Abstract:
An electronic terminal includes an input device for receiving input from a user. The electronic terminal also includes a processing unit electrically coupled to the input device. Yet further, the electronic terminal includes a memory device electrically coupled to the processing unit. The memory device has stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to (a) permit the user to deposit funds into a banking account if the user enters either a first PIN number or a second PIN number with the input device, the first PIN number being different than the second PIN number, (b) permit the user to withdraw a first dollar amount from the banking account if the user enters the first PIN number with the input device, and (c) permit the user to withdraw a second dollar amount from the banking account if the user enters the second PIN number with the input device, wherein the first dollar amount is less than the second dollar amount. A method of operating an electronic banking terminal is also disclosed.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a banking system, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for maintaining a children&#39;s automated bank account. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Banks and other financial institutions have historically offered a number of services and features which provide for savings plans which vary from a typical banking account. For example, parents have long since opened savings accounts in the name of their children in order to provide an opportunity to teach their children the value of money and particularly, the value of saving money. In this manner, the parent could accompany the child into the bank such that, under the authority of the parent, the child could withdraw funds from, or deposit money into, his or her savings account. 
   However, changes in the banking industry have reduced such practices. In particular, as automated banking becomes more prevalent, customers are visiting their bank&#39;s physical locations (e.g. branches) less frequently. For example, due to the widespread implementation of automated teller machines (ATMs), banking customers are able to do most, if not all, of their banking at the ATM without the need to actually visit a bank branch office. Moreover, since many retailers such as grocery stores and department stores accept bank cards for payment and even offer “cash back”, the need for a visit to a branch office is yet further reduced. Hence, heretofore practices of providing for children&#39;s savings accounts have become substantially less utilized. 
   What is needed therefore is a method and apparatus for maintaining a children&#39;s bank account which overcomes one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks. What is particularly needed is a method and apparatus for maintaining a children&#39;s bank account which can be utilized via a banking terminal such as an ATM or point-of-sale retail terminal. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating an electronic banking terminal. The method includes the step of permitting a user to deposit funds into a banking account if the user enters either a first PIN number or a second PIN number. The first PIN number is different than the second PIN number. The method also includes the step of permitting the user to withdraw a first dollar amount from the banking account if the user enters the first PIN number. Moreover, the method includes the step of permitting the user to withdraw a second dollar amount from the banking account if the user enters the second PIN number. The first dollar amount is less than the second dollar amount. 
   In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electronic terminal. The electronic terminal includes an input device for receiving input from a user. The electronic terminal also includes a processing unit electrically coupled to the input device. Yet further, the electronic terminal includes a memory device electrically coupled to the processing unit. The memory device has stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to (a) permit the user to deposit funds into a banking account if the user enters either a first PIN number or a second PIN number with the input device, the first PIN number being different than the second PIN number, (b) permit the user to withdraw a first dollar amount from the banking account if the user enters the first PIN number with the input device, and (c) permit the user to withdraw a second dollar amount from the banking account if the user enters the second PIN number with the input device, wherein the first dollar amount is less than the second dollar amount. 
   In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating an electronic banking terminal. The method includes the step of permitting a first user to deposit funds into a banking account if the first user enters an account number associated with the banking account and a first PIN number. The method also includes the step of permitting a second user to deposit funds into the banking account if the second user enters the account number and a second PIN number. The first PIN number is different than the second PIN number. The method further includes the step of permitting the first user to withdraw a first dollar amount from the banking account if the first user enters the account number and the first PIN number. In addition, the method includes the step of permitting the second user to withdraw a second dollar amount from the banking account if the second user enters the account number and the second PIN number. The first dollar amount is less than the second dollar amount. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful electronic banking terminal. 
   It is moreover an object of the present invention to provide an improved electronic banking terminal. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and useful method of operating an electronic banking terminal. 
   It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of operating an electronic banking terminal. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a low-cost, easy-to-operate electronic banking terminal for maintaining a children&#39;s bank account. 
   The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the attached drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic banking terminal which incorporates the features of the present invention therein; and 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a point-of-sale retail terminal which incorporates the features of the electronic banking terminal of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an electronic banking terminal  10  having a processing unit  12 , a currency acceptor/dispenser  14 , a printer  16 , and a number of input devices such as a card reader  18  and a touch screen display monitor  20 . The banking terminal  10  is in communication with a banking network  22  such as the network associated with a bank or other financial institution. 
   The processing unit  12  is, in essence, a personal computer (PC) and includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a number of memory modules (not shown) along with other commonly utilized PC components such as an Ethernet controller, a number of video control devices, a storage memory device such as a hard drive device, and a number of connector ports for coupling the processing unit  12  to a number of peripheral devices such as the currency acceptor/dispenser  14 , the printer  16 , the card reader  18 , and the touch screen display monitor  20 . 
   The currency acceptor/dispenser  14  of the banking terminal  10  includes the system components necessary to allow a user to deposit and/or withdraw currency. In particular, the currency acceptor/dispenser  14  includes a pair of currency acceptors such as a coin acceptor  24  and a bill acceptor  26 , along with a corresponding pair of currency dispensers such as a coin dispenser  28  and a bill dispenser  30 . Hence, if a user desires to make a cash deposit consisting of any combination of bills and coins, the coin acceptor  24  may be utilized to accept the portion of the deposit being made in coins, whereas the bill acceptor  26  may be utilized to accept the portion of the deposit being made in bills. Similarly, if a user desires to make a cash withdraw consisting of any combination of bills and coins, the coin dispenser  28  may be utilized to dispense the portion of the withdraw being made in coins, whereas the bill dispenser  30  may be utilized to dispense the portion of the withdraw being made in bills. 
   As alluded to above, the display monitor  20  is preferably a known touch screen monitor which can generate data signals when certain areas of the screen are touched by a user. Hence, the display monitor  20  may be utilized by the user to input information into the banking terminal  10 . For example, a “keypad” may be displayed on the touch screen of the display monitor so as to allow a user to enter his or her personal identification number (hereinafter “PIN number”). A portion of the touch screen associated with the display monitor  20  may also be utilized as a “help button” such that assistance is provided to the user when it is touched by the user. 
   The printer  16  is provided to generate transaction receipts at the completion of a banking transaction. Moreover, as shall be discussed below in greater detail, the printer  16  may also be utilized to print a greeting or congratulatory message on the transaction receipt. The printer  16  may be embodied as any type of ink-jet, laser, dot-matrix, LED, or thermal printer which is capable of printing the alphanumeric characters associated with a transaction receipt. 
   The card reader  18  is provided to read information stored on a user&#39;s card. The card reader  18  may include a known magnetic strip and/or smart card reader which is capable of reading information stored on the user&#39;s bank card. For example, the user&#39;s card may be embodied as a known magnetic strip card having the user&#39;s bank account number stored thereon. In such a case, the card reader  18  may be utilized to read the user&#39;s account number from his or her bank card. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the processing unit  12  is electrically coupled to each of the currency acceptor/dispenser  14 , the printer  16 , the card reader  18 , and the touch screen display monitor  20 . In particular, a serial or other type of communication port associated with the printer  16  is coupled to a corresponding serial port (or other type of communication port, as needed) of the processing unit  12  via a serial communication line  32  (e.g. an RS-232 serial data cable). Hence, the processing unit  12  communicates with the printer  12  via the communication line  32  in order to generate transaction receipts at the completion of a banking transaction. As suggested above, the printer  16  (and certain of the terminal components described below) are exemplary described herein as being coupled to the processing unit  12  via use of a serial communication protocol; however, it should be appreciated that such use of a serial communication protocol could be replaced by other communication protocols in order to fit the needs of a given banking terminal or terminal component. For example, the terminal components may alternatively be coupled to the processing unit  12  via a parallel or USB communication protocol. 
   Similarly, a serial port of the card reader  18  is coupled to a corresponding serial port of the processing unit  12  via a serial communication line  34  (e.g. an RS-232 serial data cable). Hence, the processing unit  12  communicates with the card reader  34  in order to read a code stored on a bank card such as a magnetic strip or smart card. 
   A serial port of the coin acceptor  24  is coupled to a corresponding serial port of the processing unit  12  via a serial communication line  36  (e.g. an RS-232 serial data cable). Hence, the processing unit  12  communicates with the coin acceptor  24  in order to accept coins from a user during performance of a deposit transaction. In particular, when a user inserts coins into the coin acceptor  24 , the coin acceptor  24  generates an output signal indicative of the value of each coin which is inserted into the coin acceptor  24 . Such an output signal is communicated to the processing unit  12  in order to determine the amount of the coins which have been inserted into the coin acceptor  24  for purposes of determining the total of the user&#39;s deposit. 
   Similarly, a serial port of the bill acceptor  26  is coupled to a corresponding serial port of the processing unit  12  via a serial communication line  38  (e.g. an RS-232 serial data cable). Hence, the processing unit  12  communicates with the bill acceptor  26  in order to accept bills from a user during performance of a deposit transaction. In particular, when a user inserts bills into the bill acceptor  26 , the bill acceptor  26  generates an output signal indicative of the value of each bill which is inserted into the bill acceptor  26 . Such an output signal is communicated to the processing unit  12  in order to determine the amount of the bills which have been inserted into the bill acceptor  26  for purposes of determining the total of the user&#39;s deposit. 
   In a similar manner, a serial port of the coin dispenser  28  is coupled to a corresponding serial port of the processing unit  12  via a serial communication line  40  (e.g. an RS-232 serial data cable). Hence, the processing unit  12  communicates with the coin dispenser  28  in order to dispense coins to a user when the user requests a withdraw amount that requires coins. In particular, when a user is owed coins during a withdraw transaction, the processing unit  12  generates an output signal indicative of the quantity of each type of coin that is owed the user. Such an output signal is communicated to the coin dispenser  28  thereby causing the coin dispenser  28  to dispense the correct quantity of each type of coin to the user. 
   Moreover, a serial port of the bill dispenser  30  is coupled to a corresponding serial port of the processing unit  12  via a serial communication line  42  (e.g. an RS-232 serial data cable). Hence, the processing unit  12  communicates with the bill dispenser  30  in order to dispense bills to a user when the user requests a withdraw amount that requires bills. In particular, when a user is owed bills during a withdraw transaction, the processing unit  12  generates an output signal indicative of the quantity of each type of bill that is owed the user. Such an output signal is communicated to the bill dispenser  30  thereby causing the bill dispenser  30  to dispense the correct quantity of each type of bill to the user. 
   The processing unit  12  is further electrically coupled to the touch screen display monitor  20  via a data communication line  44 . Hence, when a user touches a particular portion of the touch screen, data signals indicative of the portion of the screen which has been touched are generated by the touch screen display monitor  20  and the thereafter communicated to the processing unit  12  via the data communication line  44 . For example, the processing unit  12  communicates with the touch screen display monitor  20  in order to receive data such as PIN numbers which are input by the user via use of the “keypad” displayed on the touch screen monitor  20 . 
   The processing unit  12  includes network interface circuitry (not shown) which conventionally permits the banking terminal  10  to communicate with the banking network  22  through a wired connection  46 . The processing unit  12  communicates with the banking network  46  during a banking transaction in order to obtain information, such as account balance information, the authorized PIN numbers associated with a given bank account, and the like. The network interface circuitry associated with the banking terminal  10  may include a known Ethernet expansion card, and the wired connection  46  may include a known twisted-pair communication line. Alternatively, the network interface circuitry may support wireless communications with the banking network  22 . 
   OPERATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   In operation, the banking terminal  10  of the present invention may be utilized to maintain a bank account for a small child or any other person which requires a certain level of stewardship in regard to maintenance of their banking account. In particular, the banking terminal  10  utilizes a “multi-tiered PIN” approach to maintenance of a bank account such as a savings account. 
   More specifically, a plurality of PIN numbers may be utilized in conjunction with a single bank account. Such use of multiple PIN numbers is useful for establishing varying withdraw limits for different users. For example, a first PIN number associated with a given bank account may be utilized to allow a first user to withdraw larger amounts of funds relative to the amount of funds that may be withdrawn with a second PIN number associated with the same bank account. In the specific case of maintaining a child&#39;s bank account, the child may be issued a PIN number which allows the child to withdraw only a predetermined amount of cash (e.g. twenty dollars), whereas the child&#39;s parent or guardian is issued a second, different PIN number which allows the parent or guardian to withdraw a relatively unlimited amount of cash (up to any levels established by the bank). The amount of cash which the child is allowed to withdraw may be adjusted to fit the needs of a given situation. For example, the amount of cash that the child is allowed to withdraw (based on the limits associated with his or her PIN number) may be adjusted upwardly as the child advances in age. 
   It should be appreciated that although each of the plurality of PIN numbers associated with a given bank account provide for varying levels of withdraw authorization, all of such PIN numbers preferably allow for unlimited deposit authorization. In particular, irrespective of whether the user enters a first PIN number or a second PIN number, the user preferably is authorized to deposit an unlimited amount of funds into the associated bank account. In particular regard to the child&#39;s bank account example, both the child and the parent or guardian preferably have the authority to deposit an unlimited amount of funds into the child&#39;s bank account via use of either one of their respective PIN numbers. 
   In addition, PIN numbers may also be established for use as “deposit only” PIN numbers. For example, PIN numbers may be assigned to a bank account which allow a user gain access to the account for the sole purpose of depositing funds into the account, but do not allow the user to perform any other transactions such as the withdraw of funds or the performance of balance inquiries. Such an arrangement is particularly useful in the case of maintaining a child&#39;s bank account. For example, relatives of the child (e.g. aunts, uncles, grandparents, etcetera) may be given a bank card along with an associated “deposit only” PIN number. On occasions such as birthdays, graduation, or holidays, the relative may use the card to deposit money directly into the child&#39;s account thereby eliminating the need to send the gift via other manners such as by mail. Moreover, in the case of where a relative deposits money directly into the child&#39;s account, the electronic banking terminal  10  is preferably configured to allow the relative to leave a short message or greeting which is displayed on the display monitor  20 , printed with the printer  16 , or otherwise played back (such as an audio/visual message) to the child the next time the child accesses his or her account. 
   It should be appreciated that in order to provide for such depositing of funds by relatives or the like, the electronic banking terminal  10  may be equipped with a bar code or other type of reader (not shown). In such a configuration, bar codes could be, for example, printed on an invitation to the child&#39;s birthday party. Such a bar code may have stored therein information which includes the account number of the child&#39;s bank account and a “deposit only” PIN number needed to access the child&#39;s account. In such a manner, the invited guest could simply take the invitation to a banking terminal  10 , scan the bar code, and thereafter deposit money into the child&#39;s account by either inserting cash into the cash acceptors  24 ,  26  or transferring funds from the guest&#39;s credit, debit, or smart card via use of the card reader  18 . 
   Moreover, the electronic banking terminal  10  is also preferably configured to accept gift cards on behalf of the child. For example, if a relative of the child purchases a gift card having stored thereon a cash amount, the card may be mailed or otherwise presented to the child. Thereafter, the child may take the gift card and “deposit” it into his or her account by inserting the gift card into the card reader  18  such that the amount stored on the card may then be transferred into the child&#39;s bank account. 
   It should be appreciated that in each of the situations described above, the user is required to enter two particular codes in order to gain access to the bank account: (1) the bank account number, and (2) the PIN number. Typically, the bank account number is stored on the user&#39;s card and is therefore entered by the card reader  18  when the user inserts his or her card. Thereafter, the user enters his or her PIN number by use of the touch screen monitor  20 . However, as alluded to above, the bank account number may also be entered manually (i.e. through use of the touch screen monitor  20 ) or may be stored on a gift card or bar code. Similarly, although generally input manually, the PIN number may also be stored on the gift card or bar code, but is typically only done so in the case of a “deposit only” PIN number for security reasons. 
   While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such an illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. 
   There are a plurality of advantages of the present invention arising from the various features of the electronic banking terminal described herein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the electronic banking terminal of the present invention may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of an electronic banking terminal that incorporate one or more of the features of the present invention and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
   For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the components and functionality of the electronic banking terminal  10  may be integrated into a point-of-sale (POS) terminal  10 ′ such as those utilized in grocery stores, department stores, and supermarkets. Such integration into the POS terminal  10 ′ allows customers at the store to maintain their children&#39;s bank account in the manner previously discussed. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the POS terminal  10 ′ includes a scanner  50  and a produce scale  52 . In a known manner, the scanner  50  may be utilized to read bar codes or other indicia on an item for purchase thereby entering the item into the POS terminal  10 ′ during performance of the transaction. Similarly, the produce scale  52  may also be utilized to weigh a produce item which is then entered into the POS terminal  10 ′ by entry of a PLU code associated with the produce item. 
   When configured in the manner shown in  FIG. 2 , the currency acceptor/dispenser  14  performs two distinct functions. Firstly, the devices associated with the currency acceptor/dispenser  14  (i.e. the currency acceptors  24 ,  26  and the currency dispensers  28 ,  30 ) may be utilized to deposit and withdraw cash from a banking account in the manner previously discussed in regard to the electronic banking terminal  10 . However, the devices associated with the currency acceptor/dispenser  14  may also be utilized during finalization of a checkout transaction. In particular, the currency acceptors  24 ,  26  may be utilized by a customer to tender payment for his or her items for purchase. Likewise, the currency dispensers  28 ,  30  may be utilized to dispense change or “cash back” to a customer at the completion of his or her checkout transaction. 
   Such a configuration provides a number of advantages. First of all, the retailer may utilize common components to perform multiple functions thereby eliminating the need to have separate terminals. Secondly, the customer (e.g. a parent or accompanying child) may simultaneously perform both a banking transaction and a checkout transaction. 
   The use of the multi-tiered PIN number concept also has additional applicability. For example, the customer&#39;s PIN number may be utilized to indicated that the customer is a minor. In such a case, if the customer attempted to purchase an item, the sale of which is restricted by statue or the like (e.g. alcohol or tobacco products), entry of the customer&#39;s PIN number could be utilized to “flag” the retailer that the customer is prohibited from purchasing such a restricted item.