Abstract:
A self-service terminal ( 14 ) having a port ( 78 ) for transferring data is described. The terminal ( 14 ) includes a program ( 94 ) for informing a user about one or more electronic collectables ( 100 ) that a user can request, and for transferring a requested electronic collectable ( 100 ) to the user. The electronic collectables ( 100 ) typically comprise an image ( 104 ), an associated description ( 106 ) of the image, and file format information ( 102 ). A portable device ( 24 ) for accessing such a terminal ( 14 ) is also described. The device ( 24 ) comprises a program ( 50 ) for receiving a transferred electronic collectable ( 100 ) and for presenting at least part of the transferred electronic collectable so that a user of the device ( 24 ) can view an image and text portion of an electronic collectable ( 100 ) downloaded from the terminal ( 14 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a self-service terminal (SST), and to an SST system for distributing data. The invention also relates to a portable device for accessing an SST, and to a program for executing on such an SST.  
           [0002]    SSTs are public access devices that typically provide users with access to services in an unattended environment.  
           [0003]    SSTs are typically interconnected by a network that covers a relatively large geographical area. This makes SST networks ideal for distributing information and other data.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-service terminal having a port for transferring data, characterized in that the terminal includes a collectables management program for informing a user about one or more electronic collectables that a user can request, and for transferring a requested electronic collectable to the user.  
           [0005]    The word “collectable” when used herein refers to data that represents one of a series of characters, icons, images, sounds, text, animations, or such like. One example of a collectable is an image of a famous film star. Another example of a collectable is a sound file excerpted from a song. Yet another example is a video clip from a newly-released film.  
           [0006]    In a preferred embodiment, a collectable comprises an image (animated or still) and an associated description of the image. The description may be text-based or audio-based.  
           [0007]    In one embodiment, the image relates to a character (real or fictitious), and the description relates to attributes (such as age, height, origin, preferences, or such like) of that character.  
           [0008]    Preferably, the SST includes a plurality of collections, each collection comprising a series of associated collectables. For example, an SST may include three different collections, the first collection comprising rugby player collectables, the second collection comprising film star collectables, the third collection comprising video clip collectables. Thus, each film star collectable may contain a picture of a film star and a description of the most famous films in which that actor or actress appeared.  
           [0009]    Each collectable in a collection preferably shares a common function, and/or a common brand, and/or a common ‘look and feel’.  
           [0010]    Each image in a collection may be mounted in a frame that is common to the images in that collection. Thus, when displayed, a collectable may have a similar appearance to traditional collectable cards, such as cigarette cards, and football cards. However, collectables are displayed, stored, and transferred electronically rather than physically, as for traditional cards.  
           [0011]    Preferably, the port is a wireless port for wireless transfer of the collectables to the user. This enables a user to access the terminal using a portable device, such as a PDA (personal digital assistant), a cellular telephone, a games console, an Internet access device, a memory cartridge, or such like. The wireless port may be an infra red port (such as an IrDA-compliant port), a Bluetooth (trade mark) compliant port, or any other convenient port.  
           [0012]    Alternatively, the port may be a cradle to allow a user&#39;s device (such as an MP3 player) to couple to the terminal to allow transfer of the collectable. The cradle may be provided in addition to the wireless port; that is, two ports may be provided, one wireless, the other a cradle.  
           [0013]    Preferably, each collectable is a software file. The software file may allow interaction by a user; for example, the software file may be an applet. This is particularly advantageous when the collectable is a “pet” that responds differently according to how a user interacts with it.  
           [0014]    Preferably, each collectable includes a file format information indicating the collection to which the collectable belongs. The file format information may include other information, such as how the stored data is to be represented (for example, if the data includes an image, how the image is to be displayed, if the data includes text, how much text there is), the date on which the collectable was downloaded, and such like.  
           [0015]    The terminal may include a receiving program for receiving a collectable from a user&#39;s portable device, thereby allowing a user to trade a collectable with the terminal. The receiving program functionality may be incorporated into that of the collectables management program.  
           [0016]    The terminal may include a timer for removing the collectables from the terminal (for example, by deleting them) after a predetermined period of time (for example, five days). This allows a collection to be provided for a predetermined time period.  
           [0017]    The terminal may provide a remote host with details of the collectables distributed during a period, for example, during a day, a week, or such like. Such details may include the number and type of collectables distributed. These details may be provided in a similar way to the manner in which state of health information relating to the terminal is conveyed to the remote host. For example, the collectable distributed during a period may be reported in the same way as the amount of cash dispensed from the terminal during a particular time period.  
           [0018]    The terminal may be an automated teller machine.  
           [0019]    In some embodiments, each electronic collectable may have a purchase price, so that a self-service terminal sells collectables to users. In other embodiments, however, it is envisaged that electronic collectables are transferred to a user free of charge.  
           [0020]    An SST may sell previous collections of collectables to a user.  
           [0021]    By virtue of this aspect of the invention, users are encouraged to visit SSTs so that they can complete a collection of their chosen collectables. This provides an SST network with an added attraction for customers. While a user is at an SST additional services (for which the user pays) may be offered, thereby increasing the use of the SSTs and the revenue from the SSTs. As many SSTs include a full color display, and can be modified to include a wireless port, existing SSTs can be upgraded to distribute electronic collectables.  
           [0022]    According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a portable device for accessing a self-service terminal, the portable device including a port for receiving data, characterized in that the device further comprises a program for receiving a transferred electronic collectable, and for presenting at least part of the received collectable.  
           [0023]    Where the electronic collectable includes a visual representation, the device may display the visual representation.  
           [0024]    Where the electronic collectable comprises an animated and/or audible representation, the device may execute the animated and/or audible representation so that the user can watch and/or listen to it.  
           [0025]    Preferably, the program displays a gallery of downloaded collectables. Conveniently, the collectables are grouped by the device into collections to which they relate. The device may read file format information indicating the group to which the collectable belongs to enable the device to group the electronic collectables correctly.  
           [0026]    Preferably, the program is able to transfer each collectable to another portable device, thereby allowing users to trade collectables with each other.  
           [0027]    According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an electronic collectable for distribution from a self-service terminal, the collectable comprising a software file having file format information and an associated representation, where the file format information indicates a series to which the representation belongs.  
           [0028]    Preferably, the electronic collectable further comprises a text-based description of the representation. Alternatively, or additionally, the electronic collectable may further comprise an audio description of the representation. The description may include attributes of any character (for example: gender, height, age, appearance, or such like) or object (for example, engine size, color, shape, or such like) shown in the representation.  
           [0029]    Preferably, the file format information includes one or more of the following (in any combination): a title of the electronic collectable, an indication of the size of the title, image width information, image height information, color data for indicating the colors of each pixel in the collectible, an indication of the size of any text information associated with the collectable image, and the number of frames to be transmitted that relate to the current image type and resolution.  
           [0030]    The representation may be an image, a sound clip, a video clip, text, or such like.  
           [0031]    According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a system for distributing electronic collectables, the system comprising a plurality of self-service terminals interconnected to a server; wherein the terminals are able to receive one or more collectables from the server so that a series of collectables can be centrally loaded on the server and distributed through each of the self-service terminals.  
           [0032]    According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of supplying a self-service terminal user with an electronic collectable, the method comprising the steps of: informing a user about one or more collectables that the user can request; receiving a request for a collectable from the user; advising the user to prepare to receive the requested collectable; and transferring the collectable to a portable device of the user.  
           [0033]    The portable device may be held by the user. Alternatively, the portable device may be worn by the user.  
           [0034]    The step of advising the user to prepare to receive the requested collectable may include advising the user to align a portable device with a port in the self-service terminal.  
           [0035]    According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of marketing an event, the method comprising the steps of: preparing a series of electronic collectables associated with the event, each collectable comprising a software file; storing the series of collectables in a system; and allowing users to download a collectable from the system.  
           [0036]    The event may be the release of a new film, the release of a new musical record, a sporting event, a new product or service, or such like.  
           [0037]    The method may comprise the further step of: generating rules relating to the number of collectables that a user may download during a time period. For example, each user may only be allowed to download a single collectable each day. This has the advantage that a user is attracted to the system each day to collect the entire series of collectables.  
           [0038]    The method may comprise the further step of: setting a time limit during which the collectables may be collected. For example, the collectables may be removed from the system after one week. Alternatively or additionally, the method may comprise the step of: setting a limit to the number of electronic collectables that can be downloaded. For example, the collectables may be removed from the system after one thousand collectables have been downloaded. A limit to the number of electronic collectables that can be downloaded may be set for each geographic location of the self-service terminals.  
           [0039]    The method may include the step of targeting users to whom electronic collectables will be offered. These may be the only users to whom the electronic collectables are offered. The targeted users may be frequent users of the SSTs.  
           [0040]    According to a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a program for executing on a portable terminal, the program being operable to receive an electronic collectable, and to present at least part of the electronic collectable on a display associated with the portable terminal. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0041]    These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following specific description, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a self-service terminal system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the architecture of a portable device used in the system of FIG. 1;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an ATM of FIG. 1 in more detail;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing part of the ATM of FIG. 3 in more detail;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 5 illustrates the data structure of an electronic collectable;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 6 illustrates a representation stored in an electronic collectable and the associated text description;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 7 illustrates part of the system of FIG. 1 that stores a series file containing electronic collectables;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 8 illustrates the data structure of the series file of FIG. 7;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIGS. 9 a  to  9   f  illustrate screens displayed on the ATM of FIG. 3 during a transaction where a user downloads an electronic collectable;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIGS. 10 a  to  10   c  illustrate screens displayed on the portable device of FIG. 2 to a user after downloading an electronic collectable from the ATM of FIG. 3; and  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the steps involved in encrypting an electronic collectable when transferring from an ATM to a portable device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0053]    Referring now to FIG. 1, which is a block diagram of a self-service terminal system  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the system  10  comprises a host (server)  12  interconnected to a plurality of SSTs  14  (only two are shown) by a network  16 . The SSTs  14  are in the form of ATMs. The host  12  includes an authorization facility  18 , a back-office facility  20  and a software repository  22  for storing electronic collectable programs for distribution to ATMs  14  across the network  16 .  
         [0054]    In addition to authorizing ATM transactions, the host  12  operates as an interactive server from which ATMs  14  can download electronic collectables, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The ATMs  14  are physically remote from each other, but are shown in proximity in FIG. 1 for clarity.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 1 also shows a portable device  24  in the form of a PDA, such as a 3Com PalmIIc (trade mark). The PDA  24  is shown in broken line adjacent to one of the ATMs  14   a  and in solid line further away from the ATM  14   a  to illustrate that the PDA  24  is typically presented to an ATM  14   a  and then used remotely from the ATM  14   a.    
         [0056]    Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a block diagram illustrating the architecture of the PDA  24  used in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the PDA  24  comprises a controller  30  and associated volatile memory  32  and non-volatile memory  34 , a touch-sensitive display  36 , a serial communication port  38  for receiving a communication cable, and a communication port  40  in the form of an IrDA-compliant infra-red port for wireless transmission and reception of data.  
         [0057]    Data can be transmitted to and from the IR port  40  using high level commands because the PDA  24  includes the necessary drivers for effecting communication via port  40 . In the 3-Com Palm IIIc (trade mark) software called “Exchange Manager” is used to effect communication via port  40 . As a result, it is not necessary for a programmer to understand the underlying protocols and transmission characteristics involved for the programmer to be able to send and receive data using port  40 .  
         [0058]    The non-volatile memory  34  is FLASH EPROM and contains the BIOS for booting-up the PDA  24 . The FLASH EPROM  34  also stores the applications that are pre-programmed into the PDA  24 , such as a calendar application, a notepad application, and such like.  
         [0059]    The volatile memory  32  is logically split into two parts: a dynamic heap  44  and a storage area  46 .  
         [0060]    The dynamic heap  44  is used for storing dynamic data such as global variables, system dynamic allocations (TCP/IP, IrDA, and such like), application stacks, and temporary memory allocations. The keystrokes entered into the PDA  24  are all stored in the dynamic heap  44 . The dynamic heap  44  is cleared when the PDA  24  is reset.  
         [0061]    The storage area  46  is used for data and application storage, and is analogous to disk storage in a desktop personal computer. The storage area  46  is powered by the PDA batteries (not shown) and by a large capacitor, so that the storage area  46  retains data even when the PDA  24  is reset or the batteries are replaced.  
         [0062]    Storage area  46  is also loaded with an electronic collectables viewer program  50  for receiving and storing electronic collectables, and also for displaying the appropriate parts of electronic collectables. During use, the controller  30  also loads the storage area  46  with a simple operating system kernel  52 .  
         [0063]    Referring now to FIG. 3, which shows an ATM  14  of FIG. 1 in more detail, the ATM  14  includes a touchscreen display module  64 , a magnetic card reader/writer (MCRW) module  68 , a receipt printer module  70 , a cash dispenser module  72 , an ATM controller module  74  for controlling the operation of the various modules, a network connection module  76  for communicating with the host  12  (FIG. 1) via network  16  (FIG. 1), and an IR port module  78 . All of the modules within the ATM  14  are interconnected by an internal bus  80  for conveying encrypted data.  
         [0064]    The IR port module  78  includes an IR to electrical signal converter, and conforms to the IrDA standard for wireless communication of data.  
         [0065]    Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which shows the ATM controller  74  in more detail. Controller  74  comprises a processor  82 , a bios  84 , storage  86  in the form of a magnetic disk drive, and main memory  88 . In use, the processor  82  loads the memory  88  with an operating system kernel  90 , a state of health management interface  92 , and an ATM application  94 .  
         [0066]    The management interface  92  filters out state of health information received from the modules ( 64  to  72  in FIG. 3) to monitor the performance of these modules ( 64  to  72  in FIG. 3) and thereby to detect possible malfunctions. The management interface  92  may also include open system architecture components (such as WOSA and/or WOSA XFS) for providing application interoperability in calling functions relating to the modules ( 64  to  72  in FIG. 3).  
         [0067]    The ATM application  94  includes routines required to manage receipt and distribution of electronic collectables. In particular, the ATM application  94  includes the application flow (i.e. the series of screens) presented to a user on the ATM display  64 . The ATM application  94  also includes conventional routines that are required to instruct modules to perform functions, for example, to instruct the cash dispenser  72  to dispense twenty pounds sterling. The ATM application  94  also includes:  
         [0068]    (1) a routine for receiving electronic collectables from the host  12  and storing them in the memory  88 ;  
         [0069]    (2) a routine for sending electronic collectables to the IR port module  78  for transfer to a user; and  
         [0070]    (3) a routine for receiving electronic collectables from the IR port module  78 , that is, electronic collectables sent by a user.  
         [0071]    An electronic collectable  100  will now be described with reference to FIG. 5. The collectable  100  is a software file comprising a file format field  102 , a representation field  104 , and a text description field  106 .  
         [0072]    The file format field  102  contains data relating to the title of the collectable, the image size (x and y directions), the group (or series) to which the collectable belongs, color information, and any animation data if the representation is an animated image.  
         [0073]    The representation field  104  comprises bitmap format pixel data relating to an image.  
         [0074]    The text description field  106  contains text describing the image. The text may also be in bitmap format.  
         [0075]    When the owner or operator of the ATM network  10  (FIG. 1) wishes to market an event then a marketing campaign is initiated. The ATM owner or operator may provide this as a service to a third party and may charge the third party for this service.  
         [0076]    The campaign involves creating electronic collectables relating to the event. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a new cinema film is to be released relating to fictitious characters called “Minimons”. A series of collectables is devised including a number of these characters. In this embodiment, eight different characters are included in the series.  
         [0077]    [0077]FIG. 6 illustrates the image  110  of one of these eight characters (called Axechamp) and the associated text description  1   12 , as it might appear on a portable device, such as PDA  24  (FIGS. 1 and 2). The image  110  is shown displayed with a card background, however, the image  110  may be displayed without this background Although a person will typically associate the collectable with the image and text displayed, what is actually collected is the file (collectable)  100  containing the image, text, and format information.  
         [0078]    Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, once a series of characters has been devised, and the image and text information for each character has been translated into a collectable file  100 , the collectable files  100  are then combined into a series file  120 , which is then loaded into the software repository  22  on host  12 . The collectables  100  are provided with rules governing their transfer; these rules  122  are included in the series file  120 , as illustrated in FIG. 8. For example, each collectable  100  may have a purchase price associated with it; or if it is free of charge, a user may only be allowed to download one collectable for each transaction executed.  
         [0079]    The host  12  automatically transfers the series file  120  to each ATM  14 . This is typically done during the night, or at some other time period when network traffic is low. If the series file  120  is an update to or a replacement for a series file that is currently stored on the ATMs  14 , then the previous series file is automatically deleted by the ATM  14 . Each ATM  14  stores the transferred series file  120  in the memory  88  (FIG. 4) of its ATM controller  74  (FIGS. 3 and 4).  
         [0080]    When the ATM application  94  receives the series file  120 , it splits the series file  120  into the individual collectables files  100   a  to  h,  and the rules file  122 . The rules file  122  is then read to determine how the collectables files  100   a  to  h  are to be distributed by the ATM  14 .  
         [0081]    Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and  9 , if a user  96  wishes to download a collectable  100  to his/her PDA  24 , then the user  96  approaches ATM  14   a,  inserts his/her magnetic stripe card into the MCRW module  68  via a slot in the ATM  14   a,  and enters a PIN (personal identification number).  
         [0082]    The controller  74  then presents the user  96  with a screen  130  (FIG. 9 a ) on display module  64 . The screen  130  allows a user to select either withdraw cash  132  or download a collectable  134 . Most of the screens in the sequence of screens shown in FIGS.  9  also provide an option  136  to allow a user to cancel the transaction.  
         [0083]    If the user  96  selects the withdraw cash option  132  then a conventional ATM transaction is executed to provide the user  96  with cash. If the user  96  selects the download collectables option  134 , then the next screen  140  (FIG. 9 b ) asks the user  96  to select the type of portable device (such as PDA  24 ) operated by the user  96 . The types of portable devices supported by the ATM  14   a  are shown on this screen  140 , each type having its own selectable option ( 142  to  148 ).  
         [0084]    Once the user  96  has selected the correct PDA type, in this embodiment option  144  for PDA  24 , then screen  150  (FIG. 9 c ) is presented on display  64 .  
         [0085]    Screen  150  asks the user  96  to select the collectables series from which the user wishes to select a collectable. Three series are shown on screen  150 : Minimon  152 , football players  154 , and other  156  (which may include previous series that are still stored on the ATM  14 ).  
         [0086]    When the user  96  selects a series (in this embodiment the Minimon series is selected), then all the characters in that series are displayed on the next screen  160  (FIG. 9 d ). The characters  162   a  to  162   h  may be displayed as still images or as animations (for example, the characters may move up and down and/or across the screen  160 ). The user  96  is asked to touch the character  162  they wish to download.  
         [0087]    When the user  96  has selected a character (for example, the character called “axechamp”  162   g ), then the card mounted image  172  and the associated description  174  (which may be considered analogous to the reverse side of the card) of the character  162   g  is displayed on the next screen  170  (FIG. 9 e ) to show how the collectable  100   g  will be displayed on the user&#39;s PDA  24 .  
         [0088]    The user  96  is then informed of any cost associated with downloading the collectable (comprising this image  172  and description  174 ) on the next screen  180  (FIG. 9 f ). Screen  180  has a total cost field  182 , an accept option  184  for confirming that the collectable  100   g  is to be bought, and a cancel option  136  for canceling the transaction. In other embodiments, there may be no cost associated with downloading a collectable, or the cost may be in points, such as loyalty points, rather than in cash.  
         [0089]    Once the user  96  has accepted the offer by selecting accept option  184 , the transaction is validated at the remote host  12  (FIG. 1) and a screen (not shown) is presented inviting the user  96  to align the PDA&#39;s wireless port  40  with the ATM&#39;s wireless port  78  so that the collectable can be transferred to the user  96 , as illustrated by dotted line  98  in FIG. 3. If the download was successful, a screen (not shown) is presented informing the user  96  of the successful download. If the download was not successful, a screen (not shown) is presented informing the user  96  that the download failed and inviting the user  96  to realign the PDA  24  for another attempt. If the collectable  100   g  cannot be transferred successfully, then the transaction debiting money from the user&#39;s account is reversed or otherwise cancelled and the user  96  is informed that no money has been debited from his/her account.  
         [0090]    Referring to FIGS.  10 , at some later time, the user  96  can view the collectable on his/her PDA  24 . To do this, the user  96  launches the collectables viewer program  50  (FIG. 2). This program  50  presents a PDA screen  190  on the display  36 . The screen  190  shows the collectables that are stored on the PDA  24  as names in a list  192 , as illustrated in FIG. 10 a.  The user  96  can select one of these names and view the collectable image and description for that name, as illustrated in FIG. 10 b  (screen  194  showing the image) and FIG. 10 c  (screen  196  showing the description).  
         [0091]    Where more than one series is stored on the PDA  24 , the list may show the names of the series, such as Minimons, football players, and such like, so that the user has first to select the series, then another list is presented showing the collectables stored on the PDA  24  for that series.  
         [0092]    The user  96  can also trade collectables with other users by using the viewer program  50 , as illustrated in FIG. 1O a,  by selecting the trade option  198 . This instructs the viewer program  50  to transmit the selected collectable via the wireless port  40  (FIG. 2). If another user has aligned his/her portable devices port with the user&#39;s PDA port  40  then the other user can receive the transferred collectable There may be some monetary payment involved in this transfer between portable devices.  
         [0093]    In other embodiments, a PDA may include an encryption program for implementing secure transfer of a collectable (as illustrated in FIG. 11). This encryption program generates a new key for each transaction (transfer of a collectable) by obtaining a seed, and then applying a hashing algorithm (step  202 ), in this embodiment MD 5 , to the seed. The seed is obtained by the encryption program reading the contents of the dynamic heap  44  (FIG. 2), requesting the current date and time from the operating system, and appending the date and time settings to the read contents. In some embodiments, only a portion of the dynamic heap  44  may be used, for example, several hundred bytes of the dynamic heap may be used.  
         [0094]    The hashed value is then split into two halves (step  204 ): left and right. Two operations are then performed on the left half and the right half to generate a unique session key and a unique challenge value (step  206 )  
         [0095]    In the first operation, the left half is used as a first intermediate key and the right half is used as first intermediate data. The first intermediate key is used to encrypt the first intermediate data to produce the new key (which is a symmetric session key). In the second operation, the right half is used as a second intermediate key and the left half is used as second intermediate data. The second intermediate key is used to encrypt the second intermediate data to produce a challenge value. The intermediate keys and intermediate data are then discarded (they may be deleted or retained in memory until more memory is required). Thus, a unique key and a unique challenge value have been produced using the hashed value of the contents of the dynamic heap  44 .  
         [0096]    The PDA then uses a stored public key to encrypt the new key and challenge value (step  208 ). The encrypted key and challenge value are then transmitted (step  210 ) from the PDA to the ATM.  
         [0097]    The ATM receives the encrypted transmission and conveys the transmission to an ATM controller, The controller decrypts (using the private key counterpart to the public key) the encrypted transmission to recover the new (unique) session key and challenge value. The controller responds to the original challenge value sent by the PDA and prepares a new challenge value. The controller conveys to the PDA the new challenge and the original challenge using the new session key to encrypt the transmission.  
         [0098]    The PDA receives (step  212 ) the encrypted challenges and verifies (step  214 ) that the ATM has correctly responded to the original challenge.  
         [0099]    If the ATM has correctly responded to the original challenge then the PDA responds to the ATMs challenge (step  216 ) and the ATM verifies this response; thereafter, secure communication can take place between the PDA and the ATM, and the prepared transaction (transfer of a collectable) can be executed (step  218 ).  
         [0100]    If the ATM has not correctly responded to the original challenge, then the communication between the PDA and the ATM is terminated (step  220 ).  
         [0101]    Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment within the scope of the invention, for example, the portable device may be a device other than a PDA, for example, a cellular telephone, a portable PC (personal computer), a games console, or such like. In other embodiments, the SSTs may be information kiosks rather than ATMs. In other embodiments, the transaction flow (FIGS. 9 a  to  9   f ) may be different to that described; for example, no PIN may have to be entered, or a PIN may be entered after downloading an electronic collectable.