Banking system that operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records
View Patent ↗A banking system includes a plurality of automated banking machines and operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. Each machine ( 10 ) includes a user interface ( 16 ), a card reader ( 18 ) of data bearing records, a cash dispenser ( 42 ), and other transaction function devices. The card reader operates to read card data corresponding to financial accounts from user cards. In exchange for providing the machines at no charge to a merchant, user transaction fees assessed to machine users are shared by both the machine provider and the merchant.
1. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine, including:
a card reader, wherein the card reader is operative to read card data from user cards, wherein the card data corresponds to financial accounts;
a lockable housing, wherein the lockable housing bounds an interior area;
a cash dispenser;
at least one processor in operative connection with the card reader and the cash dispenser,
wherein the at least one processor is within the interior area,
wherein the at least one processor includes dedicated programming,
wherein the programming causes the cash dispenser to dispense cash from the machine responsive to communication of at least one message only between the machine and at least one remote system,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to prevent a changing of the programming that would enable communication of the at least one message between the machine and any remote system other than the at least one remote system.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one remote system is associated with a system address.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the system address includes a network address of a transaction switch.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a wireless communications port in operative connection with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with at least one remote device through the wireless communication port.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the wireless communication port is adapted to communicate messages with at least one portable handheld device.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the housing is configured to be fully supported by connection to a wall.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the housing is configured to be mounted to a wall through releasible fasteners, wherein the housing further includes a lockable access door, and wherein the releasible fasteners are only removal accessible from outside the housing upon opening the lockable access door.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the machine further includes a keypad and a locking mechanism, wherein the keypad and the locking mechanism are in operative connection with the at least one processor, and wherein the access door is unlocked through operation of the locking mechanism responsive to at least one input to the keypad.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 and further including a document scanner in supporting connection with the housing and in operative connection with the at least one processor.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the document scanner is adapted to scan checks.
11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the machine to dispense cash responsive to the scanning of a check with the document scanner.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a printer in operative connection with the at least one processor, wherein the printer is operative responsive at least in part to the at least one processor to print documents.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the housing includes an opening therein, wherein the opening is accessible from outside the housing, and wherein cash dispensed by the cash dispenser and documents printed by the printer are accessible through the opening.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the opening includes a member portion therein, and wherein cash is delivered on a first side of the member portion and printed documents are delivered on an opposed second side of the member portion.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the member portion extends generally horizontally and includes a cut out, and wherein dispensed cash and printed documents are enabled to be grasped single handedly in the area of the cut out.
16. The apparatus according to claim 12 and further including a scanning device, wherein the scanning device is in operative connection with the at least one processor and wherein cash is dispensed responsive at least in part to scanning a check with the scanning device.
17. The apparatus according to claim 1
wherein the machine is located at an establishment of a merchant,
wherein the machine is subject to an agreement between the merchant and a discount machine provider,
wherein the machine includes at least one reader,
wherein the at least one reader is operable to read user data usable to identify at least one of an account and a user of the machine,
wherein the at least one reader includes the card reader,
wherein the machine includes at least one input device,
wherein the at least one processor is configured
based at least in part on
the at least one reader reading user data that corresponds to a machine user of a first type, and
the at least one input device receiving a request for a cash withdrawal transaction from the machine user,
to
cause the machine to carry out the cash withdrawal transaction through use of
a particular transaction switch which causes a switch usage fee to be assessed, and
the cash dispenser,
and
cause a user transaction fee to be assessed to the machine user for use of the machine to carry out the cash withdrawal transaction,
wherein the user transaction fee differs from the switch usage fee,
wherein the user transaction fee includes a portion allocated to an account of the merchant, and
wherein the user transaction fee includes a portion allocated to an account of the discount machine provider.
18. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine, including:
a card reader, wherein the card reader is operative to read card data from user cards, wherein the card data corresponds to financial accounts;
a lockable housing, wherein the lockable housing bounds an interior area;
a cash dispenser;
at least one processor in operative connection with the card reader and the cash dispenser, and
wherein the at least one processor includes a configuration that causes the cash dispenser to dispense cash from the machine responsive to communication of at least one message between the machine and at least one remote system, and
wherein the configuration is adapted to prevent reconfiguring of the at least one processor to enable communication of the at least one message between the machine and any remote system other than the at least one remote system.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the at least one remote system is associated with a system address.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the system address includes a network address of a transaction switch.
21. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the configuration includes fixed programming.
22. The apparatus according to claim 18
wherein the machine is located at an establishment of a merchant,
wherein the machine is subject to an agreement between the merchant and a discount machine provider,
wherein the machine includes at least one reader,
wherein the at least one reader is operable to read user data usable to identify at least one of an account and a user of the machine,
wherein the at least one reader includes the card reader,
wherein the machine includes at least one input device,
wherein the at least one processor is configured
based at least in part on
the at least one reader reading user data that corresponds to a machine user of a first type, and
the at least one input device receiving a request for a cash withdrawal transaction from the machine user,
to
cause the machine to carry out the cash withdrawal transaction through use of
a particular transaction switch which causes a switch usage fee to be assessed, and
the cash dispenser,
and
cause a user transaction fee to be assessed to the machine user for use of the machine to carry out the cash withdrawal transaction,
wherein the user transaction fee differs from the switch usage fee,
wherein the user transaction fee includes a portion allocated to an account of the merchant, and
wherein the user transaction fee includes a portion allocated to an account of the discount machine provider.
23. An apparatus including:
an automated banking machine located at an establishment of a merchant,
wherein the machine is subject to an agreement between the merchant and a discount machine provider,
wherein the machine includes at least one reader,
wherein the at least one reader is operable to read user data usable to identify at least one of an account and a user of the machine,
wherein the machine includes a cash dispenser,
wherein the machine includes at least one input device,
wherein the machine includes at least one processor,
wherein the at least one processor is configured
based at least in part on
the at least one reader reading user data that corresponds to a machine user of a first type, and
the at least one input device receiving a request for a cash withdrawal transaction from the machine user,
to
cause the machine to carry out the cash withdrawal transaction through use of
a particular transaction switch which causes a switch usage fee to be assessed, and
the cash dispenser,
and
cause a user transaction fee to be assessed to the machine user for use of the machine to carry out the cash withdrawal transaction,
wherein the user transaction fee differs from the switch usage fee,
wherein the user transaction fee includes a portion allocated to an account of the merchant, and
wherein the user transaction fee includes a portion allocated to an account of the discount machine provider,
wherein the at least one processor is programmed to cause responsive to communication of at least one message between the machine and at least one remote system, the cash dispenser to dispense cash in carrying out the cash withdrawal transaction,
wherein the at least one processor includes a configuration adapted to prevent reconfiguring of the at least one processor,
wherein the configuration secures the at least one processor from programming tampering which would enable communication of the at least one message between the machine and any remote system other than the at least one remote system.
24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the at least one processor includes programming,
wherein the configuration prevents changing of the programming to enable communication of the at least one message between the machine and any remote system other than the at least one remote system.
25. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the at least one remote system is associated with a system address.
26. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the system address includes an address of the particular transaction switch.
27. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the system address includes a network address.
28. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the configuration includes fixed programming.
29. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the at least one processor includes programming,
wherein the machine includes a lockable housing, wherein the lockable housing bounds an interior area,
wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the at least one reader and the cash dispenser,
wherein the configuration prevents changing of the programming to enable communication of the at least one message between the machine and any remote system other than the at least one remote system.
30. The apparatus according to claim 23
wherein the machine includes at least one item acceptor,
wherein the at least one item acceptor is operable to accept at least one of cash and checks from users of the machine.