
As can be appreciated, the operation of multiple browsers in the
machine enables carrying out simultaneous transactions. For example, a user
may be provided with the opportunity to acquire goods or services through
documents processed by one of the browsers while a banking transaction is in
progress. Such a browser may work in connection with the other components
or the machine as previously discussed, to enable operation of and to receive
inputs through various transaction functian devices. Such inputs may include
inputs accepting or declining offers to purchase goods or services. The
transaction data object may also be invoked by the applications operating the
other browsers to make such offers. This enables delivery of account data
associated with the user which was previously obtained in connection with a
banking transaction. This also enables the customer to conveniently elect to
pay using the account currently involved in a transaction. Each browser may
also develop its own transaction data object or records to use for purposes of
accomplishing settlement, as well as for storing data concerning what occurred
during a transaction.
While the exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described
in connection with using multiple browsers to display information in the
course of a banking transaction and to enable multiple transactions to be
ongoing simultaneously, it should be understood that the use of multiple
browsers providing visible and non visible outputs may be used for numerous
and varied purposes that are within the scope of the present invention.
While the described embodiment of the automated banking machine
and system of the present invention is shown with regard to a particular type
of
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
machine that is made specifically for connectibility to local or wide area
networks, conventional automated banking machines may also be adapted to
include such capability. Specifically the document handling portion and
device application portion may be included with other conventional software
5 which operates within one or more computers in operative connection with an
automated banking machine. This enables such ATMs to operate either in the
conventional proprietary network or as part of a wide area network. In
addition, automated banking machines may be configured to operate their
devices through the device interfacing software portion of the invention or
10 through a different software interface when operating in a conventional
network. Such machines may switch to requiring device messages to be
passed through a device server when operating under the control of a server
within the wide area network to maintain,security within the system. In this
way a single ATM could operate in proprietary networks in the manner of
15 current ATMs as well as in the network configuration of the system of the
invention.
Alternative embodiments of the invention operate to communicate
transaction messages used in a proprietary ATM network. This may be
accomplished by using an interface such as a CGI in connection with either the
20 document handling portion of the ATM or the HTTP home server or other
server. The CGI operates in connection with a message conversion program
and database to cull the necessary data from the documents and response
messages and generate the defined transaction request messages appropriate
for the proprietary transaction network. Likewise, the message conversion
25 program and CGI operate to receive function command messages from the
proprietary network and convert them and generate appropriate documents
and/or TCP/IP messages for use by the ATM. Because these proprietary
network formats are defined and the data necessary to produce and interpret
the messages are known, the use of the ATM 12 directly in a conventional
30 proprietary ATM network is achieved.
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
56
Conventional ATM transaction messages are defined layout messages
that do not include documents such as mark up language document or HTTP
messages. An example of known conventional messages used to operate
ATMs are Diebold 91X messages, NCR PAS messages and IBM 473X
messages. Such messages generally involve transmission of a request message
from an ATM in a defined layout including customer input data (account/pin)
and an indication of the type and amount of transaction requested. The request
message is received by an ATM host computer which sends back a response
message with a defined layout which includes an indication whether the
transaction is authorized. The ATM then returns another message to the host
computer indicating whether the machine was able to carry out the transaction.
The messages used in such conventional proprietary networks generally
occupy relatively little bandwidth.
In connecting the ATM of the invention to such a network, a server is
provided. The server is in operative connection with a memory which
includes a relational database or other data store which holds the message
conversion and document creation data. In one configuration, the server is
connected to the document handling portion through a network, or may reside
on the computer of the ATM. The server produces the documents which the
browser accesses and which include the transaction device instructions. The
server (or a connected server) communicates the conventional messages with
the host. One server may provide an interface for several ATMs connected to
it in a LAN, or alternatively, each ATM may have its own server operating
therein.
The ability of ATM 12 to communicate in a proprietary network also
enables operation of the ATM in a manner in which the interface is generated
by a user's home institution in the manner previously described, but in which
transactions are authorized through messages directed through a proprietary
ATM network. This achieves the security of using the proprietary network
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
57
while providing the customer with the advantages of the familiar home bank
interface and/or "personal home page" interface.
In such a configuration the ATM transaction function devices may be
operated in a conventional manner in response to conventional ATM
transaction messages such as Diebold 91X messages, NCR PAS messages or
1BM 473X messages, in the proprietary network. The customer output
devices, such as the display (and speakers if provided) communicate outputs
responsive to documents processed through a browser connected to a local or
wide area network. The browser accesses documents to prompt a customer
through operation of a transaction, but the documents do not include
instructions which enable operation of devices such as the cash dispenser
absent authorization from the proprietary network.
In one configuration the browser may be operated by the computer in
response to the status of devices in the machine, as the devices are operated
in
response to conventional ATM messages. In this manner the browser may be
navigated to selected addresses, including addresses which are associated with
the customer based on customer input data. However, as the documents
received by the browser will not independently operate the transaction
function devices, there is less need for security measures in accessing
documents. As a result, the customer may still operate the machine in
response to a familiar and unique interface, and marketing information such as
advertising or other material may be presented in the transaction sequence
using the techniques previously discussed.
In other embodiments machines may perform some device functions
based on conventional messages, while others may be performed in response
to instructions in HTML documents or other HTTP messages. For example
HTML documents may provide considerable data for use by printers or other
output devices. Some embodiments may access documents with instructions,
but may ignore some and act in response to others. The approach may be
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
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selected by the systems operator bv configuring the software based on their
requirements.
It should be understood that embodiments of the invention may also
provide for the generation of the appropriate documents which are processed
by the document handling software. Such documents may be dynamically
generated responsive to information delivered through messages from the
ATM that include instructions and data which are indicative of customer or
transaction related information. This enables messages to and from the ATM
to be communicated with a much more limited number of network addresses.
The dynamic generation of various documents such as XML documents may
be accomplished by one or more computers based on data stored in one or
more data stores. A plurality of documents may be generated corresponding to
a number of entities from a single server.. Such documents may be tailored to
the transaction options or promotional information provided by each such
entity. The documents may include the graphics, icons, prompts, trademarks
and other visible features and/or embedded instructions corresponding to non-
visible outputs as appropriate for the corresponding entity. In this way
documents corresponding to a plurality of banks, service providers,
advertisers
and other entities may be generated by one or more computers and delivered
through one or more servers as appropriate responsive to the information in
messages form the ATM and information stored in one or more data stores
operatively connected to the computers.
A further advantage of a system configuration of the exemplary
embodiment is that it has enhanced flexibility for communicating messages
associated with the ATM. The device manager 68 preferably generates status
messages associated with the status of devices 36. These status messages may
commonly represent information about conditions which exist at the devices.
Such messages may indicate that supplies of paper for printers or currency,
are
low or are depleted. Other messages may indicate that devices are not
functioning properly. Often such messages indicate that the ATM requires
CA 02377594 2004-05-18
59
servicing. All such types of messages are referred to herein interchangeably
as
either status or fault messages.
The device interfacing software portion 64 in the exemplary
embodiment communicates through the intranet 16 using TCP/IP messages.
While the messages associated with exemplary transactions previously
described are directed to the device server 92, the software portion 64 may
include a server and be configured to address fault and status messages to
other addresses in the intranet or the Internet. For example, such fault or
status messages may be directed to a software application which delivers
messages to a service provider. Further, fault messages maybe selectively
directed based on the nature of the fault indicated. For example, fault
messages indicative of a need to replenish currency or supplies may be
directed to an address in the intranet associated with an entity who has
responsibility for replenishing supplies. Alternatively, fault messages which
indicate a need for other types of servicing may be directed to an address
associated with an entity wlio can provide the type of servicing required.
Alternatively, the selective dispatching of fault messages to addresses
in the intranet 16 may be accomplished by appropriately configuring device
server 92. In addition, either software portion 64 or device server 92 may
direct fault messages from the ATMs to a fault handling system such as to a
computer operating Event Management SystemTM software available from
Diebold, Incorporated. Such software is operative to resolve the nature of the
fault condition and to notify appropriate personnel of the corrective action
to
be taken. Examples of fault handling system approaches are described in U.S.
Patent No. 5,984,178.
The ATM 12 may fiarther include a software function to assist in
diagnosing problems and providing remedial service. As graphically
represented in Figure 2, alterrnative embodiments of the ATM 12 may include
a mini-HTTP server 109 which is in communication with the device
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
interfacing software portion 64. Server 109 is configured to receive device
status messages and to produce HTTP records including documents in
response thereto, which provide data representative of device status to a
diagnostic device 110 such as a hand-held computer terminal. Server 109
5 includes a CGI for interfacing with the device software so that a technician
may access the information in the records accessible at the HTTP addresses
related to status messages, and input test and corrective instructions through
diagnostic device 110. The HTTP records and/or documents generated by
server 109 may preferably include graphic and/or audio instructions indicative
10 of conditions such as problems, as well as corrective action data and
repair
instructions.
In alternative versions of the invention the functions of the mini-HTTP
server 109 may reside in device server 92. This may be particularly
appropriate where the function of the device server resides on the computer in
15 the ATM. Regardless of where the function resides the use of the visual and
audio output components generated from processing documents associated
with maintenance and diagnostic messages, facilitates servicing of the ATM.
The records or documents delivered through the mini-HTTP server
may include instructions that correspond to the status or fault conditions.
20 Such records or documents may be accessed locally as previously discussed,
or
may be accessed remotely. A technician using a hand-held computer which
includes a browser or other software operative to access the HTTP records
may access the documents locally for purposes of maintenance, diagnosis and
servicing. In some situations the customer interface and browser associated
25 therewith may be used to access the mini-HTTP server, or a separate
browser,
display and input devices on the machine and intended for use servicing
activity may be used. Alternatively, the fault and status messages may be
monitored from terminals at locations anywhere that are connected in the
network. The mini-HTTP server handling status and fault messages may also
30 be configured to send an e-mail or other message to a selected network
address
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or a group of addresses whenever a particular condition or group of conditions
exist.
A further useful aspect of the exemplary embodiment is that HTTP
messages may also be sent to the mini-HTTP server to attempt to correct
problems. Such messages may include instructions that are operative to cause
the running of diagnostic tests and the delivery of messages indicating
results.
It may also include messages which cause devices to operate to test or attempt
to clear jams and other malfunctions. This can often be done from remote
locations. Of course, when there is a significant risk of unauthorized access
to
the server handling fault or status messages, appropriate security measures
such as the type previously discussed, should be taken.
The HTTP records which indicate the status of the transaction function
devices may have different forms depending on the software configuration and
the needs of the system operator. In some embodiments the device status
information for one or more devices may be represented by indicia contained
within a data object. The data object may be transferred to other connected
computers to provide the status data. The transfer of the data object may be
accomplished by remote method invocation (RMI) for example. The data in
the transferred data object may then be used to generate message and/or
outputs desired by the system operator. This technique may be particularly
useful when the operator wishes to connect the machine to an existing
monitoring system and indicia included in the data object can be used to
generate outputs or messages indicative of device status that can be processed
by the existing system. Plug-ins may further be used to achieve
communication between existing monitoring systems and transaction
machines which have different types of status conditions or different types of
message formats. This includes machines which have different types of
transaction function devices and capabilities.
The technique of transferring a data object may also be used to conduct
testing or modification of transaction function devices. For example, indicia
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62
in the data object may be modified by a servicer and the object passed back to
the machine. The software in the machine may cause the transaction function
devices to operate or change conditions or programming in response to the
modified data object. This may include for example clearing a fault indication
or causing a device to operate to clear a jam or to conduct a test. The
results
of such activity may be reflected in modified indicia in the data object which
may then be transferred to the computer in the diagnostic terminal. Of course,
the approaches discussed herein are exemplary and other approaches will be
apparent to those skilled in the art from the description herein.
Figure 25 shows a schematic view of a network configuration for an
alternative embodiment of the automated banking machine of the present
invention. The embodiment shown in Figure 25 includes an automated
banking machine specifically adapted for, operating in connection with
conventional automated banking machine systems such as systems which
operate using Diebold 91X ATM message formats or other non-HTTP
conventional format. A host computer 120 in this exemplary embodiment is a
conventional ATM host which communicates using such messages. The host
communicates with an interface server schematically indicated 122. Interface
server 122 operates in the manner previously discussed and is in operative
connection with a memory that includes the information necessary to convert
HTTP messages that pertain to a transaction request to a 91X request message
or other conventional message, which can be handled by host computer 120.
Likewise interface server 122 and the instructions and data stored in memory
are operative to convert a conventiona191 X command message or other
conventional command message from the host 120 into HTTP messages which
can be used by the automated banking machine to carry out the command.
Similarly interface server 122 is operative to receive the HTTP messages
which correspond to the response of the automated banking machine to the
commands and to produce a 91X response message or other conventional
response message to the host.
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In accomplishing these functions the interface server communicates
with an interface client 124 which in the preferred embodiment is a COMM
plug-in which operates on the banking machine terminal under a Windows
NT operating environment. Interface server 122 also includes a
command/status gateway 126. The command/status gateway is operative to
receive command and status messages from the software portions handling the
functional devices within the machine. The messages concerning the devices
are used in producing transaction messages to send back to host 120. In
addition, the command status gateway portion also produces status messages
indicative of the status of devices which may also be communicated to the
host.
The interface server 122, command status gateway portion 126 and
interface client 124 may reside in software on the automated banking machine
terminal. In this configuration the terminal appears to the host computer to
be
a conventional machine. Alternatively interface server 122 and command
status gateway portion 126 may reside on a separate server, while the
interface
client portion 124 may reside on the terminal. This enables the interface
server 122 to handle a number of automated banking machines by connecting
the machines to the interface server through a network.
The alternative configuration of the automated banking machine
system shown in Figure 25 is particularly adapted for use in connection with
existing ATM system. The machine includes a computer with a document
handling portion 128 which includes one or more visible or non-visible
browsers which operate in the manner of the embodiments previously
described. The document handling portion is alternatively referred to as a
browser herein for purposes of simplicity. The document handling portion
operates in connection with a network 130 to access HTTP records in the form
of documents through servers 132, 134 and 136. For purposes of this example
server 132 will be considered the server of the home bank which operates the
automated banking machine. The browser portion 128 is enabled to access
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
64
documents of its home bank for purposes of obtaining content and instructions
for purposes of outputting information to customers as well as for operating
devices on the machine. Servers 134 and 136 are representative of other
servers which the automated banking machine may be instructed to access for
purposes of downloading documents which include information or
instructions. Often such documents from non-home bank servers will include
information which is to be presented to customers such as advertising,
promotional material, stock quotations or other types of information. It
should
be understood that the servers 134 and 136 may be directly connected to
network 130 or may be accessed through other networks and servers. In some
embodiments such servers may be accessed through the Internet for purposes
of providing documents to the automated banking machine.
Document handling portion 128 in this exemplary embodiment
includes a terminal theater soflware portion schematically indicated 138.
Terminal theater portion 138 is schematically shown in greater detail in
Figure
26. Terminal theater portion 138 includes a back stage frame 140 and a
theater frame 142. The back stage frame 140 although it resides in the
browser, is not visible on the screen of the automated banking machine. The
theater frame 142 is a visible frame and controls what is shown to the
customer.
As schematically represented in Figure 25 the HTML document
handling portion also includes a terminal director portion 144. The terminal
director portion includes directors which are related instances of applets
which
are used in carrying out particular types of transactions. The terminal
directors
generally correspond to the operation of the JAVA applets in the previously
described embodiment.
The automated banking machine of the exemplary alternative
embodiment further includes a transaction services application (TSA)
schematically indicated 146. The transaction services application provides
security, terminal condition, terminal authorization and key management
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
services within the automated banking machine. The transaction services
application includes a function for communicating HTTP messages with the
interface server 122. The transaction services application may also
communicate through a network such as network 130 in a manner later
5 explained. The transaction services application also provides a server
function
which enables the transaction services application to carry out the functions
of
the device server 92 in the previously described embodiment.
The automated banking machine of the alternative embodiment further
includes JAVA common device interfaces schematically indicated 148. The
10 JAVA common device interfaces in the exemplary embodiment are related
instances of applets which control and coordinate the operation of the
functional devices 150 of the machines which perform transaction functions.
The functional devices may include devices of the types described in
connection with the previous embodiment or other types of devices which
15 operate to carry out a function related to a transaction. The JAVA common
device interfaces 148 communicate with the functional devices through
common device interfaces schematically represented 152. The common
device interfaces (CDIs) provide an interface that controls the
electromechanical modules in the functional devices included in the automated
20 banking machine. The common device interfaces are schematically shown in
connection with a diagnostic server 154. The diagnostic server operates in a
manner similar to server 109 of the previously described embodiment. The
diagnostic server 154 is useful in diagnosing status and in correcting
problems
with the devices in the automated banking machine.
25 Referring again to Figure 26 the backstage frame 140 within the
terminal theater portion 138 is a component called the backstage applet 156.
The backstage applet 156 is preferably a relatively thin component.
Instructions referred to as script included in documents accessed by the
browser selectively cause the backstage applet to notify a terminal director
30 when an action is to take place in response to the instructions included in
the
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66
accessed document. The backstage applet also operates to request that a new
document be accessed. The backstage applet also provides access to the
shared transaction data object previously discussed which holds transaction
data.
The theater frame 142 controls the user interface as seen by the user of
the automated banking machine terminal. Client HTML schematically
represented 158 in the theater frame 142 defines the identifying indicia
associated with events sent to a director manager through the backstage applet
and provides an interface to the director manager's public methods. The
director manager schematically indicated 160 in Figure 26, has a class which
resides in the transaction services application (TSA) 146 as shown. The
director manager class residing in the TSA process is operative to load the
terminal directors 144 to the document handling portion. The director
manager also includes a backstage applet class that resides in the backstage
frame 140. The backstage applet class of the director manager provides an
interface for the client HTML to make requests on the director manager.
Instructions in documents can pass events through the backstage applet 156 to
the director manager. Such events include a request to authorize a
transaction. Such requests may also include indications that the customer has
completed a transaction or that a document loaded by the browser includes
instructions requesting that the session be terminated. Other events which can
be passed through the director manager include print events. Other events in
this exemplary embodiment which can be passed through the backstage applet
to the director manager include an indication that an entry was canceled, or
other defined user events.
In response to receiving events the director manager of the
embodiment shown responds to instructions in documents accessed by the
browser to perform functions which include changing the content of the
theater frame 142. The director manager responsive to such instructions, also
changes the active terminal director class. The director manager also caches
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
67
terminal director classes for later use or loads terminal director classes and
documents from a list of available servers. The director manager also provides
access to the shared transaction data object holding transaction data for a
particular transaction. The director manager also sends terminal theater
events
to the backstage control class of the current terminal director and provides a
screen timeout timer. Of course in other embodiments the terminal director
may carry out other functions.
In operation of the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 25 the
terminal directors 144 in the transaction services application 146 enables
selectively accessing documents with the document handling portion 128. The
documents accessed may include instructions which are used to operate the
automated banking machine and the functional devices thereon. The
transaction services application 146 is further operative to communicate the
HTTP messages which are passed to the interface server 122 and which are
used to generate conventional ATM messages which can be handled by the
host 120. The dispensing of currency and other transfers of value are carried
out in response to approval from the host 120, while the interface and other
functions are controlled through instructions in documents accessed through
the browser.
In an exemplary embodiment the ATM or other transaction machine
communicates with the conventional ATM host by passing the transaction data
object between the computer in the ATM and the interface server. This
transfer is preferably accomplished by the remote message invocation (RMI)
feature of software such as JAVA. Of course other methods for transferring
the data object file using HTTP may be used.
As previously discussed, the transaction data object holds transaction
data and perhaps other data pertinent to the customer or the transaction. The
machine acquires data pertinent to the transaction such as account data from a
card, a customer's PIN number, requested transaction(s) and amount(s), and
includes this data among the transaction data.
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68
Once the data needed to generate a conventional ATM transaction
message is represented in the transaction data, the data object is transferred
to
the interface server. The interface server is in operative connection with a
database 123 or other item holding conversion data as schematically indicated.
The conversion data is used by the software associated with the server to
generate a conventional ATM transaction request message to the host 120.
The conventional message may be formatted as a conventional 91X message
or other type of conventional non-HTTP transaction message.
After processing the host 120 responds with a conventional response
message. The components of the response message are received at the server
and processed responsive to the conversion data to produce modified
transaction data in the data object. This modified transaction data preferably
includes data indicative of whether the requested transaction is authorized or
denied, as well as other data. For example, if the transaction is denied it
may
include data which is indicative of the reason for the denial.
The transaction data object with the modified transaction data is then
transferred to the computer operating the ATM by RMI or other transfer
method. The transaction services application 146 operating in software
receives the data object and operates the transaction function devices
responsive to the modified transaction data. The transaction data object has
the transaction data therein further modified by the inclusion of information
concerning operation of the devices. After the devices have operated, the
transaction data object with the further modified transaction data is passed
back to the interface server 122. The modified transaction data is then used
to
generate a message to the ATM host. The message to the host includes data
corresponding to the modified transaction data. Usually this message is a
conventional non-HTTP completion message indicating whether the
transaction was successfully carried out by the transaction function devices.
The format of the non-HTTP conventional transaction messages may
be readily changed in the described embodiment. This can be achieved
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through the use of plug-ins. The plug-ins are operative to put data into, and
to
extract data from, the transaction data object. The plug-ins achieve
conversion
between the transaction data and desired conventional non-HTTP messages.
The use of plug-ins enables more readily using the ATM of the described
embodiment in connection with varied types of conventional transaction
networks.
Transaction data in the transaction data object is also preferably
operative to have the computer operate the browser or multiple browsers, to
access selected documents. This may be done to indicate that the transaction
is authorized or denied, as well as to access specific documents responsive to
components of the message. For example, customers of banks other than the
one operating the ATM may be given certain promotions not presented to the
bank's existing customers. The transaction data indicative of why a
transaction is denied can be used to access documents which provide an
explanation, or can encourage the customer to take other action, such as to
take a cash advance on a credit card or to apply for a loan.
The system schematically shown in Figure 25 is an example of an
automated banking machine system that achieves the wide variety of interface
options available through the use of an HTML interface while preserving
compatibility with existing banking machine systems and the security
techniques associated therewith. Of course in other embodiments alternative
approaches and configurations may be used.
A further advantage incorporated into the system schematically
represented in Figure 25 is the ability to operate the software components of
the described embodiment of the present invention in existing automated
banking machines. As will be appreciated, the handling of HTML or other
types of documents in conventional computers requires inputs through a
QWERTY type keyboard as well as mouse clicks in locations corresponding
to icons or other features on documents to successfully navigate and use such
documents. Conventional automated banking machines generally do not
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
include a mouse or full keyboard. Rather, conventional automated banking
machines generally include an alphanumeric keypad similar to that used on
telephones, as well as function keys. Embodiments of the present invention
enable the operation of the system with terminals which have such interfaces
5 operate in a manner which attains benefits of the invention.
Figure 27 shows an example of a conventional automated banking
machine interface 162. Interface 162 includes an output device which includes
a screen 164. Screen 164 may be a CRT, LCD or other conventional display
screen. In the embodiment shown screen 164 is not a touch screen as in the
10 previously described embodiment. A plurality of function keys 166 are
disposed at locations adjacent to the screen 164. A keypad 168 is also
included in the interface 162. Keypad 168 includes alphanumeric keys as well
as certain other dedicated keys such as "cancel", "correct" and "ok". Other
keys on the keypad are generally blank but in some instances may be used.
15 In the operation of a conventional automated banking machine, screen
data which is generated from information stored in the terminal memory
produces defined transaction screens which are presented graphically on the
screen 164. The screens appear in a sequence in response to the transaction
function selected by the customer. Conventional screens also generally
20 include text or graphics representative of selections that can be made by a
customer. These text or graphic options generally include lines or other
indicia which extend to the edges of the screen adjacent to one of the
function
keys 166. A user is enabled to select the options by pressing the function key
which is pointed to by the selection. Likewise in the operation of the
25 automated banking machine a user is enabled to input the alphanumeric
characters which comprise the PIN number as well as numeric amount
information and other instructions by pressing the keys in the keypad 168.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention the software
operated in the automated banking machine operates to convert standard ATM
30 key inputs to operating system events such as a mouse click in a desired
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71
location or an input from a QWERTY type keyboard. The software
components which enable carrying out this function are shown in Figure 28-
30. These functions include a keypad applet 170. The keypad applet 170 in
the described embodiment is included among the applets in the terminal
directors 144. The keypad applet 170 supports a subset of the keyboard
common device interface (CDI) functionality.
, The keypad applet 170 coordinates with a keyboard command server
which operates in the transaction services application 146. The server in the
transaction services application communicates with the common device
interface for the keypad and function keys, schematically indicated 172. The
key CDI in the preferred embodiment is a JAVA program which is referred to
as a wrapper for the common device interface associated with the function
keys and the keypad.
The software further includes a keyboard mapper program
schematically indicated 174. The keyboard mapper in the exemplary
embodiment is in connection with a database 176 which stores a plurality of
map sets. In the exemplary embodiment the keyboard mapper is an extension
of the keyboard class of objects used for operating the keyboard. The
keyboard mapper operates to store sets of keymaps in the database 176. This
is accomplished by reading information in a configuration database for the
ATM to obtain the keymaps that are operated in the particular machine.
During operation, the keyboard mapper selects one of the keymaps as the
current set. This is done in response to the keypad applet and is based on
instructions in HTTP records which are selectively accessed. The keyboard
mapper may select keymaps responsive to instructions in documents processed
through the browser. The keyboard mapper is also operative to enable the
keypad and function keys appropriate for the particular mapset selected. The
keyboard mapper is further operative responsive to the selected mapset to
translate a keypad input signal or a function key input signal into a
respective
keyboard or mouse input signal which is then delivered to the keyboard input
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stream or the mouse input stream of the operating system of the computer in
which the software operates.
In the exemplary embodiment the mapsets are each comprised of hash
tables. Keymap objects are stored as values in the hash tables such that each
object includes the values and operations necessary to convert any appropriate
ATM key event to an operating system input event.
As can be appreciated in the case of function keys adjacent to the ATM
screen it may be desirable to provide a mouse input to the mouse input stream
that corresponds to a particular coordinate location for the mouse input. This
is provided by the keyboard mapper using the selected keymap set. The
various keymap sets enable the different function keys to provide different
types of inputs to the computer operating system responsive to the document
processed by the browser to produce the output displayed to the user. Further
the keyboard mapper causes the pressing of a selected key to produce an input
corresponding to a mouse click at a selected x,y coordinate position on the
screen. It should be understood that either keypad keys or function keys can
be used to produce mouse inputs. Likewise function key inputs may be
converted to keyboard inputs. In some embodiments however it will be
desirable to disable the mouse indicator on the screen such that the user does
not notice a usual mouse icon. Such disabling may include in some
embodiments reducing the size of the mouse icon such that it is so small that
it
cannot be readily seen by a user of the machine.
During portions of some transactions it may be unnecessary for the
user to press any keys. In such situations some preferred embodiments of the
invention operate to disable the keypad keys and/or function keys. Because
resources of the computer are used in polling such keys for inputs, the
cessation of such polling during appropriate times enables the computer
resources to be devoted to carrying out other functions. This will increase
the
speed at which other activities may be carried out. This may be accomplished
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
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in some embodiments by the keypad applet operating to remove the key
devices from a poll list.
Figures 28-30 include schematic depictions of examples of the
operation of the keyboard mapper and the keypad applet. Figure 29 shows an
example of an input to the keypad 168. In this example the keypad applet 170
generally in response to instructions in an HTTP record such as an HTML
document or other events, transmits and enables events to the transaction
services application 146. In response a mapset is selected from the database
176 corresponding to the particular map name. The keyboard command server
is further operative to enable the appropriate keys of the ATM.
In this example, in response the customer pressing the "OK" key on the
keypad the CDI generates an appropriate signal to the transaction services
application. As will be noted from Figure 27 a"OK" key is referred to by
convention as the "J" key of the ATM interface. The transaction services
application transmits the signal generated from the pressing of the "J" key by
the customer to the keyboard mapper 174. In response to receiving the signal,
the keyboard mapper operates to resolve the object in the mapset
corresponding to the map name which will convert the function key input
signal to a keyboard input signal which is recognized by the operating system.
By calling the selected object from the mapset, a keyboard input signal is
produced and delivered into the keyboard stream of the computer. This is
represented by keyboard stream 178. In the embodiment shown the keyboard
stream is an input to the Windows NT operating system. The keypad applet
170 operates to sense the input through its corresponding key listener. Applet
170 is also operative to receive the event and may operate to display an icon
or
other graphic corresponding to what the customer has input.
Figure 28 shows operation of the keyboard mapper in situations where
the transaction services application operates to prevent transmitting the data
input by the customer to the applet 170. This may be desirable for example, in
situations where the input by the customer is the customer's PIN or other data
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which is not to be displayed. In these circumstances the transaction services
application 146 operates to hold the data input by the customer and to send
only a signal representative of a holding character, in this case a"*" symbol
back to the browser. This is done selectively in response to the instructions
contained in documents accessed by the browser or in other HTTP records
accessed by the computer which indicates that the input by the customer
corresponds to their PIN or other data which is not to be sent to the browser.
In the example shown in Figure 28 only the holding character is passed
through the keyboard mapper to the browser. In situations where the HTTP
record accessed invokes methods in which numerical values are to be sent to
the browser and/or displayed on the screen (such as the amount of a
withdrawal transaction) the signal sent by the transaction services
application
to the browser is indicative of the numerical value associated with the key
pressed.
Figure 30 is a further example of the operation of the keyboard mapper
in this case the input corresponds to a function key 166. In this case the
input
is caused by pressing the function key "A" which is shown adjacent to the
upper right hand corner of the screen as shown in Figure 27. The signal
generated in response to pressing the function key is passed to the keyboard
mapper which in response to the data obtained from the data store 176 outputs
a mouse input corresponding to a mouse click. The mouse input includes data
representative of the x and y coordinates on the screen where the mouse click
is to be provided. This mouse input signal is passed to the mouse stream input
schematically represented 180.
As will be appreciated, to enable the automated banking machine
which processes documents to operate using a conventional ATM interface the
mouse input will generally include coordinate locations which correspond to a
location on the screen adjacent to the particular function key. This is
because
the icon, line, text or other indicia which the customer is selecting by
pressing
the key will preferably appear or extend on the screen adjacent to the key. In
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
this way the customer is aware through the visual presentation what key to
press to make a corresponding selection. A number of function keys adjacent
to the screen may be operative at any one time. The customer may make
selections by pressing a function key at one location and then a function key
at
5 another location disposed from the first location. This will result in
signals
being sent to the mouse stream corresponding to mouse clicks at coordinates
on the screen adjacent to the function buttons pressed by the customer. During
transactions various combinations of function and keypad keys may be
operative and mapped to various keyboard and mouse inputs as determined by
10 the selected mapsets. In addition developers may develop special mapsets
corresponding to the particular graphics in documents which are displayed.
In the foregoing manner keypad inputs to a conventional ATM or other
automated banking machine keypad can be translated into conventional
keyboard or mouse inputs which can be identified and processed in a
15 conventional keyboard input stream or mouse input stream to a computer.
Likewise function keys may be translated into mouse inputs at selected
locations and delivered into the mouse input stream for processing by the
computer or may be converted into keyboard inputs and delivered to the
keyboard input stream. A further advantage of the described terminal
20 configuration is that keys may be selectively disabled except when they are
needed. This may reduce instances of attempts to improperly access the
machine by pressing keys on the keyboard. Further as previously discussed
steps may also be taken to disable keys when they are not needed to increase
transaction processing speeds.
25 A further advantage of embodiments of the present invention is the
ability of the automated banking machine to provide printed documents based
on instructions in HTML or other types of documents. Such printed items may
include tickets, travelers checks, money orders, bank checks, scrip or other
types of documents. The ability of embodiments to access and process
30 documents enables the printing of graphics and other indicia which can
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produce printed documents having selected appearance features and selected
ornamental designs. This can reduce the need to utilize preprinted forms and
also enables the printing of a greater variety of printed formats. Further the
configuration of some embodiments of the machine enable printing only
selected portions of transaction information for record keeping purposes
within the machine while providing versions including enhanced graphics or
other attractive features to customers.
Figure 31 is a schematic representation of the operation of the system
in printing forms using a printer in an automated transaction machine. The
exemplary form of the invention uses the WIN32 printer services which
operate under Windows NT 4Ø In the exemplary transaction shown, the
director manager class 180 operating in the terminal theater portion 138
initiates a print receipt transaction by requesting a printer director 182 to
print
a receipt. The printer director in the exemplary embodiment is a collection of
instances of related JAVA beans which operate to carry out printing
activities,
and is one of the directors among the terminal directors 144. The printer
director includes a print class which is schematically shown separately which
is operative to invoke a print URL method. The printer class in the exemplary
embodiment includes access to the shared transaction data object which
includes the customer specific information concerning the transaction that
includes indicia representative of information to be printed. In the case of
an
automated banking machine this may include for example indicia
representative information which is read from a customer's card input to the
machine and read by a card reader. This would include for example the
customer's name and account number. The other transaction information may
include the types of transactions conducted such as a deposit, withdrawal or
inquiry as well as the amount involved in each respective transaction.
The transaction services application 146 receives the print request and
passes the URL string to the WIN printer object 184 by the print URL method.
The URL address in an exemplary embodiment is the address of an HTTP
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record such as an HTML document that will be used to format the document
to be printed, in this case a receipt. This HTML document contains the
embedded JAVA script that processes transaction data from the transaction
data object. The URL address of the document may be on a local machine or
may be retrieved from another server such as through a network schematically
indicated 186. Network 186 may be a local area network or a wide area
network depending on the configuration of the machine.
The WIN printer object 184 next navigates to the address of the
document to be accessed. This is done in one preferred embodiment using
Microsoft's C Web Browser2 ActiveX control. When the HTML document
has been loaded the ActiveX control automatically begins processing the
content of the accessed document. The transaction services application 146
invokes the print URL method of the WIN printer object 184. The WIN
printer object uses the ActiveX control to print the current HTML document.
This printing is processed by the Windows NT print spool and graphics
components.
The JAVA CDI receives an event from the print monitor component
192 that indicates the completion of print spooling. This indicates that a
file is
now available to be read and sent to the common device interface (CDI) 188 of
the receipt printer.
Next a printer object 190 invokes a read data function in the print
monitor 192 to determine the location and size of the print data file. The
print
object 190 sends the data or the path name of the data file to the printer CDI
188. The printer CDI 188 then passes the print data to the printer hardware.
This results in printing of the receipt.
Once the receipt is printed the applet from the printer director 182
issues a request to deliver the printed receipt. The delivery request is
passed
through the transaction services application 146 to the printer object 190.
The
printer object 190 invokes the delivery method on the printer CDI 188 to cause
the receipt to be delivered to the user of the machine. The operation of the
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software components enables selectively accessing document formats as well
as using instructions contained in the documents to include transaction data
within the printed documents. This enables producing documents of varied
types. In addition it enables providing printing different types of documents
for different customers. This may be desirable when providing marketing
information, coupons or similar indicia on transaction receipts. This approach
further simplifies providing printed formats in various languages by
developing HTML documents which provide printed forms in different
languages. As can be appreciated numerous types of form documents may be
established which include instructions which instantiate and/or process
certain
data in the transaction data object to produce printed forms. In addition the
methods of the present invention may be used for providing marketing to
customers by profile or types of customer categories, as well as on a segment
of one basis.
While the printing method previously described is discussed in
connection with delivering transaction receipts, similar methods may be
invoked for the printing of statements for customers as well as for printing a
transaction journal within the automated banking machine. Further by
accessing selected documents controlling the format of printing the
inforniation, journal records may be provided with consolidated information in
a manner which enables conserving jou.rnal paper within the machine by not
printing promotional or other types of information that is provided on
customer documents.
The printing method of the exemplary form of the present invention
also enables printing various types of optical indicia such as bar code or
other
types of machine readable indicia which can be used for printing coupons,
checks or similar articles. Such coding may facilitate tracking the use of
such
items by customers for purposes of evaluating the effectiveness of various
marketing efforts. In addition machine readable indicia may be used for
printing on items such as deposit envelopes and/or in transaction journals.
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Such printing may facilitate reading such items by machine to verify the
contents of deposits.
The printing capabilities achieved through the methods of the present
invention also enables the printing of selected graphical materials. This may
include for example materials which include imbedded digital signatures
which can be used to verify the genuineness of the items printed. This may be
particularly useful for example in situations where the transaction machine is
used to print scrip, travelers checks, betting slips or other items having
independent value. In addition printed documents in full color may be
produced by including a color printer in the transaction machine.
The principles associated with printing forms from the automated
banking machine are also applicable to the development of other electronic
and hard copy forms. As previously discussed, in embodiments of the
invention the transaction data may be delivered to the home bank as an HTML
document or other HTTP message. Such documents may include instructions
which when processed by a browser, operate to extract or manipulate the data
therein so it may be further processed and/or stored in a different format.
Such
processing may include for example, the conversion of the data in the
document to a non-HTTP format such as a Diebold 91X, NCR PAS or IBM
473X format.
In some circumstances customers at the automated banking machine
may be presented with promotional offers or offers to purchase goods or
services. These offers may come from vendor entities not associated with the
institution with which the customer has their account. Such offers to be
accepted may require the customer to provide information to the vendor. Such
information may commonly include data accumulated in the transaction record
or transaction data object. For example, the vendor of the goods or services
will often need the customer name and account number data for charging for
the goods or services. As previously discussed, the transaction data object
may also hold personal data about the customer that is stored on the
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
customer's card or other article and read by a reader in the machine. In
exemplary embodiments, the vendors of such goods or services may have
applications accessible on a server. These applications may include
documents which have instructions therein for instantiating and/or processing
5 the information in the transaction data object to provide the information
the
vendor needs to consummate the transaction. This may be accomplished by
navigating one of the visible or non-visible browsers in the banking machine
to the network address at which the vendor document(s) are accessible in
response to input of instructions by the customer that they wish to accept an
10 offer or conduct such a transaction.
In exemplary embodiments, a vendor form may be viewed on the
display and printed by the customer at the automated banking machine. If
there is a need for further information from the customer or for the customer
to
make selections, the vendor application comprised of HTML, other type mark
15 up language or other documents may elicit such information through the
customer interface of the banking machine. The vendor application may also
have the customer acknowledge limitations of disclaimers related to the goods
or services being offered. The printing capabilities of the exemplary
embodiment further enables providing a customer with a printed version of a
20 computer generated form or contract reflecting information concerning the
transaction and terms associated therewith. Further any special provisions
such as a printed notice that the customer has a right to rescind the
transaction
for a period of time and the steps the customer must take to rescind may be
provided in printed hard copy format.
25 In alternative embodiments the offers or transactions provided through
the automated banking machine by vendors of goods or services may utilize
the same or at least some of the documents comprising an application which is
used to conduct transactions electronically when the customer is not operating
an automated banking machine. For example, similar form type documents
30 may have data therein populated through a user's home computer when the
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transaction is conducted away from an automated banking machine. When the
transaction is conducted at a banking machine the information in the
transaction data object or other transaction record is used to provide the
necessary data.
This capability provides opportunities for vendors to develop
applications that can be used over the Internet for home PCs as well as for
customers who use automated banking machines. Such capabilities further
enable vendors and banking institutions to develop applications such as home
banking applications, applications for making purchases and bill payment
applications that can be utilized from both home PCs and automated banking
machines. Because automated banking machines have access to data which is
stored in a bank office, database personal data stored on a card or accessible
from another data store, the system of the invention may be configured so that
additional information may be included in the transaction data object without
the need for input by a customer at the banking machine. This enables
processing transactions at the banking machine more quickly than may be
possible on the customer's home PC. Further utilizing the banking machine
for conducting transactions enables the customer to conduct the transactions
utilizing the security associated with the banking machine system.
The use of automated banking machines to conduct transactions that
could be carried out through a home PC has an advantage in that it includes
the capability of providing the customer with hard copy receipt forms
documenting transactions conducted. The use of the banking machine may
also provide customers with greater confidence that transactions have been
recorded as the bank may also maintain information which documents the
transaction even through the transaction is between the customer and a third
party. Banking machines may also provide receipt forms that are deliberately
made more difficult to counterfeit or which have capabilities of being
verified
as genuine. The use of image recording systems in connection with banking
machines also may be used to verify that a transaction was conducted by an
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authorized person. Such features also enable the institution having the
customer's account to offer promotions such as premiums, extended
warranties or prizes for conducting transactions with the involvement of the
institution. Numerous advantages within the scope of the present invention
may also be achieved.
Terminal directors as discussed previously are software components
that are comprised of a collection of objects such as Java applets or Java
beans. Java beans are Java classes that adhere to the Java beans
specification.
These objects are operative to sequence ATM transactions. In the exemplary
embodiment there is typically one terminal director per transaction. For
example two common terminal directors are the withdrawal director and the
deposit director which are operative to control the functionality of an ATM
for
withdrawing and depositing respectfully., Other terminal directors are
responsible for other types of transactions such as a transferring value
between
accounts, and performing an inquiry of an available balance for an account.
The exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes methods
for creating terminal directors in a visual programming environment by linking
a plurality of visual icons that are representative of instances of related
Java
beans. Although the exemplary embodiment uses Java beans, the present
invention encompasses any type of object or class that is operative to group
related progranuning logic, events, properties, and methods. Other examples
include C++ classes, CORBA objects, Active X objects, and COMM objects.
Previous examples of these objects include the backstage applet 156 and the
keypad applet 170.
The present invention includes a plurality of these specialized applets,
classes, or objects which are designed to encapsulate specific functionality
for
automated transaction machines such as ATMs, and other types of self service
terminals. These objects are referred to hereafter as ATM objects and are
designed to be the basic building blocks for creating terminal directors. For
example some ATM objects are operative to control the various devices of an
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ATM, such as a card reader, a presenter, a dispenser, a printer, and a keypad.
Other ATM objects are operative to control the functionality of a transaction
such as authorization and customer profile management. Further, other ATM
objects are operative to manage transaction data and PIN processing.
In the exemplary embodiment, theater directors are created by visually
configuring instances of these ATM objects. Figure 36 schematically
represents a visual programming environment 220 that enables a programmer
to visually construct a terminal director 225. In the exemplary embodiment
the visual programming environment is achieved using IBM's Visual Age for
JavaTM. However, the present invention encompasses any visual
programming environment that is operative to allow a user to visually
associate groupings of individual ATM objects, to instantiate ATM objects, to
specify characteristics of the objects, and.to make connections between the
obj ects.
The visual programming environment 220 includes a palette 222
including icons which are visual representations of these ATM objects. A
programmer is enabled to usually create a terminal director 225 by selecting
individual ATM objects as needed and place them in a visual work space 224.
Placing ATM objects in the work space 224 is operative to instantiate the
object. Instantiated ATM objects are represented in the work space by labeled
icons such as the ATM objects 230 and 232. A developer is also enabled to
link ATM objects together to create associations or pathways which the
programming logic of the terminal director 225 will follow. These pathways
are represented by a solid line 238 between the ATM objects.
Once an ATM object has been placed on the work space, it can be
customized to specify how it will interact with other ATM objects. This is
accomplished by modifying one or more properties of the ATM object and by
creating visually indicated pathways or connections between ATM objects.
For example the ATM object 232 is representative of a specific type of
ATM object called a backstage control that uses the services of the director
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manager to control such properties as the URL of the browser. In this
described terminal director 225, ATM object 232 has been labeled "service
menu" 231 because it has been configured to have the browser open an HTML
page for servicing the ATM.
ATM objects typically include one or more events. Such ATM object
events are signals or messages that indicate something has happened. For
example when a banking card is inserted into a card reader device, a card
reader event will be triggered in an ATM object designed to monitor and
control a card reader.
ATM objects also include methods. ATM object methods are
operations or functions that an ATM object can perform. For example an
ATM object for a card reader will include an eject method which is operative
to have a card reader device eject a banking card.
Figure 39 is a chart of exemplary types of ATM objects 256 and their
associated icons 258. These ATM objects include the authorize object 260, a
backstage control object 262, a card reader object 264, a customer profile
object 266, a depositor object 268, a dispenser object 270, a keypad object
272, a logic object 274, an OCS object 276, a presenter object 278, a PIN
entry
object 280, a printer object 282, a sync object 284, and a transaction data
object 286.
The exemplary authorization object 260 includes functionality for
managing communication with an authorization agent such as a host banking
system. In the exemplary embodiment such communication includes requests
to authorize, commit, and reverse a transaction. The authorization object
interacts with an authorization plug-in to send and receive status messages
from the authorization host.
The exemplary backstage control object 262 includes functionality for
using the services of the director manager to control the URL property of the
browser, to load directors, and to receive events from the browser. The
backstage control object comprises the functionality of the backstage applet
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
156 previously discussed. Every terminal director requires at least one
backstage control object 262 which provides a communication link between
the director manager and the terminal director. For example the backstage
control object's navigate method is used to change the HTML page being
5 displayed. In addition theater events that are associated with inputs such
as
button presses in an HTML page are triggered from the backstage control
object 262.
The exemplary card reader object 264 is one of a number of ATM
objects designed to control an ATM device. In this case the card reader object
10 264 includes functionality for controlling a card reader device.
The exemplary customer profile object 266 includes functionality for
capturing and retrieving information about a customer. The profile object may
include an indication if the user of the machine is a customer who is to
conduct a banking transaction, or a servicer of the machine who is authorized
15 to conduct one or several types of service activities. The profile object
may
also include the functionality of the profile applet discussed previously. The
customer profile object 266 preferably interacts with one or more customer
profile plug-ins to retrieve and update customer profile information stored in
a
plurality of different locations such as a local data store, an external data
store,
20 an application server, or any other location that is operative to store
information related to the user of the ATM.
The exemplary depositor object 268, dispenser object 270, and keypad
object 272 include functionality for controlling a depositor device, a
dispenser
device, and a keypad device respectively. The keypad object 272 includes the
25 functionality of the keypad applet 170 discussed previously.
The exemplary logic object 274 is a special ATM object that does not
monitor or control external ATM devices, but rather controls the flow of logic
between ATM objects. The logic object 274 includes functionality for
determining the truth value of a comparison between two operands and calls
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different methods of one or more ATM objects depending on the result of the
comparison.
The exemplary OCS object 276 includes functionality for managing
the processing of host commands and host command responses. The OCS
object 276 interacts with an OCS server and a command/status plug-in to
communicate with a host.
The exemplary presenter object 278 includes functionality for
controlling a presenter device such as a device for presenting dispensed
sheets.
The exemplary PIN entry object 280 interacts with a PIN entry event server to
manage the PIN entry mode. The exemplary printer object 282, includes
functionality for controlling a printer device.
The exemplary sync object 284 includes functionality for
synchronizing multiple processing paths.. The sync object 284 also provides a
timer for one or more processing paths. For example in a terminal director
designed to withdrawal cash a sync object can be used to manage the
synchronous dispensing of the cash and preparation of the receipt.
The exemplary transaction data object 286 as discussed previously
includes functionality for providing a repository of transaction data that can
be
shared among terminal directors, the browser, and the authorization agent.
Examples of data managed by the transaction data object 286 include the
withdrawal amount, account number, and account type. When the request
method of the authorization object 260 is called, a copy of the transaction
data
from the transaction data object 286 may be passed to an authorization host to
authorize the transaction.
These described ATM objects are used in an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention. However, the present invention also embodies other
types of ATM objects that encapsulate functionality of an ATM terminal.
Other types of ATM objects may control devices such as a fingerprint reader,
iris scanner, smart card reader, sound system, passbook printer, check
scanner,
statement printer, ticket printer, coupon printer, phone card encoder or any
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other type of device that can be operatively connected to an ATM. In addition
other ATM objects are operative to interact with databases, servers, and other
types of computing systems for retrieving and sending data to and from the
ATM terminal.
= Figure 37 is representative of a portion of the visual workspace 224
that includes the exemplary pathway or association 238. The exemplary
association 238 corresponds to an event to method connection between the
two ATM objects 230 and 232. The exemplary visually programming
environment uses event to method connections between ATM objects to
control the functionality and flow of an ATM transaction. The flow of a
transaction progresses from one ATM object to another by associating an
event of one ATM object with a method of another ATM object. The visual
programming environment in the exemplary embodiment includes visual clues
for indicating the direction of flow of the program. For example, square 248
on one end of the connection 238 indicates the source ATM object. An
arrowhead 250 on the opposite end of the connection 238 indicates the target
ATM object. When an event in the source ATM object 230 is triggered the
flow of the program will transfer to a method of the target ATM object 232.
Of course in other embodiments other types of visual indications of
association between objects may be used.
For this exemplary terminal director 225, ATM object 230 is a logic
object 274 labeled "isService" that has been configured to trigger either a
true
event or a false event if the user does or does not have permission to service
the ATM. ATM object 232 is a backstage control object 262 that as discussed
previously is labeled "Service Menu" and includes a navigate method that is
operative to open a service menu HTML page in the browser.
Figure 38 is representative of a window 246 in the visual programming
environment for creating, editing, and modifying an event to method
connection. Here the window 246 displays the parameters for the event to
method connection 238 which specify that when the source event 243 is
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triggered in the source object 242, the target method 245 will be called in
the
target object 244.
As is shown in Figure 36, not all groupings of ATM objects are
interconnected. For example ATM object groups 252 and 254 are not
connected. This reflects the characteristic of terminal directors to be event
driven. Each of these groupings is representative of a specific terminal
director function or subroutine that is initiated by the triggering of an ATM
object event or a call to an ATM object method.
ATM object methods often require arguments. In the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, these arguments can be supplied by
parameters of the ATM object or other ATM objects by visually creating
parameter connections or associations.
Figure 37 includes an exemplary yisual parameter connection 236.
The visual parameter connection is operative to supply a value for an argument
of a method. The visual parameter connection 236 includes a solid circle at
one end which serves as a visual clue that the customer type of object 226
supplies the argument. The opposite end of the visual parameter connection
236 connects with the event to method connection 240. The arrowhead 241
associated with the event to method connection is the visual clue that
indicates
that the isService logic object 230 includes a method that is the target of
both
the event to method connection and the parameter connection.
For this exemplary terminal director, ATM object 228 is a PIN entry
object 280 that includes a PIN entry event. The event to method connection
240 has been configured so that when the PIN entry event is triggered a
compare method of the isService logic object 230 is called. The parameter
connection 236 indicates that the compare method is called with an argument
supplied by the customer type customer profile object 226. The compare
method of the isService logic object 230 has been configured so that if the
customer type data value of the customer profile object 226 equals a value
representative of a servicer type customer, a true event will be triggered.
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Correspondingly if the customer type data value is not representative of a
servicer, a false event will be triggered. Triggering of the true event as
specified by the event to method connection 238 results in the navigate
method of the service menu backstage control object 231 being called.
Triggering of the false event as specified in the event to method connection
250 results in the navigate method of a main menu backstage control object
234 being called.
Figure 54 schematically represents the programming architecture of a
terminal director that comprises ATM objects. As discussed previously a
terminal director 290 is an applet that comprises a plurality of ATM objects
292 for sequencing ATM transactions. Each ATM device 298, such as a card
reader or printer, has a corresponding ATM object 292 that is operative to
monitor and control the operation of each ATM device 298.
The director manager 291 is operative to load and unload terminal
directors 290 and helps to provide the programming path from the HTML
pages 246 to terminal directors 290.
For communicating with external hosts 304 the interface browser
plug-ins provide an interface between ATM objects 292 in the terminal
director 290 and an external host 304. In the exemplary embodiment, these
plug-ins support Diebold 91X format messages, including configuration,
transaction, status, and command type messages.
Examples of these plug-ins include the OCS (Command Status) plug-
in 302 and the authorization plug-in 300. As discussed previously the OCS
ATM object 276 interacts with the OCS plug-in to provide "in service" and
"out of service" events, which originate from a host 304. The OCS plug-in
302 also provides methods for sending command status and user events to the
host 304.
The authorization plug-in 300 is also operative to communicate with a
host 304 that is operative as an authorization agent. The authorization object
300 interacts with the authorization plug-in 260 to manage transaction
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messages including authorization, commit, and reverse requests with the
authorization agent host 304. '
As discussed previously the customer profile plug-in 306 is operative
to retrieve user profile information from a local or remote database 308. This
5 information can be used to personalize the ATM terminal for each consumer
294 that uses the ATM terminal. The customer profile object 266 interacts
with the customer profile plug-in 306 to retrieve and update customer
information in the database 308.
Once a terminal director is created in the work space 224, the visual
10 programming environment is operative to save the terminal director as an
applet, Java class or other object. Such applets are operatively stored as
programming instructions responsive to the ATM objects and associations
visually created in the work space 224. For example the terminal director
may be stored as one or more source files. Also the terminal director may be
15 compiled and stored in a form that is operative for use with the automated
transaction machine of the present invention such as applets, EJBs, COMM
objects, CORBA objects, DLLs, or any other type of software container. The
visually created terminal director may then be integrated with other terminal
directors to control the functionality of an ATM terminal of the present
20 invention. In the exemplary embodiment the terminal directors may reside in
an accessible memory such as a hard disk or RAM of either a local computer
or a remotely networked computer. In the exemplary embodiment the terminal
directors may be retrieved by the ATM from a locally or remote file system.
Also terminal directors may be retrieved from a local or remote database or
25 web server. In other exemplary embodiments the terminal directors may be
integrated into an application server.
During a typical customer session, the ATM terminal will use at least
three directors: a control director, a transaction director, and the terminate
director. The control director typically is responsible for card entry, PIN
entry,
30 and transaction selection. The transaction directors are responsible for
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authorization and device control in the course of the selected transaction.
The
terminate director is typically responsible for closing the transaction
including
the return of the card to the customer.
The visual programming environment used in the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention enables a user to create new terminal
directors or to customize existing terminal directors to suit the requirements
of
a particular banking institution and the needs of customers using the ATM
terminal. The visual programming environment provides a flexible and
intuitive programming environment that allows a developer to visually connect
a plurality of specialized ATM objects together to create an interactive ATM
application.
Figures 40-53 schematically represent the properties, events, and
methods associated with the ATM objects of the exemplary embodiment.
Many of these ATM objects produce synchronous events. When methods or
functions of the ATM objects are called to perform an action, the ATM object
waits for the action to complete, then fires an event that indicates the
result of
the operation. In the exemplary embodiment there are four operation events
that are common to most ATM objects. As shown in Figure 41 with respect to
the authorization object 260, these operation events 348 comprise an operation
successful event 344, an operation failed event 342, an operation not
available
event 344, and an operation not supported event 346. The operation not
available event 244 indicates that a device is temporarily unavailable because
for example, it has been put in maintenance mode. The operation not
supported event 346 indicates that a device is not supported on the ATM.
The exemplary authorization object 260 also includes a number of
specialized events and methods. Examples of authorization object methods
include an authorize method 320, a commit method 322, and a reverse method
324. When these methods are invoked the authorization object 360 is
operative to interact with the authorization plug-in to communicate messages
with an authorization host to either authorize, commit, or reverse a
transaction.
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The authorization plug-in converts the authorization methods into messages
appropriate for the chosen host protocol, such as 91x messages. For example,
terminal directors that are operative to perform a withdrawal transaction will
typically include an authorization object 260. Before cash is delivered to a
consumer, an authorization request is sent to an authorization host by
invoking
the authorize object's authorize method 320.
The exemplary authorization object also includes a plurality of events
such as a hot card event 326, an invalid account event 328, an invalid amount
event 330, an invalid PIN event 332, and a surcharge event 334. These events
are triggered responsive to receipt of a status code from the authorization
host.
This exemplary embodiment of the authorization object 260 also
includes the ability to extend the base set of events through a user status
event
336. The authorization plug-in can be cnnfigured to fire the user status event
when a status message from an authorization host includes a unique status
code. This code is placed into a user status field of the transaction object.
When the user status event fires, the authorization object of a terminal
director
can be configured to call a method of a logic object which is operative to
compare the value in the user status field to a known set of possible user
codes.
Figure 41 is representative of the method and events for the backstage
control object 262 of the exemplary embodiment. As discussed previously the
backstage control object 262 interacts with the director manager 291 to set
the
URL in the browser, to load a new terminal director, and to set a new
document base for the browser. In the exemplary embodiment the backstage
control object 262 includes methods such as the navigate method 350, the
navigate director method 352, and the clear document base method 354.
The navigate method 350 is operative to set a new URL in the browser.
The URL is passed as an argument to the navigate method. The URL can be
an absolute address that includes the complete URL specification starting with
"http:\\" or the URL can be a relative address that begins with a"\" and is
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relative to the fixed or current HTML document page. The navigate director
method 352 is operative to load a new terminal director in addition to setting
a
new URL.
Both the navigate method 350 and navigate director method 352
include a timeout argument that specifies the number of seconds before a
timeout is triggered and a timeout page is shown to the user. The timer is a
means to prevent the ATM terminal from hanging indefinitely on a page
should the customer stop making selections. The navigate timer argument can
be set to zero for those cases when an event or timer for another ATM object
is guaranteed to be triggered independent of the user.
The backstage control object 262 includes events such as an
authorization request event 356, a cancel PIN request event 358, a print
request event 360, a no clicked event 362, a session complete event 364, a
surcharge accepted event 366, a surcharge rejected event 368, a transaction
completed event 370, user events 372, 374, 376, and a yes clicked event 378.
These events are triggered by the director manager responsive to the
consumer's use of the current HTML page. In the browser, for example, a
button on an HTML page can be configured to trigger one of these backstage
control events responsive to the button being clicked.
The backstage control object 262 also includes a number of events that
are only triggered responsive to the director manager itself. These events
include a director loaded event 380, a navigate director failed event 382, a
navigate failed event 284, and a screen timeout event 386. The director loaded
event 380 is triggered when a terminal director is loaded. The navigate
director failed event 382 is triggered when the HTML or a script in the
browser invoked the director manager to navigate to a new URL and to change
terminal directors and one of those actions failed. Similarly, the navigate
failed event 384 is fired when the HTML or a script invoked the director
manager to navigate to a new URL and the navigation failed. The screen
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timeout event 386 is triggered after the specified number of seconds has
elapsed without an action from the user.
Figure 42 schematically represents the methods and events for the
exemplary embodiment of the card reader object 264. The card reader object
enables a developer to create transaction directors that use and control the
card
reader device of an ATM. The card reader object 264 includes methods such
as an enable method 390, a disable method 392, a deliver method 394, and a
retain method 396. The enable and disable methods 390 and 392 enable and
disable the card reader device respectively. The deliver method 394 is
operative to eject the card for delivery back to the customer. The retain
method 396 is operative to internally retain the card and is typically used in
situations where the card is to be retained, such as when the card is expired,
indicated as stolen or when the customer, leaves the ATM without taking the
card.
The card reader object 264 includes the following asynchronous
events: card entered event 398, card read event 400, card retained event 402,
card taken event 404, and card tease event 406. Each of these events are
triggered responsive to the action described in the name of the event. For
example when the card is read, the card read event 400 will be fired. The card
reader object 264 also includes the same set of synchronous operation events
408 as the operation events 348 described for the authorization object 260.
when a card is enabled data is read from the card and placed into a card
reader
server where the data can be transmitted to the host or used in customer
profiling.
Figure 43 schematically represents an exemplary embodiment of the
customer profile object 266. The customer profile object 266 reads and writes
information unique to a particular customer. The customer profile object 266
includes a plurality of properties such as a customer type 419, a fast cash
actual account 420, a fast cash actual amount 421, a fast cash preference
account 422, a fast cash preference amount 423, a fast cash selected 424, a
CA 02377594 2001-12-17
language preference 425, a last withdrawal account 426, a last withdrawal
amount 427, and a persistent property 428.
These properties can be used as arguments for other ATM object
methods. In addition the read and write methods can be called by HTML
5 pages to get or set these properties. The customer type property 419
differentiates between different classes of customers such as a servicer or
consumer. The fast cash actual account 420 and the fast cash actual amount
421 identify the banking account withdrawal amount that was shown to the
customer in HTML for the fast cash transaction. The fast cash preference
10 account 422 and the fast cash preference amount 423 identify the banking
account withdrawal amount that was selected by the customer from a
preferences setup page to use for fast cash transactions. The fast cash
selected
property 424 specifics whether a withdrawal transaction is fast cash or not. A
typical withdrawal director can use this property to determine if it needs to
set
15 up fast cash selection values. The language preference property 425
identifies
the customer's preferred language. The last withdrawal account property 426
and the last withdrawal amount property 427 identifies the last account and
amount that was used by the customer in a withdrawal transaction. The
persistent property 428 identifies an instance of the customer profile bean as
20 persistent. Any value set into a persistent object results in the value
being
written to the database or other data repository. Values set into a non-
persistent instance of a customer object are lost at the end of a customer
session.
A terminal director can be operatively programmed to display an
25 HTML page in the browser that includes information and options to perform
transaction responsive to the customer profile properties. As discussed
previously options for maintaining the ATM can be presented to a user of type
"servicer", whereas a user of type "consumer" would only be presented with
options for performing transaction with the ATM. Also different levels of
30 transaction functions may be correlated to the customer type. For example
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consumers who have a banking account with the financial institution that owns
the ATM could be assigned a customer type that grants the consumer
permission to advanced transactions such as bill paying and check printing.
However, customers of other banks may be assigned a customer type that only
allows them access to simple transactions such as withdrawing cash.
The customer profile object may also be used to update customer
profile information in the data store responsive to user interaction with the
ATM. Such user interaction may result in a modification to the preferred
language of the user, the fast cash actual properties, the fast cash
preference
properties, the fast cash selected property and the last withdrawal
properties.
For example by using the customer profile object to save the last withdrawal
properties each time a dispense of cash is made, the terminal director is
operative to present a HTML document to the user with an option for
withdrawing the same amount of money the next time the user accesses the
ATM.
Customer profile values are retrieved and updated from the data store
responsive to user or customer identification inforrnation such as an account
number or other unique value associated with the user. Such an account
number is typically read from a card by a card reader device. However, in
alternative embodiments, the ATM may enable the user to input the
identifying value with an input device, such as a keypad, a biometric device,
or
any other device that is operative to receive information that identifies the
user
of the ATM.
In addition the customer profile object may be used to retrieve and save
other types of information in the data store. Such information may include
marketing information associated with the consumer which can be used by a
terminal director to display targeted advertisements with the ATM through a
browser for example. Also the customer profile values may be used by a
terminal director to generate customized transaction options, or other
selectable options for interacting with the ATM. Such information may be
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obtained from various sources as previously discussed. Some of such
information may also be provided by the user. This may be done through an in
person or automated data acquiring apparatus. Alternatively such information
may be provided by the user through an online connection from a remote
terminal such as a personal computer. Examples of such data acquisition
approaches are described in U.S. Patent No. 6,023,288.
The customer profile object 266 includes the following methods:.the
read or getter methods 410, the write or setter methods 412, the do
persistence
method 414, the reset customer session method 416, and the operation events
418. The read methods 410 and write methods 412 are operative to retrieve
and update the customer profile information. The do persistence method 414
is operative to force the customer profile server to flush all the persistent
profile properties accumulated during the consumer session to the data
repositories. The ATM terminal uses the do persistence method 414 to
accumulate all the writes efficiently so as not to slow down a customer
transaction. A typical ten-ninal director will have the card taken event
connected to the do persistence method, so that the updating of the data
repositories occurs immediately following a customer session.
The reset customer session method 416 resets all profile properties to
the uninitialized (null) state. This method is typically invoked between
customer sessions in order to reset values accumulated for the previous
customer. For example the card entered event can be connected to the reset
customer session method 416 so that the customer profile data will be set to
null for each new session.
Figure 55 schematically represents the architecture for using the
customer profile object 266 to incorporating customer specific information
with an ATM terminal. HTML pages 614 may include scripts which are
instructions operative to get and set customer specific information through
the
customer profile object 266. The customer profile object 266 is isolated by
the
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customer profile server 600 and so does not have programming requirements
to identify the data repository for the profile data. This architecture
simplifies
the task of personalizing the ATM terminal for each consumer. An institution
can integrate its database logic into the ATM terminal by implementing a
simple customer profile server.
The customer profile properties are read from a data repository such as
a local database 608, remote database 610, magnetic or smart cards 612, or any
other type of data store. One or more registered plug-in classes 602, 604 and
606 are configured to manage the reading and writing of profile data to the
specific data store. In the exemplary embodiment there are two types of
profile plug-in classes. The first is a FITProfile plug-in which manages
customer type and other properties used internally by the ATM terminal. The
second is a user preferences plug-in which manages user preferences such as
those shown in Figure 43 for language and fast cash transactions. These
preferences are typically read and written to a local database. In alternative
embodiments of the customer profile architecture, other plug-ins can be
implemented for connecting to any type of data store that contains useful
information correlated to a customer.
A developer of terminal directors can include an instance of a customer
profile
object 266 that is operative to interact with other data stores through these
new
plug-ins.
An exemplary embodiment of the depositor object 268 is schematically
shown in Figure 44. The depositor object 268 allows a developer of a terminal
director to use and control the depositor device of an ATM. The depositor
object includes an enable method 430, a disable method 432, and an unlock
envelope door method 436. These methods are operative to enable and disable
the depositor and unlock the door of an envelope holder respectfully. The
depositor object 268 also includes a set print data method 434 which specifies
the transaction information that is to be printed on a deposited envelope.
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In addition to the synchronous operation events 444, the depositor
object 268 includes the following asynchronous events: a deposit complete
event 438, a media inserted event 440, and an unlock envelope door complete
event 442. Each of these events is triggered responsive to the action that is
described by the name of the event.
Figure 45 schematically represents an exemplary embodiment of the
dispenser object 270. The dispenser object 270 provides an interface to the
dispenser device and includes a dispense method 450 and a retain method 452.
The dispense method takes one or more of the following arguments: amount,
family, and type. The amount argument is normally the transaction amount
that has been validated for dispensing by the authorization agent. This value
is
obtained from the transaction data object 286. The family and type arguments
are descriptions of the kind of media that is to be dispensed. The retain
method is operative to retrieve media such as bills that have been picked and
moved to a presenter or other escrow device. In addition the dispenser object
includes the operation events 454.
An exemplary embodiment of the keypad object 272 is shown in
Figure 46. The keypad object includes an enable map method 460 which
accepts an argument for specifying which key or keys are enabled and for
mapping key inputs to mouse click type inputs. The disable method 462
selectively disables keys. The keypad object 272 also includes the operation
events 464.
Figure 47 schematically represents the exemplary logic object 274.
The logic object is operative to perform logical comparisons of the data
items.
Terminal directors use the comparison results to alter transaction flow. The
logic object is typically used to compare a known value or a range of values
with a current value contained somewhere in the transaction data object 286 or
the customer profile object 266. The logic object 274 includes a logic
compare method which accepts two arguments._that are the object of the
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compare. Depending on the result of the compare, the logic object 274
triggers either a true event 472 or a false event 474.
Figure 48 schematically represents the exemplary OCS object 276.
This object interacts through the OCS server to the command/status plug-in
and ultimately the host. The OCS object 276 includes the following methods:
a send user event method 480, a send command status method 482, a send in
service method 484, and a send out of service method 486. The send user
event method 480 is operative to send an event to the command/status plug-in.
The command/status plug-in can then use this information in combination
with any subsequent reverse or commit to build the appropriate message for
the authorization host. The send user event method 480 is typically used when
the customer cancels a transaction or fails to take dispensed cash. This
method can then be used to inform the host that the transaction was canceled,
cash was retained, or there was a timeout.
The send in service method 484 and the send out of service method
486 are operative to enable the host to place the terminal in or out of
service.
In addition the OCS object 276 includes the following events: go in service
event 488, go out of service event 490, handle OCS offline event 492, and
handle OCS online event 494.
The command/status plug-in triggers the go in service event 488 and
the go out of service event 490 upon receiving go in service and go out of
service commands from the host. Terminal directors are normally configured
to respond to these events by enabling or disabling devices such as the card
reader or keypad. The command/status plug-in triggers the handle OCS online
event 494 and the handle OCS offline event 492 when communication is
started and stopped with the host.
An exemplary embodiment of the PIN entry object 280 is shown in
Figure 49. The PIN entry object 280 is operative to set the state of the PIN
mode property in the PIN entry event server. The start PIN entry method 500
is operative to turn on the in PIN mode state. Responsive to the in PIN mode
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being turned on, the PIN server determines the correct number of PIN retries
that the customer is permitted, and then enters a secure mode for precessing
keypad input.
When the customer enters an acceptable PIN or when the customer
presses the cancel button, the PIN entry event server sets the in PIN mode
property to false. The cancel PIN entry method 501 is also operative to turn
off the in PIN mode property and is typically called by a terminal director
when a screen timeout event occurs.
The PIN entry object 280 includes events such as a PIN entered event
502, a PIN entry canceled event 504, a PIN entry denied event 506, and
operation events 508. The PIN entered event 502 is triggered when the PIN
entry event server determines that a PIN is either valid (local verification)
or
the PIN can be validated later by an authorization host. The PIN entry
canceled event 504 is triggered responsive to a customer pressing the cancel
button of the ATM terminal. The PIN entry denied event 506 is fired when
local PIN verification is used and the customer exceeds the maximum number
of PIN entry attempts.
An exemplary embodiment of the presenter object 278 is shown in
Figure 50. The presenter object 278 provides an interface to the presenter
device and includes a deliver method 510, a pre-deliver method 512, and a
retain method 514. As the names of the methods suggest, the deliver method
510 delivers media to the customer, the retain method 514 retains media that
has not been picked up by the customer, and the pre-deliver method 512
performs pre-delivery by moving media to just inside the gate of the presenter
so that the media is ready to be made accessible to a customer.
The presenter object 278 includes an asynchronous media taken event
516 and the synchronous operation events 518. The media taken event is fired
when the customer takes the media from the presenter.
Figure 51 schematically represents the methods and events of the
exemplary printer object 282. The printer object 282 provides an interface to
a
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receipt printer and includes the following methods: an append buffer method
520, a deliver method 522, a print method 424, a print buffer method 526, a
print file method 528, a print URL method 530, and a retain method 532.
These print methods provide a number of ways to print information on a
receipt. For example the append buffer method 528 is operative to append
characters to the printer device buffer. The print buffer 526 method is then
called to have the printer device print the contents of the buffer. The print
method 524, the print file method 528, and the print URL method 530 are
operative to print the contents of a specified string, file, or HTML page
respectfully.
In addition to the operation events 518, the exemplary print object 282
includes an asynchronous form taken event 534. This event is triggered when
a customer takes the printed form from the printer device.
An exemplary embodiment of the sync object 284 is shown in Figure
52. The sync object provides synchronization between tasks. For example,
the developer of a terminal director may want to dispense cash and print a
receipt at the same time. However, the developer may want to wait for both
tasks to complete before continuing. This is accomplished by connecting the
operation events of the dispenser object 270 and the printer object 282 to the
methods in the sync object. In this case the operation events of the dispenser
object 270 and the printer object 282 are connected to syncO method 542 and
syncl method 544, respectively. The sync object 284 is operative to fire one
or more of fifteen exit events depending on when and how the sync methods
are called. Both the syncO method 542 and the syncl method 544 accept
arguments representative of an event that is successful, that failed, that is
not
available, or that is not supported.
The sync object 284 also includes two sync timers that are started by a
start time method 540. These sync timers will time out in the number of
seconds specified in the syncO timeout property 550 and the syncl timeout
property 552. If a sync timer timeouts, the sync timer is operative to trigger
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the corresponding sync method with an argument that the event failed. If a
sync method is called prior to the corresponding sync timer timing out, the
sync timer is canceled.
The exemplary sync object 284 includes a how to wait property which
specifies the combination of sync methods that the sync object waits to occur.
Examples include having the sync object 284 wait for the sycnO method call,
wait for the sync 1 method call, wait for both the syncO and the sync 1 method
calls, and wait for either the syncO or the syncl method calls.
In the exemplary embodiment there are 16 sync result properties 548
which control how the calls to the sync methods 542 and 544 are logically
connected to produce exit events.
Each of the 16 sync properties corresponds to one of the 16 exit events 546.
The developer can connect these exit events to methods of various other ATM
objects depending on the desired flow of transaction logic. The exit events
546 are triggered responsive to the corresponding sync result properties 548.
For example the developer can set a sync resu1t01 property to a value that is
representative of an occurrence of a successful argument being used in calls
to
both the syncO and sync 1 methods. If both the syncO and syncl methods are
called with successful arguments then the sync object will trigger an exitl
event. If one or both of the syncO and syncl methods are called with a failure
argument then the exitl event will not be called.
In the exemplary embodiment, the result properties can be set to a
plurality of different values representative of syncl and sycn0 being called
with different combinations of arguments.
In this way a plurality of exit events can be configured to fire for different
combinations of the success or failure of calls to the syncO and syncl
methods.
Figure 53 schematically represents an exemplary embodiment of the
transaction data object 286. The transaction object 286 provides a container
for transaction specific data such as customer specific account information.
Other ATM objects can access or set values in the transaction data object 286
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by connection to or from the transaction data object's property values. The
transaction data object 286 is typically used by the authorization object 260.
For example an instance of the transaction data object 286 is supplied as an
argument for the authorization method 320 of the authorization object 260.
The exemplary transaction data object 286 includes two account
objects to support transactions that require more than one account, such as a
transfer transaction. One of these account objects is operative to store
source
account information. The second of these account objects is operative to store
target account information. In the exemplary embodiment these account
objects are called the from account object 562 and the to account object 564
respectively. Each of these account objects stores information about the
account, such as the account number, the financial institutional ID and
address, the card holder's name and address, the available balance, the type
of
account, the date of last update and any other information that is useful for
identifying an account.
In an exemplary embodiment which is operative to communicate with
a host computer through 91X format messages, the 91x interface uses the
transaction data object 286 in processing authorization requests. The 91x
interface gets properties when building a request to the host and sets
properties
when processing the host's response. In the exemplary embodiment the
transaction data object also includes general transaction properties 560 that
are
accessed by the 91x interface. Examples of these properties include the
human language of the account holder, the account type, the current
transaction type, status message associated with errors, the status and user
codes of the transaction, the status severity, the available balance amount,
the
bank ID, and whether there is a surcharge.
The objects described herein and the methods and events associated
therewith are exemplary. Other embodiments of the invention may include
other or different objects in achieving the desirable properties of the
invention.
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Many ATMs include transaction function devices with the ability to
perform similar functions. For example, an ATM may include both a
statement printer and a receipt printer. The statement printer is typically
used
to print an itemized listing of financial transactions for a period of time.
The
receipt printer is typically used to print a record of the most current
transactions. Both devices are operative to generate and dispense printed
material to a consumer. When one of the devices becomes inoperative, the
ATM may disable one or more transaction operations that correspond to the
device. For example, if the staternent printer runs out of paper, an ATM can
detect the problem and deactivate the operation of printing statements for
consumers. If the receipt printer becomes jammed, the ATM may deactivate
the entire ATM until the receipt printer can be repaired. Unfortunately in
either of these cases, consumers will be'aggravated by these problems, and the
owner of the ATM may lose revenue associated with transaction fees.
An alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention is
operative to reduce the occurrences of ATMs being taken out of service due to
inoperative devices, by taking advantage of any overlapping functionality
between similar transaction function devices in the ATM. For example, if the
receipt printer becomes jammed or runs out of paper, the exemplary
embodiment of the ATM is operatively programmed to use the statement
printer to generate and dispense both statements and receipts for the
consumer.
Thus the receipt printer may be used as a fallback device for the statement
printer and the statement printer may be used as a fallback device for the
receipt printer. Although the statement printer and the receipt printer may
use
different sizes of paper, the exemplary ATM is operatively programmed to use
different formats for printing information depending on the characteristics of
the printer.
Other devices with overlapping functionality may be used in the same
way. For example an ATM may include both a cash dispenser and a coin
dispenser. If the cash dispenser becomes inoperative after running out of ten
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dollar bills, the coin dispenser may be used to dispense dollar coins until
the
ten dollar bills are replenished.
Figure 56 shows a schematic diagram of a programming architecture
that is operative to achieve this exemplary fallback functionality. Here the
ATM 700 includes a terminal director 710 comprised of a plurality of ATM
objects 712 such as those discussed previously. In the exemplary embodiment
the ATM objects 712 correspond to Java beans; however, in alternative
exemplary embodiments other types of objects and classes may be used that
are appropriate for the hardware and application software platform of the
ATM including Active X and COMM objects.
In addition to the methods of the ATM objects discussed previously,
each ATM object further includes a plurality of methods or functions related
to
the capabilities of the underlying devices 724 and 726. These methods include
an is-present method 714, a use rule method 716, and a select type method
718. The select type method 718 is operative to specify which type of device
the ATM object is associated therewith. For example, a printer object is
operative to communicate with both a receipt printer 724 and a statement
printer 726. The select type method 718 can be used to specify that a
particular instance of the print ATM object corresponds to a receipt printer.
The is-present method 714 is operative to determine if the desired type
of device is present in the ATM. This method enables a terminal application
to be self configuring with respect to different types of transactions. For
example, if an is-present method 714 returns a negative value for a statement
printer, the terminal functionality that corresponds to printing statements
can
be hidden from the consumer. In this manner, the exemplary ATM objects are
operative to determine the capabilities of the ATM objects and configure the
operation of the ATM responsive to the determined capabilities.
In altenrnative embodiments of the present invention, methods may be
used which include arguments for different types of features of the desired
device or service. For example the is-present method or another capabilities
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method of a printer object could be passed an argument that corresponds to
color printing. If colored inks are present, the printer object can be
configured
to print multicolored indicia. These exemplary methods enable a single
generic type of ATM object such as a printer object, to support a plurality of
specialized devices, such as a receipt printer, statement printer, thermal
receipt
printer, color printer, or any other printer device.
The use rule method 716 is operative to specify a set of rules for
determining which device an ATM object will initially use, and which device
will be used when the current or default device is inoperative. The exemplary
embodiment of the present invention includes a data store 720 which is
operative to store a plurality of such rules sets 721 for each of the devices
in
the ATM. For example the data store may include a default set of rules for a
card reader object that specifies that if there is only one card reader
device, a
card reader object will be automatically connected thereto. If there is more
than one printer device, a rule set can be created and used by a printer
object
that specifies that a receipt printer device is the default printer for
receipts and
a statement printer device is a fallback printer in cases where the receipt
printer device is unavailable.
In the exemplary embodiment rule sets and their associated devices
724 can be created and saved in the data store 720 by a configuration program
722 in operative connection with the data store 720. Such a configuration
program 722 is also operative to store which devices are currently installed
in
the ATM. The configuration program is further operative to store in the data
store 720 specific features that are associated with each device. The results
of
the is-present method 714 can be determined by querying the data store 720
for the corresponding type of device and/or feature of the device.
In an alternative embodiment, where individual devices include self
configuration features, such as Sun Microsystems JINITM and Microsoft
Universal Plug and P1ayTM, individual devices 724 themselves may be
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operative to upload details of their features and/or corresponding service
proxies to the data store 720.
The exemplary ATM 700 further includes a device interface layer 728.
The exemplary device interface layer 728 may be comprised a plurality of
ODS (Open Device Services). In addition the device interface layer 728 may
be comprised of one or more device API layers such as a J/XFS
(Java/eXtensions for Financial Services) kernel or a WOSA/XFS (Windows
Open Services Architecture/eXtensions for Financial Services) manager.
These components and layers of the device interface layer 728 are operative to
provide an interface between the ATM objects 712 and corresponding
hardware devices 724 and 726.
In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the ODS
components and/or the XFS components are operatively programmed to
provide an interface between the ATM objects 712 and the data store 720 for
determining which devices and features of devices are present in the ATM.
The device interface layer 728 is further operative to process rules in the
data
store 720 for determining default devices and the order of fallback devices.
Responsive to the information associated with rules, present devices, and
device capabilities stored in the data store 720, the device interface layer
728
is operative to have each ATM object 712 communicate with a device 724 that
includes the appropriate capabilities required by the ATM object.
Figure 57 shows an exemplary embodiment of an ATM 740 that
includes a device interface layer comprised of an enhanced J/XFS kerne1742.
The J/XFS kernel 742 includes a device type manager 744. The device type
manager 744 is operative to communicate with a plurality of ATM objects 746
and create corresponding instances of device control 750 objects responsive to
the rule sets selected by the ATM object. The rule sets are retrieved from a
data store 748 in operative connection with the device type manager. The
device controls 750 are operative to control the operation of ATM devices 754
through communication with device services 756 (i.e. device drivers)
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according to the J/XFS specification. The device controls 750 generally
correspond to device services. Messages between the device type manager
744 and the device controls 750 are queued by device command servers 752
which generally correspond to the device controls 750.
The device type manager 744 routes messages to the correct device
command server 752 responsive to the rule sets in the data store 748. The
device type manager 744 is further responsive to a rule set to switch to the
next appropriate device command server 752 if the health of one of the current
devices 754 becomes inoperative.
Figure 58 shows another exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. Here the ATM objects 770 are operative to control the operation of
devices 772 through communication with ODS components 774. ODS
components 774 are designed to abstraCt the differences between inconsistent
vendor implementations of service provider interfaces 778 (i.e device drivers)
beneath a consistent and uniform interface. In this described exemplary
embodiment the ODS components 774 control the operation of the devices
772 through communication with a WOSA/XFS layer 776. The WOSA/XFS
layer 776, in turn communicates with the devices 772 through the vendor
provided service provider interfaces 778. In this described exemplary
embodiment the ODS layer 773 has been enhanced to include the previously
described functionality of the device interface layer. Thus the exemplary ODS
components 774 are operative to communicate with the data store 779 to
provide capability information to the ATM objects 770. The ODS
components 774 are also operative to process rules sets for determining which
service provider interfaces and devices are to be used initially and which are
to
be used as faliback devices when the default devices become inoperative.
Figure 59 shows another exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. Here the device controls 760 of the J/XFS layer 761 are operative
to control the operation of devices 762 through communication with ODS
components 764. As discussed previously the ODS components 764 control
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the operation of the devices 762 through communication with a WOSA/XFS
manager 766. The WOSA/XFS manager communicates with the devices 762
through the vendor provided service provider interfaces 768. For ODS
components that are comprised of C, C++, COMM, or other non-Java
components, the present exemplary embodiment encompasses placing a JNI
(Java Native Interface) wrapper around the ODS components 764 to form
J/XFS compatible device services 765. The device services 765 provide an
interface for the Java based J/XFS layer to communicate with the ODS
components 764 and the windows based WOSA/XFS manager 766.
Computer software used in operating the automated transaction
machines of the present invention and connected computers may be loaded
from articles of various types into the respective computers. Such computer
software may be included on and loaded from one or more articles such as
diskettes or compact disks. Such software may also be included on articles
such as hard disk drives, tapes or read-only memory devices. Other articles
which include data representative of the instructions for operating computers
in the manner described herein are suitable for use in achieving operation of
transaction machines and systems in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention.
The exemplary embodiments of the automated banking machines and
systems described herein have been described with reference to particular
software components and features. Other embodiments of the invention may
include other or different software components which provide similar
functionality.
Thus the new automated banking machine and system of the present
invention achieves the above stated objectives, eliminates difficulties
encountered in the use of prior devices and systems, solves problems and
attains the desirable results described herein.
In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity,
clarity and understanding. However no unnecessary limitations are to be
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implied therefrom because such terms are for descriptive purposes and are
intended to be broadly construed. Moreover the descriptions and illustrations
herein are by way of examples and the invention is not limited to the details
shown and described.
In the following claims any feature described as a means for
performing a function shall be construed as encompassing any means known
to those having skill in the art to be capable of performing the recited
function
and shall not be deemed limited to the particular means shown in the foregoing
description or mere equivalents thereof.
Having described the features, discoveries and principles of the
invention, the manner in which it is constructed and operated and the
advantages and useful results attained; the new and useful structures,
devices,
elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, equipment, operations,
methods, processes and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.
