Abstract: A computer implemented method for validating the identity of a controller for an automated banking machine based on displayed indicia. The method includes detecting access to a secure compartment of an automated banking machine, displaying a security indicia visible from the secure compartment, receiving the security indicia at an input device and a first controller accessible from outside of the secure compartment, and validating the identity of the controller based on the received security indicia.

Abstract: A terminal for use in a retail banking system comprises an interface for receiving multiple types of personal authentication elements. An authentication request for a user is associated with one or more of these types of element. The terminal also comprises a security module for providing access to a plurality of different access spaces of the system, each space comprises a different respective function or combination of functions of the system. For each access space, the security module provides a mapping between that access space and a respective one or more of the types of personal authentication element. Based on this mapping, the security module is thus configured to grant the user with access to one of the access spaces on condition of being mapped to the one or more types of personal authentication element associated with the authentication request for the user, and on condition those elements are verified.

Abstract: A controller comprising: a database; a control module associated with the database; and a network interface configured to connect, over a network, to a plurality of workstations and at least one machine for performing operations to handle cash and/or other physical financial documents. The network interface receives requests from at least some of the workstations over the network, each comprising a request to pre-order a respective one of the operations. The requests are stored in the database. The network further receives, over the network, a signal from or on behalf of a slave module of the machine for retrieving one of the requests from the database. The control module processes the signal and in response releases the respective operation, the release comprising issuing an instruction to the slave module over the network controlling the machine to perform the respective operation to handle the cash and/or other physical financial document.

Abstract: A banking system comprising a network, one or more cash handling machines connected to the network, the cash handling machine generating a status report on detection of a status update event, at least one monitoring device connected to the network to which the status report is addressed, and one or more user devices connected to the network. The monitoring device(s) allow at least one operative of each user device to subscribe to particular cash handling machine(s) and/or particular event type(s). The at least one monitoring device receives the status reports and filters them based on one or more report identifiers in each report identifying the cash handling machine generating the report and/or an event type, and transmits to each of the user devices only the filtered status reports which contain report identifiers identifying the one or more cash handling machines and/or event types to which an operative has subscribed.

Abstract: A controller comprising: a database; a control module associated with the database; and a network interface configured to connect, over a network, to a plurality of workstations and at least one machine for performing operations to handle cash and/or other physical financial documents. The network interface receives requests from at least some of the workstations over the network, each comprising a request to pre-order a respective one of the operations. The requests are stored in the database. The network further receives, over the network, a signal from or on behalf of a slave module of the machine for retrieving one of the requests from the database. The control module processes the signal and in response releases the respective operation, the release comprising issuing an instruction to the slave module over the network controlling the machine to perform the respective operation to handle the cash and/or other physical financial document.

Abstract: A terminal for use in a retail banking system comprises an interface for receiving multiple types of personal authentication elements. An authentication request for a user is associated with one or more of these types of element. The terminal also comprises a security module for providing access to a plurality of different access spaces of the system, each space comprises a different respective function or combination of functions of the system. For each access space, the security module provides a mapping between that access space and a respective one or more of the types of personal authentication element. Based on this mapping, the security module is thus configured to grant the user with access to one of the access spaces on condition of being mapped to the one or more types of personal authentication element associated with the authentication request for the user, and on condition those elements are verified.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for validating the identity of a controller for an automated banking machine based on displayed indicia. The method includes detecting access to a secure compartment of an automated banking machine, displaying a security indicia visible from the secure compartment, receiving the security indicia at an input device and a first controller accessible from outside of the secure compartment, and validating the identity of the controller based on the received security indicia.

Abstract: An automated banking a machine such as a teller cash recycler uses a system and method for receiving operating instructions from a remote system in the form of JavaScript object notation (JSON) documents. The system and method uses a computer implemented method for transmitting information between automated banking machines over a communication network. The method includes receiving a message for network communication from a first automated banking machine to a second automated banking machine, formatting the message in a tagless data interchange format independent of the size of the message based on instructions stored on a computer readable medium within the first automated banking machine, and transmitting the formatted message to the second automated banking machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a document (55). The method comprises exposing the document (55), such as a banknote, to infrared radiation; detecting infrared radiation reflected from a plurality of regions of the document (55) to generate at least one test pattern; determining if the or each test pattern satisfies a predetermined relationship with a predetermined pattern or patterns corresponding to a known document; and, if the predetermined relationship is satisfied, identifying the document (55) as being the same as the known document.

Abstract: A document (e.g. banknote) authenticating apparatus comprises a transport system (32–34, 50, 51) for transporting banknotes. An inspection device (35) is provided past which banknotes are transported by the transport system, the inspection device including a UV source (1) such as a LED and a UV detector (4, 5) arranged to irradiate a banknote and to detect reflected UV respectively. A processor (11) is responsible to the reflected UV to determine the authenticity of the banknote. The inspection device (35) includes a reference surface (3) over which the banknotes are transported in use, the reference surface being exposed to UV radiation from the source (1) in the absence of a banknote so as to generate a reference level signal, and being oriented such that the banknotes are delivered at an acute angle to the surface whereby passage of a banknote across the surface effects a cleaning action on the surface.

Abstract: A document feeder comprises an input hopper (1) into which batches of documents with interleaved separators (24, 25) are loaded in use, each separator carrying data related to the associated batch. A feed system (9, 10) withdraws documents and separators singly from the input hopper. A sensing system (7) obtains information about the documents and separators. The sensing system includes a data sensor (7) located so as to read separator data while the separator (24, 25) is in the input hopper (1).

Abstract: A method of inspecting documents of value, the method comprises: a) obtaining images of one or more parts of the document from radiation received from that part or those parts of the document (14) in respective different wavelength bands; b) performing an analysis of one of said images to identify a first type of class within which the document of value is included; and c) performing an analysis of another of said images using corresponding predetermined data relating to members of the first type of class identified in step b) so as to determine a second type of class within which the document of value is included.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a document (55). The method comprises exposing the document (55), such as a banknote, to infrared radiation; detecting infrared radiation reflected from a plurality of regions of the document (55) to generate at least one test pattern; determining if the or each test pattern satisfies a predetermined relationship with a predetermined pattern or patterns corresponding to a known document; and, if the predetermined relationship is satisfied, identifying the document (55) as being the same as the known document.

Abstract: A document feeder comprises an input hopper (1) into which batches of documents with interleaved separators (24, 25) are loaded in use, each separator carrying data related to the associated batch. A feed system (9, 10) withdraws documents and separators singly from the input hopper. A sensing system (7) obtains information about the documents and separators. The sensing system includes a data sensor (7) located so as to read separator data while the separator (24, 25) is in the input hopper (1).

Abstract: A method of processing documents of value. The method including detecting a visible pattern on at least one side of a document; detecting the response of at least one side of the document to infrared radiation; comparing the detected visible pattern to one or more predetermined patterns and identifying the document if the detected visible pattern is sufficiently similar to the or one of the predetermined patterns; and determining from the response to infrared radiation if the document is authentic.

Abstract: A document (e.g. banknote) authenticating apparatus comprises a transport system (32-34, 50, 51) for transporting banknotes. An inspection device (35) is provided past which banknotes are transported by the transport system, the inspection device including a UV source (1) such as a LED and a UV detector (4, 5) arranged to irradiate a banknote and to detect reflected UV respectively. A processor (11) is responsible to the reflected UV to determine the authenticity of the banknote. The inspection device (35) includes a reference surface (3) over which the banknotes are transported in use, the reference surface being exposed to UV radiation from the source (1) in the absence of a banknote so as to generate a reference level signal, and being oriented such that the banknotes are delivered at an acute angle to the surface whereby passage of a banknote across the surface effects a cleaning action on the surface.

Abstract: A method of inspecting documents of value, the method comprises: a) obtaining images of one or more parts of the document from radiation received from that part or those parts of the document (14) in respective different wavelength bands; b) performing an analysis of one of said images to identify a first type of class within which the document of value is included; and c) performing an analysis of another of said images using corresponding predetermined data relating to members of the first type of class identified in step b) so as to determine a second type of class within which the document of value is included.

Abstract: A method of processing documents of value.

Abstract: A line driver for a cable linked LAN maintains a high impedance across the cable when not sending data. A pulse transformer includes a primary and secondary winding. The primary winding of the transformer is placed between a first pair of transistors and a second pair of transistors. An array of switching inverters activates these transistors in such a manner whereby, when one pair is turned on, the other pair is turned off. This "off" and "on" toggling of the transistor pairs drives current into the transformer primary. Such current induces a pulse in the transformer secondary which is coupled into the LAN cable.

Abstract: A controller is disclosed for use in a local area network preferably of the type having a token-passing protocol. The controller modifies the contents of a data packet or message as it moves on the network media, thereby to intercept, modify and redirect the data message to nodes other than the originally addressed node. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the controller is associated with a high-information node (e.g., a file server) connected in a network with a plurality of low-information nodes. The controller modifies the token address transmitted with the token packet from the high-information node after a number of data transmissions so that the token rather than being passed to the next node is returned to the high-information node, thereby allowing a plurality of successive data transmissions to be made in succession from the high-information node to one or more of the low-information nodes.