Abstract:
The present invention supports processing a transaction by a cash handling device. With one aspect, a cash recycling device includes a plate that covers a stacking cassette in order to prevent a deposited note from entering the stacking cassette before the transaction is completed by the user. The plate retracts to allow the deposited note to enter the stacking cassette when the transaction is completed. If the transaction is canceled, all notes on top of the plate are returned to the user. With another aspect, a cash recycling device extracts a deposited note from a stacking cassette if the user cancels the transaction. If a double pick occurs, the extracted note is diverted to a divert cassette. The first extracted note of the double pick is returned to the user. The remaining extracted notes are returned to the stacking cassette. The process may be repeated for all deposited notes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/100,327, filed Sep. 26, 2008, entitled “Cancel Transaction and Return of Same Funds,” hereby incorporated herein by reference as to its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Cash flow refers to the movement of cash over a particular time period within a business or enterprise. The calculation of cash flow may be used as one measure to gauge financial health of the business. Managers in charge of cash flow management may use various tools to assist in making decisions involving cash flow including cash recyclers which allow a retail establishment to maintain and re-use an amount of currency on-site. The cash recycler may further calculate and manage use of cash flows in real-time. 
     While cash recyclers allow a business to manage their cash flows in a more seamless manner, recyclers are often unable to reconcile the cash flows with individual employee accounts. Thus, employees of a business must typically withdraw their tips or other take-home income in the form of cash at the end of their shift. Furthermore, displaced cash is less easily recovered than with other forms of payments (e.g., debit card, pre-paid card, or mobility devices). 
     While cash recyclers enable a user to deposit cash (bank notes) that may recycled for subsequent transactions, the user may decide to alter the transaction for some reason before completing the transaction. Consequently, it is advantageous that the cash recycle have flexibility to support such user scenarios. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the description below. 
     In one aspect of the invention, an end-to-end currency, handling and servicing apparatus is provided to any cash-centric business or enterprise. In various embodiments, the method, apparatus, and system may provide cash register till set up and balancing, back office reconciliation, and other cash payment handling activities. 
     In an aspect of the invention, a cash recycling apparatus is utilized to receive currency deposits and recycle the deposited currency for withdrawals. In an embodiment, the cash recycling apparatus may scan each deposit for counterfeits bills. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a currency recycling apparatus may be placed in each of a business customer&#39;s stores or locations. The currency recycling machines may be networked. In an embodiment, after each cashier shift or at other designated times, contents of a cashier&#39;s register till or drawer may be deposited into a currency recycling apparatus. In another embodiment, at shift start the currency recycling apparatus may withdraw a determined amount of cash in various denominations so as to stock a cashier&#39;s cash register till or drawer. 
     Furthermore, in an aspect of the invention contents and data from each of the networked currency recycling machines may be analyzed to determine real-time cash positions. In an embodiment, the real-time cash positions may be used to make projections and/or decisions regarding short and long term business decisions. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, each of the currency recycling machines may be connected to a financial institution&#39;s network or infrastructure. In an embodiment, each deposit or withdrawal via the currency recycling machine may be credited or debited real-time to a customer&#39;s account. In another embodiment, real-time crediting and debiting of a customer&#39;s account may allow the customer to have immediate access to the customer&#39;s recent deposits and current balance for use in future transactions or for planning and forecasting. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, a cash recycling device includes a plate that covers a stacking cassette in order to prevent a deposited note from entering the stacking cassette before a transaction is completed by a user. The plate retracts to allow the deposited note to enter the stacking cassette when the transaction is completed. If the transaction is canceled, all notes on top of the plate are returned to the user. Embodiments also support transactions in which a plurality of notes are deposited and where different stacking cassettes are allocated for notes of different denominations. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, a cash recycling device extracts a deposited note from a stacking cassette if a user cancels a transaction. If a double pick occurs (more than one note is extracted from the stacking cassette), the extracted noted is diverted to a divert cassette. A deposited note corresponds to the first extracted note of the double pick and is returned to the user. The remaining extracted notes are returned to the stacking cassette. The process may be repeated for all of the deposited notes that are contained in the stacking cassette. Embodiments support transactions in which different stacking cassettes are allocated for notes of different denominations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a suitable operating environment in which various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a simplified diagram of a currency recycler in accordance with an aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates various features of a currency recycler that may be used in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a system configuration that may be used in accordance with an aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows an illustrative operating environment in which various aspects of the invention may be implemented in accordance with an aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows a cash handling device according to prior art. 
         FIG. 7  shows a cash handling device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, systems and methods are illustrated for providing currency handling services and management. A financial institution such as a bank may provide immediate access and use of funds recently deposited using the currency handling apparatus, system, and method described below. For illustrative purposes the financial instrument discussed throughout the below description is cash. However, as those skilled in the art will realize, the described aspects of the invention are not limited to just cash (paper money and coins) but may also include other forms of liquid assets such as checks, bank notes, and money orders. 
     Cash handling devices generally refer to devices that are configured to accept and/or dispense currency. Cash handling devices include payment kiosks, point of sale systems such as cash registers, automated teller machines (ATMs), currency recyclers and the like. Currency recyclers generally refer to cash handling devices that are configured to dispense the same currency that was earlier deposited. For example, if a user deposits a 5 dollar bill into a cash recycler machine, the same 5 dollar bill may be dispensed during a subsequent withdrawal transaction. Thus, using currency recyclers, deposited currency may be placed immediately back into use and circulation instead of being held or frozen until a bank is able to collect and reconcile the funds, stored indefinitely and/or taken out of circulation entirely as is the case with other current cash handling devices. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a suitable operating environment in which various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented. Devices  102 ,  104 ,  106  may include currency recyclers and/or other cash handling devices and may be located at various sites such as locations  101 ,  103 , and  105 . The locations may represent different stores of a business enterprise. For example, locations  101 ,  103 , and  105  may represent three different grocery stores located in different geographical areas belonging to a grocery store chain. Those skilled in the art will realize that additional cash handling devices may be located in the same store or in other stores belonging to the grocery store chain. In addition, those skilled in the art will realize that a grocery store chain is only one illustrative example of the types of locations or businesses that cash handling devices such as recyclers may be located. For example, cash recyclers may also be located in gas stations, post offices, department stores, and other places where cash and other financial instruments are deposited or withdrawn. 
       FIG. 1  further illustrates that cash handling devices  102 ,  104 , and  106  may be connected to a communications network such as communications network  120 . Communications network  120  may represent: 1) a local area network (LAN); 2) a simple point-to-point network (such as direct modem-to-modem connection); and/or 3) a wide area network (WAN), including the Internet and other commercial based network services. 
     Cash handling devices  102 ,  104 , and  106  may communicate with one another or with a financial institution such as bank  130  via communication network  120  in various manners. For example, communications between cash handling devices  102 ,  104 ,  106  and bank  130  may use protocols and networks such as TCP/IP, Ethernet, FTP, HTTP, BLUETOOTH, Wi-Fi, ultra wide band (UWB), low power radio frequency (LPRF), radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared communication, IrDA, third-generation (3G) cellular data communications, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), or other wireless communication networks or the like. Communications network  120  may be directly connected to a financial institution such as bank  130 . In another embodiment, communications network  120  may be connected to a second network or series of networks  140  before being connected to bank  130 . According to one or more arrangements, bank  130  may utilize an infrastructure which includes a server  150  having components such as a memory, a processor, a display, and a communication interface. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a simplified diagram of a cash recycler that may be used in accordance with the operating environment of  FIG. 1 . Cash recycler  200  may include processor  201 , memory  203 , communication interface  205 , scanning unit  207 , display  213  and various cartridges  215  and stackers  217 . Processor  201  may be generally configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in memory  203  such that, for example, cash recycler  200  may send and receive information to and from a bank (e.g., bank  130  of  FIG. 1 ) using communication interface  205  and via a network (e.g., networks  120  and/or  140  of  FIG. 1 ). Memory  203  may be configured to store a variety of information including the aforementioned computer-readable instructions, funds balance data, reconciliation data, user account information and the like. Additionally, memory  203  may include non-volatile and/or volatile memory. One or more databases may be stored in the memories  108 ,  112 , and  116 . 
     Cash recycler  200  may further provide display  213  to present data and/or messages to a user. For example, display  213  may be configured to display a recycler balance, a transaction interface, a current deposit count, security options, transportation options and the like. One or more input devices  254  such as a keypad, keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, fingerprint scanner, retinal scanner, proximity card reader, RFID scanner and/or writer, magnetic card reader, barcode reader, and/or combinations thereof, or any other type of input device or reader capable of inputting, reading, or scanning indicia or information, may also be included in or connected to recycler  200 . One or printers  256  may also be included in or connected to recycler  200  for printing receipts and notifications as well. 
     In cash recycler  200 , stackers  217  and cartridges  215  are configured to store currency. Currency may be inserted through input slot  209  and withdrawn through withdrawal slot  211 . Stackers  217  may be used to store and organize currency based on denomination. For example, all $5 bills may be stored in stacker  2  (i.e., stacker  217 B) while all $20 bills may be stored in stacker  3  (i.e., stacker  217 C). Cartridges  215 A and  215 B, on the other hand, may be used to store overflow currency and/or currency for transport. Thus, if stackers  217  become full, additional currency that is deposited into recycler  200  may be stored in an overflow cartridge such as cartridge  215 B. One of cartridges  215  may be designated as a transport cartridge that stores currency to be withdrawn from the machine and transported to the bank. Alternatively or additionally, one or more of cartridges  215  may be used as an unfit bill store for currency determined to be defective to a degree that it should be taken out of circulation. Cartridges  215  and stackers  217  may further be removable for easier access or transport. 
     Scanning unit  207  may be configured to scan each bill or currency that is inserted into recycler  200 . Scanning unit  207  may be configured to detect defects, counterfeits, denomination, type of currency (e.g., which country the currency originates from) and the like. Scanning unit  207  may further be configured to refuse money (either through input slot  209  or withdrawal slot  211 ) if it cannot be properly recognized or if the currency is deemed to be counterfeit. Scanning unit  207  may send such data to processor  201  which may, in turn, save the data in memory  203 . 
     Further, recycler  200  may include one or more mechanical or electromechanical systems (not shown) for automatically transferring currency between stackers  217 , cartridges  215 , input slot  209  and withdrawal slot  211  in recycler  200 . For example, currency may automatically be withdrawn from stackers  217  and directed into cartridge  215 A for storage using a series of motorized rollers. In another example, currency stored in cartridge  215 A may be withdrawn and organized and stored into stackers  217  according to denomination. Using such systems to facilitate the automated movement of currency between storage components and other portions of recycler  200  may provide efficiency and security by alleviating some of the need to manually handle currency stored within recycler  200 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates various features of cash recycler, such as cash recycler  200  of  FIG. 2 , used in various aspects of the invention. The images in  FIG. 3  depict use of a single cash recycler  200  in a retail environment. The retail owner may have a cash recycler  200  located in each of their stores. In an aspect of the invention, summary information for the retail owner&#39;s stores may be available via an interface to the financial institution. In another embodiment, access to summary information may be available directly from each of the cash recyclers  200 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , image  302  depicts customer  303  paying cash to a retail employee such as store cashier  305  for a purchase. Another store cashier  307  at a recently closed cash register may be carrying a cash drawer or till  308  to a back office for reconciliation. In image  310 , store cashier  307  may load currency from cash register till  308  into cash recycler  200 . In addition, store cashier  307  may also deposit other paper forms of payment received from customer such as checks. An office manager  311  may be supervising cashier  307  during the loading of cash register till  308  into cash recycler  200 . Moreover, upon the start of a shift a cashier may fill his/her cash register till with a designated amount of currency dispensed from cash recycler  200 . 
     In image  306  of  FIG. 3 , a display screen (e.g., display  213  of cash recycler  200  of  FIG. 2 ) may show the total amount entered into cash recycler  200  from till  308 . The display screen  213  may breakout the amount entered into cash recycler  200  by denomination and by each cashier. The total amount deposited and withdrawn from cash recycler  200  may be shown on display screen  213 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a system configuration that may be used in accordance with an aspect of the invention. In  FIG. 4  a cash recycler  402  may communicate information to cash recycler service  404  located at a remote location. For example, cash recycler  402  may communicate deposit and withdrawal information from an enterprise location (e.g., a retail store) to the remote cash recycler service  404 . The information may be routed through various networks such as the Internet to reach the cash recycler service. The cash recycler service  404  may be located in the data center of a financial institution. The cash recycler service  404  may communicate with an integration system  406  which provides access to the financial systems and processes. The integration system  406  may communicate with a memo posting system  408  which may perform posting activity. The posting system  408  may update the appropriate DDA (direct deposit account) system  410  to reflect the balance changes in the enterprises account balances. The DDA system  410  may also update a transaction repository  412  for historical and intra-day reporting purposes. An enterprise employee may access information stored in the transaction repository  412  through a client access channel  414  via web browser. Those skilled in the art will realize that the financial institution may allow the enterprise user to access the information stored in the transaction repository via numerous alternative communication methods. 
     According to one aspect, cash recyclers such as cash recycler  102  ( FIG. 1) and 200  ( FIG. 2 ) and other cash handling devices may facilitate real-time recognition of funds. In particular, funds deposited at a recycler or other cash handling device at a client site may be recognized by a bank at the time the deposit is made. Recognition refers to the real credit (i.e., not provisional) of deposited funds into a client&#39;s account. In contrast to current systems, there is no delay between a deposit of funds and when the funds and transaction data are submitted to the bank for recognition. Thus, instead of having to wait until the end of the day or another prescheduled time for deposits and/or withdrawals to be recognized by the bank, each deposit is processed for recognition in real-time. Data regarding the withdrawal or deposit transaction may be transmitted through a data network to the bank for recognition and processing. Providing real-time recognition offers may advantages including the ability for a client to withdraw the same currency that was earlier deposited for use in the client&#39;s operations, all at the client site and without having to first transport the deposited funds to the bank for recognition. Currency recyclers, recycling management and recognition of funds are further described in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/614,656, entitled “Commercial Currency Handling and Servicing Management,” filed on Dec. 21, 2006, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a suitable computing system environment  500  that may be used according to one or more illustrative embodiments. The computing system environment  500  is only one example of a suitable computing environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the invention. The computing system environment  500  should not be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any one or combination of components shown in the illustrative computing system environment  500 . 
     The invention is operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the invention include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , the computing system environment  500  may include a computing device  501  wherein the processes discussed herein may be implemented. The computing device  501  may have a processor  503  for controlling overall operation of the computing device  101  and its associated components, including RAM  505 , ROM  507 , communications module  509 , and memory  515 . Computing device  501  typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media may be any available media that may be accessed by computing device  501  and include both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise a combination of computer storage media and communication media. 
     Computer storage media include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media include, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and that can be accessed by computing device  501 . 
     Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. Modulated data signal is a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. 
     Although not shown, RAM  505  may include one or more are applications representing the application data stored in RAM memory  105  while the computing device is on and corresponding software applications (e.g., software tasks), are running on the computing device  501 . 
     Communications module  509  may include a microphone, keypad, touch screen, and/or stylus through which a user of computing device  501  may provide input, and may also include one or more of a speaker for providing audio output and a video display device for providing textual, audiovisual and/or graphical output. 
     Software may be stored within memory  515  and/or storage to provide instructions to processor  503  for enabling computing device  501  to perform various functions. For example, memory  515  may store software used by the computing device  501 , such as an operating system  517 , application programs  519 , and an associated database  521 . Alternatively, some or all of the computer executable instructions for computing device  501  may be embodied in hardware or firmware (not shown). 
     Computing device  501  may operate in a networked environment supporting connections to one or more remote computing devices, such as branch terminals  541  and  551 . The branch computing devices  541  and  551  may be personal computing devices or servers that include many or all of the elements described above relative to the computing device  501 . Branch computing device  561  may be a mobile device communicating over wireless carrier channel  571 . 
     The network connections depicted in  FIG. 5  include a local area network (LAN)  525  and a wide area network (WAN)  529 , but may also include other networks. When used in a LAN networking environment, computing device  501  is connected to the LAN  525  through a network interface or adapter in the communications module  509 . When used in a WAN networking environment, the server  501  may include a modem in the communications module  509  or other means for establishing communications over the WAN  529 , such as the Internet  531 . It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are illustrative and other means of establishing a communications link between the computing devices may be used. The existence of any of various well-known protocols such as TCP/IP, Ethernet, FTP, HTTP and the like is presumed, and the system can be operated in a client-server configuration to permit a user to retrieve web pages from a web-based server. Any of various conventional web browsers can be used to display and manipulate data on web pages. 
     Additionally, one or more application programs  519  used by the computing device  501 , according to an illustrative embodiment, may include computer executable instructions for invoking user functionality related to communication including, for example, email, short message service (SMS), and voice input and speech recognition applications. 
     Embodiments of the invention may include forms of computer-readable media. Computer-readable media include any available media that can be accessed by a computing device  501 . Computer-readable media may comprise storage media and communication media. Storage media include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, object code, data structures, program modules, or other data. Communication media include any information delivery media and typically embody data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism. 
     Although not required, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various aspects described herein may be embodied as a method, a data processing system, or as a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions. For example, a computer-readable medium storing instructions to cause a processor to perform steps of a method in accordance with aspects of the invention is contemplated. For example, aspects of the method steps disclosed herein may be executed on a processor on a computing device  501 . Such a processor may execute computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. 
       FIG. 6  shows cash handling device  600  according to prior art. Traditional cash handling devices using stacking technology are typically unable to offer the option to “Cancel and Return Transaction.” This limitation results from a traditional cash handling device  600  possibly returning “double-pick” notes when trying to extract notes from a stacker. (A double-pick note occurs when two or more notes are obtained from a stacker rather than one note. This may occur when notes stick together.) The double-picked notes are then sent to divert bin  601 . Divert bin  601  is typically a non-recycling container that holds notes from multiple transactions. Consequently, when returning the “said” amount of the transaction, device  600  extracts the next note in the stacker in the attempt to return the “said” amount of the transaction. However, the notes would not be the actual and same notes that were put into device  600  for the transaction. 
     Traditional cash handling devices with stacker technology have attempted to circumvent the above limitation with the utilization of escrow bin  603 . Before the notes are sent to stackers  605 , the notes are first held within escrow bin  603 . Should the user “Cancel and Return Transaction” before escrow bin  603  fills up, device  600  allows access to escrow bin  603  (by unlocking a passage door that is not shown) without trying to feed the funds to an output tray. A limitation occurs when the size of a transaction exceeds the handling capability of escrow bin  603 , where all the notes cannot fit in escrow bin  603  at the same time. The user may be required to send escrow funds to stacker  605 , at which point the “Cancel and Return” option is no longer available. 
       FIG. 7  shows cash handling device (cash recycler)  700  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. At the end of a transaction, plates  701   a - f , which are moveable, extend over the funds for corresponding stackers  703   a - f , respectively. As a new transaction occurs, the funds (e.g., cash and/or checks) lay on top of at least one of plates  701   a - f . If a user requests to “Cancel and Return” the transaction, the notes (money) on top of a plate are picked off and returned to the user. Potential double pick notes can be either directly presented to the user because device  700  is just returning all notes down to extended plates  701   a - f  or routed to empty divert cassette  705  for re-processing back to the user after the stackers have been emptied. Should the user then complete the transaction, the money of the transaction “drops” down into stacking cassettes  703   a - f  when at least one plate  701   a - f  retracts and then extends back over the new notes from the transaction. At the end of the transaction, selected plates can retract and then extend back over all the notes for each stacker that sensed money had been laid on it. Alternatively, all plates can retract and extend at the end of a transaction. 
     Because of the extra security provided by plates  701   a - f , the amount of money that needs to be auto-verified after a jam is less. 
     With other embodiments of the invention, cash handling device  700  supports situations in which the use of plates are not desired or are cost prohibitive. Potential double picks are routed to empty divert cassette  705  (does not hold notes from a previous transaction) and are immediately re-processed (where subsequent picks off the stacker are paused momentarily). This ensures all the identical notes from the cancelled transaction are returned to the user. The order in which the diverted notes are re-processed remain in the same order as they were picked off stackers  703   a - f  because there is the possibility that the “double-pick” occurred on the last note out of stackers  703   a - f  that was to be returned to the user. In that case, one (first) note of the double-pick will go to the user and the subsequent notes will return to stackers  703   a - f . Notes of poor quality or of denominations that were to go directly to the overflow/carrier cassette  707  will need to temporarily “escrow” in divert bin  705 . When the transaction is “cancelled” these notes would be the first notes returned to the user. When the transaction is completed, these notes would transfer to overflow/carrier cassette  707 .