Automated Teller Machine
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Europäisches Patentamt *EP001542182A2* (19) European Patent Office Office européen des brevets (11) EP 1 542 182 A2 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION (43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.7: G07F 19/00, G07D 11/00 15.06.2005 Bulletin 2005/24 (21) Application number: 04256769.3 (22) Date of filing: 03.11.2004 (84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventors: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR • Smith, Martin Reginald HU IE IS IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Dundee DD2 2AL (GB) Designated Extension States: • Paton, Grant Charles AL HR LT LV MK YU Dundee DD4 7QG (GB) (30) Priority: 11.12.2003 GB 0328720 (74) Representative: Williamson, Brian 02.06.2004 GB 0412199 NCR Limited International Patent Department (71) Applicant: NCR International, Inc. 206 Marylebone Road Dayton, Ohio 45479 (US) London NW1 6LY (GB) (54) Automated teller machine (57) An automated teller machine (10) comprises a fascia (12) having a cheque entry/exit slot (56), and a cheque processing module (60) for processing cheques entered via the slot (56). The terminal (10) includes a control means (86), biometric data capture means (112, 156, 158), a printer (74) and a cheque transport mech- anism (70) for transporting cheques between the slot (56) and the printer (74). The control means is arranged to cause the printer (74) to print a representation of a biometric characteristic of a user onto a cheque during an attempt to deposit the cheque in the terminal (10). EP 1 542 182 A2 Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 1 542 182 A2 2 Description [0010] It is among the objects of an embodiment of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above [0001] The present invention relates to an automated disadvantage or other disadvantages of prior art auto- teller machine (SST), such as an automated teller ma- mated teller machines. chine (ATM). In particular, the invention relates to an 5 [0011] According to a first aspect of the present inven- SST for cashing cheques, such as a cheque cashing tion there is provided an automated teller machine com- ATM. prising a fascia having a cheque entry/exit slot, and a [0002] A cheque cashing ATM allows a registered us- cheque processing module for processing cheques en- er, who typically does not have a bank account, to cash tered via the slot; where the terminal includes a control a cheque and receive money from the ATM in a public 10 means, biometric data capture means, a printer and a access, unattended environment. A user typically reg- cheque transport mechanism for transporting cheques isters with an institution that owns or operates cheque between the slot and the printer, the control means be- cashing ATMs, and provides identification information ing arranged to cause the printer to print a representa- (such as a social security number) and information tion of a biometric characteristic of a user onto a cheque about a cheque (usually a pay cheque) that he/she reg- 15 during an attempt to deposit the cheque in the terminal. ularly receives. The registered user is typically provided [0012] Preferably, the characteristic is only printed on with a card to initiate a cheque cashing transaction at a the cheque, if the control means determines that the ter- cheque cashing ATM. minal can accept deposit of the cheque. [0003] The cheque information typically includes de- [0013] Preferably, the characteristic is a naturalistic, tails of how frequently a cheque is paid (for example, 20 human-readable represent of the user's biometric char- every week), who the cheque is paid by (that is, the pay- acteristic. or of the cheque), the payor's bank details (for example, [0014] Alternatively, the characteristic is a machine- a bank code identifying the name of the bank), the typ- readable representation of the user's biometric charac- ical amount that the cheque is made out for, and such teristic. like. 25 [0015] Preferably, the transport mechanism is ar- [0004] To cash a cheque, a user enters his/her card ranged to transport unacceptable cheques to a reject at a cheque cashing ATM, then enters a cheque to be bin. cashed through a cheque slot in the ATM's fascia. The [0016] Alternatively, the transport mechanism is ar- ATM draws in and processes this cheque. If the cheque ranged to return unacceptable cheques to the user. is valid, and the details printed on the cheque match the 30 [0017] Preferably, the terminal is specifically arranged cheque information provided during registration, then for the deposit of a financial cheque, the terminal being the ATM informs the user of a surcharge that will be ap- arranged to provide the user with cash in return for the plied if the user wishes to cash the cheque. depositing of the cheque. [0005] If the user agrees to the surcharge then cash [0018] Preferably, the biometric data capture means is dispensed to the user and the cheque is stored within 35 includes a finger print scanner. the ATM. If the user does not agree to the surcharge [0019] Alternatively, the biometric data capture then the cheque is returned to the user via the cheque means includes an Iris scanner, hand geometry or voice slot. signature detection means. [0006] The cheque may be returned to the user for [0020] Preferably, the terminal includes a display other reasons, for example, if the cheque is not com- 40 screen and control means arranged to control the dis- plete, if the cheque has not been endorsed by the user, play screen to present the user with an image of the de- if the ATM decides that the details printed on the cheque posited cheque including the representation of his or her do not match the cheque information provided by the biometric characteristic, during the deposit process. user during registration, and such like. [0021] According to a second aspect of the present [0007] On other embodiments cheques can be 45 invention there is provided a cheque processing module cashed or merely deposited in a user's account without having an entrance port, control means, biometric data the aforementioned logging of regular cheques. capture means, a printer and a cheque transport mech- [0008] One problem associated with cheque cashing anism for transporting cheques between the slot and the ATMs relates to fraud and a further to tracing individual printer, the control means being arranged to cause the cheques to users (who have accounts). 50 printer to print a representation of a biometric charac- [0009] If a user can be persuaded that an invalid teristic of a user onto a cheque during an attempt to de- cheque, if deposited at an ATM, can be traced back to posit the cheque in the terminal. them, especially if that trace in incontrovertible then it is [0022] According to a third aspect of the present in- believed that fraud at deposit ATMs would be reduced. vention there is provided a method of cashing financial However, the problem of how to achieve this is as yet 55 instruments, the method comprising the steps of: trans- not entirely satisfactorily solved, despite the prolifera- porting the financial instrument from an entrance slot to tion of security means available to the financial services a process zone; determining whether to accept or reject industry. the instrument; electronically acquiring a representation 2 3 EP 1 542 182 A2 4 of a biometric characteristic of a user; printing the afore- 12 is closed, the slots and tray align with corresponding mentioned representation on the financial instrument; ATM modules mounted within the ATM's chassis (not and in the event of accepting the instrument, dispensing shown). cash or depositing said cash in a user's account. [0028] The user interface features described above [0023] These and other aspects of the present inven- 5 are all provided on an NCR PERSONAS (trade mark) tion will be apparent from the following specific descrip- 5878 financial services centre ATM, available from NCR tion, given by way of example, with reference to the ac- Financial Solutions Group Limited, Discovery Centre, 3 companying drawings, in which: Fulton Road, Dundee, DD2 4SW, Scotland. [0029] However, in this embodiment of the invention Fig 1 is a pictorial diagram of an automated teller 10 an NCR PERSONAS (trade mark) 5878 ATM has been machine according to one embodiment of the modified to include a lower dispense area 58. The dis- present invention; pense area 58 is located beneath the cheque input/out- put slot 56 and is fed by a cheque processing module Fig 2 is a simplified schematic sectional diagram 60 located within the ATM chassis (not shown). showing a part (the cheque processing module) of 15 [0030] The fascia also includes a biometric module the terminal of Fig 1; 112 mounted in the shelf portion and includes (i.) a sen- sor 156 for receiving a human finger and for capturing Fig 3 is a pictorial diagram of a part (the lower dis- fingerprint details, and (ii.) an interface 158 for encrypt- pense area) of the terminal of Fig 1; ing and relaying a captured fingerprint image. The sen- 20 sor 156 protrudes through an aperture in the shelf por- Figs 4a &4b are illustrations of cheques with printed tion, and the interface 158 is mounted behind the shelf biometric data in accordance with the present in- portion. vention; [0031] The biometric sensor 156 is a Fingerloc (trade mark) AF-S2 fingerprint sensor, available from Authen- Fig 5 is a flowchart illustrating the steps involved in 25 tec, Inc., P.O.