GB2238415A - Financial terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

A financial self-service terminal undertakes money-free transactions by accepting a magnetic card in a card reader 18 and a cheque or other document in a document receiving station 20. A document reader 30 reads encoded data on the document, a printer 34 prints data upon the document, and a video camera 38 and video recorder 44 capture an image of the document, the document subsequently being retained in a bin 42. A keyboard 16 is used in conjunction with a video screen 12 to interact with a user. Data is recorded on a standard video cassette 46 with document images on the video portion of a magnetic tape and data, derived from the document, keyboard and magnetic card, on the audio track of the video tape. The captured image of the document 21 is displayed on the video screen 12 for approval by the user. <IMAGE>

Description

FINANCIAL TERMINAL The present invntion relates to a financial terminal. In particular, it relates to a terminal for use in a banking environment where customers service their own needs rather than use a human teller. The present invention more particularly relates to a self-service terminal for money-free transactions.

A money-free transaction is hereinafter defined as a transaction involving paper transfer of funds without necessity for physical presence of money.

Much modern banking is without the medium of money. While money is said to be paid or received, in fact, all that happens is an acknowledgement of amounts on cheques, tokens and bills. Balances are then adjusted to correspond with the imagined transfer of money.

Autotellers are commonplace for giving money on demand to any user presenting a valid card. Likewise, autotellers are adapted to receive cheques and sums of money in envelopes to be credited to the user's account at a later time. Recordal of amounts must take place at a later time and employ human staff.

Much bank time is wasted by the need for human intervention, beyond that of the user, in paying in funds. Most fund transfers are by means of cheques or other instruments. Likewise, the paying of bills requires human intervention beyond that of the bank account user.

The present invention consists in a self-service terminal apparatus for handling money-free transactions, said apparatus comprising: a document path for receiving and retaining a document from a user; a document reader for reading and recording data from the received document; a card reader for receiving and reading user identifying data from a user-presented card; means for interrogating the user and for receiving, from the user, indication of the nature of the document; and an image store for capturing and recording an image of the document.

It may be that a user fraudently wishes to operate the system. Accordingly, the present invention further provides that the card reader is capable of rejecting a document transaction if data read from the document does not agree with data from the card indicating that the user is entitled to present the document. In order to facilite the identification process, the present invention further provides for requesting a personal identification number from the user and rejecting the document transaction if the received identification number does not tally with the card. Should a document transaction be rejected, the present invention further provides that the card should be retained. Further, if the card is on a list of cards which, for any reason, should be retained, the present invention also provides that the card should be retained.

In order to facilitate record keeping and to minimise the amount of paper retained by the bank, the present invention includes a video camera and a video recorder, in the image store, operative to receive and store a representation of the image of the presented document. For compactness of storage, and sure registration, the invention further provides that the video tape recorder records the representation of the image of the document on a tape video track and related data, obtained from the card, the document, or a keyboard, on an associated audio track on the tape.

It is a preferred feature of the present invention that the document path includes means for aligning the document prior to its presentation to the document reader. The invention further provides that the captured image of the document is provided to the user, via a display, when the user is being interrogated.

For preference, the present invention is designed for use where the document is a cheque and where interrogation of the user includes requesting the amount of the cheque, the document path including a printer for printing the amount of the cheque. The present invention is further explained, by way of example, by the following description, read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a self-service terminal according to the present invention;.

Figure 2 is a general representation of a cheque for use with the self-service terminal of figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal of figure 1 taken along the line X X', looking in the direction of the arrows; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the self-service terminal of the present invention; Figure 5 shows the manner of recording images and data on the video tape of figure 3; and Figure 6 is a flow chart of the activities of the controller.

Figure 1 shows the financial terminal of the present invention. A body casing 10 houses and supports the various other units. A video screen 12, comprising a cathode ray tube, or a liquid crystal display, or a gas discharge panel, or any other means whereby images may be conveyed to a user, is provided on the upper surface 14 of the body casing 10. There is also provided a keyboard 16 whereby a user may provide information to the terminal 8. A card reader 18 receives through a slot and reads a magnetic, user-identifying card, as is well-known in the use of autotellers. A document receiving station 20 accepts documents from a user.

The present invention is hereinafter described as being used with cheques. It is to be understood that the present invention can equally be adapted for use with many other kinds of bills and financial instruments, and is not restricted only to cheques.

Those, skilled in the art, will be aware of simple adaptions for such alternative use.

Figure 2 shows a cheque of the type which can be used with the present invention. The document comprises a coded line 22 of various data including bank and customer account identification number. A sort code portion 24 is also provided. The coded line 22 may be more than one line, and may include different data fields. A cash amount box 26 indicates the amount of the cheque.

The cheque can be paid by the user to an account belonging to another person. Alternatively, the amount may be deposited by the user into his own account when the cheque has been received from another person another. These are money-free transactions in that only a paper transfer of funds takes place.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the self-service terminal of figure 1 taken along the line X X, looking in the direction of the arrows. The document receiving station 20 is the entrance to a document path 28, shown in bold outline. A document is transferred along the document path 28 by means of belts and pulleys generally indicated in figure 3. Having left the document receiving station 20 the document is first led beneath a document reader 30 operative to read the coded line or lines 22 and/or the sort code 24. The coded line 22 can comprise optically readable characters or can comprise characters, printed in magnetic ink, for reading by a magnetic head. The document reader 30 can be either or both of magnetic or optical.

In entering the document path 28 a cheque is aligned by being, at first, on entry, only lightly gripped and a solenoid operated shutter 32, stretching across the document path, being lowered into the way of the document. The lightly-gripped document rotates, is misaligned, to self-align with one edge in abutment against the shutter 32. Thereafter, the shutter 32 is raised and the document or cheque 21 proceeds into the document reader 30. Any other means of document alignment can equally be employed in the present invention.

From the document reader 30, the document 21 next passes through a printer 34 which may print upon the document 21. In the event where a cheque is to be paid to another, or an amount is transferred in payment of a bill, the printer 34 prints the amount in the cash amount box 26. The printer 34 is placed, for preference, immediately following the document reader 30, but, in reality, could be anywhere in the document path 28.

The document 21 then passes into an image capture section 36 where a video camera 38 captures an image of the document 21 lit by a selectively operable light 40. The video camera 38, having captured an image of the document 21, the document passes to a retaining bin 42 for possible, later inspection by the bank.

A video recorder 44, using a standard video cassette 46, or any other means known for recording a television image and sound, records the image obtained by the video camera 38 and also records data relating to the document 21, in a manner, hereinafter described.

A controller 48 is linked to and co operates with the video screen 12, the keyboard 16, the card reader 18, the document path 28, the document reader 30, the video camera 38, the light 40, and the video recorder 44 to achieve the operation hereinafter described.

Figure 4 is a highly schematicized representation of the interconnections of the various parts shown in Figure 3 and in Figure 1. The controller 48 issues commands to the video recorder 44 via a recorder control bus 50. The video recorder 44 may also pass signals back to the controller 48, for example, to control the synchroization of the video camera 38. The video recorder 44 is any type, known in the art, which is capable of taking a still picture of a presented image in one or more frames. The controller 48 passes coded transaction information to the video recorder 44 via an audio line 52 and passes video data, from the video camera 38 to the recorder 44, via a video line 54.

The controller 48 acts as a switch for video signals. Using methods, known to those, skilled in the art, the controller 48 is operative to pass video signals from the video camera 38 to the video screen 12 and to the video recorder 54. These signals may either be gated, or can be directly fed, in which latter instance image capture is controlled using the recurder control bus 50.

Data from the document reader 30 is provided to the controller 48 via a document data bus 56 which can comprise one or more lines. Optical or magnetic characters , on the document 21 are decoded according to any means known in the art, either in the controller 48 or within the document reader 30 itself. The information from the document data bus 56 is turned into audio-frequency, serially encoded data for recording on the video cassette 46.

The printer 34 is commanded to print upon a document 21 by the printer control bus 58. The video camera 38 communicates with the controller 48 by means of the camera control lines 60 which convey video data, via the controller 48, to the video screen 12 and to the video recorder 44. The video camera 38 can be autonomous, generating all synchronisation signals itself. Alternatively, the video camera 38 can be the slave of the video recorder 44, synchronising signals being derived from the video recorder 44. In this latter instance, the camera control lines 50 will carry synch and frame information to the video camera 38 and video signals back from the video camera 38.

Lastly, the controller 48 operates a transaction printer 62 via a transaction printer control bus to present, to the user, at the end of transactions, a ticket indicating what has taken place. The controller 48 may also be fitted with a communications devices, such as modems, twisted pair lines, or co-axial cable, to communicate with a larger, host system whereby data may be transferred to and from the host. This is generally shown in Figure 4 as a bi-directional communicator 66.

Figure 5 shows the way in which video information and data are recorded upon the video cassette 46 of Figures 3 & 4. The video cassette 46 comprises tape 68 held, as is well-known, on a pair of reels. As the tape 68 advances, so a scanning video head records slanted video information on a video track 70 on the first portion of the tape 68 and records a normal low frquency longitudinal track 72, used ordinarily as an audio track, on a second portion of the tape 68 . The audio track 72 is, in normal television recording usage, employed for audio information. As is hereinbefore and hereinafter described, the audio track 72 is used, in the present invention, to record data corresponding to the image immed-iately above in the video track 70. Figure 6 is a flowchart of the activities of the controller 48 as it operates the self-service terminal 8.

From power up, a start condition 74 enters a first test 76 where it is determined whether or not a magnetic card has been presented to the card reader 18.

If no card is present, the system waits. As soon as a card is presented, the controller 48 places a message on the screen 12 requesting that the user enter his personal identification number via the keyboard 16. The magnetic stripe on a presented card is read and the controller 48, in a second test 78, checks to see whether the personal identification number, provided via the keyboard 16, tallies with the expected personal identification number on the basis of information read from the magnetic stripe on a presented card. There are various ways, known in the art, whereby the expected personal identification number may be derived. Firstly, the controller 48 may apply algorithms to the data read from a magnetic card, to determine what the personal identification number should be.Alternatively, the controller 48 can use the bi-directional communicator 66 to communicate data, read from a presented card, to a host system and to derive, from the host system, the expected persqnal identification number. Those skilled in the art will be aware of other ways in which a personal identification number can be derived. In the second test 78, the controller 48 checks to see that the personal identification number is as expected. If it is not, the second test 78 passes control to a first, transaction-rejecting operation 80 where the presented magnetic card is swallowed and control is returned to the first test 76, awaiting presentation of a further magnetic card. Whether or not the personal identification number is correctly received may be determined after a predetermined number of tries. If the personal identification number has not been entered within that predetermined number of tries, the first, transaction-rejecting operation 80 is entered.

If the personal identification number is properly entered, the second test 78 passes control to a second operation 82 where the controller 48 commands the video screen 12 to request that the user insert a cheque 21. At the same time, the user is asked whether or not the cheque has been properly signed. If the cheque or document 21 represents an amount to be paid into the user's account, it requires to be signed at the back. If the cheque 21 represents an amount of money to be paid to a third party, the cheque 21 or other instrument must be signed at the front. Whatever the requirements, the controller 48 causes the video screen 12 to caution the user. The cheque or document is then taken into the data path 26 and the document causes the video screen 12 to caution the user.The user indicates that signatures are present using the keyboard 16, and the cheque or document 21 is then taken into the data path 26 and the document reader 30 reads its required information.

As a further precaution, the coded line 22 on a cheque when used for paying a bill or an amount of money to a third party, contains information which can be used to indentify valid users of the account. Either fro an internal store, or by use of an internal algorithm, or by resort to use of the bi-directional communicator 66 to discover information from a remote host system, the controller 48 determines whether or not the data read from the magnetic card which has been presented tallies, should the user wish to pay money other than to hiomself, with the account number indicated on the coded line 22. The controller 48 uses the video screen 12 to request of the user whether or not the bill is to be paid, indication being provided by the keyboard 16.If, at this stage the data, read from the magnetic card, does tally with the account information read or otherwise derived from the coded line 22, control is passed to a third operation 86. The third test 84 also checks to see whether the information, read from the presented magnetic card, indicates that the card is on a "wanted list" of cards which have been mislaid, stolen, or which are to be retained for other reasons. If the third test 84 is failed in any way, control is transferred firstly to to the first, transaction rejecting operation 80 wherein the card is swallowed and the transaction rejected, and thereafter to the first test 76.

Passing the third test 84 transfers control, as earlier stated, to the third operation 86 wherein, if the cheque or other document 21 is an amount to be paid into an account, the controller 48 asks the user via the video screen 12 to enter the amount of the cheque. The amount of the cheque is then retained as amount data.

Should the cheque 21 or other document be intended to pay money to a third party, once the amount has been entered, the printer 34 is activated by the controller 48 to print the amount in the cash amount box 26.

Once the amount has been established, control is passed to a fourth operation 88. In the fourth operation, the document 21 is passed down the document path 26 to the image capture section 36 where the document 21 is stopped. The controller 48 causes the light 40 to come on, and causes the video camera 38 to be activated, as necessary. As previously explained, it is possible that the video camera 38 can be kept running at all times. The controller 48 then causes the video recorder 44 to run for a sufficient time and in a sufficient manner to capture an image of the document or cheque 21.At the same time as the video recorder 44 is running, the controller 48 serially encodes data, received from the card reader 18, data received from the document reader 30, the amount of the cheque received from the keyboard 16, and indication of the nature of the transaction, all to be recorded on the audio track 72. Serial encoding can be in the form of RS232 or any other serial recording modes. The video recorder 44 is run for sufficient time to record all of the digital data on the audio trcak 72. While all of the digital data fields, hereinbefore described, can be recorded on the audio track 72, the present invention is not restricted to recording all of the data, and can record some or all of it.

In the fourth operation 88, the controller 48 places an image, as captured, of the document or cheque 21, on to the screen 12 for inspection by the user. If the user is dissatisfied with the document, he has the choice of ceasing to proceed and abandoning the transaction. This course is not actually shown in the flowchart of Figure 6, but is to be understood as being part of the operation of the terminal 8. In this instance, the document path 26 can be reversed, the card returned and the cheque or document 21 returned to the user via the document receiving station 20.

When the fourth operation 88 is complete, control is passed to a 'fifth operation 90 combined with a fourth test 92 wherein the controller 48 uses the video screen 12 to request whether or not any further transactions are to take place. If there are further transactions, as indicated by the user operating the keyboard 16, control is passed to the second operation 82 where insertion of a fresh cheque is requested. The third test 82 still prevails, so that, having gained access to use of the terminal 8, attempted fraudulent use on second or subsequent presentations of cheques in a transaction is rendered impossible.

If the user indicates, via the keyboard 16, that no more transactions are to take place, control is passed to a sixth operation 94 which returns the user's identifying card back to him from the card reader 18.

Control is then passed back to the first test 76 to await presentation of a fresh card.

As a final operation, the controller 48 prints a tally slip using the transaction printer 62, for retention by the user.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS:

1. A self service'terminal apparatus for handling money-free transactions, said apparatus comprising: a document path for receiving and retaining a document from a user; a document reader for reading and recording data from the received document; a card reader for receiving and reading user identifying data from a user-presented card; means for interrogating the user and for receiving, from the user, indication of the nature of the document; and an image store for capturing and recording an image of the document.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said card reader is operative to reject a document transaction if data, read from the document, does not agree with data, from the card, that the user is entitled to present the document.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said card reader is operative to request and receive a personal identification number from the user, and to rejecting a document transaction if the received personal identification number does not correspond to data, read from the card.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3wherein said rejection of a document transaction includes retention of the presented card.

5. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein said card reader is operative to retain said card if data, read from the card, indicates the card is on a list of cards to be retained.

6. An apparaus according to any of the preceeding claims wherein said image store includes a video camera and a video recorder operative to receive and store a representation of the image of the presented document.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said video recorder includes a video tape recoder, operative to record said representation of said image on a video track and to record data on an audio track.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said data, recoded on said audio track, includes data from said means for interrogating the user and data from said document reader.

9. An apparatus according to any of the preceeding claims wherein said document path includes means for receiving a document, out of alignment, and for aligning the document prior to transportation along said path.

10. An apparatus according to any of the preceeding claims wherein said means for interrogating the user includes means for displaying, to the user, the image of the document, captured by said image store.

11. An apparatus according to any of the preceeding claims for use where said document is a cheque, and wherein said means for interrogating the user is operative to ask and obtain of the user the amount of the cheque; said document path including a printer for printing the amount of the cheque.

12. An apparatus substantially as described with reference to the appended drawings.