Abstract:
An electronic cash management system including a plurality of electronic cash safes each associated with a cash acceptor and a communicator under the physical control of a financial institution operating as a vault cash manager which owns the cash located therein and operative upon receipt of cash into one of said plurality of cash safes, verified by the cash acceptor to employ the communicator for providing a computer network notification to the financial institution indicating receipt of the cash as vault cash owned by the financial institution.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Reference is made to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/534,709, filed Jan. 8, 2004 and entitled REVERSE VAULT CASH SYSTEM AND METHODS, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and priority of which is hereby claimed under 37 C.F.R. 1.78(4). 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to computerized cash management generally. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following U.S. Patent documents are believed to represent the current state of the art: U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,306. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention seeks to provide improved systems and methodologies for cash management. 
     There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an electronic cash management methodology including providing a plurality of electronic cash safes each associated with a communicator, upon receipt of cash into one of the plurality of cash safes, employing the communicator for providing a computer network notification from the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes indicating receipt of the cash and at least partially identifying a product sold in return for the cash, responsive to at least one of the computer network notification from the communicator, effecting payment to a supplier of the product by a financial institution having physical control of the cash safe, accruing non-loan interest payable from an operator of the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes to the financial institution in respect of the payment as from the time of the effecting payment, collecting the cash from the cash safe on behalf of the financial institution and depositing the cash to the account of the financial institution, terminating the accruing non-loan interest upon the depositing the cash to the extent that the cash covers the payment and payment by the operator of the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes of accrued non-loan interest in respect of the payment to the financial institution having control of the cash safe. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the providing a plurality of electronic cash safes each associated with a communicator includes providing at least one of electronic vending machines and electronic kiosks. 
     In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the providing a plurality of electronic cash safes each associated with a communicator includes providing data communications functionality for data communication to and from a computerized point of sale. 
     In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention the computer network notification is communicated via a computerized point of sale operator&#39;s computer to at least one of the supplier and the financial institution. Preferably, the financial institution is a vault cash manager. 
     In accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention the payment by the operator of the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes of accrued non-loan interest in respect of the payment by the financial institution having control of the cash safe is effected by remitting by the financial institution to the operator of the proceeds of the cash collected from the cash safe and deposited to the account of the financial institution less at least payments by the financial institution to the supplier and less accrued non-loan interest due to the financial institution. Preferably, the electronic cash management system also includes providing ATM functionality. Typically, the providing ATM functionality employs at least some of the cash received into one of the plurality of cash safes. 
     In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the product includes at least one of a pre-paid telephone calling card, train ticket, stored value card, bill paying services, stored value card topping-up services and printable tickets. 
     In accordance with a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one of the: 
     responsive to at least one of the computer network notification from the communicator, effecting payment to a supplier of the product by a financial institution having physical control of the cash safe; 
     accruing non-loan interest payable from an operator of the one of the plurality of electronic vending machines to the financial institution in respect of the payment as from the time of the effecting payment; 
     terminating the accruing non-loan interest upon the depositing the cash to the extent that the cash covers the payment; and 
     payment by the operator of the one of the plurality of electronic vending machines of accrued non-loan interest in respect of the payment to the financial institution having control of the cash safe, employs a vault cash manager server. 
     There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an electronic vending machine methodology including providing a plurality of electronic vending machines, each having a cash safe and a communicator, upon receipt of cash into the cash safe at one of the plurality of electronic vending machines employing the communicator for providing a computer network notification from the one of the plurality of electronic vending machines indicating receipt of the cash and at least partially identifying a product sold in return for the cash, responsive to at least one of the computer network notification from the communicator, effecting payment to a supplier of the product by a financial institution having physical control of the cash safe, accruing non-loan interest payable from an operator of the one of the plurality of electronic vending machines to the financial institution in respect of the payment as from the time of the effecting payment, collecting the cash from the cash safe of the one of the plurality of electronic vending machines on behalf of the financial institution and depositing the cash to the account of the financial institution, terminating the accruing non-loan interest upon the depositing the cash to the extent that the cash covers the payment, and payment by the operator of the one of the plurality of electronic vending machines of accrued non-loan interest in respect of the payment to the financial institution having control of the cash safe. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the providing a plurality of electronic vending machines includes providing at least one electronic vending machine having a locked cash vault which is not under the control of the operator. 
     In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the providing a plurality of electronic cash safes includes providing data communications functionality for data communication to and from a computerized point of sale. 
     In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one of the: 
     responsive to at least one of the computer network notification from the communicator, effecting payment to a supplier of the product by a financial institution having physical control of the cash safe; 
     accruing non-loan interest payable from an operator of the one of the plurality of electronic vending machines to the financial institution in respect of the payment as from the time of the effecting payment; 
     terminating the accruing non-loan interest upon the depositing the cash to the extent that the cash covers the payment; and 
     payment by the operator of the one of the plurality of electronic vending machines of accrued non-loan interest in respect of the payment to the financial institution having control of the cash safe, employs a vault cash manager server. 
     There is also provided in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention an electronic cash management system including a plurality of computerized points of sale including electronic cash safes each associated with a communicator, the communicator being operative, upon receipt of cash into one of the plurality of cash safes, employing the communicator for providing a computer network notification from the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes indicating receipt of the cash and at least partially identifying a product sold in return for the cash, a vault cash server, responsive to at least one of the computer network notification from the communicator, for effecting payment to a supplier of the product by a financial institution having physical control of the cash safe, non-loan interest accrual functionality accruing non-loan interest payable from an operator of the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes to the financial institution in respect of the payment to the supplier as from the time of the effecting payment and terminating the accruing non-loan interest upon collecting the cash from the cash safe on behalf of the financial institution and depositing the cash to the account of the financial institution to the extent that the cash covers the payment and non-loan interest payment functionality paying the non-loan interest by the operator of the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes of the accrued non-loan interest to the financial institution having control of the cash safe. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the plurality of computerized points of sale include at least one of electronic vending machines and electronic kiosks. 
     In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the plurality of electronic cash safes each associated with a communicator include data communications functionality for data communication to and from at least one of the plurality of computerized points of sale. 
     In accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention the electronic cash management system also includes providing ATM functionality. Preferably, the ATM functionality employs a bill recycler for utilizing at least some of the cash received into one of the plurality of cash safes. 
     There is additionally provided in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention an electronic cash management methodology including providing a plurality of electronic cash safes each associated with a communicator, upon receipt of cash into one of the plurality of cash safes, employing the communicator for providing a computer network notification from the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes indicating receipt of the cash and at least partially identifying a product sold in return for the cash, responsive to at least one of the computer network notification from the communicator, effecting payment to a supplier of the product by a financial institution having physical control of the cash safe, establishing a non-loan payment obligation payable from an operator of the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes to the financial institution in respect of the payment upon the effecting payment, collecting the cash from the cash safe on behalf of the financial institution and depositing the cash to the account of the financial institution and payment by the operator of the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes of the non-loan payment to the financial institution having control of the cash safe. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one of the: 
     responsive to at least one of the computer network notification from the communicator, effecting payment to a supplier of the product by a financial institution having physical control of the cash safe; 
     establishing a non-loan payment obligation payable from an operator of the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes to the financial institution in respect of the payment upon the effecting payment; 
     collecting the cash from the cash safe on behalf of the financial institution and depositing the cash to the account of the financial institution; and 
     payment by the operator of the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes of the non-loan payment to the financial institution having control of the cash safe employs a vault cash manager server. 
     There is also provided in accordance with a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention an electronic vending machine methodology including providing a plurality of electronic vending machines, each having a cash safe and a communicator, upon receipt of cash into the cash safe at one of the plurality of electronic vending machines employing the communicator for providing a computer network notification from the one of the plurality of electronic vending machines indicating receipt of the cash and at least partially identifying a product sold in return for the cash, responsive to at least one of the computer network notification from the communicator, effecting payment to a supplier of the product by a financial institution having physical control of the cash safe, establishing a non-loan payment obligation payable from an operator of the one of the plurality of electronic vending machines to the financial institution in respect of the payment upon the effecting payment, collecting the cash from the cash safe of the one of the plurality of electronic vending machines on behalf of the financial institution and depositing the cash to the account of the financial institution, and payment by the operator of the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes of the non-loan payment to the financial institution having control of the cash safe. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one of the: 
     responsive to at least one of the computer network notification from the communicator, effecting payment to a supplier of the product by a financial institution having physical control of the cash safe; 
     establishing a non-loan payment obligation payable from an operator of the one of the plurality of electronic vending machines to the financial institution in respect of the payment upon the effecting payment; 
     collecting the cash from the cash safe of the one of the plurality of electronic vending machines on behalf of the financial institution and depositing the cash to the account of the financial institution; and 
     payment by the operator of the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes of the non-loan payment to the financial institution having control of the cash safe, employs a vault cash manager server. 
     There is further provided in accordance with a yet further preferred embodiment of the present invention an electronic cash management system including a plurality of computerized points of sale including electronic cash safes each associated with a communicator, the communicator being operative, upon receipt of cash into one of the plurality of cash safes, employing the communicator for providing a computer network notification from the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes indicating receipt of the cash and at least partially identifying a product sold in return for the cash, a vault cash server, responsive to at least one of the computer network notification from the communicator, for effecting payment to a supplier of the product by a financial institution having physical control of the cash safe and non-loan payment functionality paying a non-loan payment by the operator of the one of the plurality of electronic cash safes to the financial institution having control of the cash safe. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified pictorial block diagram illustration of a cash management system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified block diagram illustration of operation of the cash management system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which is a simplified pictorial block diagram illustration of a cash management system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As seen in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of computerized points of sale, each generally designated by reference numeral  100  communicate using a modem via a computer network or other data communication functionality  110 , such as the Internet, with a computerized point of sale operator&#39;s computer  120 . The computerized points of sale may be unmanned, such as computerized vending machines  122 , such as the Lipman NURIT® Model 6000, commercially available from Lipman Electronic Engineering Ltd. of Rosh Ha&#39;ayin, Israel, the VCOM, commercially available from NCR Corporation, and the Personas 90, also commercially available from NCR Corporation, or manned, such as a teller operated cash transaction installation  124  into which an teller inserts cash  125 . The computerized points of sale, whether manned or unmanned, are also characterized in that they include a cash vault  126 , preferably associated with a cash acceptor,  128 , which is not under the physical control of the operator thereof or of the entity at whose location the computerized point of sale is placed. The cash vault may also be provided with bill recycle functionality, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,620, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cash vault  126  is under the physical control of a vault cash manager  130 , which owns the cash located therein and which, through its agents, such as armored car messengers, has physical access to the vault for placing cash therein and removing cash therefrom. Typically access to the cash vault  126  is controlled by an electronic lock and/or a mechanical lock, although any other suitable access control mechanism may be employed. The vault cash manager is an entity separate from the operator of the computerized points of sale, which is designated by reference numeral  140 . The vault cash manager  130  preferably operates a server  142 , here termed a VCM server. The VCM server  142  may communicate via email or any other suitable data communication methodology. 
     One or more computerized point of sale operator&#39;s computers  120 , each communicating with a plurality of computerized points of sale  100 , communicates with VCM server  142 . Typically the computerized point of sale operator&#39;s computer  120  is controlled by the operator  140  of the computerized points of sale with which it communicates, which is a separate entity from the vault cash manager  130 . 
     The computerized point of sale operator&#39;s computer  120  also typically communicates with a plurality of suppliers&#39; computers, each designated by reference numeral  144 . Each supplier, here designated by reference numeral  150 , typically is responsible for one or more products sold at one or more computerized points of sale  100 . For example, the products may include, pre-paid telephone calling cards, train tickets, stored value cards, such as debit cards as well as printable ticket blanks for events, such as a sporting event and blanks for other types of products or services. The products may also include various services, such as bill payment services and stored value card topping up services, which may be handled in a similar manner as that for conventional products as described herein. The suppliers&#39; computers also typically communicate with the VCM server  142 , but typically not in real time. 
     The operator&#39;s computer  120  typically includes a modem and preferably also at least one of an email generator and a fax generator, for sending reports and other communications to the VCM server  142 , the suppliers&#39; computers  144  and the computerized points of sale  100 . 
     Alternatively, computerized point of sale operator&#39;s computers  120  may be eliminated, and the individual computerized points of sale  100  may communicate directly with the VCM server  142  and with the suppliers&#39; computers  144 . 
     Normally, the vault cash manager  130 , the computerized point of sale operator  140  and the suppliers  150  each maintain a bank account which is accessible by computer communication for funds transfer. The bank account of the vault cash manager, here termed the VCM bank account, is designated by reference numeral  153 ; the bank account of the computerized point of sale operator  140  is designated by reference numeral  154  and the bank accounts of the suppliers  150  are each designated by reference numeral  155 . 
     Reference is now made additionally to  FIG. 2 , which is a simplified flow chart illustrating preferred operation of the system of  FIG. 1 . Prior to operation of each computerized point of sale  100 , the operator  140  and/or one or more suppliers  150  supply products to the computerized point of sale  100 . The operator  140  may also provide a stock of cash to the vault  126 , particularly when ATM functionality is provided by a computerized point of sale  100 . This supply operation is designated by reference numeral  200  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The supply of cash may be provided alternatively via the VCM  130 . 
     When a customer purchases a product, such as a prepaid telephone card  202 , he or a teller typically inserts cash  125  into a cash acceptor  128  associated with a vault  126  at the computerized point of sale  100 . Upon automated computerized verification of cash entry into vault  126 , which verification is preferably effected by a conventional cash validator/acceptor and is preferably not under the control of operator  140 , the computerized point of sale  100  typically communicates, preferably via operator computer  120 , with the VCM server  142  and with the relevant suppliers&#39; computer  144 . One communication confirms purchase of the product to the supplier computer  144 , as designated by reference numeral  210 . Another communication confirms the purchase and the receipt of the cash to the VCM server, as designated by reference numeral  220 . Communication with the VCM server  142  is typically not in real time. 
     The supplier computer  144  invoices the VCM electronically via the VCM server  142 , as designated by reference numeral  230 . Typically, this invoicing is carried out as a batch process, once per day. Typically, the invoice amount is the full price of the product as collected by the computerized point of sale. Alternatively, the invoice amount is the wholesale sales price of the product from the supplier  150  to the operator  140 , which is typically a percentage of the total sales price of the product to the consumer. 
     Upon receipt of the invoice from the supplier, the VCM server  142  correlates the invoice with the confirmation of purchase received in operation  220 . 
     Upon successful completion of the correlation, the VCM  130  transfers payment for the purchase from the bank account  153  of the VCM  130  to the bank account  155  of the relevant supplier  150 , via an electronic transfer initiated by VCM server  142 , as designated by reference numeral  240 . Typically, the payments are carried out in a batch process, once per day. 
     It is a particular feature of the present invention, that upon funds transfer from the bank account  153  of the VCM  130  to the bank account  155  of the supplier  150 , interest or another fee payable by the operator  140  to the VCM  130  is accrued. Furthermore, this interest or other fee is lower than that of an ordinary loan, since the cash in vault  126  is under the physical control of the VCM  130 . This interest or fee accrual is designated by reference numeral  250 , it being understood that the fee may be a time based fee or a flat fee. Interest continues to accrue until the cash in the vault  126  is physically collected from vault  126  and actually deposited in the bank account  153  of the VCM  130 . The cash collection and deposit operation is designated by reference numeral  260  and takes place with timing controlled by the operator  140 , taking into account the cost of collection on one hand and the amount of interest or time based fee accruing on the other hand. 
     Upon deposit of the cash into the bank account  153  of the VCM  130 , the VCM receives a payment of interest or another fee from the operator  140 , as designated by reference numeral  270 . Typically, the payments are made in a batch process, once per month by funds transfer from the bank account  154  of the operator  140  to the bank account  153  of the VCM  130 . Sales commissions are paid by the suppliers  150  to the operator  140  in respect of sales by the computerized points of sale  100 , as designated by reference numeral  280 . Typically, the commission payments are made in a batch process, once per month by funds transfer from the bank accounts  155  of the suppliers  150  to the bank account  154  of the operator  140 . Alternatively, where the invoice amounts are the wholesale prices of the products to the operator  140 , the VCM  130  transfers to the bank account  154  of the operator  140 , the net proceeds of the sales, after payment of the suppliers  150  and interest, fees and other charges to the VCM  130 . 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by the claims which follow but includes combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to persons reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.