Recycling value instruments in an automated teller machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10733432-B2
Application number	US-201816139287-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2018
Priority date	Sep 24, 2018
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

A computer system for recycling value instruments in an automated teller machine has a memory storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the system to receive an image of a value instrument obtained by an automated teller machine for deposit. The image of the value instrument is analyzed to determine its condition. Then, based on the condition of the value instrument, it may be determined that the value instrument is suitable for recycling to fulfill withdrawals. Upon determining that the value instrument is suitable for recycling to fulfill withdrawals, recycling of the value instrument by the automated teller machine is initiated and an indication reflecting the recycling is generated so as to influence when a next servicing of the automated teller machine will occur. Related methods and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor storing instructions that, when executed by the computer system, cause the computer system to:
receive an image of a value instrument obtained by an automated teller machine for deposit;
analyze the image of the value instrument to determine a condition of the value instrument;
determine, based on the condition of the value instrument, that the value instrument is suitable for recycling to fulfill withdrawals; and
upon determining that the value instrument is suitable for recycling to fulfill withdrawals, initiate recycling of the value instrument by the automated teller machine and generate an indication reflecting the recycling to influence when a next servicing of the automated teller machine will occur.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer system, further cause the computer system to:
receive an image of a second value instrument obtained by the automated teller machine for deposit;
analyze the image of the second value instrument to determine a condition of the second value instrument;
determine, based on the condition of the second value instrument, that the second value instrument is unsuitable for recycling to fulfill withdrawals; and
upon determining that the second value instrument is unsuitable for recycling to fulfill withdrawals, initiate retaining of the second value instrument by the automated teller machine for pick-up when the automated teller machine is serviced.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein determining the condition of the value instrument includes:
determining a condition score reflective of the condition of the value instrument,
wherein determining that the value instrument is suitable for recycling to fulfill withdrawals includes determining that the condition score is greater than a threshold score.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein analyzing the image of the value instrument to determine the condition of the value instrument includes:
comparing the image of the value instrument to a digital specimen value instrument.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the condition includes a counterfeit status of the value instrument and wherein analyzing the image of the value instrument to determine the condition of the value instrument includes:
verifying, using the image, one or more security features of the value instrument.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system further comprises a communications module coupled to the processor and wherein the indication reflecting the recycling to influence when a next servicing of the automated teller machine will occur includes an indication of a level of recycled value instruments retained in the automated teller machine and wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer system, further cause the computer system to:
send the indication of the level of recycled value instruments retained in the automated teller machine to an automated scheduling component using the communications module, wherein the automated scheduling component is configured to schedule servicing of the automated teller machine based on the level of recycled value instruments.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the automated scheduling component is configured to schedule servicing of the automated teller machine by deferring a scheduled service visit where at least a threshold quantity of value instruments have been retained in the automated teller machine for recycling.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the automated scheduling component is further configured to determine a projected level of value instruments in the automated teller machine based on cash withdrawal activity using the automated teller machine and cash deposit activity using the automated teller machine and wherein the automated scheduling component is further configured to schedule servicing of the automated teller machine based on the projected level of value instruments in the automated teller machine.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer system, further cause the computer system to:
determine, based on previous deposits by a customer associated with the deposit, whether deposits including value instruments like the value instrument are typical for the customer, and
wherein determining that the value instrument is suitable for recycling to fulfill withdrawals is further based on whether the deposit is typical for the customer.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the value instrument is a banknote.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving an image of a value instrument obtained by an automated teller machine for deposit;
analyzing the image of the value instrument to determine a condition of the value instrument;
determining, based on the condition of the value instrument, that the value instrument is suitable for recycling to fulfill withdrawals; and
upon determining that the value instrument is suitable for recycling to fulfill withdrawals, initiating recycling of the value instrument by the automated teller machine and generating an indication reflecting the recycling to influence when a next servicing of the automated teller machine will occur.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
receiving an image of a second value instrument obtained by the automated teller machine for deposit;
analyzing the image of the second value instrument to determine a condition of the second value instrument;
determining, based on the condition of the second value instrument, that the second value instrument is unsuitable for recycling to fulfill withdrawals; and
upon determining that the second value instrument is unsuitable for recycling to fulfill withdrawals, initiating retaining of the second value instrument by the automated teller machine for pick-up when the automated teller machine is serviced.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein determining the condition of the value instrument includes:
determining a condition score reflective of the condition of the value instrument,
wherein determining that the value instrument is suitable for recycling to fulfill withdrawals includes determining that the condition score is greater than a threshold score.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the condition includes a counterfeit status of the value instrument and wherein analyzing the image of the value instrument to determine the condition of the value instrument includes:
verifying, using the image, one or more security features of the value instrument.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the indication reflecting the recycling to influence when a next servicing of the automated teller machine will occur includes an indication of a level of recycled value instruments retained in the automated teller machine, the method further comprising:
sending the indication of the level of recycled value instruments retained in the automated teller machine to an automated scheduling component, wherein the automated scheduling component is configured to schedule servicing of the automated teller machine based on the level of recycled value instruments.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the automated scheduling component is configured to schedule servicing of the automated teller machine by deferring a scheduled service visit where at least a threshold quantity of value instruments have been retained in the automated teller machine for recycling.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the automated scheduling component is further configured

Assignees

• Toronto Dominion Bank

Inventors

• Pratten A Warren
• Martin Randall Walton
• Lozon Martin Albert
• Anderson Graham Allan
• Bhadra Ratnadeep
• Mccrae James Kenneth
• D'Agostino Dino Paul

Classifications

• G07F19/202 Primary

  Depositing operations within ATMs (depositing in general G07D11/00) · CPC title

• G06V20/80

  Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns · CPC title

• G07D11/30

  Tracking or tracing valuable papers or cassettes · CPC title

• G07D11/34

  Monitoring the contents of devices, e.g. the number of stored valuable papers · CPC title

• G07D11/24

  Managing the inventory of valuable papers · CPC title