Granted Patent B2

US 7,070,111 · App. 10/789,280 · Granted Jul 4, 2006

Abstract

Claims (65)

1. An apparatus including:

a cassette,

wherein the cassette is adapted for use in an automated banking machine chest having a chest lock that controls access to the chest,

wherein the cassette is operative to hold media therein,

wherein the cassette includes a lock,

wherein the lock includes a movable locking member,

wherein the locking member is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position,

wherein with the locking member in the locked position the cassette is prevented from being opened,

wherein with the locking member in the unlocked position the cassette is operative to be opened,

wherein the cassette includes a keypad thereon,

wherein the cassette includes memory therein,

wherein the memory includes lock combination data stored therein, an electronic lock control,

wherein the electronic lock control is operative to control movement of the locking member,

wherein the electronic lock control is operative to retrieve the lock combination data from the memory,

wherein the electronic lock control includes the keypad,

wherein the keypad is operative to receive user input,

wherein responsive to lock combination data retrieved from the memory corresponding to user input received via the keypad, the electronic lock control is operative to cause unlocking of the cassette by causing the locking member to be placed in the unlocked position.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the keypad is operative to receive a lock combination, wherein the combination comprises a sequence of inputs, and wherein the electronic lock control is operative to move the locking member to the unlocked position responsive to the combination entered into the keypad.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the keypad includes an electronic programmable keypad.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the electronic lock control is operative to receive input to change the lock combination.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the combination includes multiple combinations of numbers.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the electronic lock control includes a battery.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the battery can be charged in a non-contacting manner.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the cassette includes an inductive charging port, and wherein the battery can be recharged via the inductive charging port.

9. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the keypad includes plural buttons, wherein the keypad is operative to receive the combination via the buttons.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the keypad includes an LED adjacent each button.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the cassette includes an LCD panel.

12. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the apparatus further includes an automated banking machine including a chest having a chest lock that controls access to the chest, wherein the chest has the cassette therein.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the automated banking machine comprises an automated teller machine (ATM), wherein the chest includes a plurality of cassettes containing currency, wherein each cassette includes a different combination.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1

wherein the lock combination data was retrieved during a first retrieval, wherein the user input received comprises a first user input, wherein the unlocking comprises a first unlocking,

wherein responsive to lock combination data retrieved during a second retrieval from the memory corresponding to a second user input received via the keypad, the electronic lock control is operative to cause a second unlocking of the cassette by causing the locking member to be placed in the unlocked position.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1

wherein the automated banking machine comprises an automated teller machine (ATM),

wherein the ATM includes a currency dispenser,

wherein the currency dispenser is operative to dispense currency,

wherein the cassette comprises a currency cassette,

wherein the currency cassette is operative to hold currency therein.

16. Apparatus including:

a cassette,

wherein the cassette is adapted for use in an automated banking machine,

wherein the cassette is operative to hold media therein,

wherein the cassette includes a lock,

wherein the lock includes a movable locking member,

wherein the locking member is movable between a locked position and a unlocked position,

wherein with the locking member in the locked position the cassette is prevented from being opened,

wherein with the locking member in the unlocked position the cassette is operative to be opened,

an electronic lock control,

wherein the electronic lock control includes an electronic programmable combination receiving member,

wherein the combination receiving member is operative to receive a lock combination comprising a sequence of inputs,

wherein the electronic lock control is operative to move the locking member to the unlocked position responsive to the combination entered into the combination receiving member,

wherein the electronic lock control is operative to receive input via the combination receiving member to change the lock combination.

17. A method including:

(a) storing a lock combination in memory inside of an automated banking machine media cassette, wherein the cassette includes a lock and an electronic lock control, wherein the electronic lock control is operative to control unlocking of the cassette, wherein the cassette is adapted for use in an automated banking machine chest having a chest lock that controls access to the chest;

(b) receiving with the electronic lock control an inputted lock combination;

(c) retrieving the lock combination stored in step (a) from the memory;

(d) unlocking the cassette responsive to the lock combination retrieved in step (c) corresponding to the inputted lock combination received in step (b).

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the electronic lock control includes a keypad, wherein the cassette includes the keypad thereon, and wherein (b) includes receiving the combination via the keypad.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein the electronic lock control includes a keypad, wherein the keypad includes plural buttons, and wherein the keypad includes an LED adjacent each button, and wherein (b) includes receiving the combination via the buttons.

20. The method according to claim 17 wherein the electronic lock control includes an electronic programmable keypad, and further including

(e) changing the lock combination in memory via the keypad.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein (a) includes storing a lock combination in memory inside each of plural automated banking machine media cassettes, wherein (e) includes changing the combination of each cassette so that each cassette has a different combination, and further including

(f) inserting each cassette into the same automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a chest having a chest lock that controls access to the chest, wherein at least one cassette is inserted into the chest.

22. The method according to claim 17 wherein the electronic lock control includes a battery, wherein the cassette includes an inductive charging port, and further including

(e) recharging the battery via the inductive charging port.

Assignments (22)