Abstract:
A self-service terminal ( 10 ) having a user interface ( 14 ) and a surcharge application ( 54 ) for levying a surcharge on transactions is described. The terminal may be an ATM. The surcharge application ( 54 ) is operable to vary the rate of surcharge applied according to a predetermined criterion. The predetermined criterion may be based on the time at which a transaction is executed at the terminal, or upon the usage of the terminal prior to executing a transaction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to a self-service terminal (SST), such as an automated teller machine (ATM).  
           [0002]    ATMs are public access terminals that provide users with a convenient source of cash and other financial transactions and services. With the advent of surcharging (that is, levying a charge on each cash withdrawal transaction at an ATM for the use of the ATM), ATMs are now installed in retail outlets to provide a revenue stream for the owners of the retail outlets. Typically, a retailer receives a percentage of each surcharge levied on a transaction. In another business model the owner of the ATM (the deployer) receives the entire surcharge.  
           [0003]    For a retailer to profit from an ATM, the ATM must perform, on average, a certain number of transactions each day. Once this number has been exceeded, the income from each surcharge represents a profit for the retailer. To maximize the profitability of such an ATM, it is desirable to stimulate as many transactions as possible.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-service terminal having a user interface and a surcharge application for levying a surcharge on transactions, characterized in that the surcharge application is operable to vary the rate of surcharge applied.  
           [0005]    Preferably, the surcharge application varies the rate of surcharge applied according to a predetermined criterion. This predetermined criterion may be the time at which a transaction is conducted, the number of transactions being conducted within a time period, the amount of media (for example, banknotes) remaining in the terminal, or such like. The word “time” is used herein to include: hours or parts thereof (for example, half hour periods), days or parts thereof (for example, forenoon and afternoon), weeks, months, and such like.  
           [0006]    Preferably, the surcharge application provides maximum and minimum rates of surcharge to allow an owner and/or operator (for example, a retailer) to determine the range within which the surcharge will be varied. The surcharge application may also allow an operator to select an amount by which the rate is incremented or decremented (for example, fifty pence). In most embodiments, it is envisaged that the maximum and minimum rates are both non-zero.  
           [0007]    In one embodiment, the terminal is an ATM and the surcharge application is operable to increase the surcharge rate (for example, from one pound sterling to one pound and fifty pence) when the number of transactions in a time period (for example, ten minutes) exceeds five, and to lower the surcharge rate when the number of transactions in a time period (for example, ten minutes) is less than three. Thus, the surcharge rate is automatically increased when there is a high demand for transactions, thereby increasing revenue for the owner of the ATM.  
           [0008]    In another embodiment, the terminal is an ATM and the surcharge application is operable to decrease the surcharge rate (for example, from one pound and fifty pence to one pound) when the number of transactions in a time period (for example, ten minutes) exceeds five, and to increase the surcharge rate to the original value when the number of transactions in a time period (for example, ten minutes) is less than three. Thus, the surcharge rate is automatically decreased when there is a high demand for transactions, thereby increasing customer loyalty for the owner of the ATM, and encouraging users to return to that ATM for conducting future transactions.  
           [0009]    In other embodiments, the surcharge application may automatically vary the rate of surcharge applied depending on the time of day at which a transaction is conducted. For example, evening transactions may attract a higher surcharge than morning transactions.  
           [0010]    The increase in surcharge may be timed to coincide with a special offer in a retail outlet, so that extra revenue from surcharging may offset decreased profit from an item reduced in the special offer. For example, where the retail outlet is a bar, an ATM within the bar may increase the surcharge rate during a “happy hour” (a time period during which drinks are sold at a lower price than normal). The timing of an increase in surcharge rate may also coincide with a major influx of persons into the surrounding area, for example, two hours before and after a major football match.  
           [0011]    It will be appreciated that the term retail outlet is intended to include shops, bars, night-clubs, restaurants, casinos, and such like.  
           [0012]    Typically, the terminal informs a user about the amount of surcharge that will be levied prior to the user completing a transaction. This is achieved by presenting the user with a screen indicating the surcharge amount that will be applied and requesting the user to confirm that he/she wishes to continue with the transaction. The ATM may also have a notice indicating that a surcharge is levied at the ATM.  
           [0013]    By virtue of this aspect of the invention, a self-service terminal automatically varies the rate of surcharge levied based on a predetermined criterion.  
           [0014]    The term “screen” is used herein to denote the graphics, text, controls (such as menu options), and such like, that are presented on a display unit; the term “screen” as used herein does not refer to the hardware (for example, the LCD, CRT, or touchscreen) that displays the graphics, text, controls, and such like. Typically, when a transaction is being entered at an SST, a series of screens are presented in succession on the SST display, with the next screen displayed being dependent on a user entry relating to the current screen. For example, a first screen may request a user to insert a card; once a card has been inserted, a second screen may invite the user to enter his/her PIN; once the final digit of the PIN has been entered, a third screen may invite the user to select a transaction; and so on.  
           [0015]    According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of levying a surcharge on a transaction at a self-service terminal, the method comprising the steps of: analyzing the number of transactions executed in a recent time period, comparing this number with a predetermined criterion, and setting a surcharge rate accordingly.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    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:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a self-service terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a part (the controller) of the terminal of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 3A to  3 O illustrate a sequence of screens displayed on the terminal of FIG. 1 while a retailer is programming surcharge parameters; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 4A to  4 G illustrate a sequence of screens presented to a user of the terminal of FIG. 1 during a transaction at one time. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]    Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates an SST  10  (in the form of an ATM) according to one embodiment of the present invention, being operated by a user  12  who is executing a transaction.  
         [0022]    The ATM  10  includes a user interface  14  for outputting information to the user  12  and for allowing the user  12  to input information to the ATM  10 .  
         [0023]    The user interface  14  is a pivotably mounted molded fascia  16  incorporating a display module  18 , an encrypting keypad module  20 , a card slot  22 , and a cash delivery slot  24 . The card slot  22  aligns with a motorized card reader module  26 , and the cash delivery slot  24  aligns with a cash dispense module  28 .  
         [0024]    The ATM  10  also includes an internal journal printer module  30  for recording all transactions executed by the ATM  10 , a dial-up modem  32  for communicating with a remote transaction host (not shown) that authorizes transactions, and an ATM controller module  34  for controlling the operation of the modules ( 18 , 20 , 26 , 28 , 30 , 32 ) within the ATM  10 . An internal bus  36  for securely conveying data interconnects all of the modules within the ATM  10 .  
         [0025]    The ATM controller  34  is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2, and comprises a BIOS  40  stored in non-volatile memory, a microprocessor  42  and associated main memory  44 , and storage space  46  in the form of a magnetic disk drive.  
         [0026]    In use, the microprocessor  42  loads an operating system kernel  50  and control means  52  (in the form of an ATM application program) into the main memory  44 . The ATM application  52  includes a surcharge module  54 .  
         [0027]    The ATM application program  52  controls the operation of the ATM  10 . In particular, the ATM application program  52 : provides the sequence of screens used in each transaction (referred to as the application flow); monitors the condition of each module within the ATM  10  (referred to as state of health monitoring); monitors the number of transactions executed by the ATM; and executes the surcharge module  54  when required.  
         [0028]    The surcharge module  54 , when executing, allows an ATM owner or operator (who may lease the ATM) to enter surcharge information by allowing the owner or operator to:  
         [0029]    (1.) select a maximum and minimum rate of surcharge,  
         [0030]    (2.) determine the increment by which the surcharge will be varied, and  
         [0031]    (3.) determine the criterion for incrementing or decrementing the rate of surcharge.  
         [0032]    Once this surcharge information has been entered by an ATM owner or operator, the surcharge module  54  conveys the surcharge information to the ATM application program  52  for use in varying the rate of surcharge applied to transactions. The ATM application program  52  stores this conveyed surcharge information on the magnetic disk  46 .  
         [0033]    To set the surcharge information, a retailer accesses the surcharge module  54  by entering a password while the ATM  10  is in a supervisor mode. The surcharge module  54  provides the retailer with a sequence of screens through which the retailer navigates to enter a criterion for varying the ATM&#39;s surcharge rate, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A to  30 .  
         [0034]    The surcharge module  54  presents a screen  60   a  asking the operator if he/she wishes to change the surcharge parameters. If the retailer selects the “NO” option then the surcharge module  54  exits and returns control to the ATM application  52 . If the retailer selects “YES” then the surcharge module  54  presents the retailer with a criterion selection screen  60   b.    
         [0035]    The criterion selection screen  60   b  (FIG. 3B) prompts the retailer to select whether the surcharge levied should be varied according to the time at which a transaction is conducted (option  61 ) or according to how frequently the ATM is being used (option  62 ).  
         [0036]    If the retailer selects the time option  61  then the surcharge module  54  presents a time selection screen  60   c  (FIG. 3C) listing two different cycles that can be chosen: sub-daily (which may be divided into hours or groups of hours) and daily. In this example, the retailer selects the daily cycle.  
         [0037]    The surcharge module  54  then presents a current daily settings screen  60   d  (FIG. 3D) having a table  63  listing all the days of the week and the surcharge rate applied for each day, and providing a selectable option  64   a  for changing the current settings and a selectable option  64   b  for accepting the current settings. In this example, the retailer opts to change the current settings.  
         [0038]    The surcharge module  54  then presents the retailer with a day selection screen  60   e  (FIG. 3E) listing the days in a week as selectable options  66   a  to  66   g,  and a cancel option  67 . In this example, the retailer desires to change the ATM&#39;s surcharge rate on Wednesdays from two pounds to one pound and fifty pence. To achieve this, the retailer selects the Wednesday option  66   c.    
         [0039]    The surcharge module  54  then presents the retailer with a surcharge rate selection screen  60   f  (FIG. 3F) for Wednesdays. The retailer enters the value in pence; in this example, one hundred and fifty pence.  
         [0040]    The surcharge module  54  then presents the retailer with an updated current settings screen  60   g  (FIG. 3G) having an updated weekly settings table  68  showing the current settings for a week, and providing a selectable option  69   a  for changing the current settings and selectable option  69   b  for accepting the current settings. As the retailer has now changed the settings, the retailer opts to accept the current settings. The surcharge module  54  stores these settings on the magnetic disk  46 .  
         [0041]    If, while viewing the criterion selection screen  60   b  (FIG. 3B), the retailer selects the usage option  62 , then the surcharge module  54  presents the retailer with a minimum surcharge screen  60   h  (FIG. 3H) requesting the retailer to enter the lowest level of surcharge to be applied.  
         [0042]    Once the retailer enters a value (for example, one hundred pence), the surcharge module  54  presents the retailer with a maximum surcharge screen  60   i  (FIG. 3I) requesting the retailer to enter the highest level of surcharge to be applied.  
         [0043]    Once the retailer enters a value (for example, two hundred and fifty pence), the surcharge module  54  presents the retailer with a step amount screen  60   j  (FIG. 3J) requesting the retailer to enter an amount by which the surcharge will be incremented or decremented if a predetermined criterion is met.  
         [0044]    Once the retailer enters a value (for example, fifty pence), the surcharge module  54  presents a series of four screens ( 60   k  to  60   n ) to determine the rate at which transactions have to be executed before the ATM  10  increments the surcharge, and the rate to which the number of transactions must fall before the ATM decrements the surcharge.  
         [0045]    Screen  60   k  (FIG. 3K) requests the retailer to enter the number of transactions required for the surcharge rate to be incremented. In this example, the retailer enters the number five.  
         [0046]    Screen  60   l  (FIG. 3L) then requests the retailer to enter the time period during which more than five transactions must be executed before the surcharge rate is to be incremented. In this example, the retailer enters the number ten so that six transactions are required within a ten minute period before the surcharge is incremented (provided the surcharge is not at the limit specified in the maximum surcharge screen  60   i ).  
         [0047]    Similarly, screens  60   m  (FIG. 3M) and  60   n  (FIG. 3N) enable the retailer to instruct the ATM  10  that if fewer than three transactions are executed within a ten minute period then the surcharge is decremented (provided the surcharge is not at the limit specified in the minimum surcharge screen  60   h ).  
         [0048]    The surcharge module  54  then presents the retailer with a usage criterion screen  60   o  (FIG. 3O) summarizing the criterion for incrementing and decrementing the surcharge to be applied to a transaction. If the retailer does not accept this summary, then the surcharge module  54  presents the user with the initial surcharge screen  60   a  (FIG. 3A). If the retailer accepts this summary then the surcharge module  54  stores this information on the magnetic disk  46  (FIG. 2) and returns control to the ATM application  52 .  
         [0049]    The last criterion that was updated is used as the criterion for varying the surcharge rate at the ATM  10 . Thus, if the time option (screen sequence  60   c  to  60   g ) was last updated then the surcharge levied is determined by the time at which the ATM  10  is used in combination with the stored table indicating the rate for that time; whereas, if the usage option (screen sequence  60   h  to  60   o ) was last updated then the surcharge levied is determined by recent usage of the ATM  10  in combination with the stored criterion for number of transactions within a time period.  
         [0050]    An example of a typical transaction at the ATM  10  will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4A to  4 G, which illustrate the sequence of screens presented to the user  12  when the ATM  10  varies the surcharge according to the time at which the ATM  10  is used. In this example, a transaction is executed on a Wednesday, for which the surcharge is one pound and fifty pence (from table  68  on FIG. 3G).  
         [0051]    When the user  12  approaches the ATM  10  he/she is presented with an attract screen  70   a  (FIG. 4A) on display  18  inviting him/her to insert a card.  
         [0052]    After inserting a card, the user  12  is presented with a screen  70   b  (FIG. 4B) inviting him/her to enter a personal identification number (PIN).  
         [0053]    The ATM application program  52  then presents the user  12  with a screen  70   c  (FIG. 4C) listing transaction options available.  
         [0054]    After the user  12  has selected the withdraw cash option, the ATM application  52  presents the user with a screen  70   d  (FIG. 4D) indicating cash amounts available.  
         [0055]    Once the user has selected a cash amount, the ATM application  52  presents a screen  70   e  informing the user of the surcharge that will be levied, in this example one pound and fifty pence. The surcharge rate is retrieved from the weekly settings table  68  that was stored on the disk drive  46  when it was input by the retailer at screen  60   f . Surcharge screen  70   e  also provides a selectable option  72  for accepting the surcharge, and a selectable option  74  for canceling the transaction.  
         [0056]    If the user  12  selects the option  74  for canceling the transaction then the user&#39;s card is returned and the ATM application  52  reverts to the attract screen  70   a.    
         [0057]    If the user  12  selects the accept option  72  then the ATM application  52  authorizes the transaction (for the amount of money requested plus the surcharge) and then presents a screen  70   f  (FIG. 4F) inviting the user to remove his/her card.  
         [0058]    Once the user has removed his/her card, the ATM application  52  presents a screen  70   g  (FIG. 4G) inviting the user to remove the requested cash.  
         [0059]    Once the cash has been removed, the ATM application  52  reverts to the attract screen  70   a.    
         [0060]    If the above transaction had been performed on a Friday, then the ATM would have levied a surcharge of two pounds and fifty pence based on the information contained in the weekly settings table  68  (FIG. 3G).  
         [0061]    If the retailer had set the ATM  10  to surcharge according to usage, and the usage settings were:  
         [0062]    minimum surcharge equals one pound,  
         [0063]    maximum surcharge equals two pounds,  
         [0064]    step equals fifty pence, and  
         [0065]    transaction criterion equals that shown in screen  60   o  (FIG. 3O);  
         [0066]    and the above transaction had been performed on a Wednesday, two hours after the last transaction, then the surcharge applied would have been one pound (the minimum value). If the usage settings were those given above, and the transaction was performed after thirty transactions had been performed equally spaced in a half-hour period, then the surcharge applied would have been two pounds (the maximum value).  
         [0067]    Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment within the scope of the invention, for example, other criteria may be used for varying the surcharge rate than those given above. In other usage-based embodiments, the decrement amount may differ from the increment amount.