MXPA01007891A - Method and system for connecting services to an automated transaction machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for connecting transaction services to an ATM (10, 500) that includes a network (20). A user interface service (12) and a lookup service (22) are in operative connection with the network. Transaction services such as a printer service (16), card reader service (18), and cash dispenser service (14) are also in operative connection with the network. These transaction services are operative to register with the lookup service and to upload a service proxy to the lookup service. The user interface service is operative to locate transaction services on the network by invoking a remote lookup method on the lookup service. The lookup service is operative to return service proxies that match the type of service that is required. The user interface service is further operative to invoke methods of the service proxies that remotely control the functionality of the transaction services on the network. The user interface service is further operative to register events with the service proxies for notification when certain events on the services occur.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING SERVICES TO AN AUTOMATED TRANSACTION MACHINE D E S C R I P C I O N A method and system for connecting services to an automated transaction machine.

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to the connection of devices in automated transaction machines.

Specifically, this invention relates to a new method and system for connecting transaction services in automated transaction machines.

ART BACKGROUND Automated transaction machines are known in the prior art. Automated transaction machines are used to carry out electronically representative transfers of securities. Automated transaction machines include, for example, cash dispensers, ticket dispensers, brochure dispensers, gaming machines, automated teller machines (ATMs) and other self-service terminals. For convenience purposes all of those automated transaction machines will be mentioned herein as ATM machines unless specifically indicated otherwise.

ATMs can include several types of transaction function devices. These devices are operated to carry out transactions. The different types of ATM machines include different types of devices. The different types of devices allow the ATM machine to carry out different types of transactions. For example, some types of ATM machines include a deposit to accept deposits while other ATM machines do not include it. Some ATMs have a "digital display" while others have separate entry and display buttons. ATM machines can also be equipped with devices such as cash and coin acceptors, statement printers, check validators, bill acceptors, thumb print readers and other devices while other ATM machines do not include such dispositives. ATM machines also continue to incorporate enhanced or additional features. For example, printers are improved from black to colored inks, cash acceptors are improved to work with both old and new styles of $ 20 bills; and card readers are also improved so that they can work with magnetic stripe cards and smart cards.

As long as the basic functionality of a new device is the same as the one that this device replaces, the Software code or the drivers that require communicating with the new device also remain the same. Thus, for example, the Application Software for an ATM machine with a cash dispenser can issue an order to supply cash as it has always been done even after the cash dispenser has been improved.

However, if the new devices are sufficiently changed in relation to a device that they replace so that it requires an updated driver, a service technician will be required to install a new device driver with the new device. As long as the new impeller is back compatible with the older impeller, the ATM machine will continue to operate generally as before.

Unfortunately the installation of new impellers may require more time than the installation of a new physical transaction function device in the ATM machine. Normally the new impellers are installed from a soft disk, a CD ROM or other portable storage medium. A technician is required to access the computer running the ATM machine, and must replace the physical records of the old impellers with the new impellers. Even when wizards or friendly placement programs are used to make this process easier, this requires a degree of specialized knowledge and ability to update the ATM machine software impeller correctly. For example, a single type of device may have a different driver for each model and version that is manufactured. Keeping track of the correct drivers and verifying that the correct impeller is installed for a device is a tedious task. Also, it may not be obvious when an impeller for an "A model" and a device is used incorrectly for a "B model". Even though 99% of the functionality of the device may work properly, an ATM machine with an incorrect impeller may experience intermittent problems related to that 1% incompatibility with the impeller.

The pursuit of these incompatibilities can conceive a large amount of technician's time. Consequently, it would be desirable to standardize the update of the impellers to reduce the amount of time it takes to update a device and to reduce the chances of installing the wrong impeller for a new device.

A typical ATM machine application program not only communicates through an interactive user interface with the input and output devices, but also controls the overall functionality of the devices in an ATM machine. ATM machines of the prior art generally require that the ATM machine be turned off when a new or additional device is installed. Prior art systems presume that individual devices that are configured to be used in the ATM machine will remain available while the ATM machine is operating. However, if a device is incapacitated, prior art ATM machines may not notice that the device is disabled until the ATM machine attempts to use the device, at which time an error is generated. Such an error usually results in the system or ATM machine being disabled until the device is rehabilitated or until the ATM machine is manually reconfigured to know that the device is no longer available.

Consequently, changes to the configuration of an ATM machine require disabling the ATM machine for a period of time to remove, replace or add a device. This process can be time consuming and can result in a loss of business at the ATM machine. As a result it would be desirable for an ATM machine to have the ability to detect when devices are present or not present and to automatically change the configuration while continuing to operate.

Other functions of a device in an ATM machine are a directly controlled response to the inputs to a user interconnection. Individual devices often do not control the functionality of other devices. For example, when an ATM machine application program requires closing or opening a device which contains envelopes and also requires enabling a device which accepts deposit envelopes, the application must issue commands to both devices. This is the case even when both devices are related and are designed to operate at close times. The individual ATM machine transaction devices frequently do not communicate with each other. For example, a device for receiving deposit envelopes does not issue an order to the envelope holder to close the door to the support when the deposit function is contemplated. The application program should generally include all the programming logic to coordinate the operation of multiple devices. The additional code required makes the application of the program more complex and more difficult to modify. Accordingly, it would be desirable for the ATM machine devices to communicate directly with each other to facilitate the operation of the activities coordinated by the transaction function devices.

The impellers of the prior art device for the devices in an ATM machine are often composed of low level functions for controlling the apparatuses. The programmers who create the ATM machine software generally need to have a high degree of knowledge about how a device device and device impellers are designed to work before the device is incorporated into the ATM machine. This level of complexity often makes the application of ATM machine programs more complex and difficult to produce and reconfigure. Consequently, it would be desirable to increase the efficiency of the programmers who develop the ATM Software and make the device drivers easier for programmers to integrate into an ATM machine program without requiring the programmer to have an in-depth understanding of the level hardware. low.

Many types of ATM machines include an internal device bus to which they are transaction devices. This bus device facilitates communication between the application program and the individual devices. Such device buses are often proprietary and are designed to connect directly to the computer that controls the operation of ATM machines. Such device buses limit the number of devices that can be attached to an ATM machine and limit the physical locations in which the devices can be attached. Consequently, it would be desirable to have an ATM machine with a system for holding devices that is not limited to the physical constraints of the internal bus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which transaction devices can be more easily connected.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which the amount of time it takes to add a transaction function device to the ATM machine is reduced.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which the possibility of installing an incorrect impeller for a device in the ATM machine is reduced.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which it is easier to install the device impellers in the ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which the impellers of the device are easier to incorporate into ATM machine programs.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which the transaction devices have object-oriented service properties in the ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine which includes services that encapsulate the low-level hardware functionality of a device and present only high-level object oriented methods and events to control the device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine which includes an application program and other software components in the ATM machine that include properties of an object-oriented service.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine that includes a transaction service which operates to automatically install its own impellers when the service is installed in the ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which the services communicate directly with other services in the ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which the services control the functionality of other services in the ATM machine in which the services control the functionality of other services in the ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which services can be added dynamically and can be removed without disabling the entire ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which many services are attached.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which a service can be attached to the ATM machine at a great distance from the main cash machine of the ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which the services are connected to the ATM machine through a network.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which the services are connected to the ATM machine with different types of topographies and network protocols.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which services issue events remotely through a network when there is a change in the state of service in the ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which services invoke method calls remotely through a network to control other services in the ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine which uses a service power to allow a service to communicate with another service in the ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine which passes the service powers through a network between different services and programs in the ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine which operates to store the service powers in a central warehouse located on a network in the ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine in which services can look at a required service power by asking the central repository of the network powers in the ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine server that can coordinate the functionality of a plurality of network machine ATM workstation services.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine that can be quickly connected and disconnected with the services.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine that can be quickly connected and disconnected with other ATM machines.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a personal ATM machine that is personal to a user.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a personal ATM machine that is operative to store the information for a plurality of personal accounts belonging to a user.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a personal ATM machine that is operative to coordinate with another ATM machine to withdraw money.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a personal ATM machine that is operated to coordinate with another ATM machine to deposit checks.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a personal ATM machine that operates to coordinate with another ATM machine to transfer a value between personal accounts.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a personal ATM machine that is operative to pay for the assortment of items in a dispenser.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a personal ATM machine that is operated to coordinate with a point of sale terminal to transfer value.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ATM machine that is operated to download a user interconnect application to another computer system for interconnection with the ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a personal ATM machine that is operated as a service to allow Software applications to interconnect with the personal ATM machine to carry out the transactions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a personal digital assistant operated as an ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cell phone operated as an ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a smart card operated as a personal ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a host ATM machine that is operated to interconnect with the personal ATM machine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a host dispenser that operates to interconnect with a personal ATM machine.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a host dispenser that is operated to interconnect with a personal ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a point of sale device that is operated to interconnect with a personal ATM machine.

The additional objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following better modes for carrying out the invention and from the appended claims.

The above objects are achieved in an exemplary embodiment of the invention by an ATM machine that includes a network for fastening devices. The network serves as a communication link between the ATM machine application program operative in the main machine system of the ATM machine and the transaction function device comprising the functional elements in the ATM machine. Examples of such transaction function devices include cash dispensers, cash acceptors, card readers, reservoirs and printers. However, the present invention encompasses a new form of these transaction function devices called transaction services. Transaction services have properties of objects, similar to objects in object-oriented programming languages such as C ++ and Java®. Transaction services such as a printing service accept method calls remotely through the network to perform such functions as printing the text or delivering a printed receipt. In additional services, events can be sent remotely in other services. For example, a printer service can invoke an event in an application program when the printer service is out of paper. ATM machine application programs can also include elements of an object-oriented service. In this way, all the hardware or software components have properties of objects that adhere to the same set of protocols. Thus, the example embodiment of the present invention is an ATM machine that is created by assembling service objects.

In an example embodiment, JINI ™ microsystems define the low-level protocols used to configure transaction services over an ATM machine network. However, the present invention also encompasses other protocols such as those of Microsoft Universal Plug and Play ™ that operate to allow services in an ATM machine to automatically configure itself over an ATM machine network and to communicate with others. events and object method calls.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the services include a memory and computer processing unit for running a Java® virtual machine (JVM). In addition, services include the storage of non-volatile data such as a disk or NVRAM to store Java Software Software objects independent of the Hardware. These Java® power objects replace the drivers of the hardware specific device of the prior art to control the physical Hardware.

The prior art ATM machines have an application software program that operates to display a graphical user interface, which receives inputs from input devices such as keyboards and controls the operation of the transaction devices such as a leaf spout. In the exemplary form of the present invention the application is itself a service. It interacts with other services such as a card reader service based on JINI ™ protocols. The application service operates to acquire one or more service power objects for each service that must be controlled by the application. these service powers originate from the individual services themselves and are used by the application service to remotely control the services through the network. In this way each service contains all the Software necessary to control its underlying Hardware functions. There is no longer a need for a service technician to install the correct impellers on the main computer of an ATM machine. Instead, the service powers are automatically updated by the service itself.

When connecting a new transaction service to a network in an ATM machine, the service operates to locate a special service of the network of ATM machines called an observation service. The observation service is responsible for registering each network service and storing a copy of each service power of the services. This process for registering a new service on the ATM machine network is defined as the "discover" and "unite" protocols. After registration, other programs or services that require communicating with or controlling the functionality of a particular type of transaction service, contact the service to look and download the appropriate service power. The service power in the sample incorporation is a JAVA® object that is run in the call service JVM. This service power defines the methods and events necessary to communicate with a service through the network. Because each service contains its own service power, when an old transaction service such as a cash dispenser is replaced with a new model, the service power for the new model is automatically installed and integrated into the machine system of ATM. Consequently, the amount of time needed to update an ATM machine with newer services and the opportunities to install the wrong drivers is reduced.

Because the transaction services each contains its own individual JVM, these also operate to load the service powers of other services which allow them to communicate and control other services directly. This feature is useful for services that are designed to work in tandem. For example, in the ATM machines of the prior art the application program controls each device. However, the devices do not control the application program. In the example embodiment of the present invention, the application is a service. As such, it has service powers for each transaction service over which it has control, such as a card reader service. However, because the application is also a service, the card reader can load a power of application that allows the card reader to issue methods to control the application.

For example, when a credit or debit card is first inserted in a card reader, the card reader can issue an application method using the application power to wake up the application service and pass attributes representative of the numbers coded on the card. card. Such a service for communication of services more efficient and easier to program than having the application constantly monitoring the card reader for card inserts as in the ATM machines of the prior art.

It should be understood that services can be created that do not have the processing capacity to run a JVM.

For such services the protocols for configuring the service over the network can be programmed directly into the firm service program.

Another advantage of placing services on a network is that services can be attached to an ATM machine at greater distances. For example, rather than placing all transaction services within a single ATM machine enclosure, multiple service groups can be configured on the same network. For example, a bank may have a large private or virtual private network with multiple sets of ATM machine services located throughout a city. Each of the service groups represents a single ATM machine work station with one application service and another multiple transaction service. A special host service over the network can direct banking transaction messages between the multiple workstations of the ATM machine and an external host network.

An advantage of this system, compared to the previous art is that each service is a networked component individually, which can be easily replaced and updated dynamically. In addition, each component of the ATM machine can be remotely monitored, taken offline to fix defects without interfering with other services in an ATM machine or other ATM machines over the network.

Such dynamic connections have the advantage of allowing ATM machines to connect to different types of services when required. These connections to fly flight make possible an alternative incorporation of the ATM machine enabled by JINI in which the ATM machine is personal to an individual. This personal ATM machine can reside on a very small portable computing device such as a notebook computer, a cell phone, PDA, a voceador or a smart card. The personal nature of this incorporation allows an individual to store a plurality of his personal bank account information in a data warehouse of the personal ATM machine. This alleviates the need to insert a bank card into the personal ATM machine to activate it. In addition, the personal ATM machine does not operate until the personal key or other unique entry of the owner of the personal ATM machine has been entered and validated.

When a user of the personal ATM machine wishes to carry out banking transactions, the user can connect the personal ATM machine to a network that offers the desired services. For example, if a user wishes to stock cash, the personal ATM machine can be placed in an operational connection with a JINI-enabled host ATM machine that includes a cash dispenser service. The personal ATM machine can discover and join with the host ATM machine and use a proxy for the cash dispenser service to stock the cash. The personal ATM machine can operate to prompt the user to use an account from which to receive the money and the desired amount. The information associated with the selected quantity and the desired quantity are sent to the cash supplier service with cash dispenser power method calls. After validating the account information, the cash dispenser will dispense the cash and have the selected account debited.

Such a personal ATM machine can dynamically connect to the banking services of a host ATM machine to deposit cash or checks and to transfer the value between the accounts. further, the personal ATM machine can connect to other types of devices that accept value as payment. For example, the personal ATM machine can connect to a point-of-sale (POS) service to transfer account information for the payment of an account or invoice. The personal ATM machine can be connected to a JINI-enabled dispensing service to pay for the emergence of items such as medications, food, or any other items that dispensers and vending machines can offer. The personal ATM machine of the present invention operates to dynamically connect to any additional JINI service to transfer a value to or from the service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first exemplary embodiment of an ATM machine system of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a further exemplary embodiment of an ATM machine system of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of a further exemplary embodiment of an ATM machine system of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the Software components included in an example service.

Figures 5-8 schematically show protocols for registering transaction services on an ATM machine network.

Figure 9 schematically represents a discovery announcement protocol.

Figure 10 is a schematic representation of an ATM machine bus service.

Figure 11 schematically shows a single ATM machine server computer that is operated to run an ATM machine interconnect application that controls the functionality of a plurality of ATM machine workstation services enabled by JINI .

Figure 12 schematically represents a personal ATM machine that operates to carry out banking transactions by connecting to several ATM machine services.

Figure 13 schematically represents a plurality of personal ATM machines that are operated to communicate with a host ATM machine to carry out banking transactions.

Figure 14 schematically depicts a point-of-sale (POS) device that is operated to accept information payments from accounts stored in personal ATM machines.

Figure 15 schematically represents a personal ATM machine on a smart card that is operated to use the input and output devices of a notebook computer to carry out banking transactions with a notebook computer internet service.

Figure 16 schematically represents a personal ATM machine on a cell phone that operates to carry out transactions with another personal ATM machine on a PDA.

Figure 17 schematically depicts a dispenser that operates to accept account information payments stored in the ATM machines.

Figure 18 schematically represents a personal ATM machine that operates to carry out banking transactions with services of a host ATM machine.

Figure 19 schematically represents a personal ATM machine on a smart card that operates to carry out banking transactions with services of a host ATM machine.

Figure 20 schematically depicts the process of using a personal ATM machine when the personal ATM machine is first activated.

Figure 21 schematically depicts the process for using a personal ATM machine on a smart card when the personal ATM machine is first activated.

Figure 22 schematically depicts the process of withdrawing money with a personal ATM machine in operational connection with the host ATM machine that includes a cash dispensing service.

Figure 23 schematically represents the process for making a payment with a personal ATM machine in operational connection with a host.

Figures 24 and 25 schematically represent the process of dispensing an article with a personal ATM machine in operative connection with a host dispenser.

Figure 26 schematically depicts the initial personal machine ATM machine interconnection menus of the personal ATM machine.

Figure 27 schematically depicts the personal ATM machine interference menus for transferring values between the accounts with the personal ATM machine.

Figure 28 schematically depicts the personal ATM machine interconnection menus for withdrawing money with the personal ATM machine.

Figure 29 schematically depicts the personal machine ATM interconnection menus for making deposits with the personal ATM machine.

Figure 30 schematically depicts the personal ATM machine interconnection menus for making payments with the personal ATM machine.

Figure 31 schematically depicts the personal machine ATM interconnect menus for filling items with the personal ATM machine.

Figure 32 schematically represents the personal machine ATM interconnection menu to edit the account information stored in the stored data of the personal ATM machine.

BEST MODES TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, there is shown, a schematic view of an ATM machine 10 that includes a number of transaction services, including an application 12 which is referred to herein as an interconnection service of user. The exemplary ATM machine also includes a cash dispenser service 14, a printing service 16 and a card reader service 18. Each of these services is connected to a common network 20. The ATM machine is also it includes an observation service 22 that is responsible for the registration of new services over the network and provides a deposit of service powers of the services connected to the network.

The ATM machine also includes a host service 23 which is operated to pass the transaction messages between the ATM machine and an external network 25. The network 25 is connected to at least one host system 24 and preferably to a plurality of host systems used in relation to banking systems or settlement banks. The host system 24 is typically responsible for transaction processing related to such tasks as validating the user's card and personal identification numbers, debiting a withdrawal of money from a checking account and other transactions.

Each service is operated to communicate with each of the other services through the network 20. An advantage of using a network to connect the services in an ATM machine is that the services are no longer limited to being connected to a proprietary ATM machine communication bus. Figure 2 shows an example embodiment of an ATM machine system with multiple service groups in the ATM machines 40, 42 and 44 connected to a common network 56. Each of these ATM machine service groups Automatic has the ability to communicate with a server computer 46 that responds by sending transaction messages 49 to an external host system 48 on behalf of each group of ATM machine services. In this embodiment, an observation service 47 operates to register each group of ATM machine services and includes a program that resides on the server computer. However, in the alternate additions, the observation service can be an independent service linked to the network. In other additions each group of services in an ATM machine can have its own observation service.

The ATM machine 40 is an example embodiment of the invention in which the services 50, 52, 54 and 55 are independently connected to the network 56.

In the example incorporation the network can be an Ethernet network using the TCP / IP protocol. Each service has its own IP address. The IP address for example can be assigned automatically or obtained from the DHCP server. Each of the services in the group that is included in the records of the ATM machine 40 with the observation service 47 and the communications through the network 56.

ATM machine 42 is an example embodiment in which only one network computer 58 is physically connected to network 56. Examples of a computer that can be used in this embodiment include an Intel® based personal computer , a proprietary computer, a dedicated Java® workstation, or any other type of machine that is capable of connecting to a network, and running a JVM. The user interconnect service 64 and the local observation service 63 are preferably JAVA® programs running on the JVM of the network computer 58. However, such services and related service powers can be generated from other programming languages and tools. as long as the generated byte code executes in a JVM. Of course in other additions other types of virtual machines can be used.

The transaction services such as a card reader service 60, the printing service 61 and a cash dispensing service 62 are connected to a network 66 which is local to the network computer 58. This local network 66 can be based on network topologies such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), IEEE 1394 Firewire or any type of connection that allows devices to communicate with each other. A local observation service 63 is responsible for the registration of local services linked to the local network 66.

ATM machine 44 is an exemplary embodiment wherein only one user interconnect service 70 is in operational connection with network 56. Transaction services such as cash dispenser 72, an observation service 77, and a printing service 76 are connected to a local network 80. Here, however, some of the transaction devices such as a card reader 76 and a biometric browser 78 are older legacy devices that do not have the characteristics of a transaction service .

To accommodate these legacy devices in an ATM machine 44, this incorporation includes a special bus service 74 which acts as a gatekeeper among other services over the local network 80 and the legacy devices 76 and 78. The bus service 74 operates in a manner similar to other services on the network, however, instead of having a unique hardware function, it controls multiple hardware devices. From the point of view of other services, such as the user interconnection service, each of the legacy devices appears to be an independent service object. The bus service is responsible for the translation and direction of the service communication within the specific hardware signals needed to operate the legacy devices.

Figure 3 is an explanatory and schematic view of an ATM machine 90 with network transaction services 108, 110, and 112. The system includes a network computer 100. The network computer operates to perform a network interconnection service. user. The user interconnect service operates to cause the display of a user interconnection output on an output service 102 such as a computer screen, and which accepts the inputs from an input service 104 which includes a keyboard, a digital display component or other input device. The network computer also includes a network interconnection 109 for connection to the common network 106 of the ATM machine. As discussed above, this network 106 does not necessarily have to include an Ethernet type network. The present invention is not limited to any particular type of network for connection services. Therefore, the network can be based on architectures such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) or Firewire IEEE-1394.

In the sample addition, each transaction service also conforms to the JINI ™ description. Each service includes a processor such as a personal computer unit 118 and a memory 120 for running Java® programs in a JVM. Example service 112 includes a network interconnection 114 to connect to network 106. The service also includes storage such as a disk, NVRAM 233 or other type of data storage. Warehouse 122 is used to contain JAVA® objects and powers which facilitate communication with other network services. The processor operates in response to stored programs.

The Software components that are included with each service are schematically represented for the example embodiment in Figure 4. An example service 130 used in connection with the present invention includes a JVM 140 which operates to run programs written with classes 142 of JAVA® and Development Kit® (JVK). Because transaction services typically perform a tightly defined hardware function, a large part of JDK 142 does not require being included with each service.

JDK classes to build a graphical user interface are not required in services such as the cash dispenser. Therefore, the JDK can be reduced in size to reduce the storage requirements of the service.

The service 130 also includes a network configuration object 144 which is the example incorporation conforming to the JINI ™ registry specifications to "discover" and "join" with the network. As part of the discovery process, the service 130 downloads an observation service power 164 from an observation service 162 which is located on the network with other transaction services comprising the ATM machine. A copy of this observation service power 146 is stored with the rest of the service 130 and is used by the service for joining the ATM machine network.

During the registration with the observation service 162, the service 130 will download a copy 166 of a service power 148 stored in association with the service 130, for the observation service 162. In the example additions this service power 148 is a JAVA® object that allows other services or programs such as a user interconnect service 168 to remotely invoke the methods of service 130 through a network.

Service 130 may also include other Software components such as a Hardware control object 150 which includes methods for controlling the functions of the underlying Hardware device 152 of the service 130. In the example embodiment a service such as the user interconnect service 168 causes the associated processor to operate so that the service 170 copy of the proxy 166 from the observation service which serves as a repository for such powers, and invokes methods of copying the power service 170 to have the object of controlling Hardware 150 operating the hardware functions of the service device 152.

Even though the example incorporation uses JAVA® objects running inside a JVM on each service, an alternate form of the service can be created that does not have a JVM. Such a service, however, may have instructions to interact with a network that are hard coded in the firm service program. This approach may be appropriate for a cheap service that can not justify the proper expense of a dedicated personal computer unit and memory. Unfortunately, the hard code of the methods for registration and security in a firm program can limit the development capability of the observation service. Therefore, such services may designate including a process to update the firm program. Also future versions of the observation service can maintain the same methods for registration and security as to be able to continue communication with these hard coded services.

JVN enabled services do not have this limitation, because they can be downloaded to an updated observation service agent during the discovery phase. Also the JVM enabled services also have the ability to download and invoke the methods of service proxies for services of new or different type.

Figures 5-8 schematically show example protocols for registering transaction services on an automatic transaction machine network and communication with the services. Figure 5 shows an example embodiment of a "discovery" protocol 190. Here a service 200 has recently been connected to a network. The service has network configuration objects 202 that are operative to send a discovery request message 206 outside the network. This request 206 is preferably multirepartied to all the observation services that may be present (in TCP / IP environments the network protocol used may be multirepart UDP). In alternate additions, the services can operate to distribute a request to a specific observation service using the IP address or known URLs.

The request 206 includes a source address 207 such as the IP address of the service 200. Each observation service 208 on the network operates to respond to the request message with a discovery response 210. Because the source address 207 of the service 200 it is known, the discovery response 210 is not multirepartied to all the services, but it will join directly to the service that initiates the discovery.

The response 210 includes a copy 212 of the observation service proxy 209 for remotely invoking the methods of the observation service 208. In the example embodiment the proxy of the observation service is a JAVA® class with methods to: match the network; negotiate loans for the amount of time the service can be connected to the ATM machine network; and to look at other services on the network based on a research criterion.

Figure 6 schematically represents a "join" protocol 220. Here the objects of the network configuration 202 of the service 200 invoke a matching method of the watchdog 212. This method operates to send match data 224 including a copy 226 of a service proxy 222 and specific attributes 228 of the service to the observation service 208. These attributes define the characteristic of a particular service type. For example, if the service is a printer, the attributes can specify that the printer is a color printer. The observation service 208 preferably stores all downloaded service proxies in a proxy storage area 229.

Once a service has joined the network, your proxy is available for other services over the network for download. Figure 7 schematically represents an observation protocol 230 of the example embodiment. Here a user interconnection service 231 invokes a method of observing the proxy of the observation service 233 which conducts a search of an observation service 232 for a specific service. The arguments of the observation research method 242 include a type 244 of the service that is desired and a list of the specific attributes 246. For example, if the user interconnect service requires a connection to a color printer, the arguments 242 of the Observation research specifies a "printer" type service and "color" attributes.

The observation service 232 is operative to identify which of the registered services 236, 238 and 240 in the storage of the proxy 234 home with the investigation arguments 242. The observation service sends the results 248 of the observation to the search service 231. The results include a copy 250 of the matching service proxies (in this case a copy of the printer service proxy 236) and the corresponding attributes 252.

Once a service has acquired a service proxy for a service, it can invoke methods and the registration for event notification from the service. Figure 8 schematically represents an exemplary method for service-to-service communication. Here a user interconnect service 262 has obtained the service agents 264 and 266 for two services: a printer service 268 and a card reader service 277.

The user interconnect service 262 is operated to invoke method calls 274 and 282 from the service proxies which remotely invoke hardware controller object methods 270 and 278, respectively. The hardware controller object methods in turn control the functional Hardware elements 272 and 280 of the respective services. For example, a print service proxy 264 for a printer service 268 has a method of printing with text data as an argument. Calling the printing method will remotely call the corresponding printing method on the printer service 268 which physically has the hardware text printing 272.

Proxy methods do not necessarily correspond one-to-one with the methods of hardware controller objects. Proxy methods can perform various types of validations or manipulations of method arguments before remotely calling the methods in the service. For example, printing methods for a printer service can accept images only in a bitmap format. However, the corresponding print method of the proxy for the print service may include the addition processing functionality to convert images of other formats to a bitmap format before calling the remote functions of the print service. In addition, the proxy methods can invoke combinations of remote methods in the service to carry out the desired operation.

In other embodiments such as where the printer service is in the form of a firm program, the printer service proxy can be operative to send messages over the network with a proprietary protocol that can directly control the printer hardware.

In the example embodiment of the present invention, the services are also operative to have the service proxies match for the event notification from the service. For example, the printing service can include a complete event. When the printer service 268 has completed a print text it calls this event. If the user interconnect has registered this event, the printer service 268 will send an event notification 276 to the user interconnect service remotely through the network when a printer operation is completed.

As discussed above, the application or user interconnection in the sample incorporation is also a service. Therefore, transaction services such as a card reader service 277 are operated to remotely invoke method calls 288 and register event notification 290 with the user interconnect service.

A card reader service 277 of the example embodiment operates to acquire a user interconnection proxy 286 from an observation service. This proxy will allow the card reader to invoke methods of user interconnection such as an activation method, when the card reader first detects that a card is inserted in the reader.

In the sample embodiment, the method for calling the methods remotely from one service to another, and invoking the events remotely is a function of the JAVA® remote method invocation (RMI) classes in the JDK. The remote method invocation protocol facilitates the ability of a service to invoke another service's methods over a network. The remote method invocation allows both the complete JAVA® data and objects to be passed from one service to another.

One of the advantages of using the remote method invocation for communication with the services through the network of an ATM machine is that the physical hardware of a service appears from the point of view of the programmer as just another JAVA® object with methods to carry out certain functions. Such a system is much easier to develop and modify because the programmer of an ATM machine user interconnection is no longer required to understand all the complexities of low-level hardware of a service.

In the example integration, the configuration of the device and the system is automatically changed in response to the connection and removal of the services. As previously discussed, each service is connected to the ATM machine, coincides with an observation service (and / or other services) through the operation of the processors associated with each service. This coincidence is effective for a period of time that is referred to as a "loan." When the loan expires the service (if it is still connected) returns to coincide and therefore negotiates a new loan with the observation service and / or other services. If the service is disconnected, the current loan expires and is not renewed. When this happens the service is automatically removed from the ATM machine configuration. Preferably the loan periods are set so that the removed services cease to be registered before the methods of the same are tried to be invoked. For example, in some embodiments of ATM machines it may be desirable to require that each service that is present negotiate a new loan at the beginning of each transaction so that the configuration of the services available to carry out the transaction is determined. Of course one of the other loan periods and loan periods that differ depending on the nature of the particular service can also be used.

The incorporations discussed above have an observation service that is responsible for the services of coincidence over the network and that serves as a deposit for the proxies of the service. In the alternate embodiments of the present invention, the ATM machine may be operative to operate without an observation service. The fiber 9 is a schematic representation of a discovery announcement protocol 350. In the discovery announcement protocol a user interconnect service 352 is operated to initiate the discovery process between itself and other services on the network, so that the user interconnection acquires a 354 service proxy directly from the individual transaction services 358.

When the user interconnect service 352 is first connected to the network and periodically thereafter, this is operative to multicast a discovery announcement 362 through the network 364 which requests that the services on the network begin the discovery process and coincide with East. The services interested in receiving this announcement are operated to distribute a discovery request 366 directly to the advertiser user interconnect service 352 rather than to an observation service. The user interconnection service then participates in the "discovery" and in the "board" processes just as if it were an observation service.

In addition, this discovery announcement protocol 350 can also be used as an observation service, in cases when an observation service is added to a network with pre-existing services. In this case, the information service can announce its presence on the network with the discovery announcement so that the services coincide with it.

The example embodiment of the present invention includes services that are fully capable of configuring themselves over the network. Nevertheless, for legacy services or new services that do not have a network interconnection, a special bus service may be employed as discussed above. Figure 10 is a schematic representation of an ATM machine bus service 300 that allows the connection of devices 302 and 304 (in this case a printer and a cash dispenser or sheets respectively) that does not include network features and object oriented.

Here the bus service 300 includes all the elements of other transaction services. This includes a 306 personal computer unit, a 307 memory, 312 storage and a JVM 314 to run JAVA® programs to discover and join a network. For legacy devices, the service bus may come preloaded with multiple service proxies for each Hardware service that can be physically attached to the service bus.

The physical attachment can be an RS 232 serial connection for example, or through a proprietary connection. The service representatives are downloaded to the observation service during the process of joining the bus service. From the point of view of other services on the network, all the legacy services appear to be objects capable of receiving remote method calls. The bus itself handles the address of messages between the network and the legacy services.

In this described embodiment of bus service 300, devices 302 and 304 include storage for downloading Software objects. As shown schematically with reference to a printing device 302, this storage 309 is used to hold the service proxy 308 and a hardware controller object 310. The bus service 300 operates to download a copy of the service proxy 312 and a copy of the hardware control object 311 of the device 302. When the bus service connects to an observation service 315, the bus service operates to download a copy of the service agent 312 to the observation service 315 using the discovery protocols and of union as previously discussed. Other services on this network can then acquire a copy of the service proxy from the observation service 315.

The Hardware and bus controller object 311 runs on the JVM 314 of the bus service 300 and has methods for controlling the physical Hardware of the device 302. When the user interconnect service 316 invokes a service proxy method call 318 through of the network 317, the Bus Hardware controller object 315 running on the JVM 314 is operative to control the device 302. From the point of view of the user interconnect service 316 or other services on the network, the devices 302 and 304 appear to be object-oriented services.

The devices for this bus service 300 are a hybrid between the complete slave legacy devices of the prior art and the full network enabled services. These hybrid services include their own service proxies, but they do not require a personal computer and memory unit to run a JVM. Even though these have a lower cost of production, they are intimately tied to the bus design. Also the Bus Hardware must have a specific connection for each type of device.

One of the advantages of an ATM machine with transaction services that can be worked by network is that the shape of the ATM machine is flexible. ATM machines of the prior art are limited in the number of serial and parallel ports that are available to connect the peripherals. When all ports are filled, a new communications card with additional ports should be installed in the ATM machine. An ATM machine that uses networkable transaction services can scale to include as many services as it can handle the bandwidth of the particular network topology. With an Ethernet network based on 10-base-T for example, theoretically hundreds of JINI enabled devices can be connected to the network of an ATM machine. Of course, an ATM machine of the prior art will rarely require more than a dozen peripheral devices. However, the ability to easily connect a large number of transaction services creates new opportunities for the design of ATM machines.

Figure 11 shows an alternate embodiment of an ATM machine 380 in which a single ATM machine server computer 382 is in operational connection with a network 384 that connects a plurality of different ATM machine work stations. 386, 388 and 390. Each ATM machine work station comprises a set of transaction services. However, because each service is in network communication with a common server computer 382, all workstations of the ATM machine 386, 388 and 390 can be controlled by a single enabled Jini 392 application. Application 392 uses the service proxies for each transaction service to control the functionality of each of the three ATM machine workstations.

In this example the workstation of the ATM machine 386 includes an outgoing service 394 which includes a graphic display, an input device service 396 such as a keypad, a cash dispenser service 398, a service printing 400 and a card reader service 402. Each of these services is JINI enabled and are operative to discover and join with an observation service 404 when the services are first installed on the network 384. The application service 392 controls each service, and it is operative to have an independent ATM machine interconnection to be displayed with each departure service 394 and the exit services 406 and 408 over the work stations of the ATM machine 388 and 390 respectively. Thus, a single ATM machine server 382 can handle a plurality of independently operable ATM machine work stations.

Such a design offers advantages over previous art designs. To update the interconnection menus for each workstation of the ATM machine, only the application service 392 located on the ATM machine server 382 requires to be updated.

This design offers centralized configuration, management and security and allows the physical components of each workstation of the ATM machine to be easily updated by replacement or plugging into additional Jini enabled transaction services.

Exemplary embodiments of the previously discussed ATM machines have primarily concerned the use of Jini protocols to produce an improved ATM machine comprising networkable transaction services. However, the ability to set up an ATM machine without requiring an operator to load new device drivers from a CD-ROM for example, offers the unexpected benefits of producing an ATM machine that can be configured on the flight depending on the needs of its owner. Thus, an alternate embodiment of the ATM machine of the present invention is one that is portable and that connects the transaction devices as necessary. Such an ATM machine can be personally owned by a private individual and used to carry out personal banking transactions, to pay for purchases and store electronic currency. In addition, personal account information in relation to credit cards, utility customer numbers, medical plan numbers, debit cards, and information that corresponds to any other type of account to which the money or a value is already can be transferred to or from, can be stored in the personal ATM machine. In addition, the inclusion of multiple types of account information and means to store securities in a single personal ATM machine reduces a person's need to carry numerous types of credit and bank cards.

For this incorporation a portable device that is operated to run a JVM and to connect to a network using observation / union / discovery protocols such as Jini, can be used. Examples include a notebook computer, a cell phone, a speaker, and a personal digital assistant (PDA). As a personal ATM machine, such devices are configured to run a personal ATM machine service application that performs banking operations as they are done in non-portable ATM machine work stations. Unlike the prior art ATM machines, these portable devices do not include the coin dispensers attached. However, because the personal ATM service is enabled by Jini, it can be connected to additional transaction services as needed, such as a cash dispenser service from a multi-user or public ATM workstation. enabled by Jini. Such a multi-user or public ATM machine that is operated to allow personal ATM machines to connect to this is mentioned here as a host ATM machine.

Figure 12 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary personal ATM machine 500. The personal ATM machine 500 is shown in connection with various types of transaction services. Some of these transaction services are local connections to the personal physical ATM machine including a printing service 502 such as an attached printer, a modem service 510 such as an attached personal computer card modem and a reader service. 512 cards such as a smart card reader. The printer service can be used to print bank transaction receipts or even complete account statements. The modem service can provide a connection to a dedicated host banking system such as an online banking system of a settlement bank through which a user can achieve transactions such as money transfers between accounts, payment of bills or purchases of goods or services.

The card reader service 512 can provide access to a smart card for storing electronic money, or to read the account information from a magnetic strip card or other item.

The 500 person ATM machine can be temporarily connected to another Jini enabled ATM machine that includes additional services. An exemplary host ATM machine 504 can provide access to services to withdraw cash from a cash dispenser service 516, to deposit cash with a cash recycling service 518 and to deposit envelopes with a deposit service of about 520. In addition, if desired and / or if the personal ATM machine does not have its own modem service, the host ATM machine 504 can provide access to a 522 host banking system service. The host ATM machine can also provide access to other types of services not included with the personal ATM machine. For example, if the personal ATM machine 500 does not have its own card reader, the host of the ATM machine 504 can provide access to a card reader service 514. The personal ATM machine 500 can temporarily connect to other types of host machines that provide services. Examples include a sales service point (POS) 506 which can be part of a payment terminal located on a grocery store verification line, a 524 medical item dispensing machine service located at a pharmacy, a medical payment terminal located in a doctor's office or even another person's personal ATM machine service 526. Such connections allow the personal ATM machine to directly pay for purchases by transmitting information which identifies the debit card or personal credit card accounts of the user stored locally in the 528 data warehouses in the personal 500 ATM machine. The personal ATM machine can also operate to store the electronic money in a local memory in a encrypted format, and can transfer the electronic money to a connected service so that the medical supplier service 524 to pay for the medical item assortment. For personal ATM machines that have access to the internet, an internet service 508 can provide access to a 530 host banking system service or a 532 account payment service.

Examples of computing devices such as cell phones and PDAs that may be suitable for use as a personal ATM machine typically include local displays and input devices. However, the present invention also encompasses other computing devices such as smart cards which do not have displays or input devices. Any smart card that includes a memory of a personal computer unit and non-volatile storage to run a JVM, or that includes a firm dedicated program to interact with other services using Jini protocols, or other comparable components and features, may also be used as the computer system of the personal ATM machine of the present invention.

In order to interact with the personal ATM machine on a smart card, the smart card can be put into operative connection with an exit service 536 such as a display screen and an entry service 534 such as a keypad. In the embodiment of preferred example that is achieved by inserting the smart card into a smart card reader of a host ATM machine enabled Jini or some other host machine that includes an input and display device. An example of such a machine is a notebook computer. Once connected, the smart card can use the observation / union / discovery protocols to pass service proxies between it and the host machine.

In an example incorporation the smart card lowered the proxies for the display and the host computer input services. These proxies are used by the services of the personal ATM machine on the smart card to display an ATM machine menu screen on the ATM machine's output service and to receive input signals from the ATM device. entrance of the host machine.

In an alternate incorporation, rather than downloading the display and entry services, the services of the personal ATM machine on the smart card raises the burden of the services of proxy of the personal ATM machine to the host machine .

This proxy includes a Java interconnect application that runs in the JVM of the computer system of the host machine. The Java application creates a user interactive ATM machine menu interconnect that displays on the output device of the host machine and accepts inputs from the input device of the host machine.

This described embodiment divides the functionality of the personal ATM machine through different computer systems. The services of the personal ATM machine on the smart card can perform back end operations to maintain a store of account data, validation keys, and / or electronic storage money, so the host computer executes the interactive front-end GUI application for interfacing with the personal ATM machine services on the smart card as well as other services.

Figure 13 schematically depicts a host ATM machine enabled Jini 540. This host ATM machine is operative as an ATM terminal that is single and includes services such as a cash dispenser 541. However, the ATM machine host automatic 540 also includes one or more external network ports 550 that allow personal ATM machines to connect to the host ATM machine. These 550 luminaries provide an access point for Jini 542 enabled cell phones, the notebooks 544, the vocers 546, the PDA 548 and other devices that are operative as personal Jini enabled ATM machines, which allow such devices to use the publicly available services of the host ATM machine. Once a personal ATM machine has discovered and joined the Jini network of the host ATM machine, the personal ATM machine operates to observe and interact with the available services, such as the cash dispenser 541 .

For a personal ATM machine on a smart card, the host ATM machine includes a smart card interconnect 554 such as a smart card reader or a contactless interconnect to communicate with the card. Once the smart card is in operational connection with the host ATM machine, the services on the smart card are operated to discover and join with the Jini network associated with the host ATM machine, just like the other computing devices of personal ATM machine described.

The personal ATM machine on a smart card uses the merchandiser 556 and the keyboard 558 of the host ATM machine 540 to generate an ATM machine interconnection menu to enable interaction with a personal ATM machine service or several services on the smart card. To compute devices with built-in displays, such as PDA 548, the personal machine ATM user interconnection can be produced on its own display screen 549. Alternatively, such devices can use the display and keyboard of the machine. 540 host ATM, as is done by the 552 smart card personal ATM machine.

Once a personal ATM machine is connected to the host ATM machine 540, it can be operated to interact to perform such tasks as withdrawing cash, receiving deposits, and transferring money to and from any of the accounts for which data were stored in the personal ATM machine and / or for which the representative data of the electronic money are stored in relation to the personal ATM machine.

Figure 14 schematically represents the incorporations of the personal ATM machines 560 and 562 that are operative to discover and join the Jini-enabled host POS service residing on the POS 564 terminal. Once connected the POS service, the personal ATM machine is operated for example to pay for purchases by transferring the account information stored in the data store from the personal ATM machine to the POS service.

Figure 15 schematically depicts embodiments of the personal ATM machine 566 that resides on a smart card. The personal ATM machine 566 can be placed in an operational connection with a Jini-enabled computing device such as a 568 notebook computer through an appropriate interconnection. Once the personal ATM machine 566 has been discovered and joined with the 568 notebook computer, the notebook computer operates to see the personal ATM machine proxy for the personal ATM machine. This ATM machine proxy operates to display an interactive Java-based ATM machine user menu on the 569 notepad display. In addition, the services of the booklet, such as a 570 internet connection service are available for used with the 566 personal ATM machine. The ATM machine proxies operate to allow menu options to carry out banking or other transactions such as transferring money between accounts and paying for purchases by using the service. of internet 570 of the notebook 568.

Figure 16 schematically represents an embodiment of the personal ATM machine 572 operating to discover and link with the Jini network a second personal ATM machine 574. In this manner the first personal ATM machine 572 is enabled to transfer representative data of the electronic money to the second personal ATM machine 574. Also, each personal ATM machine must share services with others for the purposes of carrying out transactions.

Figure 17 schematically represents a host jet enabled by Jini 578 that supplies medical articles. The host supplier operates to have the personal ATM machines 576 and 580 to discover and join with this. The supplier 578 includes a dispenser proxy which includes an interactive Java application for selecting items to buy and stock. For personal ATM machines that include their own local display services, the proxy interconnection or supplier application can be downloaded and executed at the local JVM of the personal ATM machine. In other additions, such as with the incorporations of the personal ATM machine on a smart card, the supplier's interconnection application runs in the supplier's computer system and operates to interact with the personal ATM machine through the agent the personal ATM machine.

Once a user has selected the items that he wants to buy with the proxy interconnection application from the supplier, the personal ATM machine service is triggered by the supplier service to make the payment. This can be accomplished by either transferring electronic money or by providing a debit / credit account information stored in the personal ATM machine. This information is used to achieve payment and an appropriate record is made at the dispenser and at the personal ATM machine.

Figure 18 schematically depicts a personal ATM machine 582 in operative connection with a host ATM machine 584. Here the personal ATM machine includes a computing device 581 with a processor such as a PDA or a cell phone with a 596 local display screen. The personal ATM machine is operated to run a JVM 586 with a JDK 588 and jini classes 590. The personal ATM machine also includes a data warehouse 592 that includes account information for credit cards. credit, debit cards, and any other accounts which are a source of value. The personal ATM machine 582 further includes a personal ATM machine service 594 which operates to output an interactive ATM machine 598 interconnect menu on the 596 display screen.

The personal ATM machine 582 operates to discover and join with the host ATM machine 584 which includes an ATM machine observation service 600 and other transaction services such as a 602 cash dispensing service. cash 604 and a banking network service 606. The personal ATM machine also operates to make the processor operate to look at these public services and to download the corresponding proxies such as proxy 608. The personal ATM machine uses these proxies to interact with the host ATM machine in response to human interaction with the interconnect menu of the ATM machine 598 of the personal ATM machine 582.

In this example embodiment described, the personal ATM machine service 594 operates to generate a user interface menu 598 that responds to the types of public services that are available in the host ATM machine 584. However, in additions alternatives, the personal ATM machine can display a user interconnection menu that originates from the host machine. For example, when the personal ATM machine 582 joins the host ATM machine 584, the personal ATM machine can observe and recover a high-level host ATM machine service proxy that encapsulates the functions of all publicly available services of the ATM machine host. Such a high-level service representative may include the programming necessary to display a user interface menu 598 with the display screen 596 of the personal ATM machine 582 to have the host ATM machine 584 carry out a plurality of different types of transactions.

In another embodiment, the personal ATM machine may include a 599 search engine function. The high level host service proxy can direct the search engine 599 to retrieve from the host ATM machine 584 one or more user interconnect pages 601 for display in the search engine 599. Such user interface pages 601 may include a Hyper Text Markup (HTML) language Extensible Markup (XML), an irless Markup language (WML), a Java script or any other type of instruction language that is operative to have the 599 search engine by pulling an interactive 598 interconnect with a 596 display screen of the ATM machine 582 staff It is recognized that different types of personal ATM machines can have different types of 596 display screens with different performance characteristics. For example, a notebook computer may have a graphical display of a relatively high and large resolution, while a cell phone may have a display with a low and small resolution character. To accommodate any type of display, the example embodiment of the present invention operates to format the interconnect menu 598 in response to the specifications of the display 596. For example, if the interconnect menu 598 is generated by a service proxy. At a high level, the service representative operates to extract clues for the interconnect menu 598 in a format that is appropriate for the 596 display screen. If the interconnect menu is displayed in a browser in response to interconnect pages, the machine Personal ATM operates to retrieve the interconnect pages of the host ATM machine 584 that correspond to the display feature on the 596 display screen. This can be accomplished by a host ATM machine that includes a different priority. Proxies of service that correspond to different types of panta exhibition tables. For example, the host ATM machine may include service proxies for character-based cell phone display screens and service proxies for graphic VGA display screens. The personal ATM machine can observe and retrieve the proxy that matches its particular resolution. In an alternate embodiment, the service agent can operate to determine the resolution of the 596 display screen when it is executed on the JVM 586 of the personal 582 ATM machine. Based on this determination, the proxy can then build and take out a properly formatted interconnection menu 598 that responds to the determined resolution of the display screen.

For incorporations of the personal ATM machine that include a 599 searcher to display interconnect pages, the host ATM machine may include different sets of these interconnect pages which are formatted for different resolutions and / or types of display screens. personal ATM machine display. Once the personal ATM machine has joined with the host ATM machine, the personal ATM machine operates to retrieve the proper set of instruction pages in response to the type of display screen that is being used.

Figure 19 schematically depicts an alternate embodiment in which the personal ATM machine 610 resides on a smart card computing device 612. Here the personal ATM machine 610 is in operative connection with the host ATM machine 614. However, rather than download the proxies to the various transaction services 616, 618 and 620 from the host ATM machine 614 the 610 personal ATM machine charges at least one personal 622 ATM machine proxy which is operational in the JVM 624 of the host 614 ATM machine. of the personal ATM machine includes a Java ATM machine interconnect application that operates to output an interactive ATM machine 626 interconnect menu on the 628 display screen of the host 614 ATM machine.

The proxy of the personal ATM machine 622 also operates to remotely call the object methods of the personal ATM machine of the 630 personal ATM machine service operating in JVM 632 of the 610 personal ATM machine.

In this example embodiment, the personal ATM machine comprises any computing device that includes a personal computer unit, a memory and a non-volatile storage operative for running a JVM, wherein the Java objects running in the JVM are operative for discover and join with a network. However, other incorporations of the personal ATM machine can employ a firm program that is specially designed for interconnecting with services over a network using discovery and joining protocols such as Jini. Other embodiments of the personal ATM machine may employ other systems and network protocols that are operative to have devices that configure themselves automatically over a network by passing the device drivers stored internally through the network.

Figure 20 schematically depicts the process by which a personal ATM machine such as the personal ATM machine shown in Figure 18 initially operates. In this embodiment, the computing device includes its own local display screen. The personal machine ATM computing device is first activated by either manually activating the device on step 700, or activating the device by some other method such as sensing a network connection. Once activated, the personal ATM machine operates to execute the personal ATM machine service in step 702. The personal ATM machine service is an application which is either manually initiated by the user of the device, or it is automatically initiated by the computer operating system of the personal ATM machine.

Then the service of the personal ATM machine exhibits a screen entering a network in a step 704 that requires the user to enter a key that serves as a validation data. In embodiments of the invention validation data may include a code, thumb or fingerprints, iris or retinal scans or other biometric or other data that are capable of identifying a user, or combinations of such entries of information. After a user enters with a key in step 706, the personal ATM machine service validates the key in step 708. If the validation fails the personal ATM machine service skips step 706 and returns to display the information entry screen. If the validation is successful the personal ATM machine service discovers and joins with an observation service over the network in step 710. After joining the network, the personal ATM machine carries out an observation of available services over the network in step 712. The personal ATM machine in step 714 displays a list of selectable menu items in the main menu screen of the personal ATM machine. This list corresponds to the types of services that are available. For example, if the network includes a cash dispenser, the service of the personal ATM machine will display a menu item to withdraw the cash. In step 716 the service of the personal ATM machine waits for a user to select one of the menu items.

Figure 21 schematically depicts the method steps that are employed with a personal ATM machine as described with reference to Figure 19. Here a personal ATM machine comprising a smart card is activated in step 720 by inserting the card in a smart card interconnection of a host machine. In an example embodiment both the card and the host machine will use the Jini protocols to configure and communicate with each other. Nevertheless, the alternate additions can use other protocols that operate to allow the smart card to automatically upload a personal machine ATM interconnection application to the host ATM machine. As discussed above, examples of host machines may include Jini-enabled ATM machines, dispensers, notebook computers, point-of-sale devices and other personal ATM machines.

Once the smart card is activated in step 722 carries out the discovery and the Jini connection with the observation service of the host machine. As part of the joining process the personal ATM machine uploads the load of at least one personal machine ATM proxy to the host machine. In step 724 the host machine runs the personal machine ATM proxy in the host machine JVM which is operative in step 726 to display an information input screen on the host machine's output device. After the user inserts a key or other validation data in step 728 through at least one input device of the host machine, the proxy of the personal ATM machine in step 730 remotely calls a method of validation of the personal ATM machine service running on the JVM of the smart card. This validation method is operative to test for the validity of the identification data placed in the information entry service of the host machine by comparing the identification data with the data stored in the data store of the smart card. The service of the personal ATM machine is also operative to pass the results of the validation test back to the proxies of the personal caller's ATM machine. If the validation test fails, the agent of the ATM machine returns to display the information entry screen at point 726 and waits for a user to re-enter the validation data. If the validation test is successful as a result of the correspondence between the data entered and the stored data, the proxy of the personal ATM machine in step 734 carries out an observation of the available Jini services. In step 736 the display of the personal ATM machine displays a main menu of the personal ATM machine on the output device of the host machine in response to the types of services available. In step 738 the proxy of the personal ATM machine expects a user to select one of the menu options with the input service of the host machine.

In the embodiment described, the proxy of the personal ATM machine includes its own Java application to display an ATM machine menu. However, in other embodiments, the ATM machine may include its own interconnection application. The host interconnect application will ask the user to enter validation training. To validate a key, for example, the host application calls the validation method of the personal ATM machine service on the smart card using the proxy functions of the personal ATM machine. To carry out other transactions which require the data stored in the smart card, the host application can call other methods of the agent of the personal ATM machine to recover this data. Figures 22-25 are example methods for using the personal ATM machine to withdraw money, to pay an account and to stock a medical item. All these methods continue from the point where the personal ATM machine is displaying the main menu of the personal ATM machine. These methods are applicable for any of the processes described in figures 20 and 21. For the incorporations using a computing device such as a PDA, the menu of the personal ATM machine is displayed on the local output device of the PDA . For the incorporations of smart card, the menu of the personal ATM machine is displayed on an output device of the host machine.

Figure 22 shows the process for withdrawing cash from the host ATM machine. In step 750 the menu option of the ATM machine for withdrawing cash is selected by the user. For this menu option the personal ATM machine exhibits a "recall" menu in step 752 which lists the available quantities for which the information is stored in the data warehouse of the personal ATM machine. Such accounts may include checks, savings, credit, debit, market money or any other account from which the host ATM machine is operative to deduct value. The personal ATM machine can include a local data storage representative of electronic money accounts, food stamp credits, school cafeteria points or any other type of stored value which is transferred from the personal ATM machine to the host ATM machine.

After the user selects an amount in step 754, the ATM machine requires the user to enter a withdrawal amount in step 756. Then the personal ATM machine in step 758 sends the account information associated with The amount selected and the amount withdrawn from the host ATM machine by calling the withdrawal methods of a cash dispenser proxy.

The host ATM machine operates to validate the account information. If the withdrawal validation fails, the host ATM machine triggers a validation event or method on the personal ATM machine with a false value in step 762. Consequently, the personal ATM machine in step 764 displays a message of error and return to step 752 to display the "recall" menu.

If the withdrawal validation is successful in step 766 the host ATM machine suffers cash from the cash dispenser and has the withdrawal debited from or charged to the selected account. In step 768 the host ATM machine triggers the event or validation method in the personal ATM machine with a true value, wherein the personal ATM machine is operative to jump back to steps 714 or 736 in Figures 20 and 21 respectively to display a refreshed personal ATM machine main menu.

Figure 23 is representative of a method for paying a value with the personal ATM machine in connection with the host POS service. In step 780 a user selects the "pay bills" menu item from the main menu of the personal ATM machine. The personal ATM machine in step 782 exhibits a "pay to" menu with a list of POS terminals that ATM machine personnel are currently in relation to. After the user selects a POS terminal in step 784, the personal ATM machine displays a "payment for" menu with a list of accounts in step 786. After the user selects an amount in step 788 , the personal ATM machine recovers the amount paid in step 790 of the host POS by calling the POS service object methods of the POS proxy server.

The personal ATM machine displays this amount in step 800 and requires the user to confirm that this amount is correct. If the amount is confirmed the personal ATM machine sends the account information selected in step 802 to the host POS by the methods of calling the POS proxy server. In step 805, the host POS validates the transaction using the account information. If the payment is not validated the POS triggers an event or validation method on the personal ATM machine with a false value in step 806. Consequently in step 808 the personal ATM machine display exhibits an error message and return to step 786 where the personal ATM machine displays the "payment of" menu.

If the validation is successful in step 810 the POS triggers the event or validation method in the personal ATM machine with a true value and the personal ATM machine returns to the steps to view the Jini services and re-display the Main menu of the personal ATM machine. Figure 24 is representative of the method steps for filling medical articles from a dispenser with the personal ATM machine. After a user selects the "stock" menu at item 820 of the main ATM machine menu, the personal ATM machine exhibits in step 822 a "stock" menu with a list of available host suppliers. about the Jini network. If the personal ATM machine is only in connection with a host dispensing service, the personal ATM machine is operated to bypass from step 820 to step 826.

When a user selects a host supplier service in step 824 the personal ATM machine downloads a proxy server to the selected supplier. In an example embodiment, the proxy server and supplier includes a Java application that is operated to generate a matching interconnect to interact with the host serving service. In alternate additions, the proxy server and dispenser can be operated to make the personal ATM machine searcher display the interconnection pages retrieved from the dispenser that correspond to an interconnection of the dispenser. In the incorporations of the personal ATM machine on a smart card, the interconnection of the dispenser is displayed on the outlet device of the dispenser. When information such as user identification information, an account number or a credit card number is required, the supplier operates to communicate with the personal ATM machine service over the smart card through a proxy server. of personal ATM machine.

The interconnection application of the supplier in an example embodiment is an interactive user interface which includes the functionality to allow a user to select items that are to be supplied. Such a supplier interconnect will typically display available items to supply the prescription data, the items selected to be stocked, the cost of each item, the total costs of all selected items and / or any other information which may be appropriate and useful for make purchases or obtain medical items from a supplier. In the exemplary embodiments of the invention these items can be a subset of items available at the dispenser which have been prescribed for the particular user of the personal ATM machine by a physician or other medical server and who are selected for a service of prescription in relation to the supplier. Alternatively, the principles of the invention can be applied to systems such as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,912,818 which is incorporated herein by reference, in which a medical professional supplies articles for selected patents and the records are maintained in relation to what the user has taken and what each patient has received. The charges can also be appropriately valued for the patients and the inventory can be chased and replenished as required.

In addition, the complexity of the supply interconnection can generate a response to the type or resolution of the display device of the personal ATM machine. For example, if the personal ATM machine is a cellular telephone the interconnection of the dispenser may be limited to alphanumeric characters, whereas if the personal ATM machine is a notebook computer the dispenser interconnection may include complex graphics.

In step 828 the user interacts with the dispenser and selects the articles that are to be supplied. When the user is finishing selecting the items to be assorted, the interconnection of the dispenser in step 830 triggers a method or event of obtaining payment from the account of the personal ATM machine. As a result, in step 832 the personal ATM machine displays an "account payment" menu with a list of accounts available to pay for the assortment of the selected items.

After the user selects an amount in step 834, the ATM personnel retrieves the payment amount from a host supplier service with a method call from the server proxi from the supplier. In step 840 the personal ATM machine has the user validate that the payment is correct. If the payment is not validated, the personal ATM machine jumps to step 826 and re-displays the user interconnection.

Figure 25 is a continuation of the steps of the method for stocking items from a host jet service as shown in Figure 24. Here if the payment to the supplier is confirmed by the user, the personal ATM machine in step 842 sends the selected account information to the host supplier service using the methods of the proxy supplier server. In step 844 if the host supplier service does not validate the transaction, the host supplier service is operated to trigger an event or validation method of the personal ATM machine with a false value in step 846. Consequently the ATM machine personnel at step 848 exhibits a corresponding error and jumps to step 832 of figure 24 to display the "account payment" menu.

If the transaction is validated by the host supplier service, the host supplier service in step 850 takes the purchased item. At step 852 the supplier triggers a validation event or method of the personal ATM machine with the true value. Consequently the personal ATM machine jumps to the steps to see the Jini services and re-display the main menu.

Figure 26 shows the representative screens of the ATM machine interconnection menu of the personal ATM machine. A main menu of the 900 personal ATM machine in this example embodiment includes menu items such as a 902 transfer, 904 withdrawal, 906 deposit, 908 payment, 910 assortment and another 912. These items respond visually to the types of services with which the personal ATM machine is connected. For example, if the services are not in connection with the service of the host ATM machine that includes a cash dispenser service, the withdrawal menu item 902 will not be visible.

Select the "other" menu item 912 so that this example incorporation displays a second or another menu 914 of the personal ATM machine, which includes other features and maintenance options of the personal ATM machine. Such menu items include the editing of the 916 accounts, the observation of other Jini 918 services, the 920 configuration services, the observation / printing account declarations 922 the 924 key change and the ATM machine update personal 926. The 916 edition account menu item allows keeping the accounting information in the data warehouse. The observation of the other Jini 918 service menu item when selected indicates Jini observation of services over the network. The menu item of the services configured 920 when the selection causes the display of additional menus that enable the configuration of the services. The article of declarations of observe / print account 922 when selected allows review and printing of account statements. The 924 change key menu item allows the user to change the key of the main personal ATM machine. The menu item of the updated personal ATM machine 926 allows the download of a new version of the personal ATM machine service and the Support Software from the internet or from a host ATM machine.

When the personal ATM machine is in operational connection with a host ATM machine or has access to an Internet-based host bank system service, the personal ATM machine can be operated to transfer money between the accounts. Figure 27 is representative of the example transfer menus of the personal ATM machine. The "transfer menu to" 930 includes a list of accounts for which the data is stored in the data store of the personal ATM machine. One of these accounts can be selected to transfer value to an account. After selecting a "transfer to" account, the personal ATM machine operates to display a "transfer from" menu 932. This menu lists the accounts for which the data is stored in the data warehouse from which the data can be transferred. After selecting a "transfer from" account the personal ATM machine prompts the user to enter the amount of the value to be transferred with a "transfer quantity" menu 934. Once the user has selected the amounts and amount of the value to transfer, the personal ATM machine operates to use the host banking system service on the host ATM machine or an Internet service to send the transaction messages to transfer the value between the selected accounts. If the transaction is successful or if there are errors, the personal ATM machine operates to display the appropriate additional menus prompting the user for additional information and / or instructions related to continuing or aborting the transaction.

Figure 28 is representative of the menu screens of the personal ATM machine for withdrawing cash. A personal ATM machine that is in an operative connection with a host ATM machine with a cash dispenser is further operated to display an "account withdrawal" menu 140 that lists a plurality of accounts stored in the storehouse. Personal ATM machine data to withdraw money. Once a user selects the account, the personal ATM machine prompts the user to enter the amount of cash that is going to be filled with the "quantity withdrawal" menu 942. After the account information and amount have been Once logged in, the personal ATM machine operates to use the proxi server methods and cash dispenser to start the assortment of cash from the selected account. The cash dispenser service operates to validate the transaction, to debit or debit the amount of money from the selected account and to supply the cash to the user.

Figure 29 is representative of the personal ATM machine interconnection menus for depositing a value. When a personal ATM machine is in operational connection with a host ATM machine that includes a cash recycler, an envelope service or another deposit acceptance, the personal ATM machine operates to display a "deposit" menu. in "950. This menu lists a probability of accounts stored in the data warehouse of the personal ATM machine in which the money can be deposited. After the user selects an amount, the personal ATM machine operates to display a "deposit from" menu 952 that includes a list of available deposit services associated with the host ATM machine. After selecting the type of service to be used, the personal ATM machine displays a "deposit amount" menu 954 that prompts the user for the amount of cash, the value of a check or the value of other items. that are being deposited with the deposit services of the host ATM machine. After entering this information, the personal ATM machine operates to have the deposit service selected by acquiring the cash, envelope or other item deposited by the user and to credit the selected account.

Figure 30 is representative of the menu screens of the personal ATM machine to pay a value. When a personal ATM machine is in operational connection with the POS service, the personal ATM machine operates to display a "pay" menu to 960 which lists all POS services to which the ATM machine has had access. automatic personal. The user is encouraged to select a POS service with which to interfere. After selecting a POS service or if there is only one POS service available, the personal ATM machine will only display the "payment from" menu 962, which prompts the user to select one of the quantities stored in the data warehouse for pay for a purchase. After selecting the amount, the ATM machine is operated to display a "payment validation" menu 964 with the amount of value that the POS service indicates is the amount of payment. If the user confirms the payment, the personal ATM machine service is operated to invoke the POS proxy server methods to have the POS service initiate the payment of the selected account.

Figure 31 is representative of the personal ATM machine menus for stocking items. When the personal ATM machine is in operational connection with a host supplier, the personal ATM machine is also operated to display a "stock" menu with a list of available suppliers. With a user selecting one of these, the personal ATM machine service is operated to use the proxy server for the host supplier to display a 972 matching interconnect to interact with the serving service. If the personal ATM machine includes its own display service and information entry service, the interconnection of the dispenser is displayed in the display service of the personal ATM machine. If the personal ATM machine resides on a smart card, the dispenser interconnection is displayed on the display device of the host dispenser and interacts with the smart card service through a proxy server of the personal ATM machine. Once a user has finished selecting the items to be stocked, the supplier service is operated to have the personal ATM machine display a "pay for" menu with a list of accounts stored in the store. data warehouse of the personal ATM machine for payment to the supplier. With the selection of one of the accounts, the personal ATM machine is operated to display a "validate payments" menu 976 which asks the user to verify that the amount of money the supplier requires is correct. If the user verifies the amount, the personal ATM machine operates to invoke the dispensing methods of the supplier's proxy server to have the host supplier charge the selected account and to stock the selected item.

Figure 32 is representative of the "edit account" menu 980 of the personal ATM machine. This menu includes a list of all the account information stored in the personal ATM machine's data warehouse. This account information includes the name of account 982, account type 984, personal identification number or key 986 of the account, account number 988, expiration date of account 990, identification of the sender or the 992 route number of the account.

In addition to storing the information that corresponds to standard credit-type bank accounts, incorporations of the personal ATM machine can also include local storage for data that are representative of value. Local storage may include information that is representative of points to buy food from a cafeteria, food vouchers, electronic money or any other data that corresponds to the value. For example, electronic money may include value-coded units that are stored locally and transferred to other individuals without charging or crediting an external account or line of credit.

The personal ATM machine of the embodiments of the present invention offers the advantage of storing the personal account information and the value stored in a key-protected and convenient location. In addition, the incorporations of the personal ATM machine can include their own uniform and interconnection application menus, so that a plurality of different types of transactions can be carried out with the same relative and the ease of using the personal interconnection. Services that do not exist locally are a simple and automatic connection. Such connections to the host services can be made by connecting the personal ATM machine in a universal network connection, or by a less contact connection such as an IR or RF interconnect.

Even when the previously described incorporations discuss the configuration and interaction between a plurality of services on a network, the present invention example can also be applied to interactions between services that are carried out offline. For example, an alternate incorporation of the personal ATM machine can use a previously retrieved service proxy server to prepare and simulate a series of offline transaction steps before connecting to a host ATM machine. Such simulations can be carried out with service proxies that operate to behave as virtual services. A virtual service for a printer service for example, would respond programmatically just like a real printer service, but without having a hardware device print on paper. Such simulated services in an ATM machine can be useful for testing complex transactions without actually transferring the value.

As an example, a personal ATM machine may be able to access a service to carry out complex transactions such as stock market purchases. Such a stock market service may require a value from a personal ATM machine account to be transferred to an account associated with the stock market service.

If the transaction is complex, such as a relocation of many actions, the user may choose to assemble and test the transaction offline using the virtual service features of the service proxy server associated with the broker service. As a part of the process to put the trade, the proxy server of stock broker service can incite the personal ATM machine service by having the user select one of the accounts associated with the personal ATM machine for the use to transfer securities during the trade. When the user wishes to carry out the transaction online, the proxy server of stock broker service can be re-run or make the transaction with the service proxi in communication with the broker service.

In other alternate embodiments of the present invention, the services may be operated to carry out off-line transactions as well. For example, when a personal ATM machine is in communication with a service such as the one previously described as a stock broker, the user can invoke the transaction of the stock broker service so that it is conditioned to certain events that happen in the future. After the personal ATM machine has been disconnected from the network that includes the securities broker service, the conditional transaction will be executed if the broker service determines that the specified conditions are satisfied. Such conditions may include the purchase of a supply if the price drops to a desired level, for example. In this way a service can act as a virtual agent which carries out transactions for the user when the communication between the personal ATM machine and the services have been cut off.

As pously discussed, the personal ATM machine can include a personal ATM machine service that can be accessed through a personal ATM machine proxi server. In the pously described embodiments, the methods of the proxy server of the personal ATM machine are invoked by a host machine such as a host ATM machine to perform such actions as validating keys and retrieving accounting information. .

However as a service, the personal ATM machine can be accessed by other applications as well, including applications that are residing on the same machine as the personal ATM machine. Such other applications may include accounting software, e-commerce applications, a network page for ordering items from an internet merchant, or any other application that may require account information to carry out the transactions.

As a service, the personal ATM machine can include public methods which allow other applications and other services to have access to the information handled by the ATM machine personnel. Such public personal machine ATM methods may include methods for recovering an amount of the transfer value from a method to recover an amount to transfer the value. When such methods are called, the personal ATM machine service operates to send a list of accounts to the calling or service application. However, in order to keep personal account information secure, the public methods of the personal ATM machine may require a key from the personal ATM machine or other validation data as an argument. If the methods of the personal ATM machine are invoked with a validation argument that is null or incorrect, the service of the personal ATM machine can be further operated to prompt the user to enter the key before transferring any information to an external application.

Any application that requires the transfer of value from an account can be configured for interconnection with the personal ATM machine using the protocols pously described for communication from service to service. This allows the personal ATM machine to be used as a digital wallet to handle the transfer of securities and to make purchases faster, more convenient and more secure with external services.

Therefore, the system and the method to connect the services to an ATM machine of the present invention achieve the above-stated objectives, eliminate the difficulties encountered in the use of the devices and systems of the prior art, solve the problems and achieve the results desirable described here.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for bty, clarity and understanding, however they should not imply unnecessary limitations of the same because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are not intended to be widely considered. In addition, the illustrations given here by way of example and the invention are not limited to the exalted details shown and described.

In the following claims any feature described as a means for performing a function should be considered as encompassing any means known to those skilled in the art to be able to carry out the recited function, and should not be limited to the structures shown herein. or the mere equivalent of them.

Having described the characteristics, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which it is constructed and operated and the advantages and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, equipment, operations, methods and relationships are established in the attached clauses.

Claims (77)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. An automated transaction machine comprising: a plurality of transaction function devices, wherein each transaction function device includes an associated device computer processor, wherein at least one computer processor device associated with a first transaction function device is operated in response to be placed in an operational connection with at least one other computer processor device associated with a second transaction function device, to make the first transaction function device automatically become interoperable with the second transaction function device, wherein the first transaction function device interacts with the second transaction function device to carry out a financial transaction with the automatic transaction machine.

2. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it also comprises a network, wherein the network is in operative connection with at least one data store, where the data store includes a device driver of transaction function, wherein the second transaction function device operates in response to the driver, wherein the first transaction function device interacts with the second transaction function device in response to the operation of the driver.

3. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the driver is a software component independent of the hardware that is operated in the computer processor device associated with the first transaction function device.

4. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the computer processor device associated with the second transaction function device is operated to cause the impeller to be stored in the data store.

5. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that the computer processor device associated with the first transaction function device operates to acquire the data store driver.

6. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the computer processor device associated with the first transaction function device includes a virtual machine, wherein the impeller operates in the virtual machine.

7. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the driver includes a method that is operated to cause the second transaction function device to carry out a part of the transaction, wherein the processor device computer associated with the first transaction function device is operated to invoke the method.

8. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the computer processing device associated with the second transaction function device operates to cause the first transaction function device to carry out a part of the transaction in response to a remote procedure call by the impeller.

9. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the second transaction function device includes a sheet dispenser and wherein the transaction includes the assortment of a sheet from the sheet dispenser.

10. An automated financial transaction machine comprising a plurality of transaction function devices, wherein at least one of the transaction function devices includes a sheet dispenser, and wherein each of the devices of transaction function includes an associated computer device and wherein at least one of the computers of the device is programmed so that the operational connection of a first transaction function device to the machine automatically makes the first device function of The transaction coordinates the operation with at least one of the other transaction function device to carry out a financial transaction which includes supplying at least one sheet from the sheet dispenser.

11. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 10, characterized in that each of the plurality of transaction function devices includes an associated transaction function device driver, wherein the first transaction function device is operated to coordinate the operation with at least one other transaction function device in response to at least one of the impellers of the device.

12. An automated transaction machine comprising: a network; a computer processor in operational connection to the network; a user interconnection software component operated in the computer processor. an observation service in operational connection with the network; Y at least one transaction service in operational connection to the network, when the transaction service includes a service server component proxi service, where the transaction service is operated to send a first copy of the server proxi service to the service of observation and wherein the user interconnection software component is operated to cause the computer processor to acquire a second copy of the service proxy server from the observation service, wherein the second copy of the service proxy server is operated on. response to the user interconnection software component to cause the transaction service to operate to cause the machine to perform a transaction function.

13. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that the transaction service includes a transaction device.

14. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that the transaction device includes a sheet dispenser, wherein the transaction function includes dispensing at least one sheet.

15. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that the transaction device includes a printer and wherein the transaction function includes printing at least one document.

16. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that the transaction device includes a reading device, and wherein the transaction function includes reading with the reading device.

17. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that the transaction device includes an article acceptance device, and wherein the transaction function includes accepting an article with the article acceptance device.

18. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that the transaction service is operated to send a discovery request message to the observation service; wherein the observation service is operated to send a discovery response message to the transaction service in response to the discovery request message, and wherein the transaction service sends the first copy of the service proxy server to the observation service in response to the discovery response message, so that the transaction service operates to match the observation service.

19. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 18, characterized in that the discovery request message includes the personal identification address of the transaction service, and wherein the discovery response message includes the personal identification address of the transaction. observation service.

20. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 18, characterized in that the transaction service is operated to send the near discovery request message in time to when the transaction service is first connected to the network.

21. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that the user interconnection software component is operated to send the observation service to an observation search message and wherein the observation service is operated for send the second copy of the proxy service server to the computer processor in response to the observation investigation message.

22. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that the user interconnection software component includes a user interconnect service, and wherein the observation service is in operative connection with a data warehouse, wherein the data store includes the first copy of the service proxy server and a first copy of a user interconnection service proxy server corresponding to the user interconnect service, wherein the transaction service is operated to cause a The computer processor acquires a second copy of the user interconnection service proxy server, wherein the second copy of the user interconnection service proxy server is operated in response to the transaction service to make the user interconnect service operate for cause the machine to perform a user interconnect function.

23. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 22, characterized in that the automated transaction machine includes an exhibitor, and wherein the user interconnect function includes providing an output through the merchandiser.

, 24. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 22, characterized in that the automated transaction machine includes an information entry device, and wherein the user interconnect function includes enabling the receipt of an entry. of information through the information input device.

25. A method comprising the steps of: a) connecting a transaction service in an automated transaction machine, wherein the transaction service includes at least one transaction function device, and wherein the automated transaction machine includes an observation service and an entry service. information includes at least one information entry device; b) match the transaction service with the observation service, including storing a copy of a proxy service server in association with the observation service; c) acquire for use in association with the interconnection service, a copy of the service proxy server from the observation service; d) providing at least one entry to the information entry device; e) invoking a method for the service proxy server through the operation of the interconnection service in response to at least one entry; f) operating the transaction function device of the transaction service in response to the invoked method.

26. The method as claimed in clause 25 characterized in that the transaction device includes a sheet spout and wherein in step (f) the sheet spout is operated to supply at least one sheet.

27. The method as claimed in clause 25, characterized in that the transaction device includes a printer and wherein in step (f) the printer is operated to print at least one document.

28. The method as claimed in clause 25, characterized in that it includes a card interconnection device and wherein in step (f) the card interconnection device is operated to change the amount of value stored on a smart card.

29. The method as claimed in clause 25, characterized in that the transaction device includes a medical dispenser, and wherein in step (f) the medication dispenser is operated to supply at least one medical article.

30. A method comprising the steps of: a) connecting a first transaction service in an automated transaction machine, wherein the first transaction service includes a first processor and a first transaction function device; b) respond to the performance of step (a), by automatically providing a second transaction service on the machine an ability to affect the operation of the first transaction service, whereby the second transaction service includes a second processor and a second transaction device. transaction function, and wherein the capacity is provided in response to the operation of the first and second processors before carrying out a financial transaction with the machine; c) carrying out the financial transaction with the machine wherein the operation of one of any of the first or second transaction function devices affects the operation of the other of the first or second transaction devices.

31. The method as claimed in clause 30, characterized in that the first transaction function device includes a sheet dispenser and the second transaction function device includes an input device, and wherein step (c) comprises the providing at least one input to the input device, and the assortment of at least one sheet from the sheet dispenser in response to at least one entry.

32. A method comprising the steps of: a) connecting a transaction service component to an automated transaction machine, wherein the automated transaction machine includes an observation service and a user interconnection component; b) sending a first message from the transaction service component to the observation service; c) sending a second message from the observation service to the transaction service component in response to the first message; d) matching the transaction service component with the observation service in response to the second message, including sending a first copy of a proxy server to the observation service; e) acquiring with the user interconnection component a second copy of the service proxy server from the observation service; f) invoking a transaction method of the service proxy server with the user interconnect component; and g) carrying out a transaction function with the machine through the operation of the transaction service component in response to the transaction method.

33. The method as claimed in clause 32, characterized in that step (g) includes returning an operational state of the transaction service component to the user interconnection component.

34. The method as claimed in clause 32, characterized in that the transaction service component includes a leaf spout device and wherein step (g) includes dispensing a sheet from the spout device.

35. The method as claimed in clause 34, characterized in that step (e) includes sending a third message to the observation service from the user interconnection component, and sending the second copy of the service proxy server from the service of observation to the user interconnection component in response to the third message.

36. An automated transaction machine comprising: a transaction service that includes: a processor; a transaction device in operative connection with the processor; Y a component of server software proxi service in connection operative with the processor, wherein the processor is operated to match at least one other service in the automated transaction machine, wherein the processor is operated to match at least one other service in the automated transaction machine, wherein the processor is operated to make that a copy of a service proxy server is delivered to at least one other service, and wherein the proxy server in at least one other service is operated to make at least one command to the processor, wherein the The processor is operated in response to the command to cause the transaction device to perform the transaction function.

37. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 36, characterized in that the transaction device is a card reader, and wherein the transaction function includes reading an account number of a card.

38. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 36, characterized in that the service proxy server is operated in JVM of an automated transaction machine.

39. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 36, characterized in that the processor is operated to match at least one other service in response to the processor by receiving a discovery announcement message from at least one other service.

40. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 36, characterized in that the automated transaction machine comprises an observation service and wherein the processor is operated to cause the service server to coincide with the observation service.

41. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 36, characterized in that the transaction device includes a sheet dispenser, and wherein the transaction function includes a dispenser sheet from the sheet dispenser.

42. An automated transaction machine comprising: a processor, wherein the processor is in operational connection with an observation service and a transaction service through a network and wherein the observation service includes a proxy service server of the transaction service; a data store in operational connection with the processor, an application software component operated in the processor, wherein the application software component is operated to cause the processor to send to the observation service an observation search message, wherein the application software component is operated to make that the processor receives a copy of the service proxy server from the observation service in response to the observation search message, and wherein the application software component is operated to cause the copy of the service proxy server to be stored in the data warehouse, and wherein the application software component is operated to invoke at least one method of the service proxy server's copy, the method being operated to cause the transaction service to cause the machine to perform a transaction function.

43. An automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 42 characterized in that the transaction device includes a sheet dispensing device, wherein the transaction function includes supplying at least one sheet from the sheet dispensing device, wherein the application software component is operated to cause the sheet dispensing device to have at least one sheet in response to the application software component that invokes a sheet assortment method of the service proxy server.

44. A personal automated transaction machine system comprising: a processor, wherein the processor is operated to communicate with a host that includes at least one service, wherein the processor is operated to acquire from the host a copy of a first service proxy that originates from the service, wherein when the first service proxy server is acquired the service proxy server is operated on the processor; Y a data store in operative connection with the processor, wherein the data store includes account information corresponding to at least one account, wherein the processor is operated in response to the first service proxy server to make the service performs a transaction function in response to the account information.

45. The system as claimed in clause 44, further characterized by comprising an information entry device in operative connection with the processor, and wherein the data store further includes key information, and wherein the response to at least one validation data information entry through of the processor information input device is operated to determine if the information input corresponds to the key information, wherein when the processor determines that the information input corresponds to the key information, the processor is operated in response to the first service proxy server to make the service perform the transaction function.

46. The system as claimed in clause 45, characterized in that the service includes the input device.

47. The system as claimed in clause 44, characterized in that it further comprises a second proxy service server in connection operative with the processor, wherein the processor is operated to cause a copy of the second proxy server to be received by the service provider. service, wherein the service is operated in response to the copy of the second service proxy server to cause the processor to perform an additional function.

48. The system as claimed in clause 47, characterized in that the data store includes key information, and wherein the additional function carried out by the processor includes determining whether the validation data entry through a device input corresponds to the key information.

49. The system as claimed in clause 47, characterized in that the additional function carried out by the processor includes making the account information delivered to the service.

50. The system as claimed in clause 44, characterized in that it also comprises a virtual machine operating in the processor, wherein the first proxy server is operated in the virtual machine.

51. The system as claimed in clause 44, characterized in that the service includes at least one transaction function device, and wherein the transaction function includes the operation of the transaction function device.

52. The system as claimed in clause 51, characterized in that the transaction function device includes a cash dispensing device, wherein the transaction function includes the cash assortment from the cash dispensing device.

53. The system as claimed in clause 44, characterized in that it further comprises an input device and an exhibiting device in operative connection with the processor, wherein the processor is operated in response to the first service server proxi to make an output of the interconnection menu through the display device, and wherein the processor is operated in response to the first service proxy server and at least one input to the input device to cause the service to perform the transaction function .

54. The system as claimed in clause 53, further characterized in that it comprises a searcher operated in the processor, wherein the searcher is operated to output the interconnection menu through the display device.

55. The system as claimed in clause 54, further characterized in that it comprises a plurality of interconnection instruction pages in operative connection with the processor, and wherein the searcher is operated to make an interconnection menu output responsive to at least one of the interconnection instruction pages.

56. The system as claimed in clause 55, characterized in that at least one of the instruction pages includes the XML instructions.

57. A personal automated transaction machine system comprising: a processor; a data store in operative connection with the processor wherein the data store includes data corresponding to the account information; a display device in operative connection with the processor; Y an input device in connection operative with the processor, wherein when the processor is placed in operative connection with a host, the processor is operated to acquire at least one proxy server of transaction service from the host and to draw a menu of interconnection through the display device in response to the proxi server of acquired transaction service, and wherein the interconnection menu includes the user interconnection indications corresponding to at least one transaction function that the host is operated to perform, and wherein the processor operates in response to at least one entry to the host. through the input device corresponding to the user interconnection indicia, the account information and the proxy transaction service server, to cause the host to perform at least one transaction function.

58. The system as claimed in clause 57, characterized in that the data store includes data representative of key information, wherein the processor is operated in response to a validation data entry through the information input device for determining whether the validation data corresponds to the key information, and in response to a determination of such correspondence the processor operates in response to the transaction service proxy server to cause the host to perform a transaction function.

59. The system as claimed in clause 57, characterized in that it also comprises a search engine that operates in the processor and in which the host includes at least one interconnection page, and where the search engine operates to make the exit of the menu of interconnection through the display device in response to at least one interconnect page received by the processor from the host.

60. The system as claimed in clause 59, characterized in that the proxy transaction service server operates to cause the processor to receive the interconnect pages from the host in response to a resolution characteristic of the display device.

61. The system as claimed in clause 57, characterized in that the host includes data representative of purchase of information and where the processor is operated in response to the proxy server of transaction service to cause the purchase of information that has been recovered of the host, wherein the processor is operated to cause the output of purchase indications corresponding to the purchase information through the display device, and wherein the processor is operated in response to the proxy transaction service server and a second entry of information through the information entry device that corresponds to the purchase signals to make the host carry out the transaction function.

62. The system as claimed in clause 61, characterized in that the transaction function carried out by the host includes charging to an account in response to the account information by an amount of the value corresponding to the purchase information.

63. The system as claimed in clause 62, characterized in that the output of purchase signals through the display device includes an incentive to validate the amount of the value.

64. The system as claimed in clause 63, characterized in that the output of purchase indicia through the display device includes a description of an item that is being purchased.

65. The system as claimed in clause 62, characterized in that the purchase signs include a list of items available for purchase and wherein the second entry of information corresponds to at least one item in the listing.

66. A personal automated transaction machine as claimed in clause 57, characterized in that the host includes a cash dispenser and wherein the transaction function includes dispensing cash and wherein at least one entry corresponds to ordering the assortment of cash, and where the processor is operated in response to the proxy transaction service server that causes the host to operate the cash dispenser.

67. A method comprising the steps of: a) operatively connect a personal automated transaction machine and a host system. b) receiving with the machine at least one proxy server of transaction service from the host system, wherein the proxy server of transaction service corresponds to the transaction service of the host system; c) outputting a user interface menu through an output device that includes indicia corresponding to at least one selectable transaction function that the transaction service is operated to perform; d) providing an information entry through an information entry device corresponding to a selected transaction function; e) acquire account information from a data warehouse in the machine; and f) carrying out the selected transaction function through the operation of the host in response to the proxy server of the transaction service and account information.

68. The method as claimed in clause 67, characterized in that before step (d) further comprises the steps of: (g) exhibit an incitement to a user to enter a password; (h) receive an entry of information corresponding to a password entered by the user; Y (i) validate the key entered by the user that corresponds to a key value stored in the data warehouse.

69. The method as claimed in clause 67, further characterized by comprising the steps of: (g) receiving with the machine an event notification message from the transaction service that includes a status indicative of the result of the transaction function carried out; and (h) display evidence of events through the output device corresponding to the event notification message.

70. The method as claimed in clause 67, characterized in that in step (d) the selected transaction function includes the actual supply, and wherein in step (f) the transaction service is operated to make the cash be assorted from a cash dispenser.

71. The method as claimed in clause 67, characterized in that in step (d) the selected transaction function includes loading an amount corresponding to the account information for a purchase, and wherein in step (f) the transaction service is operated to make the account charged for the purchase.

72. The method as claimed in clause 67, characterized in that the host includes a terminal that includes a cash dispenser, and wherein in step (d) the selected transaction function includes a cash assortment and wherein in the step (f) the cash is stocked by the cash dispenser.

73. The method as claimed in clause 67, characterized in that the host includes a terminal that includes a printing device, and wherein in step (d) the selected transaction function includes printing a document and wherein in step (f) a document is printed by the printing device.

74. The method as claimed in clause 67, characterized in that the host includes a terminal, and wherein in step (c) the output is provided through an output device in the terminal.

75. The method as claimed in clause 67, characterized in that the host includes a terminal and wherein the machine includes an output device and the information input device, and wherein in step (c) the menu is removed through the output device in the machine, in step (d) the input is provided through the input device on the machine and in step (f) the transaction function is carried out through the operation of the terminal .

76. The method as claimed in clause 67, characterized in that the host includes a terminal and wherein the terminal includes the input device, and wherein in step (d) the input is provided through the input device in the terminal.

77. A method comprising the steps of: (a) placing in an operational connection a personal and portable automated transaction machine and a host terminal, the host terminal includes at least one transaction service, the transaction service includes a sheet dispenser; (b) receiving with the machine, a proxy server of transaction service of the host terminal, the proxy server of transaction service corresponds to the transaction service; (c) supplying at least one sheet dispenser sheet in the host terminal in response to the operation of the transaction server in the machine. SUMMARY A system for connecting transaction services to an ATM machine that includes a network. A user interconnection service and an observation service are in operational connection with the network. Transaction services such as a printer service, a card reader service and a cash dispenser service are also in operational connection with the network. These transaction services are operated to coincide with the observation service and to upload a service proxy server to the observation service. The user interconnection service is operated to locate the transaction services in the network by invoking a remote observation method in the observation service. The observation service is operated to return the service servers that match the type of service that is required. The user interconnection service is also operated to invoke methods of the service proxy servers that remotely control the functionality of the transaction services in the network. The user interconnection service is also operated to record events with the service's proxy servers for notification when certain events occur on the services.