Dual validator self-service kiosk

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9607294-B2
Application number	US-201614987636-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2016
Priority date	May 9, 2013
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for a dual validator self-service kiosk (“SSK”). The SSK may include a first validator. The first validator may examine a deposit inserted into the SSK. The SSK may include a second validator. The second validator may examine a tangible item before the SSK dispenses the tangible item. The SSK may retract the tangible item if the tangible item in not collected by a customer. The second validator may examine the tangible item after being retracted by the SSK. The first validator may apply a first examination routine to the deposit. The second validator may apply a second examination routine before the SSK dispenses the tangible item. The second validator may apply a third examination routine to a tangible item retracted by the SSK.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A self-service kiosk comprising:
a dispenser configured to:
dispense a first tangible item to a customer; and
retract the first tangible item into the kiosk if the first tangible item remains uncollected for a period of time;

a first validator configured to examine the first tangible item:
before the first tangible item is dispensed by the dispenser; and
after the first tangible item is retracted by the dispenser;

a bi-directional flow path coupling the first validator to the dispenser, wherein the bi-directional flow path is configured to transfer the first tangible item from the first validator to the dispenser and from the dispenser to the first validator;
an acceptor configured to receive a second tangible item from the customer;
a second validator coupled to the acceptor, the second validator configured to examine the second tangible item received by the acceptor; and
a purge-bin flow path coupling the second validator to a purge-bin, wherein the purge-bin flow path is configured to transfer the second tangible item from the second validator to the purge-bin.

2. The kiosk of claim 1 , the first tangible item being one of a plurality of first tangible items, the first validator comprising:
a counter configured to count each of the plurality of first tangible items;
a denomination detector configured to identify a denomination of each of the plurality of first tangible items; and
a counterfeit detector configured to identify non-currency items among the plurality of first tangible items.

3. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein:
the first validator is configured to:
apply a first examination routine to the first tangible item prior to dispensing the first tangible item to the customer; and
apply a second examination routine to the first tangible item after retracting the first tangible item; and

the second validator is configured to apply a third examination routine to the second tangible item.

4. The kiosk of claim 1 further comprising a cassette configured to hold a plurality of first tangible items, the cassette being coupled to the first validator.

5. The kiosk of claim 4 wherein the first validator is configured to examine each of the first tangible items extracted from the cassette.

6. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the purge-bin flow path is a first purge-bin flow path, the kiosk further comprising a second purge-bin flow path that is configured to transfer the first tangible item after being retracted into the kiosk from the first validator to the purge-bin.

7. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the first tangible item is not money.

8. An automated teller machine (“ATM”), the ATM comprising:
a storage cassette configured to store a first tangible item;
a first validator configured to:
receive the first tangible item from the storage cassette; and
apply an examination routine to the first tangible item, the examination routine comprising:
identifying the first tangible item as currency;
validating an authenticity of the first tangible item; and
determining a denomination of the first tangible item;

a dispenser configured to receive the first tangible item from the first validator and present the first tangible item to a customer;
a bi-directional transfer path configured to transfer the first tangible item from the first validator to the dispenser and from the dispenser to the first validator;
an acceptor configured to receive a second tangible item from the customer;
a second validator coupled to the acceptor, the second validator configured to examine the second tangible item received from the customer;
a purge-bin transfer path coupling the second validator to a purge-bin, wherein the purge-bin transfer path is configured to transfer the second tangible item from the second validator to the purge-bin; and
a computer system comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein; and
a processor configured to execute the computer readable program code;

wherein the computer readable program code in said computer system when executed by the processor causes the computer system to control;
a first transfer of the first tangible item from the storage cassette to the first validator;
a second transfer of the first tangible item from the first validator to the dispenser via the bi-directional transfer path; and
a third transfer of the second tangible item from the second validator to the purge-bin via the purge-bin transfer path.

9. The ATM of claim 8 wherein:
the dispenser is configured to retract the first tangible item after a time-out period; and
the first validator is configured to determine a denomination of the currency after the time-out period.

10. The ATM of claim 8 wherein, when the first tangible item is one of a plurality of tangible items:
the first validator is configured to:
apply a first examination routine to each of the plurality of tangible items;

the dispenser is configured to:
present each of the plurality of tangible items to the customer; and
retract at least a portion of the plurality of tangible items;

the first validator is configured to receive the retracted portion of the plurality of tangible items via the bi-directional transfer path and apply a second examination routine to the retracted portion of the plurality of tangible items; and
the computer readable program code in said computer system when executed by the processor causes the computer system to:
calculate a first value (“FV”) corresponding to the dispensed plurality of tangible items;
determine a second value (“SV”) corresponding to the retracted portion of the plurality of tangible items;
calculate a difference equal to (FV)−(SV); and
debit an account of the customer an amount equal to the difference.

11. The ATM of claim 10 , wherein the second examination routine comprises:
counting each tangible item in the retracted portion of the plurality of tangible items; and
determining a denomination of each tangible time in the retracted portion of tangible items.

12. The ATM of claim 8 , wherein, if the first validator identifies the first tangible item as a non-currency item, the computer readable program code in said computer system when executed by the processor causes the computer system to:
control:
a fourth transfer of the non-currency item from the first validator to the purge-bin; and
a fifth transfer of a replacement for the non-currency item from the storage cassette to the first validator; and

log:
a date and time of the identifying; and
a denomination of the replacement.

13. The ATM of claim 12 , wherein the computer readable program code in said computer system when executed by the processor causes the computer system to submit a mis-loaded cassette claim to an entity responsible for loading the cash cassette.

14. The ATM of claim 8 wherein, if the denomination is not associated with the storage cassette, the computer readable program code in said computer system when executed by the processor causes the computer system to, control a fourth transfer of the first tangible item to the purge-bin.

15. The ATM of claim 14 wherein, the computer readable program code in said computer system when executed by the processor causes the computer system to submit a mis-loaded cassette claim to an entity responsible for loading the cash cassette.

16. An automated teller machine (“ATM”) comprising a first validator, a second validator and a purge-bin, the ATM configured to:
receive a deposit;
transfer the deposit to the first valid

Assignees

• Bank Of America

Inventors

• Crist Kristy M
• Carswell Terrelle
• Mcconnell Eric
• Puri Rahul
• Rhodes Devin D
• Goodwin James D

Classifications

• G07D11/60

  User-interface arrangements · CPC title

• G07F19/207

  Surveillance aspects at ATMs · CPC title

• G07F19/202

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

• G07F7/04

  by paper currency · CPC title

• G07D11/36

  Auditing of activities · CPC title