Abstract:
An automated teller machine ( 10 ) comprises a fascia ( 12 ) having a check entry/exit slot ( 56 ), and a check processing module ( 60 ) for processing checks entered via the slot ( 56 ). The terminal ( 10 ) includes a control means ( 86 ), biometric data capture means ( 112, 156, 158 ), a printer ( 74 ) and a check transport mechanism ( 70 ) for transporting checks between the slot ( 56 ) and the printer ( 74 ). The control means is arranged to cause the printer ( 74 ) to print a representation of a biometric characteristic of a user onto a check during an attempt to deposit the check in the terminal ( 10 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an automated teller machine (SST), such as an automated teller machine (ATM). In particular, the invention relates to an SST for cashing checks, such as a check cashing ATM. 
   A check cashing ATM allows a registered user, who typically does not have a bank account, to cash a check and receive money from the ATM in a public access, unattended environment. A user typically registers with an institution that owns or operates check cashing ATMs, and provides identification information (such as a social security number) and information about a check (usually a pay check) that he/she regularly receives. The registered user is typically provided with a card to initiate a check cashing transaction at a check cashing ATM. 
   The check information typically includes details of how frequently a check is paid (for example, every week), who the check is paid by (that is, the payor of the check), the payor&#39;s bank details (for example, a bank code identifying the name of the bank), the typical amount that the check is made out for, and such like. 
   To cash a check, a user enters his/her card at a check cashing ATM, then enters a check to be cashed through a check slot in the ATM&#39;S fascia. The ATM draws in and processes this check. If the check is valid, and the details printed on the check match the check information provided during registration, then the ATM informs the user of a surcharge that will be applied if the user wishes to cash the check. 
   If the user agrees to the surcharge then cash is dispensed to the user and the check is stored within the ATM. If the user does not agree to the surcharge then the check is returned to the user via the check slot. 
   The check may be returned to the user for other reasons, for example, if the check is not complete, if the check has not been endorsed by the user, if the ATM decides that the details printed on the check do not match the check information provided by the user during registration, and such like. 
   On other embodiments checks can be cashed or merely deposited in a user&#39;s account without the aforementioned logging of regular checks. 
   One problem associated with check cashing ATMs relates to fraud and a further to tracing individual checks to users (who have accounts). 
   If a user can be persuaded that an invalid check, if deposited at an ATM, can be traced back to them, especially if that trace in incontrovertible then it is believed that fraud at deposit ATMs would be reduced. However, the problem of how to achieve this is as yet not entirely satisfactorily solved, despite the proliferation of security means available to the financial services industry. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is among the objects of an embodiment of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above disadvantage or other disadvantages of prior art automated teller machines. 
   According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an automated teller machine comprising a fascia having a check entry/exit slot, and a check processing module for processing checks entered via the slot; where the terminal includes a control means, biometric data capture means, a printer and a check transport mechanism for transporting checks between the slot and the printer, the control means being arranged to cause the printer to print a representation of a biometric characteristic of a user onto a check during an attempt to deposit the check in the terminal. 
   Preferably, the characteristic is only printed on the check, if the control means determines that the terminal can accept deposit of the check. 
   Preferably, the characteristic is a naturalistic, human-readable represent of the user&#39;s biometric characteristic. 
   Alternatively, the characteristic is a machine-readable representation of the user&#39;s biometric characteristic. 
   Preferably, the transport mechanism is arranged to transport unacceptable checks to a reject bin. 
   Alternatively, the transport mechanism is arranged to return unacceptable checks to the user. 
   Preferably, the terminal is specifically arranged for the deposit of a financial check, the terminal being arranged to provide the user with cash in return for the depositing of the check. 
   Preferably, the biometric data capture means includes a finger print scanner. 
   Alternatively, the biometric data capture means includes an Iris scanner, hand geometry or voice signature detection means. 
   Preferably, the terminal includes a display screen and control means arranged to control the display screen to present the user with an image of the deposited check including the representation of his or her biometric characteristic, during the deposit process. 
   According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a check processing module having an entrance port, control means, biometric data capture means, a printer and a check transport mechanism for transporting checks between the slot and the printer, the control means being arranged to cause the printer to print a representation of a biometric characteristic of a user onto a check during an attempt to deposit the check in the terminal. 
   According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of cashing financial instruments, the method comprising the steps of: transporting the financial instrument from an entrance slot to a process zone; determining whether to accept or reject the instrument; electronically acquiring a representation of a biometric characteristic of a user; printing the aforementioned representation on the financial instrument; and in the event of accepting the instrument, dispensing cash or depositing said cash in a user&#39;s account. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specific description, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial diagram of an automated teller machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic sectional diagram showing a part (the check processing module) of the terminal of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a pictorial diagram of a part (the lower dispense area) of the terminal of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a pictorial diagram of a biometric sensor; 
       FIGS. 5   a  &amp;  5   b  are illustrations of checks with printed biometric data in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating the steps involved in a check cashing operation in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Reference is first made to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates an automated teller machine  10  in the form of a check cashing ATM. The ATM  10  comprises a fascia  12  pivotably coupled to a chassis (not shown); an upper panel  14  mounted to the chassis and defining an aperture  16  through which a camera (not shown) images a user of the ATM  10 ; and a lower panel  18  hingeably coupled to the chassis (not shown) so that the lower panel  18  can be opened to reveal a safe (not shown) mounted in the chassis (not shown). 
   When the lower panel  18  is open, the fascia  12  can be pivoted upwards to reveal ATM modules mounted within the chassis (not shown). 
   The fascia  12  and lower panel  18  provide a user interface  20  for allowing a user to execute a transaction. The fascia  12  includes a handset  30  and a telephone keypad  32  for allowing a user to contact a remote operator (not shown) typically located in a call centre (not shown). The fascia  12  also includes an encrypting keyboard  34  for allowing a user to enter transaction details, and a display  36  for presenting screens to a user. 
   The fascia  12  also defines eight slots for receiving and dispensing media items, and a tray  40  into which coins can be dispensed. The slots include: a money order printer slot  42 , a bunch note input slot  44 , a bunch note exit slot  46 , a statement output slot  48 , a cash dispense slot  50 , a card reader slot  52 , a card issue slot  54 , and a check input/output slot  56 . The slots  42  to  56  and tray  40  are arranged so that when the fascia  12  is closed, the slots and tray align with corresponding ATM modules mounted within the ATM&#39;s chassis (not shown). 
   The user interface features described above are all provided on an NCR PERSONAS (trade mark) 5878 financial services centre ATM, available from NCR Financial Solutions Group Limited, Discovery Centre, 3 Fulton Road, Dundee, DD2 4SW, Scotland. 
   However, in this embodiment of the invention an NCR PERSONAS (trade mark) 5878 ATM has been modified to include a lower dispense area  58 . The dispense area  58  is located beneath the check input/output slot  56  and is fed by a check processing module  60  located within the ATM chassis (not shown). 
   The fascia also includes a biometric module  112  mounted in the shelf portion and includes (i.) a sensor  156  for receiving a human finger and for capturing fingerprint details, and (ii.) an interface  158  for encrypting and relaying a captured fingerprint image. The sensor  156  protrudes through an aperture in the shelf portion, and the interface  158  is mounted behind the shelf portion. 
   The biometric sensor  156  is a Fingerloc (trade mark) AF-S2 fingerprint sensor, available from Authentec, Inc., P.O. Box 2719, Melbourne, Fla. 32902-2719, U.S.A. 
   (See  FIG. 4 ) 
   The sensor  156  comprises an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns. A fingerprint image is scanned by digitizing outputs from each row in a programmed sequence. 
   In other embodiments other biometric characteristics, such as Iris recognition can be utilized and appropriate scan means will be employed. 
   The check processing module (CPM)  60  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic sectional diagram (along line  2 — 2  in  FIG. 1 ) showing part of the fascia  12  and lower panel  18 , and the main parts of the CPM  60 .  FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating the main elements in the CPM  60 . 
   The CPM  60  is a modified version of a conventional check processing module, such as the check processing module provided with the PERSONAS (trade mark) 5878 NCR ATM. 
   The CPM  60  comprises the following elements: a check input/output transport mechanism  70  including an alignment mechanism for aligning a check; a MICR head  72  for reading magnetic details on a code line of a check; an imager  74  including an upper  74   a  and lower  74   b  CCD camera for capturing an image of each side of a check (front and rear); a printer  76  for endorsing a check; and a storage bin  78  for storing processed checks. The transport mechanism  70  includes two divert gates  80   a ,  80   b  for diverting checks to either a reject bin  82  or a chute bin  84 . The elements ( 70  to  82 ) are conventional and will not be described in detail herein. 
   The CPM  60  also includes a controller  86  for controlling the operation of the elements ( 70  to  80 ) within the CPM  60 . 
   The chute bin  84  includes a chute  88  in the form of a steep, sloping plastics guide arranged to deliver a check from the transport mechanism  70  to the dispense area  58  using the force of gravity. 
   The CPM  60  also includes an entrance shutter  90  for opening and closing the check input/output slot  56 , and a dispense area shutter  92  for allowing user access to the chute  88 . 
   The controller  86 , is adapted to control the printer  74  to print either a direct image or encrypted data characteristic of an image of the user&#39;s biometric characteristic on the check, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b.    
   A variation of this system would involve an encoded version of the biometric being printed on to the check or other media. For example, a 2D barcode or similar digital encoding scheme might be used to encode a digital representation of the fingerprint data. This has the advantage of reducing the dependence that the printing resolution needs to be high enough to print detailed fingerprints (as long as it is high enough to print a 2D barcode that is sufficient). Additionally, barcode readers are more prevalent than optical fingerprint image readers. 
   A typical transaction will now be described with reference to  FIG. 6 , which is a flowchart illustrating the steps involved in a check cashing transaction, and also with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 . Initially, the user enters their account card into the card reader slot  52 , selects “check cashing” from a list of transaction options presented on the display  36 , and inserts the check to be cashed through the check input/output slot  56 . 
   The CPM controller  30  opens the slot shutter  90  to receive the check, and transports the received check (step  110 ) to the MICR head  72  where a code line on the check is read (step  112 ). 
   The transport mechanism  70  then transports the check to the imager, where both sides of the check are imaged (step  114 ). 
   The ATM  10  then verifies that the check has been completed correctly (step  116 ). If the check is incomplete, then the CPM  60  initiates a standard check return operation (STEP  118 ), which will not be described herein. 
   If the check is complete, then the ATM  10  requests the user to input a biometric characteristic, in this case supply a fingerprint (step  120 ). 
   In this embodiment the ATM  10  displays a charge that will be deducted for cashing the check (step  122 ) and requests the user to confirm that he is willing to pay this charge to cash the check (step  124 ). 
   If the user does not wish to pay the charge, then the CPM  60  initiates the aforementioned check return operation (step  118 ). 
   If the user accepts the charge, then the CPM  60  prints endorsement data onto the check (step  126 ), including printing an image of the user&#39;s fingerprint on the check. 
   The ATM  10  then displays an image of the check with the fingerprint printed thereon to the user on the display  36  (step  128 ) and dispenses cash (step  130 ) to the value of the courtesy amount of the check minus the charge levied for cashing the check. 
   The CPM  60  then transports the check to the storage bin  78  (step  132 ) for subsequent collection and further processing. 
   Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment within the scope of the invention. 
   In other embodiments, other checks may be deposited than checks. 
   Also, the fingerprint sensor (or other biometric device) should also be capable of differentiating between a live person and a fake biometric. This is important in an unattended, self-service environment. 
   This system has a number of advantages principally, it does not require the on-line verification of biometric data since its purpose is more geared towards fraud prevention (by discouragement) and collection of additional data for the audit trail. 
   Finally, instead of printing a representation of the biometric characteristic on the check, as per step  126  of  FIG. 6 , the control means  86  stores that representation in a memory associated with the image of the check. This embodiment could be utilized, for example, in an ATM arranged to provide check images for bank backroom processing instead of forwarding actual checks.