Patent ID: 7341177

Claim:
An automated transaction machine comprising: at least one computer; at least one transaction function device; of a first type, wherein the at least one transaction function device is capable of operation to carry out at least one first transaction function, wherein the at least one transaction function device is in operative connection with the at least one computer; an extensions for financial services (XFS) software layer operative in the at least one computer; a device driver software layer operative in the at least one computer, wherein the device driver layer is operative responsive to the XFS layer to control operation of the at least one transaction function device, wherein the device driver layer includes at least one of a plurality of differently programmed device driver software components, wherein each respective device driver component is operative to control a corresponding transaction function device of the first type, wherein a plurality of mechanically different devices of the first type are capable of being operated in automated transaction machines to carry out the at least one first transaction function, wherein at least one first device driver component included in the device driver layer of the machine is operative to control the at least one transaction function device of the machine; an Open Device Services (ODS) software layer, wherein at least a portion of the ODS layer is installed in operative connection with the at least one computer, wherein the XFS layer is operative responsive to the ODS layer to communicate with the device driver layer, and wherein the ODS layer includes a plurality of differently programmed ODS software components, wherein each respective ODS component is operative in conjunction with a respective corresponding one of the plurality of device driver components, wherein the at least a portion of the ODS layer installed in operative connection with the at least one computer includes at least one first ODS component adapted to operate in conjunction with the at least one first device driver component; and a terminal software application operative in the at least one computer, wherein the at least one first ODS component is operative responsive to at least one communication from the terminal application to cause the at least one first device driver component to cause the at least one transaction function device of the machine to carry out the at least one first transaction function responsive to communication through the XFS layer, wherein a plurality of ODS components included in the ODS layer are operative responsive to a common at least one communication from the terminal application, to cause at least one respective different communication through the XFS layer, wherein each respective at least one communication through the XFS layer is capable of causing a respective corresponding device driver component to cause a respective one of a plurality of mechanically different transaction function devices to carry out a common at least one transaction function.