Abstract:
A financial transactions processing system includes a safe (cash automation machine) that performs transactions including at least one of receiving and distributing money. A controller, such as a teller computer, issues instructions to the cash automation machine to perform the transactions. A processor, such as a bank branch CPU, receives data from the cash automation machine and the controller relating to the transactions and analyzes the data. This data can include data relating to at least one of the following: number of transactions, duration of each transaction, type of each transaction, denomination of money distributed and/or received, and date and time of the transactions. The processor (bank branch CPU) can advantageously use this data in a number of ways, including at least one of the following: to accurately and effectively assign teller work schedules, perform or schedule maintenance or repairs, provide economic advantages, etc.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The exemplary embodiments relate to financial transactions processing systems and methods, which can be provided, for example, in banks and other financial institutions or environments. 
         [0002]    A typical bank branch office, for example, includes a teller counter having one or more teller stations. The teller counter typically separates the branch office into a teller area on one side of the counter, and a customer area on the other side of the counter. In some banks, an additional transparent partition is located above the counter to further separate the teller area from the customer area. Stand-alone podiums containing one or more teller stations, around which tellers and customers can move, can be provided as an alternative, or in addition to, the teller counters. 
         [0003]    Cash automation machines can be used at teller stations located at either the teller counters or stand-alone podiums. The cash automation machines can be used to more accurately, effectively and efficiently receive and distribute money, including paper money and/or coinage. An exemplary cash automation machine is in the form of a vault-level safe (e.g., UL-Rated  291  safe) positionable adjacent a teller or between adjacent tellers at a bank. The vault-level safe stores paper money and coinage based on respective denominations in separate receptacles. 
         [0004]    A related art vault-level safe includes a dispenser and/or a recycler. In general, the dispenser dispenses money to a teller or customer, while the recycler receives money from the teller or customer and deposits the received money in the safe&#39;s receptacles. The recycler can also dispense money to either the teller or the customer. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Cash automation machines, such as vault-level safes, can be operated through an electronic controller, such as a teller computer. The teller computer can be provided adjacent to, and operated by, a teller, enabling the teller to dispense and deposit money. Dispensing and depositing money in this manner can be more efficient and effective than traditional manual methods. 
         [0006]    In such a system, the dispenser of the safe dispenses notes based on instructions from the teller computer. For example, in response to a customer&#39;s request for a withdrawal, the teller enters the desired amount of money as well as the desired denominations of money into the computer. The computer then transmits a dispensing instruction to the dispenser. The dispensing instruction causes the dispenser to extract money, including bills and/or coins, from their respective receptacles in the amounts necessary to satisfy the customer&#39;s request. The dispenser then counts the money and dispenses the money to the teller or the customer. 
         [0007]    Also in such a system, the recycler receives money from the teller or customer and deposits the money in the safe&#39;s receptacles. For example, in response to a customer&#39;s request for a deposit, the teller takes the money from the customer and inserts it into the safe via a bill and/or coin slot. The recycler then takes the money and performs a number of operations thereon. For example, the recycler counts the money and determines the fitness and authenticity of the bills. After performing these operations, the recycler separates the money by denomination into the corresponding receptacles. 
         [0008]    The above computer-controlled safe can be used as part of a larger financial transactions processing system. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the safe (cash automation machine)  100  receives instructions from, and is controlled by, a teller computer  400 . However, the teller computer  400  can also provide information to, and receive instructions from, another processor, such as a bank branch CPU  200 . 
         [0009]    The larger system can provide enhanced efficiencies and advantages by virtue of the interaction between the teller computer  400  and the bank branch CPU  200 . Software, such as staffing software, can be used by the bank branch CPU  200  and/or the teller computer  400  to use information related to operations performed by the teller computer  400  to achieve various advantages. For example, the staffing software can receive data from the teller computer  400  identifying, among other things, the number of transactions processed over a specified period of time. Based on the received data, the staffing software can perform various calculations, such as to determine the amount of work being performed by the tellers over a specified period, and further use this information to estimate or anticipate the number of tellers required to process the transactions over the given period. 
         [0010]    More specifically, the data received from a week&#39;s worth of bank transactions may show that the bank processed a large amount of transactions between the hours of 12:00-1:00 PM on weekdays, and also processed a large amount of transactions on Saturday. In addition, the data may show that a particularly low amount of transactions were performed on Wednesday mornings. Based on this data, the staffing software may be used to predict the number of transactions and work that will need to be performed by tellers at various times and on various days in the future and schedule the number of tellers accordingly. For example, the software may schedule additional tellers to work during the weekday lunch hours as well as on Saturdays, and may schedule fewer tellers on Wednesday mornings. 
         [0011]    As discussed above, vault-level safes can be controlled by teller computers to enable banks to more accurately and efficiently handle cash transactions than traditional manual methods. Larger systems, in which the bank CPU  200  uses staffing software to use information related to the operations performed by the teller computer  400 , can further enhance efficiencies, such as by anticipating or predicting the amount of work that tellers need to perform on various days and at various times, so as to more accurately and effectively assign teller work schedules. 
         [0012]    However, the effectiveness of the above system shown in  FIG. 1  is limited to the information that the branch CPU  200  gleans from the teller computer  400  via the staffing software. The system&#39;s effectiveness could be further enhanced if the branch CPU took into account additional information beyond that received from the teller computer. For example, information directly related to, or received from, the safe (cash automation machine) can be used to further enhance bank operations. In other words, data received from the safe (cash automation machine), and not available from the teller computer, can be advantageously used, such as to even more accurately and effectively assign teller work schedules, perform or schedule maintenance or repairs, provide economic advantages, etc. This data received from the safe can include data relating to at least one of the following: number of transactions, duration of each transaction, type of each transaction, denomination of money distributed and/or received, and date and time of the transactions. 
         [0013]    Thus, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a financial transactions processing system includes a safe (cash automation machine) that performs transactions including at least one of receiving and distributing money. A controller, such as a teller computer, issues instructions to the cash automation machine to perform the transactions. A processor, such as a branch CPU, receives data from the cash automation machine and the controller relating to the transactions and analyzes the data. In one exemplary embodiment, the safe (cash automation machine) is adjacent the controller (teller computer) and remote from the processor (branch CPU). 
         [0014]    The safe (cash automation machine) can include: a receiving unit that receives the instructions from the controller; a transaction unit that performs transactions including at least one of distributing money based on the instructions received from the controller and receiving money; a data collection unit that collects data relating to the transactions; and a transmission unit that transmits the data collected by the data collection unit to the processor. The processor (branch CPU) can include: a communication unit that receives the data from the transmission unit of the cash automation machine; and a management unit that analyzes the data received by the communication unit. 
         [0015]    The management unit of the processor can include a staffing unit that analyzes the data received by the communication unit, including data relating to duration of each transaction, determines an amount of work to be performed over a specified period, and estimates an optimum number of workers to perform the determined amount of work over the specified period. Alternatively, the management unit of the processor can include a staffing unit that: receives and analyzes the data from the controller to prepare an initial estimate of an amount of work to be performed over a specified period; and receives and analyzes the data from the transmission unit of the cash automation machine to update the initial estimate, and determines an optimum number of workers to perform the updated estimated amount of work over the specified period. 
         [0016]    The data collection unit of the cash automation machine can perform other functions, such as generating a log of data relating to the transactions. The communication unit of the processor can then transmit a log request to the data collection unit to instruct the data collection unit to generate and transmit a log of the data relating to the transactions to the processor. 
         [0017]    The cash automation machine can also include an error sensing unit that detects an operating error, generates an error message, and transmits the error message including data relating to the error to the processor. The management unit of the processor can then include a monitoring unit, such that upon receipt of the error message, the monitoring unit analyzes the data relating to the error and provides instructions to a user at the cash automation machine for correcting the error. Alternatively, the management unit of the processor can include a monitoring unit, such that upon receipt of the error message, the monitoring unit analyzes the data relating to the error and communicates with a central station remote from the cash automation machine to instruct service personnel to correct the error. The error message in either embodiment can include at least one of data identifying the cash 
         [0000]    automation machine that generated the error message, a description of the sensed error, and a timestamp indicating the time and date of the sensed error. 
         [0018]    The cash automation machine can transmit the data collected by the data collection unit at various times. For example, the transmission unit of the cash automation machine can transmit the data collected by the data collection unit to the processor after each transaction. Alternatively, the communication unit of the processor can transmit a request to the transmission unit of the cash automation machine to transmit the data collected by the data collection unit to the processor. As yet another alternative, the transmission unit of the cash automation machine can transmit the data collected by the data collection unit to the processor at predetermined intervals. 
         [0019]    The exemplary embodiments are described herein in the context of a financial transactions processing system that includes a cash automation machine, a teller computer, and a bank branch CPU. However, it is envisioned that any system for receiving and distributing objects, whether financial or not, is encompassed by the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA WINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic of a financial transactions processing system in which a branch CPU uses information from a teller computer to achieve various advantages; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a partially cut-away perspective view of a cash automation machine; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of a financial transactions processing system in which a branch CPU uses information from both a teller computer and a cash automation machine to achieve advantages beyond those provided by the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a schematic of an exemplary embodiment of the financial transactions processing system of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a schematic of another exemplary embodiment of the financial transactions processing system of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a schematic of a cash automation machine, branch CPU and teller computer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the financial transactions processing system of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a schematic of a branch CPU in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the financial transactions processing system of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    A financial transactions processing system according to an exemplary embodiment includes a cash automation machine  1  shown in  FIG. 2 , which can be a vault-level safe, such as a UL-Rated  291  safe. The cash automation machine  1  can be used in a bank: such as adjacent teller stations located at either teller counters or stand-alone podiums. The cash automation machine  1  can alternatively be disposed at other locations, such as under a counter, in a wall, integrated into bank: furniture, or on the floor as a stand-alone unit. 
         [0028]    The cash automation machine  1  can include a teller cash dispenser and/or recycler in a single housing to perform transactions. The teller cash dispenser dispenses money to either a teller or directly to a customer. The teller cash recycler receives currency, such as during a deposit transaction, and then, after confirming the authenticity of the currency, deposits the money received in the safe&#39;s receptacles. The recycler can also dispense currency, such as during a withdrawal transaction, to either the teller or directly to the customer. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cash automation machine  1  includes a note deposit slot  9 , a note output slot  10 , and multiple note storage receptacles  12  that store various denominations of paper money. Money can be inserted into the deposit slot  9  to be deposited into the storage receptacles  12 . Money can also be transferred from the receptacles  12  to the output slot  10  for distribution. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , in addition to the cash automation machine  1 , the financial transactions processing system includes a processor, such as a bank branch CPU  2 , and a controller, such as a teller computer  4 . In general, the teller computer  4  issues instructions to the cash automation machine  1  to perform the transactions. The branch CPU  2  receives data from the cash automation machine  1  and the teller computer  4  relating to the transactions and analyzes the data. In one exemplary embodiment, the cash automation machine  1  is adjacent the teller computer  4  and remote from the branch CPU  2 . 
         [0031]    The cash automation machine  1 , bank: branch CPU  2 , and teller computer  4  can be arranged in numerous configurations. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a cash automation machine  1  is connected to a left teller computer  4  and a right teller computer  5 , such that the teller computers  4  and  5  can send commands directly to the cash automation machine  1 . The branch CPU  2  and a printer  6  are connected to the cash automation machine  1  and teller computers  4  and  5 . The branch CPU  2  can be a computer that is accessible by employees of the bank, such as branch managers, and can operate management software 
         [0000]    including staffing software. The printer  6  can be used to run reports, print error logs, etc., associated with the various devices. The cash automation machine  1 , left and right teller computers  4  and  5 , branch CPU  2  and printer  6  can be all interconnected to one another via a network  7 , such as a Local Area Network, Internet, or other suitable devices or systems. 
         [0032]    In an exemplary embodiment, the branch CPU  2  operates the management software including the staffing software. Running the software on a machine separate from the teller computers prevents conflicts with the tellers&#39; responsibilities. The management software includes the staffing software as well as other functions. As discussed above, the staffing software receives data inputs from the left and right teller computers  4  and  5  relating to various details of the bank transactions processed by those terminals. For example, the data may include the times of the transactions and the types of the transactions (e.g. cash, new accounts, money transfers, etc.), as well as other types of data. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows another exemplary configuration of cash automation machines  1 . Each cash automation machine  1  is positioned between and connected to nearby teller computers  4  and  5 . Preferably, each cash automation machine  1  is connected to two teller computers, a left teller computer  4  and a right teller computer  5 . Optionally, one of the cash automation machines  1  may be connected only to one nearby teller computer, or alternatively, to three or any number of nearby teller computers. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  shows additional features of a cash automation machine  1 . The note deposit slot  9  coupled with the storage receptacles  12  constitutes the recycler  22 , while the note output slot  10  coupled with the storage receptacles  12  constitutes the dispenser  20 . A transmitting/receiving unit  14  includes a receiving unit  18  for receiving instructions from the teller computers  4  and  5  and a transmission unit  16 . A controller  13  is also provided for controlling the various operations of the cash automation machine  1  as well as integrating the dispenser  20  and the recycler  22  with the communication unit  14 . The controller also includes an error sensing unit and data collection unit discussed below. Additional features and functionality are omitted because they are not necessary to the present invention. 
         [0035]    The teller computers  4  and  5  are each connected to the receiving unit  18  of the cash automation machine  1  via an instruction link  23 . The branch CPU  2  is connected to both the receiving unit  18  and the transmission unit  16  of the cash automation machine  1  via a communications link  24 . The instruction link  23  and communications link  24  are intended to cover any currently known or later developed system for carrying electrical signals, e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), Ethernet Cable, Firewire, etc. Through the instruction link  23 , the cash automation machine  1  receives the instructions for dispensing money from the teller computers  4  and  5 . For example, teller computer  4  may issue an instruction to the cash automation machine  1  via the instruction link  23  to dispense $100 to a customer in $20 denominations. The cash automation machine  1  will receive the instruction in its receiving unit  18 . The receiving unit  18  then forwards the instruction to the controller  13 , which causes the controller  13  to carry out the instruction. Specifically, the controller  13  causes the dispenser  20  to extract five $20 notes from the corresponding storage receptacle  12  and dispense the notes to the note output slot  10 . 
         [0036]    For a deposit, the teller simply places the surrendered notes into the note deposit slot  9  of the safe. The controller  13  senses the presence of the notes in the note deposit slot  9  and causes the recycler  22  to remove the notes from the note deposit slot  9 , separate the notes by denomination, and place the notes into the corresponding receptacles  12 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is a schematic of the branch CPU  2 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the branch CPU  2  has a communication unit  30  for transmitting and receiving information with the teller computer(s) as well as with the cash automation machine(s). The communication unit  30  is connected with a CPU  32  for controlling the various operations of the branch CPU  2 . A memory  33  for storing data is connected to the CPU  32 . The memory  33  can be any currently known or later developed electrical signal storage system. A management unit  34  is also connected to the CPU  32 . The management unit  34  contains a staffing unit  36  and a monitoring unit  38 . As will be described in further detail below, the staffing unit  36  receives data from the teller computers  4  and  5  and the cash automation machine  1  for making determinations, such as an optimal staffing schedule, and the monitoring unit  38  communicates with the cash automation machine  1  for performing various additional functions. 
         [0038]    In the present exemplary embodiment, the cash automation machine  1  transmits data to the branch CPU  2  after each transaction. Specifically, the communication unit  30  of the branch CPU  2  maintains an open communication link with the cash automation machines  1   a - 1   n . For each transaction, the controller  13  of the cash automation machine  1  tracks various properties of the transaction. For example, the controller will track the date and time of the requested transaction, the duration of time that it took for the cash automation machine  1  to complete the cash transaction (how long it took to dispense the money requested or to recycle the money deposited), the specific denominations dispensed or deposited, the number of notes to be taken out of circulation based on condition or authenticity, and the number of notes of each denomination remaining in the storage receptacles  12 , etc. After the transaction has been completed, the controller  13  forwards the data to the transmission unit  16 , which transmits the data to the branch CPU  2  via the communications link  24 . 
         [0039]    The branch CPU  2  receives the data in its communication unit  30  from the communications link  24 . The branch CPU  2  also receives information from the teller computers, as discussed above. The communication unit  30  forwards the data to the CPU  32 , which parses the data based on its type. The CPU  32  then sends the data to be used in making various determinations, such as determining the staffing schedule, to the staffing unit  36 , and forwards the data to be used in the monitoring operations of the branch CPU  2  to the monitoring unit  38  (the data can be stored in the memory  33  of the branch CPU  2  and later forwarded to the staffing unit  36  and monitoring unit  38 , as necessary). The data sent to the staffing unit  36  and the data sent to the monitoring unit  38  may have data components that differ from one another, and may have other data components that are the same. For example, data indicating the duration of the transaction may be sent only to the staffing unit  36 . On the contrary, data indicating the amount of notes remaining in each storage receptacle  12  may be forwarded to both the staffing unit  36  and the monitoring unit  38 . 
         [0040]    Upon receipt of the data from the CPU  32 , the staffing unit  36  will apply not only the data from the teller computers  4  and  5 , but also the data from the cash automation machine  1  for making various determinations, such as determining an optimal staffing schedule. Specifically, the staffing unit  36  analyzes the data received from the teller computer(s) as well as the data from the cash automation machine(s). Based on the analysis, the staffing unit  36  will determine an optimal staffing schedule that fully factors the efficiency gained from the use of the cash automation machine(s). As a result, the bank will be able to schedule an optimal number of tellers at given times, allowing the bank to effectively reduce its overhead costs while ensuring that the services to its customers are maintained. 
         [0041]    In addition to the staffing unit  36 , the monitoring unit  38  also receives data. In particular, the monitoring unit  38  is configured to monitor the status of the cash automation machine(s). For example, the controller  13  of the cash automation machine  1  detects errors in the operation of the cash automation machine  1 . These errors may be, for example, low inventory in a storage receptacle  12 , paper jams, mechanical failures, communication errors, etc. The controller  13 , upon detecting such an error, initiates the communication of an error message to the branch CPU  2 . The communication unit  30  receives the error message via the communications link  24 . The communication unit  30  then forwards the message to the CPU  32 , which identifies the message as an “error message,” and forwards the message to the monitoring unit  38 . Upon receiving the error message, the monitoring unit  38  performs either of the following options depending on the severity of the error: (1) if the error is simple enough to be handled by an employee of the bank, the monitoring unit  38  may output instructions to the display  40  of the branch CPU  2 , or to a display (not shown) of the teller computers associated with the malfunctioning cash automation machine  1 ; or (2) if the error is severe, such that the error requires professional servicing, the monitoring unit  38  may compile a log detailing the error and identifying the malfunctioning cash automation machine  1  and perform a service call to a technical service specialist, forwarding the compiled log. Even if the error is simple, such as in (1), the monitoring unit  38  may still compile an error log to report the error to technical service. 
         [0042]    This functionality provides significant advantages because it allows errors to be handled extremely efficiently and quickly. In addition, because errors are reported to appropriate personnel, the manufacturer of the machines may monitor the conditions of the cash automation machines being employed by the bank. As a result of tracking the number of errors and service calls, the manufacturer can identify machines that should be withdrawn from circulation. 
         [0043]    The monitoring unit  38  may also be used to actively check the status of the cash automation machine(s). For example, the monitoring unit  38  may be instructed (by a user or on a periodical basis) to initiate a log request to one or more of the cash automation machine  1 . Upon receiving the log request, the controller  13  of the designated cash automation machine  1  will access its memory and forward the requested logs to the branch CPU  2 . In this manner, data from the cash automation machine(s)  1  may be obtained on demand. Further, by retrieving these logs, the bank may be able to better track the use of the various cash automation machine(s)  1 . Lastly, if data of only some of the operating cash automation machines  1  is desired, the monitoring unit  38  may access this data easily and efficiently. 
         [0044]    The above exemplary embodiment provides several advantages. In addition to the advantages described above, by establishing an open two-way communication link between the cash automation machine(s)  1  and the branch CPU  2 , no significant additional hardware is required in the cash automation machine  1 . Specifically, as discussed above, related art cash automation machines may already contain some form of a receiving unit, 
         [0000]    which can be modified to include a transmitting unit. Thus, banks that currently operate related art cash automation machines could easily upgrade without significant difficulty or cost. In addition, because of similarities, the current manufacturer of cash automation machines may need to make only minor alterations for production. 
         [0045]    In an alternative embodiment, the cash automation machine  1  can be provided with its own internal memory. Specifically, although the cash automation machine  1  of the above exemplary embodiment contains a memory for storing log data, the memory could be small and temporary, such as cache or RAM memory. However, by providing the cash automation machine  1  with a more substantial permanent memory, such as a magnetic Hard Disk Drive (HDD), for example, the alternative cash automation machine  1  can record the tracked data in its own memory. As a result, the data can be uploaded to the branch CPU  2 , either at predetermined times or upon request from the branch CPU  2 . 
         [0046]    For example, if the staffing unit  36  is configured to determine staffing schedules on a weekly basis, the cash automation machine  1  may store the data in its memory and only upload the data to the branch CPU once a week. Alternatively, or in addition, the cash automation machine  1  can be configured to store the data in its memory, and to upload the data to the branch CPU  2  upon request from the branch CPU  2 . The cash automation machine  1  could further be configured to delete data stored in its memory on a periodical basis, after the data is uploaded, etc. 
         [0047]    This alternative embodiment provides other advantages. For example, by uploading data only at certain times, or only upon request, there is less stress on the branch CPU  2 , and also less stress and congestion on the network  7 . For example, as discussed above, the branch CPU  2  may actually be a teller computer  4  or  5 . Thus, the teller must use the computer when performing the various transactions requested by the customers. If data from multiple cash automation machines  1  are regularly being sent to the teller computer  4  or  5 , the computing speed of the teller computer  4  or  5  may slow significantly, resulting in longer transaction times for customers. Thus, the number of transactions the bank is capable of completing may be reduced. By withholding the data on the cash automation machine  1 , the teller computer&#39;s performance can be maintained, allowing the teller to quickly and efficiently process bank transactions. 
         [0048]    Yet another alternative embodiment may use the configuration of either of the preceding exemplary embodiments. In this alternative embodiment, the staffing unit  36  of the branch CPU  2  contains an efficiency value calculation unit. The staffing unit  36  determines an initial staffing schedule based only on the data received from the teller computers  4  and  5  using any known or later developed method. The efficiency value calculation unit then calculates an efficiency value based on the data received from the cash automation machine  1 . The efficiency value indicates the number of tellers by which the staffing schedule can be reduced based on the extra efficiency gained from the use of the cash automation machine  1 . In other words, the efficiency value calculation unit  36  determines the efficiency gained from the use of the cash automation machine(s) based on the data received from those cash automation machine(s). The staffing unit  36  then extracts the efficiency value from the efficiency value calculation unit, and adjusts the initial staffing schedule by the efficiency value such that the staffing schedule can be fully optimized based on the advantages gained from the cash automation machine(s). 
         [0049]    This alternative exemplary embodiment provides an advantage in that the related art staffing software can be easily modified or upgraded. Specifically, the software can be used to calculate the initial schedule. The software can then be upgraded with a short efficiency value calculation module for determining the efficiency gained from the cash automation machine(s). This calculation can be simply applied to the initial schedule to produce the optimal staffing schedule. Thus, only minor and inexpensive modifications can be made to related art software modules. 
         [0050]    It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, and are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.