WO2001041092A1

WO2001041092A1 - Self-service terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2001041092A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/004435
Authority: WO
Inventors: Grant Charles Paton; Mark Michael Grossi; Sharon Dickie
Original assignee: Ncr International, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-12-03
Filing date: 2000-11-22
Publication date: 2001-06-07
Also published as: GB2356964A; AU1531601A; GB9928735D0

Abstract

A self-service terminal (10) for dispensing valuable media is described. The terminal comprises a recogniser (36) for receiving a claimed identity, which may be incorporated in a magnetic stripe card; a controller (30) for controlling the terminal (10); and a dispenser (32) for dispensing media, such as bank notes, in response to the controller. The terminal (10) includes a memory containing a list of invalid claimed identities, so that the terminal is able to compare a received claimed identity with the list of invalid identities, and thereby to authorise a transaction up to a pre-set value without requiring authorisation from a remote host. A method of dispensing valuable media is also described.

Description

SELF-SERVICE TERMINAL

The present invention relates to a self-service terminal (SST) for dispensing valuable media. In particular, the invention relates to an automated teller machine (ATM) .

It is becoming increasingly common for ATMs to be deployed in retail outlets. Typically, the retailer receives a percentage of each transaction. These ATMs typically have no safe and provide limited services, for example, withdrawal of cash. To be cost-effective for their owners, these ATMs must be very inexpensive and must process transactions very quickly to maximise the number of transactions that can be performed each day.

However, conventional ATMs require industry-standard security, such as encryption, to protect valuable information, such as the user's PIN (personal identification number) . The ATMs also require a connection to a remote host to authorise each transaction. These features increase the cost of an ATM.

It is among the objects of embodiments of the present invention to obviate or mitigate one or more of the above disadvantages or other disadvantages associated with conventional SSTs .

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-service terminal for dispensing valuable media, the terminal comprising a recogniser for receiving a claimed identity, a controller for controlling the terminal, and a dispenser for dispensing media in response to the controller, characterised in that the terminal is operable to dispense media up to a pre-set value in response to an unverified claimed identity.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-service terminal for dispensing valuable media, the terminal comprising a recogniser for receiving a claimed identity, a controller for controlling the terminal, and a dispenser for dispensing media in response to the controller, characterised in that the terminal is operable to dispense media up to a pre-set value without requiring authorisation from a remote host .

Preferably, the recogniser is a swipe card reader for reading magnetic stripe cards. Alternatively, the recogniser may be a motorised magnetic card reader, or a Smart reader for reading a Smart card, button, ring, or any other Smart device.

The terminal may further comprise a list of invalid identities, so that if the claimed identity matches an invalid identity no media is dispensed. Alternatively, the terminal may include a list of valid identities, so that media is only dispensed if the claimed identity matches one of the valid identities. This feature may be used if only a restricted number of users are allowed to withdraw media without a remote authorisation.

Preferably, the terminal includes a network connection for connecting to a remote host periodically. The network connection may be a dial-up modem for connecting to the host via a TCP/IP network. The network connection may be for connecting to a PoS/Debit (Point of Sale) network. Preferably, the list of invalid identities is updated each time the terminal connects to the host. The list of invalid identities may include a list of known stolen cards and a list of cards belonging to users who are not authorised to execute transactions without remote authorisation.

Preferably, each time the terminal connects to the host, the transactions executed since the terminal last connected to the host are transferred to the host for further processing.

Preferably, the terminal includes one or more indicators, where each indicator has a unique attribute (for example, size or shape or colour) and each indicator is associated with a pre-defined transaction, so that a user may execute a desired transaction by selecting a single indicator. This has the advantage that each indicator is pre-programmed with an entire transaction.

In some embodiments of the invention, after each transaction the controller may add the claimed identity to the list of invalid identities, so that the claimed identity is not able to use the terminal until the list of invalid identities has been updated. This has the advantage that a user cannot execute multiple transactions at the same terminal within a short time period. This feature also helps to limit the liability to one transaction per terminal .

Preferably, the terminal is an ATM.

The media may be a cash (such as bank notes) , coupons, stamps, telephone cards, tickets, or such like. By virtue of this aspect of the invention, a user can execute a transaction without entering a PIN. As no PIN is required, high level cryptography is not required to safeguard the user's PIN. As no on-line authorisation is required, the transaction can be processed very quickly. In terminals that include the pre-programmed indicators, no display is required; which greatly reduces the cost of the terminal .

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a self-service terminal for dispensing valuable media, characterised in that the terminal includes a memory storing a list of invalid identities, whereby the terminal is operable to authorise a transaction if the claimed identity does not match any entry in the list of invalid identities .

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a self-service terminal for dispensing valuable media, whereby the terminal is operable to dispense media in response to an unverified claimed identity.

By virtue of this aspect of the invention, the terminal is able to dispense valuable media without requiring entry of a personal identification number (PIN) to verify a claimed identity.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of dispensing valuable media, the method including the step of receiving a claimed identity, and being characterised by the further steps of : comparing the claimed identity with a list of invalid identities; in the event that the claimed identity does not match any entry in the list of invalid identities, executing a transaction selected by a user.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following specific description, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig 1 is a perspective view of an SST in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig 2 is a plan view of the SST of Fig 1 ;

Fig 3 is an enlarged view of the indicators of Figs 1 and 2 ; and

Fig 4 is a block diagram of the SST of Figs 1 and 2.

Referring to Figs 1 to 3 , an SST 10 in the form of an ATM has an egg-shaped body 12 mounted on a base 14 that is coupled to a stand 16. The ATM 10 includes a user interface 20. The user interface 20 comprises a dispensing area 24 for dispensing valuable media, in the form of bank notes, to a user of the ATM 10; a swipe card reader slot 26; and six permanently-visible indicators 28a to 28f.

The six indicators 28 are in the form of six push buttons, each push button having a different shape, including an ellipse 28a, a square 28b, a circle 28c, a diamond 28d, a triangle 28e, and a star 28f.

Referring to Fig 4, the ATM 10 has a controller 30 for controlling the operation of the ATM 10. The controller 30 is connected to: a dispenser 32 located within the base 14; an indicators module 34 that includes the push buttons 28; a card reader module 36 that is located behind the card reader slot 26; a network connection 38 in the form of a dial-up modem; and a memory 40 containing a list of invalid claimed identities.

Each push button (for example, 28a) is associated with a pre-defined transaction. In this embodiment, the elliptical button 28a is associated with withdrawing ten pounds, the square button 28b is associated with withdrawing twenty pounds, the circular button 28c is associated with withdrawing thirty pounds, the diamond-shaped button 28d is associated with withdrawing forty pounds, the triangular button 28e is associated with withdrawing fifty pounds, and the star-shaped button 28f is associated with withdrawing sixty pounds. The controller 30 is programmed with the predefined transactions.

To use the ATM 10, a user swipes his/her magnetic stripe card through slot 26. The card reader module 36 reads the claimed identity from the card and conveys this to the controller 30. The controller 30 compares this claimed identity with the list of invalid claimed identities stored in memory 40, and if the claimed identity does not match any entries in the list of invalid identities, the controller 30 monitors the indicators 28 to detect a requested transaction.

The user selects the push button 28 corresponding to the desired transaction, for example push button 28a for withdrawing ten pounds. On detecting push button 28a being depressed, the controller 30 instructs the dispenser 32 to dispense ten pounds to the dispense area 24 for collection by the user. The controller 30 then adds the claimed identity to the list of invalid identities in memory 40. If the claimed identity matched an entry in the list of invalid claimed identities, then the controller 30 would not monitor the indicators 28: that is, no transaction would be executed.

Every hour during the working day, the controller 30 uses the modem 38 to access a remote host (not shown) . The controller 30 conveys to the host all the transaction details relating to transactions executed since the ATM 10 last contacted the host. The controller 30 also downloads a new invalid card list which is stored in the memory 40 and overwrites the previous list.

The ATM 10 may include some information (in the form of a label or presented on the display 22) to notify users about the type and/or value of the transaction associated with each push button.

The ATM 10 may only execute transactions up to a certain pre-determined limit, for example, twenty pounds, without performing a remote authorisation.

It will be appreciated that this embodiment has the advantage that a user does not need to enter a PIN. This decreases the length of time required for each transaction. By processing all transactions occurring during a pre-set time period at once, telephone charges are minimised. As no display is required, the cost of the ATM is reduced. In other embodiments fewer than six indicators may be used, for example, a single indicator may be used, and the single indicator may have a pre-defined value, such as withdraw twenty pounds; this would provide a very simple user interface consisting of a swipe card reader, a dispense area, and a single indicator. Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment within the scope of the invention, for example, in other embodiments, a display may be used. In other embodiments, the indicators may have different predetermined values to those listed above. In other embodiments, a conventional keypad may be used. In other embodiments, valuable media other than cash may be dispensed, for example, tickets, coupons, vouchers, or such like.

Claims

1. A self-service terminal (10) for dispensing valuable media, the terminal comprising a recogniser (36) for receiving a claimed identity, a controller (30) for controlling the terminal (10) , and a dispenser (32) for dispensing media in response to the controller, characterised in that the terminal (10) is operable to dispense media up to a pre-set value in response to an unverified claimed identity.

2. A terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal is a swipe card reader for reading magnetic stripe cards.

3. A terminal according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the terminal further comprises a memory containing a list of invalid identities, so that if the claimed identity matches an invalid identity no media is dispensed.

4. A terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein the terminal includes a network connection for connecting to a remote host periodically.

5. A terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein the terminal updates the list of invalid identities each time the terminal connects to the host .

6. A terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein the terminal includes one or more indicators, where each indicator has a unique attribute and each indicator is associated with a pre-defined transaction, so that a user may execute a desired transaction by selecting a single indicator.

7. A self-service terminal (10) for dispensing valuable media, characterised in that the terminal (10) includes a memory (40) storing a list of invalid identities, whereby the terminal (10) is operable to authorise a transaction if the claimed identity does not match any entry in the list of invalid identities.

8. A self-service terminal (10) for dispensing valuable media, whereby the terminal is operable to dispense media in response to an unverified claimed identity.

9. A method of dispensing valuable media, the method including the step of receiving a claimed identity, and being characterised by the further steps of : comparing the claimed identity with a list of invalid identities; in the event that the claimed identity does not match any entry in the list of invalid identities, executing a transaction selected by a user.