Abstract:
A system of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). When a customer of an ATM requests a disbursement of cash, such as one hundred dollars, the ATM contacts an intermediary agent, who sends a message to the customer&#39;s bank over the INTERNET, requesting approval. When approval is authorized, the customer&#39;s bank sends an approval-message to the intermediary-agent, who relays it to the ATM, which then dispenses the cash. The intermediary agent then (1) credits amounts to both itself and the ATM (or its owner), for services rendered, such as one dollar each, (2) debits the customer&#39;s bank, for $ 102 in this example, (3) credits the ATM (or its owner), for $ 101 in this example, (4) keeps one dollar for itself, and (5) periodically collects the actual amounts and physically distributes them, to satisfy the debits and credits.

Description:
The invention concerns a system wherein inexpensive public-access networks are used in ATM transactions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are in widespread usage. ATMs rely on internal computers, and vast advances have been made in computers since the introduction of the ATM. 
     In addition, in virtually every transaction, an ATM is required to communicate with some other party, such as the financial institution which maintains the ATM. Great advances have been made in the communication arts since the introduction of the ATM. 
     The invention proposes to improve operation of ATMs by applying these types of advancements to the operation of ATM systems. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide an improved system of ATMs. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a system of ATMs which implement novel communication modes. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates components involved in one form of the invention. 
     FIGS. 2-6 illustrate actions undertaken by one form of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates how both the ATM  3  and the bank  12  each communicate with a respective ISP, Internet Service Provider. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates one form of the invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating logic implemented by one form of the invention. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one form of the invention, an ATM calls a reverse-toll telephone number, such as a so-called “900 number,” to obtain approval of a cash disbursement requested by a customer. (Alternatively, the ATM may call a network access address.) The party maintaining the reverse-toll number obtains approval from the customer&#39;s bank, and informs the ATM whether approval was granted. The party may use the INTERNET for these purposes, or any other suitable network. After the ATM dispenses the cash, the party adds the amount of the cash to the bank&#39;s telephone bill, and remits that amount to the ATM, or its owner. The party may also add service charges, and divide them between itself, the ATM operator, and the ATM owner (if different from the operator), as appropriate. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A typical ATM transaction can be divided into two components: cash disbursement and settlement. 
     Cash Disbursement 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the basic components involved in operation of one form of the invention. The Figure shows an ATM  3 , its owner  9 , and a dashed box  6  associating the two together. In many cases, the owner  9  is a financial institution. 
     A bank  12  is also shown, and represents another, generalized, financial institution. In some cases, bank  12  and owner  9  will be the same entity. However, in the general case, these two entities will be different, and so FIG. 1 illustrates them as distinct. 
     A standard access card  15 , such as a standard passcard, is used by a customer (not shown) to log in to the ATM. The card  15  contains a magnetic stripe  18 , called a magstripe in the art, or contains another machine-readable type of data memory, such as that found in so-called “smart cards.” The magstripe  18 , shown in enlarged form as block  18 E, contains a number  19  which identifies the card  15 , and also indicia  20  which identifies the bank  12  which issued the card  15 . 
     Within the bank  12  is shown a table  21 , which associates one or more account numbers with each card number. The card numbers refer to the number of each card  15 , as indicated by arrow  24 . Through the bank&#39;s use of the table  21 , the card  15  need carry no data indicating an account number. Thus, loss or theft of the card  15  reveals no account number to any party in possession of the card. The card  15  merely carries the card number  19 , which is a type of serial number. 
     FIG. 1 also shows a public-access, packet-switched network  27 , such as the INTERNET. 
     Assume that a customer (not shown) wishes to withdraw fifty dollars ($50.00) from the ATM. The customer would present the card  15  to the ATM, as indicated in FIG. 2, and log in to the ATM, in the customary manner. The ATM obtains access to the data stored on the magstripe  18 . 
     The ATM delivers a message  30  to the network  27 . That message takes the form of one, or more, data packets. The message  30  contains a field  33  which indicates the intended destination of the message. This destination is bank  12 . 
     In general, the message is encrypted. The type of encryption depends on various factors, including the country of the world in which the ATM  3  resides. Encryption in general, and encryption of ATM communications in particular, is known in the art. 
     The message is delivered to a particular computer of the network  27 , indicated by dot  36 . That computer  36  reads the destination  33 , selects another computer as a relay point, and delivers the message  30  to the relay point. The relay point repeats these actions, and the message  30  is successively passed along a route, such as the route  40  shown in FIG. 3, until it reaches its destination, namely, bank  12 . 
     The message includes the number  19  of card  15  in FIG.  1 . The bank  12  in FIG. 4 utilizes this number  19  to locate the account number  19 A, which is associated with the number  19 . Having located the account number  19 A, the bank examines the account, to ascertain whether disbursal of the requested fifty dollars is appropriate. 
     When the bank  12  determines whether to approve or deny the disbursal, it generates a message  50  in FIG. 5, and delivers it to the network  27 . The destination field  55  of the message  50  designates the ATM as the recipient. The computers within the network  27  route the message to the ATM, as along path  60 . Upon receiving the message, the ATM either disburses the money to the customer, or withholds disbursement, as the message  50  directs. 
     The ATM then terminates the transaction with the customer, in the usual manner. 
     The Inventor points out that the discussion given above contains a small simplification, which was made for ease of explanation. The simplification is that, in general, the ATM  3  does not contact the network directly, nor does the bank  12 . One reason is that special data transmission techniques are required to contact the network, and these entities are not, in general, capable of executing these techniques. 
     Instead, the ATM  3  and the bank  12  most likely transmit their messages to, and receive them from, Internet Service Providers, ISPs. Alternatively, ATM switch providers, such as the Cirrus Network and the PLUS Network, may transmit these messages. FIG. 7 illustrates two ISPs acting as intermediaries. The messages described above can take the form of “electronic mail” messages, which are handled by the ISPs. In the more general case, the messages are transferred using a message-transfer protocol which differs from electronic mail protocols in several respects. Both protocols are known in the art. 
     It is not strictly necessary that the parties (bank  12  and ATM  3 ) utilize ISPs. The parties may acquire the necessary equipment, and act as their own ISPs. 
     Therefore, an ATM transmits a message to a bank, over a packet-switched network, which may be public-access or private-access, requesting approval to dispense currency. The bank responds, over the same network, and either grants, or withholds, approval. 
     Settlement 
     A second stage of the transaction must now be undertaken, which is termed “settlement.” When the ATM disburses money, such as the requested fifty dollars, the wealth of the owner  9  of the ATM has now been reduced by that amount. Of course, if the owner  9  and the bank  12  are the same entity, that reduction is handled by deducting fifty dollars from the customer&#39;s account, which is the account bearing number  19 A in FIG.  4 . 
     However, in the general case, the owner  9  and the bank  12  will be different entities. Therefore, the owner  9  must recover the fifty dollars from the bank  12 . One approach is for the owner  9  to send a bill  60  in FIG. 6 to the bank  12 . This bill  60  can be transmitted through the network  27 , like the messages  30  and  50  described above, or delivered in any appropriate manner, such as by a postal service. The bill  60  will also charge the bank  12  a service fee, as indicated in FIG. 6, for the usage of the ATM. 
     In one form of the invention, a party which is completely unrelated to the transaction handles the settlement. As background to this form of the invention, the Inventor points out that services exist which collect money from telephone callers, in the form of a charge added to the caller&#39;s telephone bill. These services deliver the money to another party, such as the party called. 
     For example, an educational television station may broadcast a television program which solicits contributions from the viewing audience. The program may encourage viewers to place a telephone call to a specific telephone number, such as one bearing a prefix of “900.” When a viewer places a call, the viewer is asked general questions about the viewer&#39;s opinion of the television station, in order to allow the viewer to give feedback to the station. In addition, the mere act of placing the call causes an amount of money to be added to the viewer&#39;s monthly telephone bill. This amount is given to the television station as a contribution. Thus, by placing a telephone call, the caller generates a payment to the television station. 
     A telephone service provider handles the collection, and payment, of this money. That is, a telephone company acts as collection agent for the money, and as remittance agent for delivering it to the television station, in addition to providing part, or all, of the communication service which facilitates the customer feedback. A likely arrangement would 
     (1) The telephone service provider remits the money to the television station as soon as the call is placed, or soon thereafter. This remission takes the form of a direct payment, or a credit to an account between the provider and the station. 
     (2) The telephone service provider deducts a fee from the payment for its services of money collection, money remission, and handling the calls. 
     (3) The telephone service provider collects the amounts from the telephone subscribers who called the “900” number. 
     A similar approach can be undertaken by the invention. FIG. 8 illustrates one arrangement, which shows multiple ATMs. These may be under common ownership, different ownership, or any combination of ownership. When an ATM wishes to disburse money to a customer, it sends a message to the bank identified on the card of the customer requesting the money, as described above in connection with FIG.  2 . 
     The ATM delivers this message by dialing the agent  100  in FIG. 8, and delivering a message intended for the customer&#39;s bank  12 . The agent  100  relays the message to the bank  12 . When the bank  12  sends a reply, it replies to the agent  100 , which relays the reply to the ATM. 
     In addition, the agent  100  is informed of any disbursements made by the ATM to the customer. When a disbursement occurs, the agent  100  debits an account of bank  12 , and credits an account of the owner (not shown) of the ATM. Periodically, the agent  100 , bank  12 , and the owner undertake cash settlements, wherein payments are made to the appropriate parties to settle the accounts. Periodically does not necessarily mean at fixed intervals. But, at the time of the ATM transaction, no payments are made; the agent  100  merely updates the accounts of the parties. The only cash payment is that from the ATM to the customer. 
     The agent  100  can take the form of a telephone service provider, a long distance calling provider, or a separate entity entirely. 
     Flow Chart 
     FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating logic undertaken by one form of the invention. In block  120 , in response to a customer&#39;s request for a disbursement, an ATM calls a “900 number” service, which reaches the agent  100  in FIG.  8 . In block  125 , the ATM delivers a message to the agent, with the customer&#39;s bank listed as the destination, analogous to message  30  in FIG.  2 . 
     In block  130  in FIG. 9, the agent  100  delivers the message to the network, and the network relays the message to the customer&#39;s bank, as indicated by block  135 . 
     In block  150 , the bank delivers a responding message to the network, which is destined for the agent  100 . This message is analogous to message  50  in FIG.  5 . In block  155  in FIG. 8, the network relays the message to the agent  100 , which delivers the message to the ATM in block  160 . The latter delivery enables the ATM to determine whether to disburse money to the customer. 
     In addition, in block  165 , the agent  100  ascertains whether a disbursement occurs. This can be accomplished by monitoring the messages which it relays, by explicit messages received from one of the parties, as by a message from an ATM stating, in effect, “Disbursal of fifty dollars on X date to customer Z,” or by other means. 
     If a disbursement occurs, then, in block  170 , the agent credits the owner of the ATM for the disbursement, and, in block  175 , debits the customer&#39;s bank. (Of course, if the owner and the bank are identical parties, the credit cancels the debit, except for the service fees of the agent.) In block  180 , the agent allocates payments for services as agreed by the parties. For example, both the agent  100  and the owner of the ATM incur expenses in the cash disbursal: the owner must own and maintain the ATM, while the agent  100  incurs its own expenses, which may include the expense of maintaining telephone lines and switching equipment. Block  180  indicates that the agreed fees are credited and debited by the agent  100 . 
     Additional Considerations 
     1. The network in FIG. 1 was identified as the INTERNET. In general, the network can take any form. Public-access packet-switched networks are specifically included, as well as private networks, and combinations of various networks, including public and private types. 
     2. Encryption was discussed above. Encryption implies a process wherein the frequency of occurrence of symbols in an original message (the “plain text”) is altered in the encrypted message (the “cypher text”). If this alteration did not occur, then no actual encryption process occurs, because the cypher text can be cracked by simply tabulating the frequency of occurrence of characters. 
     Thus, a process such as encoding text into ASCII does not amount to encryption. 
     3. The invention allows an ATM to be located anywhere telephone service is available. Further, the invention allows an ATM to be located without regard to such availability, since cellular telephones, cellular modems, satellite connections, and other types of wireless communication can be used. These features are not available in prior-art ATM networks. 
     4. Applicant points out that, ordinarily, when a “900”-type telephone number is called, the caller incurs a charge. However, under the invention, an ATM places such a call. The ATM, through its owner, ultimately receives a payment because of the call, in the form of reimbursement of the cash dispensed by the ATM. This payment may be reduced by a fee for the “900” service, depending on the arrangement made by the parties involved. 
     5. Two types of message were discussed: (1) the request by the ATM for authorization of the transaction requested by the customer and (2) notification of the agent  100  by the ATM of the disbursal of money to the customer. One, or both, of these can be undertaken by direct communication between the parties, as by using a standard telephone line. Preferably, the messages are encrypted. 
     Numerous substitutions and modifications can be undertaken without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. What is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is the invention as defined in the following claims.