Automated teller machine, software and distribution method
View Patent ↗An automated teller machine ( 12 ) includes at least one processor ( 36 ) which operates to cause transaction function devices ( 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 ) to operate to carry out banking transactions for users of the machine. A software environment ( 54 ) operates in the processor and includes a hardware independent software application ( 60 ) which application may be operated successfully in a plurality of brands of automated teller machine hardware. The automated teller machine verifies that the software application has been authorized by an appropriate authorizing entity before the application is enabled to cause operation of transaction function devices. In some distribution methods the software application is provided in source code form at generally no charge to ATM owners and software developers, who are required to contribute modifications to the entity offering the software, which modifications are further made available to facilitate the development and use of platform independent software applications in automated teller machines.
1. Apparatus comprising:
an automated teller machine associated with an entity, including:
a plurality of transaction function devices including a cash dispenser;
at least one processor in operative connection with at least one data store;
first software operative in the at least one processor and adapted to cause the at least one transaction function device to operate;
at least one software verification device;
wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the plurality of transaction function devices and the at least one software verification device, and wherein the software verification device is operative to prevent the first software from causing operation of the at least one transaction function device and to cause the machine to determine if the first software is authorized by the entity to operate, and wherein the software verification device is operative responsive to such determination to enable the first software to cause operation of the at least one transaction function device.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the automated teller machine further comprises:
service provider software operative in the at least one processor and enabling operation of the machine responsive to application software adapted to operate automated teller machines of a plurality of different manufacturers, wherein at least one of the service provider software and the application software comprises the first software.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the application software comprises the first software, and wherein the application software comprises at least one verification feature included in the application software by the entity, and wherein the at least one verification device is operative to determine if the application software is authorized by the entity to operate responsive to the at least one verification feature.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the at least one verification feature includes a digital signature associated with the application software.
5. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one verification feature includes a hash of at least a portion of the first software.
6. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the verification feature includes at least one measurable parameter of the first software.
7. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one verification device is operative to cause the machine to determine if the first software is authorized by the entity without the machine communicating with a remote computer.
8. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the at least one verification device is operative to cause the machine to verify the digital signature without the machine communicating with a remote computer.
9. The apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising:
a remote computer associated with the entity;
wherein the at least one verification device is operative to cause the machine to communicate with the remote computer, and wherein the determination that the first software is authorized by the entity is made responsive to communication with the remote computer.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the first software is in operative connection with the remote computer, and wherein at least one of the machine and the remote computer is operative to resolve at least one identifying feature of the first software, and wherein the determination is made responsive to the at least one resolved identifying feature.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each of the machine and the remote computer are operative to resolve the at least one identifying feature, and the determination is made responsive to a corresponding relationship between at least one identifying feature resolved by each of the machine and the remote computer.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the at least one identifying feature is resolved responsive to at least one measurable parameter of the first software.
13. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the at least one identifying feature comprises a hash of at least a portion of the first software.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising:
second software other than the first software operative in the at least one processor and adapted to cause the at least one transaction function device to operate;
and wherein the at least one software verification device is operative to prevent the second software from causing operation of the at least one transaction function device and to cause the machine to determine if the second software is authorized by the entity to operate in the machine, and responsive to the determinations concerning the first software and the second software, the at least one software verification device is operative to enable the first software and the second software to cause operation of at least one transaction function device.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the at least one transaction function device enabled to be operated responsive to the determinations, includes the cash dispenser.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the at least one software verification device is further operative to cause the machine to determine whether the first and second software are indicated by the entity to be suitable for operation together in the machine, and wherein the at least one software verification device is operative to prevent operation of the at least one transaction function device unless it is determined that the first and second software is indicated as suitable by the entity for such operation.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the first and second software comprise at least two of application software, middleware software, and service provider software.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the determination made responsive to the at least one software verification device as to whether the first and second software are indicated by the entity as suitable for operation together in the machine, is made responsive to first and second verifying features included in the first and second software respectively, by the entity.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the machine is operative to determine if the first and second software are indicated as suitable for operation together without the machine connecting to a remote computer.
20. The apparatus according to claim 16 and further comprising:
a remote computer associated with the entity, the remote computer having accessible data representative of whether the first and second software are indicated by the entity as suitable for operation together in an automated teller machine;
and wherein the determination responsive to the at least one software verification device as to whether the first and second software are suitable for operation together in the automated teller machine, is made responsive to communication by the machine with the remote computer.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein a copy of at least one of the first and second software is in operative connection with the remote computer, and wherein the machine and the remote computer are operative to determine at least one identifying feature of the at least one of the first and second software, and wherein the software verification device is operative to cause the machine to determine that the at least one first or second software in the machine is authorized by the entity responsive to a relationship between the at least one identifying feature determined by each of the machine and the remote computer.
22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the at least one verifying feature comprises a hash of at least a portion of at least one of the first and second software.
23. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the at least one identifying feature comprises a measurable parameter of at least a portion of the at least one first and second software.
24. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the at least one identifying feature comprises at least one of a hash and a measurable parameter of at least a portion of both of the first and second software.
25. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising:
an external device operatively connected with the at least one processor of the automated teller machine, but not included in the machine;
and wherein the first software is operative to cause operation of the external device and at least one transaction function device.
26. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the first software comprises service provider software operating in the at least one processor and enabling operation of the machine responsive to application software adapted to operate automated teller machines of a plurality of different manufacturers.
27. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the external device comprises at least one of an article rental device, an article purchase device, a digital media delivery device, a tanning device, an aroma therapy device, a medication dispensing device, an oxygen delivery device, a beverage dispensing device, a money order printing device, a check printing device, a ticket printing device, a token delivery device, a token receiving device, and a ticket receiving device.
28. An apparatus comprising:
an automated teller machine associated with an entity, including;
a plurality of transaction function devices including a cash dispenser;
at least one processor in operative connection with at least one data store;
service provider software operative in the at least one processor and enabling operation of the machine responsive to application software adapted to operate automated teller machines of a plurality of different manufacturers;
wherein at least one of the service provider software and the application software is adapted to cause the at least one transaction function device to operate;
at least one software verification device;
wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the plurality of transaction function devices and the at least one software verification device, and wherein the software verification device is operative to prevent the at least one of the service provider software and the application software from causing operation of the at least one transaction function device and to cause the machine to determine if the at least one of the service provider software and application software is authorized by the entity to operate, and wherein the software verification device is operative responsive to such determination to enable the at least one of the service provider software and the application software to cause operation of the at least one transaction function device.
29. Apparatus comprising:
an automated teller machine associated with an entity, including:
a plurality of transaction function devices including a cash dispenser;
at least one processor in operative connection with at least one data store;
first software operative in the at least one processor and adapted to cause the at least one transaction function device to operate;
second software operative in the at least one processor and adapted to cause at least one transaction function device to operate;
at least one software verification device;
wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the plurality of transaction function devices and the at least one software verification device, and wherein the at least one software verification
device is operative to prevent the first software from causing operation of the at least one transaction function device and to cause the machine to determine if the first software is authorized by the entity to operate, wherein the at least one software verification device is operative to prevent the second software from causing operation of the at least one transaction function device and to cause the machine to determine if the second software is authorized by the entity to operate in the machine, wherein the at least one software verification device is further operative to cause the machine to determine whether the first and second software are indicated by the entity to be suitable for operation together in the machine, and responsive to the determinations concerning the first software and the second software, the at least one software verification device is operative to enable the first software and the second software to cause operation of at least one transaction function device, wherein the at least one software verification device is operative to prevent operation of the at least one transaction function device unless it is determined that the first and second software is indicated as suitable by the entity for such operation.
30. Apparatus comprising:
an automated teller machine associated with an entity, including:
a plurality of transaction function devices including a cash dispenser;
at least one processor in operative connection with at least one data store;
first software operative in the at least one processor and adapted to cause the at least one transaction function device to operate;
at least one software verification device;
wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the plurality of transaction function devices and the at least one software verification device, and wherein the software verification device is operative to prevent the first software from causing operation of the at least one transaction function device and to cause the machine to determine if the first software is authorized by the entity to operate, and wherein the software verification device is operative responsive to such determination to enable the first software to cause operation of the at least one transaction function device;
an external device operatively connected with the at least one processor, wherein the external device is located outside the machine, and wherein the first software is further operative to cause operation of the external device.