ATM network with cash management arrangement
View Patent ↗An ATM network includes a plurality of ATMs. Each ATM can determine the amount of currency in its currency cassettes. The network can track the amount of currency therein. The information can be provided in real time, enabling a network operator to provide efficient currency management.
1. An apparatus including:
an automated banking machine network,
wherein the network includes a plurality of automated banking machines,
wherein each automated banking machine includes a plurality of currency cassettes,
wherein each cassette is operative to hold currency therein,
wherein each cassette includes at least one data indicator,
wherein each data indicator includes data representative of a characteristic of cassette currency,
wherein each automated banking machine includes at least one cassette reader,
wherein the at least one cassette reader is operative to remotely read the data of a data indicator without contact therebetween,
wherein the network is operative to track the amount of currency in at least one of the automated banking machines.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the network can track the amount of currency in each automated banking machine in the network.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the network can determine the amount of currency in the network.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the network is operative to provide currency information in real time.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the network includes at least one computer.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each automated banking machine includes at least one computer.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the network is operative to communicate with each automated banking machine.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the communication involves the Internet.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one data indicator includes data representative of the value of currency in a cassette.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one data indicator includes data representative of the amount of currency in a cassette.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one cassette reader is operative to remotely read the data of a data indicator using a radio frequency.
12. A method including:
(a) providing an automated banking machine network including a plurality of automated banking machines, wherein each automated banking machine includes a plurality of currency cassettes, wherein each cassette includes at least one data indicator, wherein each data indicator includes data representative of a characteristic of cassette currency;
(b) remotely reading the data of the data indicators of at least one automated banking machine;
(c) determining the amount of currency in at least one of the automated banking machines.
13. The method according to claim 12 wherein (b) includes remotely reading the data of each data indicator of each automated banking machine.
14. The method according to claim 13 wherein (c) includes determining the amount of currency in each of the automated banking machines using the data read in (b).
15. The method according to claim 14 and further including
(d) determining the amount of currency in the network.
16. The method according to claim 15 wherein (d) includes tracking the amount of currency in the network in real time.
17. The method according to claim 12 wherein each automated banking machine includes at least one cassette reader, wherein the at least one cassette reader is operative to remotely read the data of a data indicator without contact therebetween, and wherein (b) includes remotely reading the data of each data indicator of each automated banking machine without contact between a data indicator and a cassette reader.
18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the at least one cassette reader is operative to remotely read the data of a data indicator using radio frequency, and wherein (b) includes remotely reading the data of each data indicator of each automated banking machine using radio frequency.
19. The method according to claim 12 wherein the network includes a host computer, wherein each automated banking machine includes a computer, and further including
(d) communicating between the host computer and at least one automated banking machine computer.
20. Apparatus including:
an automated teller machine (“ATM”) network,
wherein the network includes a host computer,
wherein the network includes a plurality of ATMs,
wherein each ATM includes an ATM computer,
wherein each ATM includes a plurality of currency cassettes,
wherein each cassette is operative to hold currency therein,
wherein each cassette includes at least one data indicator,
wherein each cassette includes a data indicator including data representative of an amount of currency in the cassette,
wherein each ATM includes at least one cassette reader,
wherein the at least one cassette reader is operative to remotely read the data of a data indicator without contact therebetween,
wherein the at least one cassette reader is in operative connection with the ATM computer,
wherein each ATM computer is operative to communicate currency amount information to the host computer,
wherein the host computer is operative to determine the amount of currency in the network in real time.