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 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 associated with an update support system that includes at least one data store,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to determine from the at least one data store, that an update is available for a particular program linked to at least one automated banking machine that is operable responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records,
wherein each respective machine of the at least one automated banking machine includes at least one data reader,
wherein the at least one data reader is operable to read user data that is usable to identify a financial account,
wherein each respective machine includes a cash dispenser,
wherein the cash dispenser is operative to selectively dispense cash to authorized users of the respective machine,
wherein each respective machine is operable to allow an authorized user to carry out a cash dispense transaction involving a financial account identified through use of user data read by the at least one data reader, responsive at least in part to receiving authorization from a remote financial transaction host for the cash dispense transaction,
wherein each respective machine is operable to cause the financial account to be assessed a value associated with cash dispensed in carrying out the cash dispense transaction,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to determine from the at least one data store for each respective machine, respective entity contact information associated with an entity at least partly responsible for usage of the particular program by at least one processor associated with the respective machine,
wherein the particular program includes computer executable instructions that when executed by the at least one processor causes the respective machine to perform at least one function,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to determine from the at least one data store for each respective machine, an address of the at least one processor associated with the respective machine,
wherein the address comprises an update receiving address at which the update can be received by the at least one processor,
wherein the at least one computer is configured to operate responsive at least in part to the determination that the update is available for the particular program, to automatically cause with regard to each respective machine:
the update to be sent to the update receiving address at which the update can be received by the at least one processor associated with the respective machine,
at least one message to be sent via the respective entity contact information, to the entity associated with the respective machine,
wherein the at least one message indicates that the respective machine has been provided an update with respect to the particular program, and
data in the at least one data store to be modified to indicate that the respective machine was provided the update.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each respective machine is respectively associated with at least one transaction computer,
wherein the at least one data reader of each respective machine includes a card reader and a biometric reader,
wherein for each respective machine, the at least one transaction computer 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 for each respective machine, the at least one transaction computer 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 particular program causes a respective machine to perform at least one function that involves operation of the at least one reader.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the particular program causes a respective machine to perform at least one function that involves operation of the cash dispenser.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one computer comprises a server, wherein the server is remotely located from each respective machine.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the server is configured to operate responsive at least in part to the determination that the update is available for the particular program, to automatically send the update to the update receiving address of the at least one processor associated with the respective machine.
7. Apparatus comprising:
at least one computer including computer executable instructions,
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 automated banking machines that are each operable to carry out transactions involving financial accounts identifiable at least in part by user data read by at least one data reader,
wherein each program is used by at least one of the automated banking machines,
wherein the programs include a particular program,
wherein the data associates the particular program with at least one machine of the automated banking machines,
wherein the at least one machine includes a first machine,
wherein the at least one machine includes a second machine,
wherein the at least one data store includes data that associates each respective automated banking machine with respective contact information,
wherein the at least one data store includes data that links first contact information with the first machine,
wherein the at least one data store includes data that links second contact information with the second machine,
wherein the at least one data store includes update data that indicates which respective program updates were provided to which respective automated banking machines,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to receive information indicative that an update is available for the particular program,
wherein the at least one computer is operable responsive at least in part to receiving the information, to determine from the at least one data store that the particular program is associated with at least the first contact information and the second contact information,
wherein the at least one computer is operable responsive at least in part to the determination, to automatically cause:
the update to be provided to the first machine through use of the first contact information,
the update to be provided to the second machine through use of the second contact information, and
the update data to be modified to indicate that:
the first machine was provided the update, and
the second machine was provided the update.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein each respective machine includes a cash dispenser, wherein each respective machine is respectively associated with at least one processor,
wherein for each respective machine the at least one data reader includes a card reader and a biometric reader,
wherein the at least one 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 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.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one computer comprises a server, wherein the server is remotely located from the automated banking machines.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9
wherein the at least one data store includes data that associates the first machine with a first entity at least partly responsible for usage of the first machine,
wherein the server is operable responsive at least in part to the determination, to cause at least one message to be sent to the first entity,
wherein the at least one message indicates that the first machine has been updated with respect to the particular program,
wherein the at least one data store includes data that associates the second machine with a second entity at least partly responsible for usage of the second machine,
wherein the server is operable responsive at least in part to the determination, to cause at least one message to be sent to the second entity,
wherein the at least one message indicates that the second machine has been updated with respect to the particular program.
11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the server is operable responsive at least in part to the determination, to cause the update data to be modified to indicate that:
the update has been delivered to the first machine, and
the update has been delivered to the second machine.
12. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the server is operable responsive at least in part to the determination, to cause the update data to be modified to indicate that:
the update has been downloaded by the first machine, and
the update has been downloaded by the second machine.
13. The apparatus according to claim 9
wherein the at least one data store includes data that links each respective automated banking machine with a respective entity,
wherein the at least one data store includes data that links a first entity with the first machine,
wherein the at least one data store includes data that links a second entity with the second machine,
wherein the server is operable responsive at least in part to the determination, to cause the update data to be modified to indicate that:
the update has been delivered to the first entity, and
the update has been delivered to the second entity.
14. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one data store includes the update for the particular program, and wherein the server is operable to access the update from the at least one data store.
15. The apparatus according to claim 9 and wherein the at least one data store includes data corresponding to a system address from which the update for the particular program can be obtained, and wherein the server is operable to cause the update to be provided through use of the system address.
16. Apparatus comprising:
at least one computer including computer executable instructions,
wherein the at least one computer is operable to access data from at least one data store,
wherein the data respectively links control programs with controllers of automated banking machines that are each operable to carry out transactions involving financial accounts identifiable at least in part by user data read by at least one data reader,
wherein each control program is used by at least one of the controllers,
wherein the data allows the at least one computer to determine for each respective control program, respective contact information for each respective controller that uses the respective control program,
wherein the at least one computer is operable responsive at least in part to an update being available for a first program of the control programs, to determine through use of the data, the respective contact information for each respective controller that uses the first program,
wherein the at least one computer is further operable responsive at least in part to determining the respective contact information for each respective controller that uses the first program, to:
automatically cause the update for the first program to be provided to each respective controller that uses the first program, and
provide at least one record that indicates which of the automated banking machines were updated with respect to the first program;
wherein the at least one computer is operable responsive at least in part to an update being available for a second program of the control programs, to determine through use of the data, the respective contact information for each respective controller that uses the second program,
wherein the at least one computer is further operable responsive at least in part to determining the respective contact information for each respective controller that uses the second program, to:
automatically cause the update for the second program to be provided to each respective controller that uses the second program, and
provide at least one record that indicates which of the automated banking machines were updated with respect to the second program.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each respective machine includes a cash dispenser, wherein each respective machine is respectively associated with at least one processor,
wherein for each respective machine the at least one data reader includes a card reader and a biometric reader,
wherein the at least one 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 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.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the at least one computer comprises a server, wherein the server is remotely located from the automated banking machines.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18
wherein the at least one data store includes data that associates a first machine of the automated banking machines with an entity at least partly responsible for usage of the first program by a controller of the first machine,
wherein the server is operable responsive at least in part to the update being available for the first program, to cause at least one message to be sent to the entity,
wherein the at least one message indicates that the first machine has been updated with respect to the first program.
20. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the server is operable to provide the at least one record that indicates which of the automated banking machines were updated with respect to the first program, by causing data in the at least one data store to be modified.