MACHINE PRESENTED TARGETED ODD DENOMINATIONAL RESOURCE DISTRIBUTOR SYSTEM
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods, and computer program products for integration into a user activity terminal and configure the terminal for facilitating odd denominational resource distribution parameters. The user activity terminal may be associated resource distribution from a resource distribution service provider. The invention may integrate into a user activity terminal and provide direct channel deposits of odd denominational resource distribution documents. As such the invention integrates into a user activity terminal and links into third party systems for odd denominational resource distribution not capable of being performed by the user activity terminal.
This application is a non-provisional filing of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/466,914, filed Mar. 3, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUNDComputer terminals are commonly used by individuals to perform a variety of activities. A needs exists for improved computer terminals with enhanced communication and interaction capabilities.
BRIEF SUMMARYThe following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for odd denominational resource distribution, the invention comprising: integrating within a computer terminal, wherein the computer terminal is a public user activity terminal for management and distribution of resource documents by a user; authorizing the user access to resource distribution management applications within the computer terminal based on authentication requirement satisfaction by the user; receiving resource distribution document at the computer terminal for resource retrieval from the computer terminal; identifying the resource distribution document as being for an odd denominational resource distribution, wherein the odd denominational resource distribution is a resource value or resource value remainder that the computer terminal is unable to present to the user for the resource retrieval; identifying third party resource distribution applications associated with the user; triggering presentation, via display on the computer terminal, of the third party resource distribution applications associated with the user; and applying the odd denominational resource distribution to a selected third party resource distribution application.
In some embodiments, the odd denominational resource distribution applied to the selected third party resource is only the resource value remainder that the computer terminal is unable to present to the user. In some embodiments, a standard user activity terminal is required to deny an odd denominational distribution request without integration with the computer terminal.
In some embodiments, identifying the resource distribution document as being for an odd denominational resource distribution further comprises identifying a check drafted to the user with a distribution amount that is not a distribution amount domination available from the computer terminal for presentation of the distribution amount to the user.
In some embodiments, identifying third party resource distribution applications associated with the user further comprises receiving input from the user including third party resource distribution applications associated with the user, wherein the resource distribution applications associated with the user comprise user accounts for third party vendors or user accounts at financial institutions. In some embodiments, third party resource distribution applications further comprise person-to-person resource distribution.
In some embodiments, authorizing the user access to resource distribution management applications within the computer terminal based on authentication requirement satisfaction by the user further comprises authorizing a user not affiliated with the resource distribution management applications for the computer terminal by allowing the user access to the presentation of the third party resource distribution applications associated with the user based on user input of the odd denominational resource distribution document. In some embodiments, the computer terminal is an ATM. In some embodiments, the computer terminal is a financial institution center terminal at a financial institution location.
Current automated teller machines (ATM) are not capable of withdrawing odd denomination from users. This invention allows for users to be able to cash odd denominational resource distribution documents by transferring the remaining odd denominations to a third party. For example, if the user wished to cash a resource distribution document of 28.00 dollars at an ATM machine, the ATM can provide the user with 20.00 dollars, but current ATM systems are not capable of providing the user with the remaining 8.00 dollars. As such, the invention integrates the ATM system with third party systems allowing the user to retransfer the remaining odd denomination to a charity, user third party account, credit card, debit card, or the like. Furthermore the system will integrate into the ATM and will allow the user to transfer the odd denomination via person-to-person transfer to third party applications associated with the user or to other individuals. Finally, the system allows a user to swipe his/her credit or debit card from any source to accept the odd denomination. The system may read the credit or debit card and apply the remaining odd denomination to a balance associated with the credit or debit card.
The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed may be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present invention or may be combined with yet other embodiments, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.
Having thus described embodiments of the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, where:
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to elements throughout. Where possible, any terms expressed in the singular form herein are meant to also include the plural form and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “a” and/or “an” shall mean “one or more,” even though the phrase “one or more” is also used herein.
A “transaction” or “resource distribution” refers to any communication between a user and the financial institution or other entity monitoring the user's activities to transfer funds for the purchasing or selling of a product. A transaction may refer to a purchase of goods or services, a return of goods or services, a payment transaction, a credit transaction, or other interaction involving a user's account. In the context of a financial institution, a transaction may refer to one or more of: a sale of goods and/or services, initiating an automated teller machine (ATM) or online banking session, an account balance inquiry, a rewards transfer, an account money transfer or withdrawal, opening a bank application on a user's computer or mobile device, a user accessing their e-wallet, or any other interaction involving the user and/or the user's device that is detectable by the financial institution. A transaction may include one or more of the following: renting, selling, and/or leasing goods and/or services (e.g., groceries, stamps, tickets, DVDs, vending machine items, and the like); making payments to creditors (e.g., paying monthly bills; paying federal, state, and/or local taxes; and the like); sending remittances; loading money onto stored value cards (SVCs) and/or prepaid cards; donating to charities; and/or the like.
In some embodiments, an “entity” may be a financial institution or third party merchant. For the purposes of this invention, a “financial institution” may be defined as any organization, entity, or the like in the business of moving, investing, or lending money, dealing in financial instruments, or providing financial services. This may include commercial banks, thrifts, federal and state savings banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, investment companies, insurance companies and the like. In some embodiments, the entity may allow a user to establish an account with the entity. An “account” may be the relationship that the user has with the entity. Examples of accounts include a deposit account, such as a transactional account (e.g., a banking account), a savings account, an investment account, a money market account, a time deposit, a demand deposit, a pre-paid account, a credit account, a non-monetary user profile that includes only personal information associated with the user, or the like. The account is associated with and/or maintained by the entity. In other embodiments, an entity may not be a financial institution. In still other embodiments, the entity may be the merchant itself.
In some embodiments, an ATM is operated in a public place (e.g., on a street corner, at the doorstep of a private residence, in an open market, at a public rest stop, or the like). In other embodiments, the ATM is additionally or alternatively operated in a place of business (e.g., in a retail store, post office, banking center, grocery store, factory floor, or the like). In accordance with some embodiments, the ATM is owned by the financial institution providing the ATM. In other embodiments, the ATM is owned by one or more third party merchants. In yet other embodiments, the ATM is owned by other financial institutions. While multiple ATM machines are mentioned throughout this discloser, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that one ATM may include all of the features disclosed herein.
As described herein, a “user” is an individual associated with an entity. As such, in some embodiments, the user may be an individual having past relationships, current relationships or potential future relationships with an entity. In some instances, a “user” is an individual who has a relationship with the entity, such as a customer or a prospective customer. In some instances described herein, the user is an individual who seeks to utilize, operate, or perform one or more activities associated with a computer terminal, typically based on successful validation of the user's authentication credentials. In some embodiments, a “user” may be an employee (e.g., a technology operator/technician, an associate, a project manager, an IT specialist, a manager, an administrator, an internal operations analyst, or the like) of the entity or enterprises affiliated with the entity, capable of operating the systems and computer terminals described herein. In other embodiments, a user may be a system or an entity performing one or more tasks described herein.
The term “computer terminal” or “user activity terminal” as used herein may refer to one or more electronic devices that facilitate one or more user activities or transactions. Typically, a computer terminal is configured to facilitate performance of one or more user activities by establishing an “interactive session” between a user and the computer terminal. As such, the terms “user activity” or “user transaction” or simply “activity” may refer to financial or non-financial activities, tasks, events or actions. In some embodiments a computer terminal refers to one or more devices that facilitate execution of financial transactions or activities. In this regard, the computer terminals may be Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Point of sale (POS) devices, vending machines, checkout registers, ticket vending machines, automated retail transaction devices, banking terminals in a financial institution, other computing devices that involve financial user activities or transactions in one form or another, or may comprise technology elements and/or functionality of one or more aforementioned devices, or a suitable combination of the aforementioned devices/apparatuses. In some embodiments the computer terminal refers to devices that facilitate execution of non-financial user activities or transactions, for example, check-in terminals for various industries, for example: hospitality, travel, healthcare and the like, information kiosks and other computer terminals that do not involve a user performing a financial transaction via the computer terminal. In some embodiments the computer terminals enable execution of both financial and non-financial transactions/activities (e.g., a computer terminal may be a suitable combination of any of the aforementioned terminal devices with respect to their features, design and/or function). That said, computer terminals may also refer to portable devices that facilitate financial and/or non-financial transactions, such as personal computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, smartphones, wearable devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other computing devices. In some embodiments, the computer terminals may be owned, operated and/or otherwise associated entities and are installed at suitable locations, such that the user can travel to the location of the computer terminal to perform user activities or execute transactions. In some embodiments, the computer terminals may be owned, operated and/or otherwise associated with the user. In embodiments described herein, performing a user activity or transaction may refer to the initiation, stages during the processing, or completion of a transaction. The computer terminal of the present invention is interactive and is configured to communicate with a user using visual, audio or other means, either directly (e.g., using display devices of the computer terminal) or via suitable devices (e.g., via a user mobile device).
Current automated teller machines (ATM) are not capable of withdrawing odd denomination from users. This invention allows for users to be able to cash odd denominational resource distribution documents by transferring the remaining odd denominations to a third party. For example, if the user wished to cash a resource distribution document of 28.00 dollars at an ATM machine, the ATM can provide the user with 20.00 dollars, but current ATM systems are not capable of providing the user with the remaining 8.00 dollars. As such, the invention integrates the ATM system with third party systems allowing the user to retransfer the remaining odd denomination to a charity, user third party account, credit card, debit card, or the like. Furthermore the system will integrate into the ATM and will allow the user to transfer the odd denomination via person-to-person transfer to third party applications associated with the user or to other individuals. Finally, the system allows a user to swipe his/her credit or debit card from any source to accept the odd denomination. The system may read the credit or debit card and apply the remaining odd denomination to a balance associated with the credit or debit card.
In some embodiments, a computer terminal is configured to receive one or more items (e.g., checks) and perform one or more user activities accordingly. For example, the computer terminal may receive a check from a user for an amount of $117.42. Based on determining that the user is a customer of a financial institution (e.g., based on identifying/authenticating the user and determining that the user has an account with the financial institution, based on ascertaining that the user initiated the user activity of check deposit by swiping a debit or credit card associated with the financial institution, receiving a token associated with a financial account from the user mobile device, and the like), the computer terminal may perform one or more of the following activities, for example based on receiving user feedback: (i) transfer $117.42 to the user financial account, (ii) dispense at least a portion of $117.42 as cash or physical items, (iii) initiate a real time resource transfer of at least a portion of the $117.42 to an integrated resource transfer application of the user mobile device (described in detail in the subsequent section), (iv) covert at least a portion of the $117.42 into merchant points or credit and initiate a real time resource transfer of the portion to a merchant account of the user, and/or (v) initiate a real time resource transfer of at least a portion of the $117.42 to an account of a charity entity. In some embodiments, the computer terminal may provide the above activities options to the user, for example as a presentation of the display device, and receive user confirmation before commencing the activity. In some instances, the computer terminal may have items of only a certain type or quantity. Continuing with the previous example, the terminal may only have currency in the form of $10 and $20 bills, and may only be able to dispense a portion of the $117.42 with the available $10 and $20 bills. For example, the computer terminal may only be able to dispense an amount of $110 as bills. For the remainder of $7.42 of the amount, the terminal may perform one or more of the following based on the user feedback: (i) transfer $7.42 to the user financial account, (ii) initiate a real time resource transfer of $7.42 to an integrated resource transfer application of the user mobile device, (iii) covert $7.42 into merchant points or credit and initiate a real time resource transfer of the amount to a merchant account of the user, and/or (iv) initiate a real time resource transfer of the $7.42 to an account of a charity entity.
In some embodiments, the computer terminal is configured to allow a non-customer user to deposit a check, even when the non-customer user is not affiliated with the financial institution associated with the computer terminal. For example, the non-customer user may deposit a check for an amount of $117.42 at the terminal, for example after requisite authentication. In a similar manner as described above, based on determining that the user is not a customer of the financial institution, the terminal may dispense $110 (or another suitable amount that is a multiple of $10 and/or $20) as cash bills and perform one or more of the following actions for the remainder of the amount (i) initiate a real time resource transfer of $7.42 to an integrated resource transfer application of the user mobile device, (ii) covert $7.42 into merchant points or credit and initiate a real time resource transfer of the amount to a merchant account of the user (for example, based on receiving merchant information from the sure), and/or (iv) initiate a real time resource transfer of the $7.42 to an account of a charity entity of the user's choice. In this manner the system is configured to convert at least a portion of the value of a physical financial instrument (e.g., a check) to a virtual form.
That said, in some embodiments, continuing with the previous example, the system may dispense $120 in bills or transmit $120 to the integrated resource transfer application, thereby providing the $2.58 as a reward to the customer.
Furthermore, in some embodiments, the user may have one or more financial instruments such as credit, debit cards, gift cards, reward point cards, and the like. For example, a user who is a customer of the financial institution of the computer terminal may have a credit card associated with the financial institution, a non-customer user may have a credit or debit card associated with another different financial institution, or another user may have a rewards point card associated with another merchant/entity. In response to the user depositing the check for the amount of $117.42, the computer terminal may request the user to swipe/insert the financial instrument (e.g., the credit card) and based on/during the swiping/insertion, transfer either all of or a portion of the amount (e.g., $7.42) to the user financial instrument to credit/augment the instrument with that amount. In the instances where a rewards point card is used the terminal may convert the amount into the equivalent points and then credit the card. Also, in the instances where the financial instruments may be contained within digital wallet or another application of the user device, the system may request the user to “tap” the user device at the terminal and subsequently based on or during the “tapping”, transfer the amount to the requisite digital wallet or card within the digital wallet. Thereby, even, non-customer users may receive the check amount as deposits into their existing accounts.
Moreover, by transforming change amount such as $7.42 that would require dispensing a variety of coins into a virtual deposit, the present invention provides savings in the expenses for transportation and management of coins.
Typically, the processing system 130 and the authentication database 118 are in electronic communication with the computer terminal 120, via the network 101, which may be the internet, an intranet or the like. In
As discussed previously, the computer terminal 120 is configured to facilitate performance of user activities, and is configured to provide real-time interactive sessions for the user 102. In some embodiments, the computer terminal 120 is an ATM 120 configured for uniquely facilitating user activities in accordance with some embodiments, while ensuring the security and privacy of the user. The components of the computer terminal 120, its features and functions will be described in detail through this disclosure and with respect to
In some embodiments, the computer terminal 120 receives signals, images and other data captured by the sensor devices 112 and/or the visual capture devices 114, during its execution of user activities. In this regard, in some embodiments, the computer terminal 120 communicates with, transmits instructions, and/or receives signals from the sensor devices 112 and the visual capture devices 114 directly, via the network 101, typically, in real-time. In some embodiments, the computer terminal 120 communicates with the sensor devices 112 and the visual capture devices 114 through the processing system 130, typically, in real-time. Analyzing the signals received from the sensor devices 112 and the visual capture devices 114 typically enables the computer terminal 120, the processing system 130, or the devices 112 and 114 themselves, to determine user location, determine trigger events (e.g., user approach to the terminal 120, retrieve/identify user authentication credentials from the user and/or the user device, establishing communication with the user device in the vicinity of the terminal, determination of whether the user device comprises an integrated resource transfer application, and the like), capture one or more parameters associated with the environment or physical location of the computer terminal 120, and the like.
In some embodiments, the sensor devices 112 are position sensors configured to sense or determine the position and/or location of the user 102, other individuals, objects/devices, or entities. As such, the sensor devices 112 may determine an absolute position (for example, location/positioning coordinates) or a relative position (for example, with respect to the position of the terminal 120, with respect to position of the user or another individual, with respect to the sensor 112 itself or a predetermined object and the like) of the user, individual or object. Here, in some embodiments, the sensor devices 112 are proximity sensors that are configured to determine the presence of the user or object within a predetermined proximity area. These sensor devices 112 may be contact type sensors that determine the presence of the user or object based on contact, or non-contact type sensors that detect distant users or objects. Typically, the sensor devices 112 comprise a first transducer that is configured to convert electrical energy into a proximity signal (for example, an electromagnetic wave, a sound wave, and the like) that is broadcast in a predetermined proximity area. The incidence of the proximity signal on physical users or objects within the proximity area results in a return signal/wave that is captured by the sensor 112. The return signal/wave is then converted to an electric signal by a second transducer of the sensor. This electric signal may be analyzed, in real-time, by the sensor 112, the terminal 120, and/or the processing system 130, to determine the location of the user/object and/or track movement of the user/object. Here, the sensor 112 may be configured to perform modulation, demodulation, amplification and output switching of the proximity and return signals.
For example, in some embodiments, the sensor devices 112 comprise ultrasonic sensors that are configured to transmit a proximity signal comprising sound waves (typically with frequencies above 18 kHz) and are further configured to receive a return signal in the form or an echo, which is then converted to an electric signal for analysis. As another example, in some embodiments, the sensor devices 112 comprise optical sensors or photoelectric sensors that are configured to transmit a proximity signal comprising electromagnetic waves, and specifically light waves (for example, infrared waves with frequencies in the range of about 600 GHz to 430 THz, such as pulsed infrared or visible red waves, laser waves in the visible or infrared frequency range, and the like) and are further configured to receive a return signal, either in the form of a reflection signal or interruption of the light proximity signal at receiver associated with the sensor 112, which is then converted to an electric signal for analysis. As yet another example, the sensor devices 112 comprise inductive proximity sensors and inductive position sensors for determining the presence and positon, respectively, of users and objects, which generate an induction loop to thereby produce a proximity signal in the form or a magnetic field. The presence of users or objects varies the current flowing through the loop which facilitates determination of presence of users or objects. In some embodiments, the sensor devices 112 comprise sensor devices provided in the user device 104, such as, biometric sensors (for example, fingerprint scanner of a mobile phone, heart rate or temperature monitor of a wearable user device, and the like), location sensors (for example, GPS devices, accelerometers, and the like), visual capture devices/cameras, facial recognition devices, devices for capturing user gestures (for example, a touch screen) and other sensing devices of the user device 104. Here, the terminal 120 and/or the processing system 130 may transmit control signals to the user device to cause the sensing devices of the user device 104 to capture one or more parameters and/or to transmit one or more captured parameters.
The visual capture devices 114 typically comprise cameras and other audio, video and image capture devices. These visual capture devices 114 are configured to capture images and/or video streams, typically in real-time, of a predetermined proximity area. The images and/or video streams may be analyzed by the computer terminal 120, the processing system 130 and/or the capture devices 114, to determine the presence and position of the user, other individuals or objects and their movement in the proximity area. Although described separately, it is understood that the visual capture devices 114 may be associated with the sensor devices 112. As such, sensors or sensor devices, as alluded to herein, may refer to the various sensor devices described herein and the visual/image capture devices described herein.
As alluded to previously, the processing system 130 is in operative communication with the computer terminal 120. In some embodiments, processing system 130 is configured to transmit control instructions that are configured to cause the computer terminal 120, the user device 104, the sensor device 112 and/or the visual capture devices 114 to perform at least a portion of the steps associated with one or more activities. The processing system 130 may be associated with the same entity as the computer terminal 120 or may be associated with another entity. The structure and components of the processing system 130 is described in detail with respect to
The user device 104 may comprise a mobile communication device, such as a cellular telecommunications device (i.e., a smart phone or mobile phone), a computing device such as a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile internet accessing device, or other mobile device including, but not limited to portable digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, mobile televisions, gaming devices, laptop computers, cameras, video recorders, audio/video player, radio, GPS devices, any combination of the aforementioned, or the like. As discussed previously, in some embodiments, the computer terminals 120 of the present invention are configured to establish operative communication channels with the user device 104 such that, the user 102 may perform one or more user activities, either entirely or in part, at the terminal 120 by interacting with the user device 104. The user device 104 is described in detail with respect to
The processing device 210 may generally refer to a device or combination of devices having circuitry used for implementing the communication and/or logic functions of the computer terminal 120. For example, the processing device 210 may include a control unit, a digital signal processor device, a microprocessor device, and various analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, and other support circuits and/or combinations of the foregoing. Control and signal processing functions of the computer terminal 120 may be allocated between these processing devices according to their respective capabilities.
The computer terminal 120 may further include various components/devices in operative communication with and/or controlled by the processor 210, such as user output devices 286, user input devices 240, a network communication interface 279 (such as a contactless interface 279), a power source 215, and the like. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the processor 210 is operatively coupled to and is configured to control other components/devices of the computer terminal 120, such as an image capture device 250, sensor devices 290, and the like. These components and devices are described in detail below.
The memory device 230 and the storage memory 220 may generally refer to a device or combination of devices that store one or more forms of computer-readable media for storing data and/or computer-executable program code/instructions. In some embodiments, the storage memory 220 is integral with the memory device 230. In some embodiments, the memory device 230 comprises a non-transitory, computer readable storage medium. For example, the memory device 230 and/or the storage memory 220 may include any computer memory that provides an actual or virtual space to temporarily or permanently store data and/or commands provided to the processing device 210 when it carries out its functions described herein.
As illustrated by
The computer terminal 120 may require users to identify and/or authenticate themselves before the computer terminal 120 may initiate, perform, complete, and/or facilitate a user activity. For example, in some embodiments, the computer terminal 120 is configured (and/or the computer terminal application 232 is executable) to authenticate a computer terminal user based at least partially on a computer terminal debit card, smart card, token (e.g., USB token, etc.), username, password, PIN, biometric information, and/or one or more other credentials that the user presents to the computer terminal 120. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the computer terminal 120 is configured to authenticate a user by using one-, two-, or multi-factor authentication. For example, in some embodiments, the computer terminal 120 requires two-factor authentication, such that the user must provide a valid debit card and enter the correct PIN associated with the debit card in order to authenticate the user to the computer terminal 120. However, either alternatively or in addition to the aforementioned authentication features, the computer terminal 120 may require biometric authentication of the user 102 before initiating, performing, completing, and/or facilitating a user activity.
In some embodiments, the authentication module 234 comprises computer readable instructions that when executed by the processing device 210 cause the processing device to perform one or more functions and/or transmit control instructions to other components or devices to perform one or more authentication steps described herein. These authentication steps typically include requesting authentication credentials from the user via the user output devices 286 (for example, based on determining the desired authorization level for the user activity), activating pertinent sensors and devices for receipt of the credentials (sensor devices 290/image capture devices 250 for biometric credentials, card reader devices 240 for reading magnetic strips of the user's card(s), contact less interface device 279 for receiving authentication tokens from a user device via NFC channels, and the like), receiving authentication credentials, validating the credentials (for example based on retrieving user credentials from the datastore 236, memory 220, processing system 130 and/or database 118), and the like. That said, as shown, the processing device 210, in turn, is operatively connected to and is also configured to control and cause the communication device 270, the memory device 230, and other components described herein to perform one or more functions, at least in part.
The communication device 270 may comprise a modem 271 (not illustrated), a receiver 272, a server 273 (not illustrated), a transmitter 274, transceiver, and/or another device for communicating with other devices and systems on the network 101. The communication device 270 may further comprise a contact, contactless, wireless and/or wired interface that is configured to establish communication between components of the computer terminal 120, between the computer terminal 120, particularly the processing device 210, and other devices or systems, such as the processing system 130, the user device 104, the authentication database 118, the third party system 116, and the like. In this regard, the communication interface 270 comprises a transmitter 274, a receiver 272, a broadcasting device 276 to transmit and receive signals from corresponding devices via a suitable transmission medium or a communication channel. In some embodiments, the computer terminal 120 is configured to be coupled/connected to other devices and systems via wired communication channels. In other embodiments, the computer terminal 120 is configured to be coupled/connected to other devices via a wireless channel. In this regard, the wireless communication channel may comprise near field communication (NFC), communication via radio waves, communication through the internet, communication via electromagnetic waves and the like. The communication device 270 may further comprise a contactless interface device 279 for establishing contactless communication with other devices, such as the user device 104. Here, the computer terminal 120 may include a transceiver, i.e., one or more antennas and and/or other electronic circuitry, devices, and software, for receiving data when a device is held close to or tapped at a suitable location of the computer terminal 120. Here, radio frequency signals may be transmitted and received in the radio frequency band, such as 13.56 MHz which is generally the frequency for NFC. In one embodiment, the ISO/IEC 14443 standard may define the protocol associated with the data carried by these radio frequency signals. In one embodiment, the transmitter 274 and receiver 272 may transmit and receive radio frequency signals, respectively, from the computer terminal 120 within a distance of up to approximately 25 cm, and from 0-20 cm, such as from 0-15 cm, and 0-10 cm, and the like.
Establishing the communication channels may also include signaling information in accordance with the air interface standard of the applicable cellular system of the wireless telephone network that may be part of the network 101. In this regard, the computer terminal 120 may be configured to operate with one or more air interface standards, communication protocols, modulation types, and access types. By way of illustration, the computer terminal 120 may be configured to operate in accordance with any of a number of first, second, third, and/or fourth-generation communication protocols and/or the like. For example, the computer terminal 120 may be configured to operate in accordance with second-generation (2G) wireless communication protocols IS-136 (time division multiple access (TDMA)), GSM (global system for mobile communication), and/or IS-95 (code division multiple access (CDMA)), or with third-generation (3G) wireless communication protocols, such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), CDMA2000, wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and/or time division-synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA), with fourth-generation (4G) wireless communication protocols, and/or the like. The computer terminal 120 may also be configured to operate in accordance with non-cellular communication mechanisms, such as via a wireless local area network (WLAN) or other communication/data networks.
The user interface of the computer terminal 120 may include user input devices 240 and user output devices 286, as illustrated by
As illustrated by
In some embodiments, the computer terminal further comprises sensor devices 290. In some embodiments, the processor 210 communicates with, transmits instructions, and/or receives signals from the sensor devices 290, in real-time for detecting the presence of the users or other individuals, determining user location, capturing authentication credentials for the user, determining parameters associated with the user, determining trigger events, capturing one or more parameters associated with the environment or physical location of the computer terminal 120, and the like. These sensor devices 112 may be contact type sensors that determine the presence of the user or object based on contact, or non-contact type sensors that detect distant users or objects. In some embodiments, the sensor devices 290 of the computer terminal are similar to the sensor devices 112 described previously, for determining the absolute or relative position, location, and proximity of the user, other individuals, or predetermined objects (such as vehicles, and vehicle features like contours of windows), within a predetermined proximity area. For example, the sensor devices 290 may comprise ultrasonic sensors, optical sensors, photoelectric sensors, capacitance sensors, inductive proximity/position sensors, visual capture devices (as described with respect to image/visual capture devices 114 and 250), and the associated transducers, transmitter and modulators, described in detail previously.
In some instances, the sensor devices 290 comprise biometric sensors for capturing parameters associated with the user, such as fingerprint scanners, voice recognition sensors, facial recognition sensors, heart rate sensors, user stress level sensors and the like. These biometric sensors 290 are configured to retrieve, receive, analyze and or validate biometric credentials associated with the user. In this regard, the biometric sensors 290 may comprise optical sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and/or capacitance sensors. The biometric sensors may further comprise radio frequency, thermal, pressure, piezo-resistive/piezoelectric, microelectromechanical sensors, and the like.
The cash receptacle 607 may provide the customer means for receiving cash that the customer requests for a withdraw through the ATM transaction. In some embodiments, the ATM 606 may also include a contactless identification sensor 612, a contact identification sensor 614 such as a debit or ATM card acceptor, a keypad 604, a receipt receptacle 610, and a deposit receptacle 616. In some embodiments, the contactless identifier 612 and/or the contact identifier 614 may provide the ATM 606 means of receiving identification from the customer. The customer may provide contactless or contact identification means through the ATM 606. The identification means using the contactless or contact identifications may be provided through several mechanisms, including, but not limited to, biometric identification, laser identification, magnetic strip identification, barcode identification, radio frequency (RF), a character recognition device, a magnetic ink, code readers, wireless communication, debit card scanning, ATM card scanning, and/or the like. The authentication from the contactless identifier of contact identifier may be read by the ATM application. After the authentication has been read, the system may provide the authentication to the financial institution to authorize an ATM transaction.
In some embodiments, the keypad 604 may provide for identification of the customer for use of the ATM 606. The keypad 604 may provide the customer means for inputting a pin number identification. In this way, the keypad 604 enables the customer to input his pin number into the ATM 606. In some embodiments, the pin number inputted on the keypad 604 may be read by the system. After the pin number has been read, the ATM 606 may receive the pin number and provide authentication of the identification with the financial institution system.
The display 602 provides a means for displaying information related to the customer's ATM transaction. Display information may be, but is not limited to display of interfaces, such as the start-up interface and an ATM transaction interface. In some embodiments, the display 402 is a touch screen display module
The communication device 344 may generally include a modem, server, transceiver, and/or other devices for communicating with other devices on the network 101. The network communication device 344 may be a communication interface having one or more communication devices configured to communicate with one or more other devices on the network 101, such as the processing system 130, the sensor devices 112, and visual capture devices 114, other processing systems, data systems, etc.
Additionally, referring to processing system 130 illustrated in
Furthermore, a “user interface” (not illustrated) may be associated with the processing system 130 and may generally include a plurality of interface devices and/or software that allow a user to input commands and data to direct the processing device to execute instructions. For example, the user interface may include a graphical user interface (GUI) or an interface to input computer-executable instructions that direct the processing device to carry out specific functions. The user interface may employ certain input and output devices to input data received from the user 102 or output data to the user 102. These input and output devices may include a display, mouse, keyboard, button, touchpad, touch screen, microphone, speaker, light, joystick, switch, and/or other customer input/output device for communicating with one or more customers. In some embodiments, the user interface may be provided externally to the processing system, for example on one or more workstations connected to the system 130, the user device 104 or the display device 280 of the computer terminal 120. As another example, the user interface may be provided on the computer terminal 120 that may be controlled by the processing system 130 either directly or via the processing device 210 of the computer terminal 120.
The memory device 350 within the processing system 130 may generally refer to a device or combination of devices that store one or more forms of computer-readable media for storing data and/or computer-executable program code/instructions. For example, the memory device 350 may include any computer memory that provides an actual or virtual space to temporarily or permanently store data and/or commands provided to the processing device 342 when it carries out its functions described herein. The processing system 130 may be used by a third party/entity 116 to interact with the computer terminal 120, based on providing requisite authorization. The processing system 130 may further comprise a user data repository 356 comprising user authentication data 357 and user account data 358. The processing system 130 may utilize the authentication data 357 to validate user authentication credentials. Furthermore, the account data 358 may reflect the current account data of the user.
The mobile device 104 may generally include a processing device or processor 410 communicably coupled to devices such as, a memory device 420, user output devices 430 (for example, a user display device 432, or a speaker 434), user input devices 440 (such as a microphone, keypad, touchpad, touch screen, and the like), a communication device or network interface device 470, a power source 415, a clock or other timer 480, a visual capture device such as a camera 450, a positioning system device 460, such as a geo-positioning system device like a GPS device, an accelerometer, and the like, one or more chips, and the like. The processor 410 may further include a central processing unit 402, input/output (I/O) port controllers 404, a graphics controller 405, a serial bus controller 406 and a memory and local bus controller 408.
The processor 410 may include functionality to operate one or more software programs or applications, which may be stored in the memory device 420. For example, the processor 410 may be capable of operating applications such as the activity application 425, a integrated resource transfer application 423, or a web browser application. The activity application 425 may then allow the mobile device 104 to transmit and receive data and instructions from the computer terminal 120 (for example, via wireless communication or NFC channels), data and instructions from the processing system 130, web content, such as, for example, location-based content and/or other web page content, according to a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and/or the like.
The integrated resource transfer application 423 and the financial data module 427, together may include the necessary circuitry to provide token storage and transmission functionality, transmitter device signal encoding and decoding functionality to the mobile device 104, for secure transmission of financial and authentication credential tokens via the contactless communication interface 479 to the computer terminal 120. That said, in some embodiments the integrated resource transfer application 423 is pre-installed on the user device 104, while in other embodiments, the terminal 120 may transmit and cause installation of the application 423 based on determining that the user device 104 does not comprise the application 423, when the user device is within a pre-determined distance from the terminal 120.
The processor 410 may be configured to use the network interface device 470 to communicate with one or more other devices on a network 101 such as, but not limited to the computer terminal 120 and the processing system 130. In this regard, the network interface device 470 may include an antenna 476 operatively coupled to a transmitter 474 and a receiver 472 (together a “transceiver”), modem 478 and a contactless communication interface 479. The processor 410 may be configured to provide signals to and receive signals from the transmitter 474 and receiver 472, respectively. The signals may include signaling information in accordance with the air interface standard of the applicable BLE standard, cellular system of the wireless telephone network and the like, that may be part of the network 101. In this regard, the mobile device 104 may be configured to operate with one or more air interface standards, communication protocols, modulation types, and access types. By way of illustration, the mobile device 104 may be configured to operate in accordance with any of a number of first, second, third, and/or fourth-generation communication protocols and/or the like. For example, the mobile device 104 may be configured to operate in accordance with second-generation (2G) wireless communication protocols IS-136 (time division multiple access (TDMA)), GSM (global system for mobile communication), and/or IS-95 (code division multiple access (CDMA)), or with third-generation (3G) wireless communication protocols, such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), CDMA2000, wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and/or time division-synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA), with fourth-generation (4G) wireless communication protocols, and/or the like. The mobile device 104 may also be configured to operate in accordance with non-cellular communication mechanisms, such as via a wireless local area network (WLAN) or other communication/data networks. The mobile device 104 may also be configured to operate in accordance Bluetooth® low energy, audio frequency, ultrasound frequency, or other communication/data networks.
The network interface device 470 or communication device 470 may also include a user activity interface presented in user output devices 430 in order to allow a user 102 to execute some or all of processes described herein. The application interface may have access to the hardware, for example, the transceiver, and software previously described with respect to the network interface device 470. Furthermore, the application interface may have the ability to connect to and communicate with an external data storage on a separate system within the network 101. As described above, the mobile device 104 includes a display device 432 having a user interface that includes user output devices 430 and/or user input devices 440. The user output devices 430 may include a display 432 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like) and a speaker 434 or other audio device, which are operatively coupled to the processor 410. The user input devices 440, which may allow the mobile device 104 to receive data from the user 102, may include any of a number of devices allowing the mobile device 104 to receive data from a user 102, such as a keypad, keyboard, touch-screen, touchpad, microphone, mouse, joystick, other pointer device, button, soft key, and/or other input device(s).
The mobile device 104 may further include a power source 415. Generally, the power source 415 is a device that supplies electrical energy to an electrical load. In some embodiment, power source 415 may convert a form of energy such as solar energy, chemical energy, mechanical energy, and the like, to electrical energy. Generally, the power source 415 in a mobile device 104 may be a battery, such as a lithium battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, or the like, that is used for powering various circuits, for example, the transceiver circuit, and other devices that are used to operate the mobile device 104. Alternatively, the power source 415 may be a power adapter that can connect a power supply from a power outlet to the mobile device 104. In such embodiments, a power adapter may be classified as a power source “in” the mobile device 104.
The mobile device 104 may also include a memory buffer, cache memory or temporary memory device operatively coupled to the processor 410. Typically, one or more applications 425 and 423, are loaded into the temporarily memory during use. As used herein, memory may include any computer readable medium configured to store data, code, or other information. The memory device 420 may include volatile memory, such as volatile Random Access Memory (RAM) including a cache area for the temporary storage of data. The memory device 420 may also include non-volatile memory, which can be embedded and/or may be removable. The non-volatile memory may additionally or alternatively include an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or the like.
In some instances, various features and functions of the invention are described herein with respect to a “system.” In some instances, the system may refer to the computer terminal 120 performing one or more steps described herein in conjunction with other devices and systems, either automatically based on executing computer readable instructions of the memory device 230, or in response to receiving control instructions from the processing system 103. In some instances, the system refers to the processing system 103. In some instances, the system refers to the devices and systems on the network environment 100 of
It is understood that the servers, systems, and devices described herein illustrate one embodiment of the invention. It is further understood that one or more of the servers, systems, and devices can be combined in other embodiments and still function in the same or similar way as the embodiments described herein.
As illustrated in block 704, the process 700 continues by linking with various third party resource distribution applications. The third party resource distribution applications may be third party applications or accounts that may be associated with a user and store or be capable of distributing resources. In this way, third parties may include vendors, financial institutions, credit card companies, payment rails, or the like. Furthermore third party resource distribution applications may include credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, person-to-person payment rails, merchant online accounts, or the like. In this way, the system may link to these third party systems directly in order to identify one or more accounts associated with a user and in order to distribute any remainder of resources from an odd denomination cash request from a received resource distribution document. In some embodiments, the resource distribution document may be a check.
Next, as illustrated in block 706, the process 700 continues by queuing the computer terminal for acceptance of odd denomination resource distribution documents. In this way, a typical computer terminal or ATM may be able to dispense funds in denominations divisible by $5.00, $10.00, or $20.00. Standard computer terminals are not capable of dispensing change and/or odd denominations that are not made of up $5.00, $10.00, or $20.00 dollar bills. For example, a standard computer terminal cannot provide a user with $8.25 as it does not have the required currency to be able to distribute exact change to the user. This system allows the computer terminal to distribute the currency that it has available, then contribute the remaining currency to a third party resource distribution application associated with the user.
Finally, as illustrated in block 708, the process 700 is completed by identifying the third party resource distribution applications associated with the particular use requesting the odd denomination currency retrieval from the computer terminal.
As illustrated in block 504, the process 500 continues by identifying a user at a computer terminal inserting a resource distribution document requesting the document be exchanged for resources. In this way, the user may be at an ATM inserting a check into the machine and requesting to cash the check. Furthermore, the user may be authorized to the computer terminal. In this way, the user may have inserted a credit or debit card and provided the computer terminal with a PIN number or alternative authorization code. In this way, the user may have an account with a financial institution associated with the computer terminal. In other embodiments, the user may not have an account with the financial institution associated with the computer terminal, but input of the resource distribution document at the computer terminal may allow the user cash the resource distribution document at the computer terminal and allow for access to his/her resources at a different financial institution for odd denominational remainder resource distribution.
Next, as illustrated in block 506, the system confirms that the user has provided a resource distribution document with an odd denomination. An odd denomination resource distribution document is any document that has an amount of resources requested to be cashed at the computer terminal that the computer terminal does not have exact change to cash. For example, if the computer terminal only has $20.00 currency bills and resource distribution document that is no divisible by $20.00 is an odd denomination. As such, an odd denomination is dependent on the variety of currency that the computer terminal has available for distribution. In this way, a typical computer terminal or ATM may be able to dispense funds in denominations divisible by $5.00, $10.00, or $20.00. Standard computer terminals are not capable of dispensing change and/or odd denominations that are not made of up $5.00, $10.00, or $20.00 dollar bills. For example, a standard computer terminal cannot provide a user with $8.25 as it does not have the required currency to be able to distribute exact change to the user. This system allows the computer terminal to distribute the currency that it has available, then contribute the remaining currency to a third party resource distribution application associated with the user.
In some embodiments, the user may select a transfer option for an odd denomination. In some embodiments, the user may select a transfer option for any denomination, irrespective of if the ATM is capable of providing that denomination.
Once the system confirms that the user inserted a resource distribution document that is an odd denomination for that computer terminal, the system may present denominations that are available from the computer terminal and hold the resource value remainder from the odd denomination request received, as illustrated in block 508. In this way, the computer terminal will provide the user with as close to the denomination from the resource distribution document as possible based on the currency the computer terminal currently has available. The remainder of the odd denomination from the resource distribution document may be held for user determination of transfer.
As illustrated in block 510, the process 500 continues by presenting transfer options to the user for the remainder of the odd denomination, full denomination, or part of the denomination. The options may be presented via a display screen on the computer terminal. The options may include one or more third party resource distribution applications available to the user. These are described in more detail in
Once the user selects one or more of the transfer options, the system may communicate with the selected third party resource distribution application for distribution of the odd denomination remainder, as illustrated in block 512. The third party resource distribution applications may be third party applications or accounts that may be associated with a user and store or be capable of distributing resources. In this way, third parties may include vendors, financial institutions, credit card companies, payment rails, or the like. Furthermore third party resource distribution applications may include credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, person-to-person payment rails, merchant online accounts, or the like. In this way, the system may link to these third party systems directly in order to identify one or more accounts associated with a user and in order to distribute any remainder of resources from an odd denomination cash request from a received resource distribution document. In some embodiments, the resource distribution document may be a check. In some embodiments, the user may select a transfer option for an odd denomination. In some embodiments, the user may select a transfer option for any denomination, irrespective of if the ATM is capable of providing that denomination.
As illustrated in block 514, the process 500 is completed by transferring via a secured communication the remainder of the odd denomination to the selected third party resource distribution application. As such, the remainder of the odd denomination from the resource distribution document is transferred to the third party resource distribution application associated with the user and applied to the user account associated with that third party.
Credit/debit card 804 user associated third party resource distribution applications may be swiped or scanned at the computer terminal by the user. The system may then take the credit/debit card information from the scan and apply the odd denomination remainder to the credit/debit card as a credit. In some embodiments, the credit/debit card 804 user associated third party resource distribution applications may include digital wallets and other mobile payment capabilities.
Person-to-person payment 806 user associated third party resource distribution applications may allow a user to transfer the odd denomination remainder from the resource distribution document to another person or merchant via a P2P channel or payment rail.
Charity distributions 808 user associated third party resource distribution applications may allow a user to distribute the odd denomination remainder from the resource distribution document to a charity of his/her choice based on selection via the computer terminal display.
Vendor accounts 810 user associated third party resource distribution applications may allow a user to transfer the odd denomination remainder from the resource distribution document to a vendor account, such as a merchant credit account, online store, or the like, as a credit for the user's next purchase with that vendor.
As illustrated in block 812, once the user selects one or more of the transfer options, the system receive the user selected third party resource distribution application for the resource value remainder to be applied. Next, as illustrated in block 814, the process 800 continues by the system communicating with the selected third party resource distribution application for distribution of the odd denomination remainder. The third party resource distribution applications may be third party applications or accounts that may be associated with a user and store or be capable of distributing resources. In this way, third parties may include vendors, financial institutions, credit card companies, payment rails, or the like as illustrated in block 802. In this way, the system may link to these third party systems directly in order to identify one or more accounts associated with a user and in order to distribute any remainder of resources from an odd denomination cash request from a received resource distribution document. In some embodiments, the resource distribution document may be a check.
As illustrated in block 816, the process 800 is completed by transferring via a secured communication the remainder of the odd denomination to the selected third party resource distribution application. As such, the remainder of the odd denomination from the resource distribution document is transferred to the third party resource distribution application associated with the user and applied to the user account associated with that third party.
Secure Item Replenishment and Management
Typically, the computer terminal 120 is configured to dispense one or more physical items such as currency (e.g., bills or a certain denomination, coins), receipts, printed output and the like. In some embodiments, the computer terminal 120 comprises a docking station (not illustrated) that is configured to receive an item replenishment device for replacing dispensed items in the computer terminal 120. For example, the computer terminal 120 may be depleted in its stock of bills of a first denomination by “N” number of bills. In some instances, the terminal 120 may transmit a signal to the processing system 130 indicating the deficit. Next, an associate or another individual employed by/associated with the entity or financial institution operating the computer terminal 120 may insert an item replenishment device into the docking station. Typically, the item replenishment device (e.g., a cash cassette) is a secure device that is substantially tamper proof. Specifically, an individual having the item replenishment device is typically not able access or even ascertain the type, number or quantity of items in the item replenishment device without damaging the items contained within.
Once the item replenishment device is inserted into the docking station, the computer terminal is typically configured to recognize the device and establish a wireless or wireline communication channel with it. The computer terminal 120 may then determine the type of items contained therein and the number of each item. Based on determining that the item replenishment device comprises at least “N” number of bills of the first denomination, the computer terminal may automatically withdraw the N number of bills from the device and store them within the computer terminal. Based on determining that the item replenishment device does not comprise the “N” number of bills of the first denomination or comprises Y number of bills fewer that those required, the computer terminal may transmit a signal to the device and/or to the processing system indicating the requirement in real time. Subsequently the terminal may withdraw the N-Y number of bills from the device. Next, when the item replenishment device is docked in a reserves station of the entity/financial institution (e.g., at an armored cash vehicle), the item replenishment device may automatically communicate to the reserves station regarding the deficit of the required number of bills at the terminal, which may then be inserted into the item replenishment device by the reserves station, automatically and securely, without external stimuli. The computer terminal may withdraw the Y number of bills when the item replenishment device is re-inserted into the docking station.
Enhanced Resource Interchange
In some embodiments, the computer terminal is configured to receive one or more items (e.g., checks) and perform one or more user activities accordingly. For example, the computer terminal may receive a check from a user for an amount of $117.42. Based on determining that the user is a customer of a financial institution (e.g., based on identifying/authenticating the user and determining that the user has an account with the financial institution, based on ascertaining that the user initiated the user activity of check deposit by swiping a debit or credit card associated with the financial institution, receiving a token associated with a financial account from the user mobile device, and the like), the computer terminal may perform one or more of the following activities, for example based on receiving user feedback: (i) transfer $117.42 to the user financial account, (ii) dispense at least a portion of $117.42 as cash or physical items, (iii) initiate a real time resource transfer of at least a portion of the $117.42 to an integrated resource transfer application of the user mobile device (described in detail in the subsequent section), (iv) covert at least a portion of the $117.42 into merchant points or credit and initiate a real time resource transfer of the portion to a merchant account of the user, and/or (v) initiate a real time resource transfer of at least a portion of the $117.42 to an account of a charity entity. In some embodiments, the computer terminal may provide the above activities options to the user, for example as a presentation of the display device, and receive user confirmation before commencing the activity. In some instances, the computer terminal may have items of only a certain type or quantity. Continuing with the previous example, the terminal may only have currency in the form of $10 and $20 bills, and may only be able to dispense a portion of the $117.42 with the available $10 and $20 bills. For example, the computer terminal may only be able to dispense an amount of $110 as bills. For the remainder of $7.42 of the amount, the terminal may perform one or more of the following based on the user feedback: (i) transfer $7.42 to the user financial account, (ii) initiate a real time resource transfer of $7.42 to an integrated resource transfer application of the user mobile device, (iii) covert $7.42 into merchant points or credit and initiate a real time resource transfer of the amount to a merchant account of the user, and/or (iv) initiate a real time resource transfer of the $7.42 to an account of a charity entity.
In some embodiments, the computer terminal is configured to allow a non-customer user to deposit a check, even when the non-customer user is not affiliated with the financial institution associated with the computer terminal. For example, the non-customer user may deposit a check for an amount of $117.42 at the terminal, for example after requisite authentication. In a similar manner as described above, based on determining that the user is not a customer of the financial institution, the terminal may dispense $110 (or another suitable amount that is a multiple of $10 and/or $20) as cash bills and perform one or more of the following actions for the remainder of the amount (i) initiate a real time resource transfer of $7.42 to an integrated resource transfer application of the user mobile device, (ii) covert $7.42 into merchant points or credit and initiate a real time resource transfer of the amount to a merchant account of the user (for example, based on receiving merchant information from the sure), and/or (iv) initiate a real time resource transfer of the $7.42 to an account of a charity entity of the user's choice. In this manner the system is configured to convert at least a portion of the value of a physical financial instrument (e.g., a check) to a virtual form.
That said, in some embodiments, continuing with the previous example, the system may dispense $120 in bills or transmit $120 to the integrated resource transfer application, thereby providing the $2.58 as a reward to the customer.
Furthermore, in some embodiments, the user may have one or more financial instruments such as credit, debit cards, gift cards, reward point cards, and the like. For example, a user who is a customer of the financial institution of the computer terminal may have a credit card associated with the financial institution, a non-customer user may have a credit or debit card associated with another different financial institution, or another user may have a rewards point card associated with another merchant/entity. In response to the user depositing the check for the amount of $117.42, the computer terminal may request the user to swipe/insert the financial instrument (e.g., the credit card) and based on/during the swiping/insertion, transfer either all of or a portion of the amount (e.g., $7.42) to the user financial instrument to credit/augment the instrument with that amount. In the instances where a rewards point card is used the terminal may convert the amount into the equivalent points and then credit the card. Also, in the instances where the financial instruments may be contained within digital wallet or another application of the user device, the system may request the user to “tap” the user device at the terminal and subsequently based on or during the “tapping”, transfer the amount to the requisite digital wallet or card within the digital wallet. Thereby, even, non-customer users may receive the check amount as deposits into their existing accounts.
Moreover, by transforming change amount such as $7.42 that would require dispensing a variety of coins into a virtual deposit, the present invention provides savings in the expenses for transportation and management of coins.
Resource Transfers to an Integrated Resource Transfer Application Based on Receiving Physical Items
As discussed previously, in some instances, the computer terminal may initiate a real time resource transfer of at least a portion of the check amount to an integrated resource transfer application of the user mobile device. Typically, the computer terminal is configured to recognize a user device and the user associated with the device (for example, based on retrieving unique identifiers of the device) when the user device is within a predetermined proximity/distance from the terminal, for example, when the user is waiting in a line of the terminal. The computer terminal may then establish an operative communication with the user device, for example, via a wireless communication channel, Wi-Fi communication channel, NFC and the like. The computer terminal may then proceed to authenticate the user while the user is still waiting in the like, via the user device. For example, the computer terminal may receive, via the communication channel, a biometric credential such as a fingerprint scan performed by the user on the user device, and pre-authenticate the user even before the user approaches the terminal. The system may also pre-authenticate the user and continue to monitor the status of the authentication until the user initiates a user activity by approaching the terminal, for example, using visual capture device and facial recognition of the user.
In some embodiments, the terminal may transmit a message to the user (for example, via the integrated resource transfer application or via the Wi-Fi or telecommunication channel) mobile device requesting the user to choose a user activity that the user wishes to perform at the terminal. The computer terminal may then customize the user interface or pre-stage the user interface when the user approaches the terminal to facilitate easier and quicker user activity completion. Also, the system may recognize the user as a previous customer while the user is standing in a line, and then pre-stage the user interface for the user when the user approaches the terminal.
In some embodiments, the terminal, via the established communication channel, may determine that the user device does not comprise the integrated resource transfer application, for example based on ascertaining that the user is required to provide authentication credentials/passcodes via the application, based on determining that the user activity specified by the user requires the application (e.g., for withdrawing a denomination of bills that are not entirely available at the terminal). The system may then transmit the application and/or cause the user device to download and install the integrated resource transfer application on the user device. In some embodiments, the integrated resource transfer application is an integrated person-to person or P2P payment application that typically also comprises social network capabilities and/or chat/communication capabilities (for example, “Zell” application). In some instances, the application typically operates based on non-financial user information such as user email, phone number, and the like. This integrated P2P application may be associated with a plurality of financial institutions and may utilize the financial channels and security features of these financial institutions. In some embodiments, the integrated resource transfer application or the P2P application is a part of the activity application 425. In some embodiments, before causing download and/or installation of the application, the terminal may ascertain that the user device has sufficient connectivity, sufficient access to a network of at least a predetermined bandwidth or speed for the download.
When the user approaches the terminal and initiates the user activity of the check deposit. As described above, the terminal may transmit at least a portion of the check amount to the integrated resource transfer application. The terminal may then request the user to “tap” the user device at the terminal, and subsequently initiate the transfer. Therefore, even users without any financial instruments (such as credit, debit cards) with them or any financial institution accounts may also deposit checks and receive the check amount as deposits directly into the integrated resource transfer application.
Proactive and User-Specific Interfaces and Information Interchange
As discussed earlier, the computer terminal is configured to provide pre-staged, streamlined and customized user interfaces for performing the user activity in a quick manner. Furthermore, the terminal is configured for machine learning and customizes the user interfaces and activities based on analyzing past preferences/behaviors of the user. For example, the terminal may determine that the user chose to transfer a change amount (i.e., amount whose denominations are not available at the terminal or that require coins which are not available) to the integrated resource transfer application in 3 instances and chose to donate the change amount to charity in 2 instances of 5 total previous instances, in the user interface, the system may only provide the options for the transfers to the application and the charity, for ease and speed of the activity. Alternatively, the system may automatically transfer the amount to the integrated user application and optionally provide a choice or charity from within the integrated user application.
Performing User Activities Using a Variety of Communication Channels
As discussed previously, the computer terminal is equipped with an intelligent personal assistant or other forms of artificial intelligence. The intelligent personal assistant may facilitate one or more of the user activities or steps described herein. Moreover, the terminal may be equipped with audio and video communication channels. The terminal may facilitate a “hands free” operation of the terminal or performance of the user activity by the user at the terminal using solely audio commands, gestures, and/or operations in the user mobile device.
Authentication of Users and First-Time Users in Particular
As discussed previously, the terminal is configured to authenticate a user in a variety of ways. For example, the terminal may authenticate a non-customer user without a financial instrument based on facial recognition or biometric authentication.
Customized Terminal
In some embodiments, the computer terminal is a cash recycler that is configured to provide customized services to an entity based on the requirements at that location.
Physical Item Management
In some embodiment, the computer terminal may analyze the deposited check and determine that the check issuer is a customer of the financial institution or that the check is a financial institution check. In response, the system may incentivize the check issuer to provide subsequent transfers as deposits to accounts or the integrated application instead of checks. Based on determining that the check issued periodically issues checks to the user, who may be a non-customer, the system may initiate automatic transfers to the user's integrated resource transfer application at requisite intervals.
In some embodiments, the computer terminal is configured to void a check after deposit and dispensing of cash/amount transfers. Here, the computer terminal may print one or more glyphs, void the micro-line, cut holes in the paper, and the like.
User Activities and Incentives
In some embodiments, the computer terminal provides product information and offers and incentives to the user. Moreover, the terminal facilitates online purchase of the products at the terminal.
As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the present invention may be embodied as an apparatus (including, for example, a system, a machine, a device, a computer program product, and/or the like), as a method (including, for example, a business process, a computer-implemented process, and/or the like), or as any combination of the foregoing. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may take the form of an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, and the like), an entirely hardware embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may generally be referred to herein as a “system.” Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product that includes a computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein. As used herein, a processor may be “configured to” perform a certain function in a variety of ways, including, for example, by having one or more special-purpose circuits perform the functions by executing one or more computer-executable program code portions embodied in a computer-readable medium, and/or having one or more application-specific circuits perform the function. As such, once the software and/or hardware of the claimed invention is implemented the computer device and application-specific circuits associated therewith are deemed specialized computer devices capable of improving technology associated with the in authorization and instant integration of a new credit card to digital wallets.
It will be understood that any suitable computer-readable medium may be utilized. The computer-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as a tangible electronic, magnetic, optical, infrared, electromagnetic, and/or semiconductor system, apparatus, and/or device. For example, in some embodiments, the non-transitory computer-readable medium includes a tangible medium such as a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), and/or some other tangible optical and/or magnetic storage device. In other embodiments of the present invention, however, the computer-readable medium may be transitory, such as a propagation signal including computer-executable program code portions embodied therein.
It will also be understood that one or more computer-executable program code portions for carrying out the specialized operations of the present invention may be required on the specialized computer include object-oriented, scripted, and/or unscripted programming languages, such as, for example, Java, Perl, Smalltalk, C++, SAS, SQL, Python, Objective C, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the one or more computer-executable program code portions for carrying out operations of embodiments of the present invention are written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming languages and/or similar programming languages. The computer program code may alternatively or additionally be written in one or more multi-paradigm programming languages, such as, for example, F#.
It will further be understood that some embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of systems, methods, and/or computer program products. It will be understood that each block included in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks included in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, may be implemented by one or more computer-executable program code portions. These one or more computer-executable program code portions may be provided to a processor of a special purpose computer for the authorization and instant integration of credit cards to a digital wallet, and/or some other programmable data processing apparatus in order to produce a particular machine, such that the one or more computer-executable program code portions, which execute via the processor of the computer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus, create mechanisms for implementing the steps and/or functions represented by the flowchart(s) and/or block diagram block(s).
It will also be understood that the one or more computer-executable program code portions may be stored in a transitory or non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., a memory, and the like) that can direct a computer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the computer-executable program code portions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture, including instruction mechanisms which implement the steps and/or functions specified in the flowchart(s) and/or block diagram block(s).
The one or more computer-executable program code portions may also be loaded onto a computer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer and/or other programmable apparatus. In some embodiments, this produces a computer-implemented process such that the one or more computer-executable program code portions which execute on the computer and/or other programmable apparatus provide operational steps to implement the steps specified in the flowchart(s) and/or the functions specified in the block diagram block(s). Alternatively, computer-implemented steps may be combined with operator and/or human-implemented steps in order to carry out an embodiment of the present invention.
While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of, and not restrictive on, the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other changes, combinations, omissions, modifications and substitutions, in addition to those set forth in the above paragraphs, are possible. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCETo supplement the present disclosure, this application further incorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assigned patent applications:
Claims
1. A system for odd denominational resource distribution, the system comprising:
- a memory device with computer-readable program code stored thereon;
- a communication device;
- a printing device for printing the resource distribution documents;
- a processing device operatively coupled to the memory device and the communication device, wherein the processing device is configured to execute the computer-readable program code to: integrate within a computer terminal, wherein the computer terminal is a public user activity terminal for management and distribution of resource documents by a user; authorize the user access to resource distribution management applications within the computer terminal based on authentication requirement satisfaction by the user; receive resource distribution document at the computer terminal for resource retrieval from the computer terminal; identify the resource distribution document as being for an odd denominational resource distribution, wherein the odd denominational resource distribution is a resource value or resource value remainder that the computer terminal is unable to present to the user for the resource retrieval; identify third party resource distribution applications associated with the user; trigger presentation, via display on the computer terminal, of the third party resource distribution applications associated with the user; and apply the odd denominational resource distribution to a selected third party resource distribution application.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the odd denominational resource distribution applied to the selected third party resource is only the resource value remainder that the computer terminal is unable to present to the user.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein a standard user activity terminal is required to deny an odd denominational distribution request without integration with the computer terminal.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying the resource distribution document as being for an odd denominational resource distribution further comprises identifying a check drafted to the user with a distribution amount that is not a distribution amount domination available from the computer terminal for presentation of the distribution amount to the user.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying third party resource distribution applications associated with the user further comprises receiving input from the user including third party resource distribution applications associated with the user, wherein the resource distribution applications associated with the user comprise user accounts for third party vendors or user accounts at financial institutions.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein third party resource distribution applications further comprise person-to-person resource distribution.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein authorizing the user access to resource distribution management applications within the computer terminal based on authentication requirement satisfaction by the user further comprises authorizing a user not affiliated with the resource distribution management applications for the computer terminal by allowing the user access to the presentation of the third party resource distribution applications associated with the user based on user input of the odd denominational resource distribution document.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer terminal is an ATM.
9. A computer program product for denominational resource distribution with at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable program code portions embodied therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
- an executable portion configured for integrating within a computer terminal, wherein the computer terminal is a public user activity terminal for management and distribution of resource documents by a user;
- an executable portion configured for authorizing the user access to resource distribution management applications within the computer terminal based on authentication requirement satisfaction by the user;
- an executable portion configured for receiving resource distribution document at the computer terminal for resource retrieval from the computer terminal;
- an executable portion configured for identifying the resource distribution document as being for an odd denominational resource distribution, wherein the odd denominational resource distribution is a resource value or resource value remainder that the computer terminal is unable to present to the user for the resource retrieval;
- an executable portion configured for identifying third party resource distribution applications associated with the user;
- an executable portion configured for triggering presentation, via display on the computer terminal, of the third party resource distribution applications associated with the user; and
- an executable portion configured for applying the odd denominational resource distribution to a selected third party resource distribution application.
10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the odd denominational resource distribution applied to the selected third party resource is only the resource value remainder that the computer terminal is unable to present to the user.
11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein a standard user activity terminal is required to deny an odd denominational distribution request without integration with the computer terminal.
12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein identifying the resource distribution document as being for an odd denominational resource distribution further comprises identifying a check drafted to the user with a distribution amount that is not a distribution amount domination available from the computer terminal for presentation of the distribution amount to the user.
13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein identifying third party resource distribution applications associated with the user further comprises receiving input from the user including third party resource distribution applications associated with the user, wherein the resource distribution applications associated with the user comprise user accounts for third party vendors or user accounts at financial institutions.
14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein third party resource distribution applications further comprise person-to-person resource distribution.
15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein authorizing the user access to resource distribution management applications within the computer terminal based on authentication requirement satisfaction by the user further comprises authorizing a user not affiliated with the resource distribution management applications for the computer terminal by allowing the user access to the presentation of the third party resource distribution applications associated with the user based on user input of the odd denominational resource distribution document.
16. A computer-implemented method for odd denominational resource distribution, the method comprising:
- providing a computing system comprising a computer processing device and a non-transitory computer readable medium, where the computer readable medium comprises configured computer program instruction code, such that when said instruction code is operated by said computer processing device, said computer processing device performs the following operations: integrating within a computer terminal, wherein the computer terminal is a public user activity terminal for management and distribution of resource documents by a user; authorizing the user access to resource distribution management applications within the computer terminal based on authentication requirement satisfaction by the user; receiving resource distribution document at the computer terminal for resource retrieval from the computer terminal; identifying the resource distribution document as being for an odd denominational resource distribution, wherein the odd denominational resource distribution is a resource value or resource value remainder that the computer terminal is unable to present to the user for the resource retrieval; identifying third party resource distribution applications associated with the user; triggering presentation, via display on the computer terminal, of the third party resource distribution applications associated with the user; and applying the odd denominational resource distribution to a selected third party resource distribution application.
17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the odd denominational resource distribution applied to the selected third party resource is only the resource value remainder that the computer terminal is unable to present to the user.
18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein a standard user activity terminal is required to deny an odd denominational distribution request without integration with the computer terminal.
19. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein identifying third party resource distribution applications associated with the user further comprises receiving input from the user including third party resource distribution applications associated with the user, wherein the resource distribution applications associated with the user comprise user accounts for third party vendors, user accounts at financial institutions, or person-to-person resource distribution.
20. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein authorizing the user access to resource distribution management applications within the computer terminal based on authentication requirement satisfaction by the user further comprises authorizing a user not affiliated with the resource distribution management applications for the computer terminal by allowing the user access to the presentation of the third party resource distribution applications associated with the user based on user input of the odd denominational resource distribution document.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 26, 2017
Publication Date: Sep 6, 2018
Inventors: Jon Robert Wolf (Charlotte, NC), Charles R. Liu (San Francisco, CA), Matthew Edward Williams (Frisco, TX), Jill A. Hatfield (North Easton, MA)
Application Number: 15/632,728
