Automated banking machine that operates responsive to data read from data bearing records
View Patent ↗Automated banking machines operate to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. Each of the automated banking machines includes a card reader that is operative to read data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. Transactions are authorized responsive at least in part to correspondence between card data and stored data corresponding to authorized users. Entities responsible for operating the automated banking machines may receive messages that include information or update code items for software or firmware usable in the banking machines for which they have operational responsibility.
1. Apparatus comprising:
at least one computer,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to access data from at least one data store,
wherein the data links entity contact addresses with programs usable by at least one processor associated with at least one automated banking machine that is each operable to carry out transactions involving financial accounts identifiable at least in part by user data read by at least one machine reader,
wherein a first program of the programs includes computer executable instructions that when executed by at least one first processor associated with a first machine of the at least one automated banking machine, causes the first machine to perform at least one first function,
wherein the data links the first program with at least a first entity contact address of the entity contact addresses,
wherein a second program of the programs includes computer executable instructions that when executed by at least one second processor associated with a second machine of the at least one automated banking machine, causes the second machine to perform at least one second function,
wherein the data links the second program with at least a second entity contact address of the entity contact addresses,
wherein the at least one computer is configured to operate responsive at least in part to receiving a determination that a first program update is available, to cause at least one first electronic message to be sent to the first entity contact address,
wherein the at least one first electronic message indicates that the first program update is available,
wherein the at least one computer is configured to operate responsive at least in part to receiving a determination that a second program update is available, to cause at least one second electronic message to be sent to the second entity contact address,
wherein the at least one second electronic message indicates that the second program update is available.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1
wherein the first machine includes a cash dispenser, a card reader, and a biometric reader,
wherein the at least one first processor is operable during a user transaction session to:
cause card data to be read from a card through operation of the card reader, and then cause the read card data to be compared with card information stored in at least one authorization data store, and
cause biometric data to be read through operation of the biometric reader, and then cause the read biometric data to be compared with biometric information in the at least one authorization data store;
wherein the at least one first processor is operable to authorize a machine user to carry out a cash withdrawal transaction that involves operation of the cash dispenser, responsive at least in part to:
computer-determined correspondence between the read card data and the card information,
computer-determined correspondence between the read biometric data and the biometric information, and
computer-determined correspondence between the read card data and the read biometric data.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1
wherein the first machine includes a card reader,
wherein a first program causes operation of the card reader,
wherein the second machine includes a cash dispenser,
wherein a second program causes operation of the cash dispenser.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1
wherein the data links:
each respective program with at least one machine,
each respective machine with a respective entity, and
each respective entity with a respective entity contact address,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to determine from the at least one data store, which of the entity contact addresses are linked to a respective program.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the data links respective updates with respective programs,
wherein the data links the first program update with the first program,
wherein the data links the second program update with the second program.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5
wherein the at least one computer is operable to determine whether the first program update is available,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to determine whether the second program update is available.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 at least one computer associated with a program update support system,
wherein the at least one first electronic message indicates that the first program update can be obtained from the system,
wherein the at least one second electronic message indicates that the second program update can be obtained from the system.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7
wherein the at least one computer is operable to cause the first program update to be sent to the first entity contact address,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to cause the second program update to be sent to the second entity contact address.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one computer comprises a server.
10. Apparatus comprising:
at least one computer including computer executable instructions,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to determine that an update is available for a particular program usable by at least one processor associated with at least one automated banking machine that is each operable to carry out transactions involving financial accounts identifiable at least in part by user data read by at least one machine reader,
wherein the at least one computer is associated with at least one data store,
wherein the at least one data store includes data that associates programs with entities,
wherein the data associates the particular program with at least a first entity of the entities,
wherein the at least one data store includes data that respectively associates contact information for each respective entity,
wherein the at least one data store includes data that associates the first entity with first contact information,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to determine from the at least one data store for each respective program, respective contact information for the respective program,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to determine from the at least one data store for the particular program, the respective contact information for the particular program,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to determine that the respective contact information for the particular program includes the first contact information,
wherein the at least one computer is further operable to use the first contact information to cause at least one message to be sent to the first entity,
wherein the at least one message provides information regarding:
that the update is available for the particular program, and
where the update can be obtained.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10
wherein the particular program is usable by a first processor associated with a first automated banking machine,
wherein the first automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser, a card reader, and a biometric reader,
wherein the first processor is operable during a user transaction session to:
cause card data to be read from a card through operation of the card reader, and then cause the read card data to be compared with card information stored in at least one authorization data store, and
cause biometric data to be read through operation of the biometric reader, and then cause the read biometric data to be compared with biometric information in the at least one authorization data store;
wherein the first processor is operable to authorize a machine user to carry out a cash withdrawal transaction that involves operation of the cash dispenser, responsive at least in part to:
computer-determined correspondence between the read card data and the card information,
computer-determined correspondence between the read biometric data and the biometric information, and
computer-determined correspondence between the read card data and the read biometric data.
12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the first entity has responsibility for updating the particular program in at least processor associated with at least one automated banking machine,
wherein the first contact information comprises electronic address information for the first entity.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at least one computer is associated with a program update support system,
wherein the at least one message indicates that the update for the particular program can be obtained from the system.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13
wherein the at least one computer is operable to cause the update to be sent to the first entity.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the at least one computer comprises a server.
16. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the data links respective updates with respective programs,
wherein the data links the update with the particular program.
17. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least one data store includes data that associates:
each respective program with at least one machine, and
each respective machine with a respective entity.
18. Apparatus comprising:
at least one computer including computer executable instructions,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to access from at least one data store,
data respectively linking control programs with entity contact information,
wherein each control program is used by at least one controller of at least one automated banking machine that is operable to carry out transactions involving financial accounts identifiable at least in part by user data read by at least one machine reader,
wherein the data allows the at least one computer to determine for each respective control program, the entity contact information for each respective party that is at least partly responsible for controller usage of the respective control program,
wherein the at least one computer is operable responsive at least in part to an update for a first control program being available to a first respective party that is at least partly responsible for first controller usage of the first control program, to determine through use of the data, the entity contact information for the first respective party,
wherein the at least one computer is further operable responsive at least in part to determining the entity contact information for the first respective party, to cause at least one first electronic message to be sent to the first respective party,
wherein the at least one first electronic message indicates:
that an update is available for the first control program, and
where the update can be obtained,
wherein the at least one computer is operable responsive at least in part to an update for a second control program being available to a second respective party that is at least partly responsible for second controller usage of the second control program, to determine through use of the data, the entity contact information for the second respective party,
wherein the at least one computer is further operable responsive at least in part to determining the entity contact information for the second respective party, to cause at least one second electronic message to be sent to the second respective party,
wherein the at least one second electronic message indicates:
that an update is available for the second control program, and
where the update can be obtained.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18
wherein the first controller is associated with a first automated banking machine,
wherein the first automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser, a card reader, and a biometric reader,
wherein the first controller is operable during a user transaction session to:
cause card data to be read from a card through operation of the card reader, and then cause the read card data to be compared with card information stored in at least one authorization data store, and
cause biometric data to be read through operation of the biometric reader, and then cause the read biometric data to be compared with biometric information in the at least one authorization data store;
wherein the first controller is operable to authorize a machine user to carry out a cash withdrawal transaction that involves operation of the cash dispenser, responsive at least in part to:
computer-determined correspondence between the read card data and the card information,
computer-determined correspondence between the read biometric data and the biometric information, and
computer-determined correspondence between the read card data and the read biometric data.
20. The apparatus according to claim 18 and further comprising a plurality of automated banking machines, wherein each respective machine is associated with a respective controller that uses a control program that is linked in the at least one data store with entity contact information.