JPH1079072A - Automatic cash paying pattern analyzing method at automatic teller machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for detecting the total amount of paid cash at a self service terminal which can be operated by an efficient method concerning cash replenishment. SOLUTION: In order to facilitate the maintenance of the cash dispenser 18 of automatic teller machine(ATM) housing sufficient cash, the cash paying pattern of ATM is analyzed. The amount of cash paid at the time of the specific banking transaction of ATM is specified. The time when cash is paid is specified. After then, an actual paying pattern is decided based on the amount of paid cash and the time of paying cash. The actual paying pattern is compared with a predicted paying pattern stored in a memory 34. Based on the result of the comparing, a real time signal showing time when cash should be replenished for the cash dispenser 18 is generated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-service terminal for automatically dispensing cash, and more particularly to a cash dispensing pattern at a self-service terminal for predicting whether replenishment of cash is necessary. Analysis method.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A typical self-service terminal for dispensing cash, such as an automatic teller machine (ATM), typically requires 24 hours a day.
It's up and running seven days a week. Since ATM users can withdraw cash at any time, ATMs need to store enough cash internally so that they can withdraw cash when needed. Generally, a well-known method of determining the amount of cash to be stored in a specific ATM is to use the total amount of cash that the ATM has paid out so far. For example, the amount of periodic cash payouts, such as cash payouts throughout the day or week, can be used to predict the future required cash replenishment amount for a particular ATM.

[0003] If the total amount of previous cash withdrawals was used to predict the future required cash replenishment amount for a particular ATM, then the trouble is that the actual amount of cash that the ATM is currently dispensing. However, there is a risk that the expected level of cash dispensing will be exceeded. Sports near the ATM
If a special event such as an event or a concert is being held, the actual amount may exceed the expected level. As a result, the ATM may become empty before the next cash replenishment is performed. If the ATM is emptied before the next cash refill, the ATM must be refilled urgently. The cost of urgently replenishing cash is relatively higher than the cost of replenishing cash on schedule. Therefore, in the event that cash needs to be refilled urgently, extra costs are incurred. In addition, if the ATM becomes empty before the next regular cash replenishment,
The user will be using the ATM of a competing financial institution, and the revenue and business of the bank may suffer.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting the total amount of cash dispensed at a self-service terminal that can operate in an efficient manner with respect to cash replenishment.

[0005]

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a method for analyzing a cash withdrawal pattern at a self-service terminal.
The features include (a) monitoring the real-time pattern characteristics of the cash paid out at the self-service terminal; and (b) cash payment data in which the pattern characteristics of step (a) are preset. To compare;
(C) generating a warning signal, whatever the result of the comparison of step (b).

[0006] Preferably, the characteristic of the pattern of step (a) is the amount paid out at the self-service terminal over time. The preset payment data indicates which payment pattern of the self-service terminal is likely to occur within a certain time period in the future. The warning signal in step (c) indicates whether the cash withdrawal at the self-service terminal was made as expected. Preferably, the warning signal is that the cash dispensed at the self-service terminal exceeds at least a predetermined amount or that the dispensed cash is at least an expected amount from the predetermined amount. It is preferable that the value indicates less than the above. When the amount of cash to be paid out is smaller than the expected amount, it is conceivable that the hardware of the terminal breaks down and the cash payout function is limited, for example, a failure of a cash dispenser or display.

In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a method of analyzing a cash dispensing pattern of an automatic teller machine to facilitate maintenance of an ATM cash dispenser containing sufficient cash. Things. Its features are (a) AT
M specifying the amount of cash paid out during a particular bank transaction; (b) specifying the time at which step (a) was performed; and (c) determining the time at which steps (a) and (b) were performed. Identifying the actual payment pattern based on the identification; (d) replacing the actual payment pattern in step (c) with:
Comparing with the expected payment pattern stored in the memory; and (e) the cash dispenser generates a real-time signal indicating when to replenish the cash based on the comparison of step (d). is there.

One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are by way of example only.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for analyzing a cash payment pattern of a self-service terminal. The specific structure and use of the self-service terminal will vary. By way of example, FIG. 1 is a banking system 5 that includes a self-service terminal 10. The self-service terminal 10 is an automatic teller machine (ATM).

The ATM 10 communicates over a line 90 over a standard communication network 92, which communicates over line 94 with a remote computer 96. Remote computer 96 is a large computer, typically located at the heart of a financial institution. As is well known, remote computer 96 monitors various parameters related to the operation of ATM 10.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG.
M10 includes a user interface 12 with a front panel. User interface 12
Includes a card reader 14, a keypad 16, a cash dispenser 18, a CRT display 20, and a receipt printer 22. The card reader 14 has a card slot in the front panel of the user interface 12, through which a customer 24 can insert a user identification card 26 when initiating his or her banking transaction. The cash dispenser 18 has a cash slot through which a bank note stored in the ATM 10 is paid to the customer 24 during a bank transaction. The receipt printer 22 has a receipt slot through which a bank transaction receipt is issued to the customer 24 at the end of the bank transaction.

The customer 24 receives the card from the card reader 14
When the user identification card 26 is inserted into the slot, the card reader reads the data contained on the card. Then, from the display on the CRT display 20,
The customer 24 enters his or her personal identification number (P
IN). Once the correct PIN has been entered, a menu is displayed on the display 20 and the customer 24 can make the necessary banking transactions. When the bank transaction is completed, the receipt printer 22 prints the receipt of the bank transaction and issues the receipt to the customer 24 through a slot in the receipt printer 22.

The ATM 10 also includes a controller unit 30 for communicating with the components of the user interface 12. This controller unit 30
Is the processor unit 32 and the bus line 3
6 includes a memory unit 34 connected to the processor unit 32. Processor unit 32
Receives input signals from card reader 14 and keypad 16 over lines 42 and 44, respectively, and displays information on cash dispenser 18, CRT display 20, and information printed by receipt printer 22. Lines 46, 48, 50 to control
Through the cash dispenser 18, CRT display 20
And an output signal to the receipt printer 22.
Processor unit 32 also communicates with remote computer 96 via line 90, communication network 92, and line 94, as previously described.

Referring to FIG. 4, this is a flowchart of the process performed by the ATM 10 of the present invention. In step 100, the processor unit 32 makes a real-time determination as to whether the cash dispenser 18 has received a cash dispensing instruction. If the determination in step 100 is no, the process ends. If the determination in step 100 is yes, the process goes to step 102 where a determination is made as to the amount of cash to be dispensed by cash dispenser 18. Then step 1
At 04, a determination is made as to the actual time of the day on which the cash dispenser 18 paid the cash.
In step 106, the total amount actually paid since the last cash supply was determined. The actual amount of cash dispensed, the actual time the cash was dispensed, and the total amount of cash dispensed since the last refill were made are stored in the memory unit 34. Information about the actual amount of cash dispensed includes the number of banknotes paid and the face value of the banknotes paid. Information regarding the time at which the payment was made is obtained from the ATM 10 system clock.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 108, where processor unit 32 identifies the actual pattern of cash dispensed by cash dispenser 18 since the last refill was made. FIG. 5 is an example of the actual payment pattern for one week. This actual payment pattern is stored in memory
The expected payment pattern stored in the history file stored in the unit 34 is compared. FIG. 5 also shows an example of the expected payment pattern.

The expected payment pattern is a specific ATM
10 is the result of historical cash payment information related to 10. The expected payment pattern is created using the actual cash payment information (eg, the amount of cash paid out and the face value of the cash paid out) and the actual time of the previous banking transaction. . The expected payment pattern shown in FIG.
It is divided into individual periods (eg, on a daily basis) and indicates the expected amount of payment to be made within each period. Although the expected payment pattern in FIG. 5 is divided on a daily basis, the expected payment pattern can be divided on an hourly or weekly basis, for example. After performing the comparison at step 110, the process goes to step 112, where memory unit 3
4 is updated with the new actual payment pattern data.

In step 114, step 108
A determination is made as to whether the actual payment pattern obtained in step 1 corresponds to the expected payment pattern (PDP) stored in memory unit 34. If the determination at step 114 is yes, the process ends. If the determination in step 114 is no, the process goes to step 116 where the actual total amount of cash dispensed by the cash dispenser 18 is greater than the expected amount by a first predetermined amount. A determination is made as to whether or not. The expected amount and the first predetermined amount are stored in the memory unit 34. If the determination in step 116 is yes, the process goes to 122 where the cash dispenser 18 of the ATM 10 is flagged as having to be refilled before the next recurring cash refill. . If the determination at step 116 is no, the process goes to step 117. Step 1
At 17, a determination is made as to whether the actual amount of cash dispensed by the cash dispenser 18 is less than the expected amount by a second predetermined amount. The expected amount and the second predetermined amount are stored in the memory unit 34. If the determination in step 117 is yes, the process goes to 1119 where it flags that there is enough cash to make a payment and that the next periodic cash replenishment time can be extended. . If the determination in step 117 is no, the process goes to step 118.

At step 118, a determination is made as to whether there is a hardware problem associated with the cash dispenser 18. If the determination in step 118 is yes, the process goes to 124, where the ATM 10 is flagged as having a hardware problem associated with the cash dispenser 18. This hardware problem is probably the cause of the low cash payment identified in step 117. If the determination in step 118 is no, the process goes directly to step 120, where all raised flags are set to the remote computer 9
6 for further processing.

When the remote computer 96 is connected to the ATA1
Upon receipt of a set flag from the zero controller unit 30, the computer provides an indication to the computer operator that certain action is required. The above required action may be to solve a hardware problem that is currently occurring at the ATM, or may occur at the ATM (i.e., before the next scheduled cash replenishment, the ATM 10). This could be a potential problem (e.g., emptying), or it could postpone the next periodic cash replenishment. Thereafter, computer 96 recalculates the new expected payment pattern to be downloaded to memory unit 34 of ATM 10 for the future. The stored expected payment pattern in the memory unit 34 is updated accordingly.

Preferably, the cash payment characteristics within each period are:
Preferably, it has an association with cash payment characteristics within other periods. An example of the above relation is shown below.

Period-related T-3 T-2 = (T-3) T-2 = (T-2) -10% T = (T-1) + 22% T + 1 = (T-3) + 40% T + 2 = ( T-1) + 50% T + 3 = (T + 2) -33% The actual cash out during the previous period is as follows:

Period Number of Banknotes Dispensed T-3500 T-2700 T-1750T660 Expected payments for future periods are as follows:

Period Expected number of banknotes to be paid Relationship T + 1 700 = (T−3) + 40% T + 2 1125 = (T−1) + 50% T + 3 750 = (T + 2) −33% The above example is simplified. It is. This is because it only covers the total amount of cash paid out. Each face value of the banknote can be processed in the same way.

Analysis of the cash payment pattern at the ATM 10 in accordance with the present invention provides many advantages. One advantage is that the cash dispenser 18 of the ATM 10 is less likely to be empty. that is,
This is because the cash amount of the cash dispenser 18 of the ATM 10 is reported to the operator in real time. This advantage is shown more clearly in the cash graph available at ATM 10 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, regular replenishment of cash is performed on Tuesday and Friday.
As already explained, by analyzing the cash payment pattern of the present invention, it is possible to increase the amount of cash replenishment scheduled on Friday to prevent cash being exhausted on the weekend. . Further, in order to prevent the cash from running out on Sunday, the cash can be further replenished on Saturday. In addition, there will be enough ATM1 cash until the next regular cash replenishment on Friday.
If it is 0, it can be determined on Tuesday. Therefore,
It may be determined that regular cash replenishment on Tuesday is not required.

Another advantage is that the cost of urgent cash replenishment is not incurred and can be reduced at least to a minimum. Still another advantage is that a decrease in revenue due to the inability to use the ATM 10 can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 includes an automatic teller machine (ATM) of the present invention;
It is a block diagram of a banking system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ATM shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the ATM shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process executed by the ATM of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a graph of actual and expected payment patterns for one week of the ATM of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 6 is a graph of actual payment patterns that the ATM of FIGS. 1-3 can use during the week and expected payment patterns that can be used.

Claims (2)

[Claims] Monitoring the real-time pattern characteristics of the cash paid out in (a); (b)
Comparing the pattern features of step (a) with pre-set cash payment data; and (c) step (b)
Generating a warning signal no matter what the result of the comparison is. 2. (a) identifying the amount of cash paid out during a particular bank transaction of the automatic teller machine;
(B) identifying the time at which step (a) was performed; and (c) identifying the actual payment pattern based on the identification of steps (a) and (b);
(D) comparing the actual payment pattern of step (c) with the expected payment pattern stored in memory (34); and (e) the cash dispenser (18) based on the comparison of step (d). Generating a real-time signal indicating when to replenish the cash, to facilitate maintenance of the cash dispenser (18) of the automatic teller machine containing sufficient cash. Analysis method of cash payment pattern of automatic teller machine.