Automated banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records
View Patent ↗An automatic banking machine operates responsive to data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader for reading user cards, and at least one of a note acceptor and a cash dispenser. The automated banking machine carries out financial transfers related to user accounts based on information read from cards. The automated banking machine provides a printed receipt for transactions conducted. The machine carries out transactions when operatively connected to a source of power and a transaction network. The machine also carries out functions to control the power status of devices in the machine.
1. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine that operates responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records to cause financial transfers, including:
a housing;
a plurality of devices mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing including:
a card reader operative to read card data on user cards wherein the card data corresponds to financial accounts;
at least one of a note acceptor and a cash dispenser, wherein the note acceptor is operative to accept currency notes into the housing and the cash dispenser is operative to dispense cash from inside the housing to machine users;
at least one processor mounted within the housing, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the plurality of devices, and wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the plurality of devices to operate;
a power controller mounted within the housing, wherein the power controller is in operative connection with an electrical connector extending outside the housing, wherein the electrical connector is configured to be connected with an external source of AC power, and wherein the power controller is operative to selectively supply electrical power to the plurality of transaction function devices and the at least one processor within the housing;
a communication device, wherein the communication device is in operative connection with the power controller;
wherein while maintaining electrical power to the at least one processor the power controller is operative to shut off electrical power to at least one of the devices responsive at least in part to at least one communication received by the automated banking machine from a remote computer through operation of the communication device.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the power controller is operative to cause electrical power to be supplied to the at least one device responsive at least in part to at least one further communication received from the remote computer through operation of the communication device.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the power controller is operative to cause at least one communication to be sent to the at least one processor, which at least one communication causes the at least one processor to shut down, wherein the power controller is operative responsive at least in part to a determination by the power controller that the at least one processor has shut down to cause electrical power to be shut off at least two of the devices.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the power controller is operative to cause power to be supplied to the at least two devices in a predetermined sequence responsive at least in part to at least one further communication received from the remote computer through operation of the communication device.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 including at least one sensor in operative connection with the automated banking machine, wherein the at least one sensor is operative to sense activity occurring in proximity to the automated banking machine, wherein the at least one power controller is operative to cause electrical power to be supplied to the at least one sensor while electrical power is shut off to the at least one device.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the automated banking machine is operative to provide at least one remote notification responsive at least in part to the sensor sensing the activity.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 and further including an alarm, wherein the alarm is operatively connected to the automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine is operative to cause the alarm to be activated responsive at least in part to the sensor sensing the activity.
8. A method carried out by an automated banking machine that operates responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records to cause financial transfers, the method comprising;
a) supplying electrical power from an external source of AC power to a plurality of devices included in a housing of the automated banking machine, wherein the devices include a card reader, wherein the card reader is operative to read card data on user cards corresponding to financial accounts, wherein the devices further include at least one further device that is operative to at least one of accept currency notes into the housing and dispense cash from inside the housing to machine users, wherein the automated banking machine further includes at least one processor mounted within the housing, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the plurality of devices, and wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the devices to operate, wherein the automated banking machine includes a power controller mounted within the housing, wherein the power controller is in operative connection with an electrical connector extending outside the housing, wherein the electrical connector is configured to be connected with an external source of AC power, and wherein the power controller is operative to selectively supply electrical power to the plurality of devices and the at least one processor within the housing;
b) receiving with the power controller at least one communication to shut down the automated banking machine; and
c) responsive at least in part to (b) through operation of the power controller causing at least one communication to be sent to the at least one processor, which at least one communication instructs the at least one processor to shut down;
d) through operation of the power controller, determining whether the at least one processor has shut down;
e) responsive at least in part to determining in (d) that the at least one processor has shut down, through operation of the power controller, shutting off electrical power to at least one of the card reader and the at least one further device.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein in (e) the power controller shuts off electrical power to the at least one of the card reader and the at least one further device while continuing to provide electrical power to the at least one processor.
10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the automated banking machine includes an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive electrical power from the UPS, wherein the UPS is configured to receive electrical power from the power controller, further comprising:
f) responsive at least in part to (d) through operation of the power controller, causing at least one communication to be sent to the UPS, which at least one communication causes the UPS to cause electrical power to be shut off to the at least one processor.
11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein (d) includes determining that the at least one processor has not shut down after (c), and causing through operation of the power controller, electrical power to be shut off to the at least one processor.
12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the automated banking machine includes an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive electrical power from the UPS, wherein the UPS is configured to receive electrical power from the power controller, wherein in (d) causing electrical power to be shut off to the at least one processor includes through operation of the power controller, causing at least one communication to be sent to the UPS, which at least one communication causes the UPS to cause electrical power to be shut off to the at least one processor.
13. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the power controller includes at least one input device that is operative to provide the at least one communication received by the power controller in (b).
14. The method according to claim 13 and further comprising
f) receiving with the power controller at least one input through operation of the at least one input device,
g) responsive at least in part to (f), through operation of the power controller causing power to be supplied to at least one of the card reader and the at least one further device;
h) subsequent to (g) responsive at least in part to (f) through operation of the power controller causing at least one communication to be sent to the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to start.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein (g) and (h) are carried out such that the at least one of the card reader and the at least one further device is operative to be recognized as present in the automated banking machine by the at least one processor as the at least one processor starts.
16. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine that operates responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records to cause financial transfers including:
a housing;
a plurality, of devices mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing, including:
a card reader operative to read card data on user cards wherein the card data corresponds to financial accounts; and
at least one further device that is operative to at least one of accept currency notes into the housing and dispense cash from inside the housing to machine users;
at least one processor mounted within the housing, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the plurality of devices, and wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the plurality of devices to operate;
a power controller mounted within the housing, wherein the power controller is in operative connection with an electrical connector extending outside the housing, wherein the electrical connector is configured to be connected with an external source of AC power, and wherein the power controller is operative to selectively supply electrical power to the plurality of devices and the at least one processor within the housing;
at least one input device in operative connection with the power controller;
wherein responsive at least in part to at least one input through operation of the at least one input device, the power controller is operative to cause at least one communication to be sent to the at least one processor, which at least one communication instructs the at least one processor to shut down;
wherein the power controller is operative to determine whether the at least one processor has shut down;
wherein the power controller is operative to shut off electrical power to at least one of the card reader and the at least one further device responsive at least in part to a determination that the at least one processor has shut down.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the power controller is operative to shut off electrical power to the at least one of the card reader and the at least one further device while continuing to provide electrical power to the at least one processor.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the automated banking machine includes an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive electrical power from the UPS, wherein the UPS is configured to receive electrical power from the power controller, wherein responsive at least in part to a determination that the at least one processor has shut down, the power controller is operative to cause at least one communication to be sent to the UPS, which at least one communication causes the UPS to cause electrical power to be shut off to the at least one processor.
19. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the power controller is operative to determine that the at least one processor has not shut down after being sent the at least one communication that instructs the at least one processor to shut down, wherein the power controller is operative responsive to a determination that the at least one processor has not shut down after being sent the at least one communication that instructs the at least one processor to shut down, to cause electrical power to be shut off to the at least one processor.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the automated banking machine includes an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive electrical power from the UPS, wherein the UPS is configured to receive electrical power from the power controller, wherein the power controller is operative to cause at least one communication to be sent to the UPS, which at least one communication causes the UPS to cause electrical power to be shut off to the at least one processor.