JP2001519576A - System and method for requesting and distributing negotiable instruments - Google Patents

Abstract

SUMMARY The present invention provides systems and methods for requesting and distributing negotiable instruments, such as bank checks, money orders, and traveler's checks. In this system and method, securities may be requested by a bank customer from a telephone, computer, fixed location dispenser, or portable handheld dispenser that communicates with the bank's computer. The request may be made verbally, using a touch tone, or using data transmission over a communication network. This communication network may include telephone lines, two-way wireless links, microwave links, satellite links, cellular telephone links, computer networks, and the Internet. After the request has been processed and approved, the system and method allows the requested security to be transferred to the bank customer or It can be distributed to another party at any time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for requesting and distributing negotiable instruments, such as bank checks, traveler checks, and currency exchanges. Specifically, the present invention provides a method in which a bank customer provides one or more permits to a bank or automated teller machine ("A
TM "), and a system and method for enabling a request for and receipt of a negotiable instrument from a machine that prints the requested instrument.

Some known systems and methods for requesting and distributing negotiable securities are ATM
And other public dispensing equipment. These dispensers are wall-mounted units that can be found in places such as banks, airports, train stations, bus stops, supermarkets, and the like. Such a dispensing device is inconvenient in that the bank customer must locate the device before it can obtain the desired negotiable instrument. In many cases, it may not be possible to locate such a device, especially if the bank customer is far away or very late at night.

[0003] Another known system and method for requesting and distributing bills of sale provides a portable dispensing device that can be carried by bank customers. This device is inconvenient in that the bank customer must first download enough money to the device to cover any securities the customer wishes to distribute. To do so, the bank customer may have to go to a bank or some other facility where downloads can be made, or may have to send the device to such a bank or facility. Such a request can render the device useless to banking customers if the customer requests securities that exceed the remaining balance on the portable device. This can be particularly stressful to the customer if the customer has the requested funds in a bank account associated with the dispensing device, but the funds have not yet been downloaded to the dispensing device.

In some known systems and methods for requesting and distributing negotiable securities, the requested negotiable securities are only dispensed from a security dispenser used to request negotiable securities (such as an ATM that distributes traveler's checks). May not be.
The above request is inconvenient because, in many cases, a party may wish to request securities distributed to another party at a second location at another location. For example, a parent at home may request that the currency be distributed to a child of the parent from a securities dispenser at a summer camp, boarding school, or college or the like.

[0005] In view of the above, a system and method for requesting and distributing negotiable securities, comprising:
There is no need to locate or use public securities distribution equipment,
It would be desirable to provide a system and method by which bank customers can request and receive bills of sale.

[0006] A system and method for requesting and distributing bills is disclosed, wherein a portable customer handheld dispenser obtains permission to distribute bills by communicating with a granting bank via a wireless communication link. It would also be desirable to provide systems and methods that can request and receive negotiable certificates.

[0007] A system and method for requesting and distributing bills of exchange, wherein a bank customer can request from one device to request that bills be printed and distributed from another device. Is more desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for requesting and distributing negotiable securities without the need to locate or use a public negotiable securities distribution device, The purpose of the present invention is to provide a system and method by which bank customers can request and receive negotiable securities.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is a system and method for requesting and distributing bills of sale, wherein the portable handheld obtains permission to distribute bills by communicating with a granting bank via a wireless communication link. It is to provide a system and method by which a bank customer can request and receive a bill of exchange using a dispenser.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is a system and method for requesting and distributing bills of exchange wherein a bank customer can request from one device that the bill be printed and distributed from another device. To provide a system and method that can be used.

The above and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a system and method for requesting and distributing negotiable instruments, such as bank checks, money orders, and traveler's checks. With this system and method, securities can be requested by a bank customer from a telephone, computer, fixed location dispenser, or portable handheld dispenser that communicates with the bank's computer. The request may be made verbally, using a touch tone, or using data transmission over a communication network. The communication network may include a telephone line, a two-way wireless link, a microwave link, a satellite link, a cellular telephone link, a computer network, and / or the Internet. After the request has been processed and approved, the requested securities can be distributed at any time to a bank customer or another party, from any receive-only dispenser, fixed-position dispenser, or portable handheld dispenser that also communicates with the bank's computer Can be done.

[0012] The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As noted above, the present invention eliminates the need to locate and use publicly available ATMs, and allows banking customers to be located far away from the issuing bank. A system and method for requesting and receiving a negotiable instrument from a securities dispenser at the same time. Security dispensers may include receive only dispensers, fixed position dispensers, and portable handheld dispensers. Receive-only dispensers are designed specifically for dispensing required securities using another device. These dispensers need to distribute securities because they are likely to be required from other locations, such as boarding schools or college dormitories, or the homes of older or sick relatives or friends, It may be suitable where there is little need to request securities.

[0014] Fixed position dispensers are general purpose dispensers that provide the ability to both request and distribute securities. These dispensers may be used by banking customers' homes, buildings (commercial offices, hotel rooms, airports, train stations, and bus stops, etc.), cars, planes, trains, buses, and / or any other suitable Can be placed in place. Preferred fixed position dispensers further include a telephone operating mode that allows access to a telephone banking system.

[0015] The portable handheld dispenser provides the ability to request and dispense securities, similar to a fixed position dispenser, and in a preferred embodiment, the dispenser is used as a regular telephone, or the dispenser is a telephone banking system. Includes a phone operating mode that allows it to be used to access These portable handheld dispensers are preferably sized and weighed to allow easy holding of the dispenser with one hand, preferably
It incorporates battery power and wireless telephones that allow the dispenser to be used without the need to physically connect to an external power supply or communication link.

To receive a negotiable instrument, a bank customer must first generate a request for the desired instrument. This request may be generated using a telephone, computer, fixed position dispenser, or portable handheld dispenser. This request
It may be performed using an interactive mode or using a non-interactive mode. In the interactive mode, menu options and prompts are transmitted to the bank customer acoustically (ie, using voice-based menus and prompts) or digitally (ie, using data transmission) by the bank's computer. Acoustically transmitted menu options and prompts may be received by a bank customer through a telephone or through a fixed position dispenser or portable handheld dispenser operating as a telephone. Digitally communicated menu options and prompts may be received by a bank customer through a customer's computer, fixed position dispenser, or portable handheld dispenser that electronically displays the menu options and prompts on a display screen. The bank customer, when given these prompts, responds to each of those prompts, and these responses are processed and organized by the bank's computer to form a security request.

In the non-interactive mode, menu options and prompts are generated electronically on the display screen and provided to the bank customer by the customer's computer, fixed position dispenser, or portable handheld dispenser. The bank customer then responds to these menu options and prompts, and those responses are processed and organized by the customer's computer, fixed location dispenser, or portable handheld dispenser to form a security request. Once the security request has been formed, the security request is transmitted from the customer's computer, fixed location dispenser, or portable handheld dispenser to the bank's computer.

When requesting securities, the bank customer may be provided with, for example, an account number from which the securities are withdrawn,
The personal identification number (PIN) associated with the account, the type of security required (for example,
Bank check, money order, or traveler's check), the amount of the security, the currency of the country in which the security is issued (eg, dollars, francs, marks, etc.), the name of the payee of the security, the address of the payee of the security, The date, notes on the security, designation of a security dispenser to distribute the requested security, from when the security is available for distribution, and / or any other suitable information may be required. On the other hand, for example,
When requesting a traveler's check, the bank customer must provide the value of the security, the currency of the country issuing the security, the name of the payee of the security, the address of the payee of the security, the date of the security, and any It may be possible to leave notes unspecified. As noted above, in selecting a designated securities dispenser, a bank customer is not limited to selecting a particular securities dispenser from which the customer may be issued a security request,
Any desired securities dispenser that can communicate with the bank computer may be selected.

Once the requested information has been generated in full (non-interactive mode) or partially (interactive mode), the requested information is then transmitted to a bank computer via a communication network such as a telephone system. You. The request is preferably transmitted as a single continuous data burst in non-interactive mode,
In interactive mode, voice, dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones, prompts provided by the bank computer,
Alternatively, transmitted as a series of individual responses with any of the data, any suitable data transmission method may be used. Communication networks may include wireless telephones, wireless transceivers, and wireless telephones, wireless or satellite networks to facilitate requests from portable handheld dispensers. The telecommunications network also includes customer computers connected to a computer network or the Internet,
A computer network may be included to facilitate requests from fixed position dispensers and portable handheld dispensers. DTMF tone requests and data transmission requests are preferably transmitted directly from the communication network to the bank's computer. The voice request may be entered into the bank's computer using a suitable voice recognition system, and the bank clerk may use the bank request to type the voice request into the bank's computer terminal connected to the bank's computer. It may be input to a computer.

After the request is received by the bank computer, the request is processed to determine whether to allow distribution of the requested security. Permission is granted based on the amount of the security requested, the available balance or deposit in the customer's account, whether the bank customer has entered a genuine personal identification number (PIN), and whether the bank has specified It may be based on factors such as whether distribution of the bill in currency can be authorized, the number or amount of previously issued requests, and / or any other suitable criteria. After the bank's computer determines whether to grant the request, the bank's computer then transmits an allow or deny notification to the customer. This notification is preferably provided to the customer substantially immediately via the same device (eg, the customer's telephone, customer's computer, fixed location dispenser, or portable handheld dispenser) from which the request was made. For example, a notification in response to an oral request may be made through a pre-recorded or synthesized voice message played to the customer, or through a bank clerk who reads the notification from the bank's computer terminal to the customer. May be given during the same call.

If the request is granted, then the dispensing information is also transmitted from the bank's computer to the designated receive-only dispenser, fixed location dispenser, or portable handheld dispenser. This distribution information includes security information such as payee name, payee address, security par value, national currency type, request date, security date, notes, authorization code or digitized copy of customer signature. Organization, account number, type of security (eg, bank check, money order, or traveler's check)
, The security number, the PIN that the payee must enter to receive the security, the date on which the security can be distributed, and / or any other suitable information. This information may be transmitted as part of the permission notification (if the notification is transmitted as data) or may be transmitted as a separate data transmission.

When transmitting distribution information to a designated securities dispenser, the bank computer may not be able to transmit the information without first establishing communication with the securities dispenser. For example, if a customer requests that securities be distributed from a designated security dispenser different from the security dispenser used to issue the security request, or if the customer distributes securities from the customer's telephone or the customer's computer When making the request, the bank's computer must establish communication with the designated securities dispenser before transmitting the distribution information. The communication may be established, for example, by a bank computer that issues a modem-based telephone call to which a designated securities dispenser answers.

Once the distribution information has been transmitted to the appropriate security dispenser, the requested security is:
The security may be distributed according to any special instructions regarding the date on which the security may be distributed. If the distribution information is transmitted to a designated securities dispenser other than the device used to issue the security request, preferably the authorized recipient is required to access the designated securities dispenser to dispense the security. Until you do so, the distribution of securities will not begin.
The distribution of a security involves selecting one of a plurality of pre-printed security stocks (ie, a particular bill type), and the date, payee name, payee address, par value of the security, currency. Type, security type (eg, bank check, money order, or traveler's check), notes, security mechanisms such as authorization codes or digitized copies of customer signatures, account numbers, security numbers, and / or any other Printing information on its stock, such as appropriate information, and the like.

In some cases, the security may be distributed to someone other than a bank customer. For example,
Parents may require children at school or camping to distribute securities. To provide at least a minimum level of security when distributing securities to persons other than banking customers, the dispenser of the preferred embodiment of the present invention requires that the potential beneficiary use a password to obtain the required negotiable instrument. Or you may be required to enter a personal identification number (PIN). This password or PIN is preferably selected by the bank customer when generating the security request, but may be selected by the bank customer immediately prior to providing the authorization notice or may be pre-selected by the bank customer.

Rather than distributing a negotiable instrument immediately, the bank customer or the payee of the requested instrument may also have the option to defer the distribution of the instrument to some time in the future. This means, for example, that a parent wants to request a one-semester weekly living expenses check in advance for a distant child at college, but the child checks until the day corresponding to each check during that semester. It may be desirable if you want to be unable to get.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention also allows a bank customer to change a securities request after distribution information has been received at a designated security dispenser and prior to the time at which the security is to be distributed. I do. This change may include cancellation or modification of the security request. During this period, the bank customer can make a securities request to the bank's computer in the same way as any other way (eg, a DTMF tone request using the customer's telephone, or data using a fixed location dispenser). (Using a transmission request), a change request may be issued to the bank computer. This change information may include any of the information in the corresponding distribution information, and preferably includes an account number and a security number.
When the change request is received at the bank computer, the bank computer determines whether to grant the request. The decision whether to allow the change request is determined by whether the personal identification number (PIN) entered by the bank customer is genuine, whether the requested security has already been distributed, and the bank's computer. Communication with the dispenser may be established and / or may be based on any other suitable criteria. If the change request is rejected, a change rejection notification is sent to the bank customer. Otherwise, the change permission notification is transmitted to the bank customer, and the change information is transmitted to the designated securities dispenser. The change notification is preferably transmitted substantially immediately to the bank customer through the same device from which the change request was issued. The change information is transmitted to the designated securities dispenser in substantially the same manner as the distribution information and may include any of the information in the corresponding distribution information, and preferably includes an account number and a security number. Once this change information is received at the securities dispenser, the requested negotiable instrument is no longer available for distribution from the securities dispenser.

After requesting and / or distributing negotiable bills using a receive-only dispenser, fixed-position dispenser, or portable handheld dispenser, the bank customer or security beneficiary may transfer data regarding the request and / or dispensing information to each dispenser. The external device interface may be used to download to a personal computer, printer, and / or any other suitable device. This data is
Preferably, it contains all data communicated between the securities dispenser and the bank computer. Once downloaded, this data can preferably be used to generate records and book entries.

A preferred embodiment of a bill requesting and distributing system 30 is shown in FIG. As shown, the system 30 includes a bank computer 32, a bank computer terminal 34, a bank telephone 36, a communication network 40, a wireless network 42, a customer telephone 44, a customer computer 45, a receive-only dispenser 46, a fixed location. Dispenser 48 and portable handheld dispenser 50 are included. generally,
Requests to receive negotiable bills are made by the bank customer using the customer's telephone 44, customer's computer 45, fixed location dispenser 48, or portable handheld dispenser 50.

When using the customer's phone 44, a bank customer may request a security by voice or by using a key on the customer's phone 44 to generate DTMF tones. Customer's phone 44 may be anywhere in the world, a traditional phone or a wireless phone, and may be a traditional phone system, a wireless phone system, and / or any other May be connected to a bank computer 32 or a bank telephone 34 via a suitable communication network.

Using the customer's computer 45, the banking customer can use a terminal emulator, web browser, dedicated banking software, or any other suitable software to make a direct telephone connection, a computer network connection, an Internet connection, or , By sending a data transmission request to the bank computer 32 via any other suitable connection.

When using the fixed position dispenser 48 or the portable handheld dispenser 50, the bank customer may hear the dispenser 48 when the dispenser 48 or 50 is operated as a telephone or in an interactive voice mode. Alternatively, a security may be requested by generating a DTMF tone using the key on 50. When using the fixed position dispenser 48 or the portable handheld dispenser 50, the bank customer may also request securities by sending a data transmission from the dispenser 48 or 50 when the dispenser is operating in a non-interactive mode or an interactive data mode. obtain. The fixed position dispenser 48 and the portable handheld dispenser 50 may be connected to the bank computer 32 or bank via a traditional telephone system, a wireless telephone system, a computer network connection, an Internet connection, and / or any other suitable communication network. Phone 34.

Once the request has been generated, the request is then transmitted to the bank's computer 32 via the communication network 40 and possibly the wireless network 42. Communication network 40 may include a telephone system, a computer network, the Internet, and / or any other suitable communication network. Wireless network 42 may include a wireless telephone system, a wireless communication system, a satellite communication system, and / or any other suitable wireless communication network. The DTMF tones and data transmission requests are preferably input directly from the communication network 40 to the bank computer 32. For voice requests made using the customer's telephone 44, fixed-position dispenser 48, or portable handheld dispenser 50, the banker can use the banker to make the request via the bank's telephone 36 and the bank's computer terminal 34. May be input to the computer 32. Alternatively, the voice request may be entered directly into the bank computer 32 using a suitable voice recognition system in the bank computer 32.

After receiving the security request, the bank computer 32 then determines whether to grant the request. This determination may include determining the amount of the security requested, the available balance or deposit amount in the customer's account, whether the personal identification number (PIN) entered by the bank customer is genuine, or any other request made previously. It may be based on the number or amount and / or any other suitable criteria. Once the decision is made, the bank computer 32 notifies the customer of the customer's telephone 44, customer's computer 45, fixed location dispenser 48, or portable handheld dispenser 50 via the communication network 40 and possibly the wireless network 42. Is sent. This notification is preferably provided substantially immediately in the same manner as the security request was issued. For example, for a voice request made by a bank customer to a bank clerk using the customer's telephone 44,
The notification may be communicated to the bank customer by first displaying the notification on the bank's computer terminal 34 and then reading the notification to the bank customer by the bank employee.

If the request is granted, then the distribution information is also transmitted to the designated securities dispenser. This dispenser may be a receive-only dispenser 46,
It may be a fixed position dispenser 48 or a portable handheld dispenser 50, which may be the same or different than the security request may have been issued. As in the case of an allow or deny notification, the distribution information is transmitted via the communication network 40 and possibly the wireless network 42.

[0035] Once the distribution information is received, the security can be distributed at a designated security dispenser. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the recipient of the negotiable instrument may also be a customer of the bank, and the recipient is asked if he wants the security to be distributed immediately or later. obtain. The preferred embodiment of the present invention also allows the requesting bank customer to specify the earliest time when a security can be dispensed from a security dispenser. The bank customer making the request may not be the intended security beneficiary.

[0036] Bank customers may also request to change securities awaiting distribution from a designated security dispenser. This change may include cancellation or modification of the security and may be requested from the customer's telephone 44, customer's computer 45, fixed location dispenser 48, or portable handheld dispenser 50. Like the security request, this change request is then transmitted to the bank's computer 32 via the communication network 40 and possibly the wireless network 42. As in the case of a securities request, the change request made by voice may be transmitted to the bank computer 32 via the bank employee using the bank telephone 36 and the bank computer terminal 34. Alternatively, the voice change request may be input directly to the bank's computer by a suitable voice recognition system.

After receiving the change request, the bank's computer 32 verifies the identity of the bank customer making the change request and contacts the designated securities dispenser. The identity of the bank customer is verified and the security is passed to the designated security dispenser 4
If waiting for a distribution from 6, 48, or 50, the bank's computer 32 changes to the customer's telephone 44, customer's computer 45, fixed position dispenser 48, or portable handheld dispenser 50 that made the change request. Transmit the authorization notification and transmit the change information to the designated securities dispenser 46, 48, or 50. This change information may include any of the information in the corresponding distribution information, and preferably includes an account number and a security number. Once the change information is received at the designated security dispenser 46, 48, or 50, the corresponding original security is no longer available for distribution from the security dispenser. However, if we cannot match the identity of the bank customer, if the security has been distributed,
Alternatively, if the bank computer 32 cannot communicate with the designated securities dispenser 46, 48, or 50, a rejection notice is transmitted to the bank customer,
The security request is not canceled or modified.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show an embodiment 100 of a portable handheld dispenser 50. As shown in FIG. 2, all components of the portable handheld dispenser 100 are housed in the main body 103. The body 103 is preferably made of plastic, but may be made of aluminum or any other suitable material. At the top of the body 103 is located the antenna 102, distribution slot 104, and bill 106. At the bottom of the body 103 is an external power input 116 and an external device interface connector 118. Antenna 102
Is a radio frequency antenna that allows the portable handheld dispenser 100 to communicate with the wireless network 42 (FIG. 1), and is preferably flexible and telescopic. Antenna 1 for portable handheld dispenser 100
Instead of providing 02, portable handheld dispenser 100 may incorporate a telephone jack (not shown) that may be used to connect portable handheld dispenser 100 to a standard telephone wall outlet (not shown). The distribution slot 104 includes a narrow opening in the body 103 and a serrated edge through which the security 106 can pass. The serrated edge is preferably made of a light metal, such as aluminum, or any other suitable material, and may be used to tear securities from the portable handheld dispenser 100. Distribution slot 1
Although 04 is shown as being located at the top of the body 103, the distribution slot 104 may be located at the bottom, front, back, or any other suitable location of the body 103. The security 106 may be any kind of negotiable securities,
Preferably, a pre-printed thermal printable bill of paper that can be recognized as a traveler's check, money order, or bank check. For security purposes, the security 106 preferably incorporates a watermark, microprint, or any other suitable anti-counterfeiting mechanism.

External power input 116 may be used to connect an external power source, such as a 110 VAC line cord, a 12 VDC automotive cigarette lighter adapter cord, or any other suitable external power source, to portable handheld dispenser 100. . External device interface connector 118 may be used to connect portable handheld dispenser 100 to an external device, such as a computer, printer, or any other suitable external device, whether an electrical connector or an optical connector. Or any other suitable type of connector, or a combination of connectors. As mentioned above, this connection may be used, for example, to download data from portable handheld dispenser 100 to a computer, printer, or other suitable device.

The power button 108, the speaker 110, the power indicator 112, the display 140, the keypad 126, and the microphone 11 are provided on the front of the main body 103.
4 are arranged. The power button 108 is for the portable handheld dispenser 1
00 is used to switch the power supply between ON state and OFF state. The speaker 110 allows a user of the portable handheld dispenser 100 to use the portable handheld dispenser 100 when the portable handheld dispenser 100 is being used to make a normal voice telephone call or to call for a security in an interactive voice mode. Used to enable listening to telephone lines. The power on indicator 112 is used to indicate the power status of the portable handheld dispenser 100, illuminates when the power status is on, and is preferably a low power light emitting diode (LED), but any other suitable Other indicators may be used. Display 140 provides menu options, messages, settings,
Used to display prompts, telephone numbers, and any other desired information. The display 140 is preferably a backlit liquid crystal display (LCD), but any other suitable display may be used. The microphone 114 allows a user of the portable handheld dispenser 100 to use the portable handheld dispenser 100 when the portable handheld dispenser 100 is being used to make a normal voice call or to request a security in an interactive voice mode. Used to enable talking on telephone lines.

When the portable handheld dispenser 100 is powered on, the power indicator 112 illuminates, and preferably, the display 140 shows a main menu option. Bank customers can select how to use the portable handheld dispenser 100 from this main menu option. For example, a menu option could be that a customer can use a portable handheld dispenser as a phone, initiate an interactive voice mode security request, initiate an interactive data mode security request, initiate a non-interactive mode security request, It may be possible to print securities stored on the handheld dispenser 100, change securities that have been requested but not yet distributed, and configure the settings of the portable handheld dispenser 100. As another example, a fast cache menu option may be provided. This fast cache menu, when selected,
The data setup of the portable handheld dispenser 100 is used to automatically request a predetermined amount of travelers checks (or any other type of bill of necessity) dispensed from the portable handheld dispenser 100. Of course, other menu options may be available to the customer without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The keypad 120 allows a user to control the operation of the portable handheld dispenser 100. The keypad 120 is a 1 (“1”) key 12
1, 2 (“2”, “a”, “b” or “c”) keys 122, 3 (“3”, “d”)
, "E" or "f") keys 123, 4 ("4", "g", "h", or "i").
)) Keys 124, 5 ("5", "j", "k" or "l") keys 125, 6 (
"6", "m", "n" or "o") keys 126, 7 ("7", "p", "q")
, "R" or "s") keys 127, 8 ("8", "t", "u" or "v").
) Key 128, 9 ("9", "w", "x", "y" or "z") key 12
9, star ("*") key 130, zero ("0") key 131, pound key ("
# ") 132, clear (" clr ") key 133, send key 134, end key 1
35, including a select key ("sel") key 136, a cursor (up, down, left, and right arrow) key 137, and a receive ("rcv") key 138. The 1-9 and zero numeric keys 121-129 and 131, the star key 130, and the pound key 132 are used to dial telephone numbers, select menu options, respond to prompts, and make sure that these keys are appropriate. It can be used to perform some other function. To facilitate the use of telephone banking systems and other DTMF tone based answering systems, keys 121-
Pressing any of 132 causes a corresponding DTMF tone to be generated on the telephone line.
For example, to request that a security be sent to the portable handheld dispenser 100 or any other dispenser 46, 48 or 50 (FIG. 1), the bank customer calls the telephone banking system using the portable handheld dispenser 100. , And request information using DTMF tones. The clear key 133 is used for inputting a telephone number, selecting a menu option,
It may be used to delete part or all of the prompt response, or any other information entered by the user. The send key 134 is used to initiate a telephone call when the user enters a telephone number. The end key 135 is used to end the telephone call when the telephone call ends.

Selection keys 136 may be used to accept menu option selections, prompt responses, or any other suitable information as it is entered or displayed on display 140. Cursor keys 137 can be used to navigate menus that can be displayed on display 140 of portable handheld dispenser 100, and are preferably pressed in the up, down, left and right directions to provide four unique switch outputs. Is a four-way key that can generate When a menu is being displayed, pressing the cursor key 137 may scroll the menu with respect to the highlighted cursor area on the display 140. In this way, the bank customer can highlight any of the menu options and then select it (using select key 136). Finally, the receive key 138 is used to activate a modem inside the portable handheld dispenser 100 when the user is ready to receive data during a telephone call. When this modem is activated, speaker 110 and microphone 114
Are preferably deactivated, and the numeric keys 121-129 and 131, the star key 130, and the pound key 132 preferably do not generate DTMF tones. Power button 108 and keys 121-138 are preferably push-button instant contact switches, but may be any suitable switches.

A side layout diagram of the portable handheld dispenser 100 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, antenna 102, distribution slot 1
04, securities 106, power button 108, speaker 110, power indicator 11
2, a display 140, a keypad 120, and a microphone 114;
External power input 116 and external device interface connector 118 are located on the top, front, and bottom outside body 103 of portable handheld dispenser 100 and perform the functions described above. Inside the body 103 of the portable handheld dispenser 100 are the electronics 146, batteries 144, printer 148, continuous paper distribution certificate supply 142, and certificate 106. Electronics 146 provides communication, processing, control, input, output, and power circuitry for portable handheld dispenser 100, and preferably includes a radio frequency transceiver, modem, memory, microprocessor, printer controller, display controller, audio controller. , Keypad controller, external device interface, and power supply. Battery 144 is for Electronics 1
46 as a power source for the portable handheld dispenser 100 and other components that require power. Battery 144 is preferably a nickel hydride battery or a nickel cadmium battery, but any other suitable type of battery or batteries may be used, and another battery 144 may be installed during charging. May be removed from the back of the portable handheld dispenser 100.

Printer 148 is used to print securities 106 distributed by portable handheld dispenser 100. The printer 148 includes a print head 149, an alignment head 150, a drive roller 151, a drive pin 152, and a receiving plate 153. The print head 149 is used to print all or only part of the information and other indicia displayed on the distributed security 106 on the security 106. Print head 149 is preferably a thermal print head that remains in a fixed position and extends across the width of security 106. Alternatively, any other suitable type of printhead 149 may be used, and the printhead 149 may be less than the full width of the security 106 and / or a printhead drive motor (not shown) May travel along the width of the instrument 106 along one or more rails (not shown). Alignment head 150
Aligns the security 106 when the security 106 is sent from the security supply 142,
Any printed information is used to align with any pre-printed indicia on the security 106. The alignment head 150 may be an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, a mechanical sensor, or any other suitable sensor, such as a pre-printed mark, hole, Or any other suitable indicator may be detected.

The drive roller 151 and the drive pin 152 are connected to the print head 1 from the security supply 142.
The security 106 is moved past the distribution slot 104 past 49. Drive roller 151 and drive pin 152 are preferably driven by a low power electric motor (not shown) and may be any suitable mechanism for moving security 106 as shown. The backing plate 153 is used to keep the security 106 in contact with or very close to the print head 149 and the alignment head 150. The backing plate 153 is preferably plastic and extends across the width of the security 106 and the length between the print head 149 and the alignment head 150, although any other suitable material and size may be used.

The continuous paper bill supply 142 is used to supply the bill 106 distributed by the portable handheld dispenser 100. As described above with reference to the description of the negotiable instrument 106 in FIG. 2, the negotiable instrument 106 of the continuous paper securities supply 142 may be any type of negotiable instrument, preferably a traveler's check, money order, or bank Preprinted thermal printable handprint paper that can be recognized as a check. For security purposes, negotiable securities 106
Preferably, a watermark, microprint, or any other suitable anti-counterfeiting mechanism is incorporated. The continuous paper distribution certificate supply 142 preferably converts the distribution certificate 106 into:
Make continuous lengths of connected securities. These connected securities include:
Perforations are placed between the negotiable securities, allowing the negotiable securities to be folded into a compact stack. As shown in FIG. 3, continuous paper distribution securities supply 1
Instead of using 42 to provide the bill 106, a roll bill supply 154 as shown in FIG. 4, or any other suitable bill supply, may be used in the portable handheld dispenser 101. To load either the continuous paper bill supply 142 or the roll paper supply 154, the user preferably loads the battery 1 from the back of the portable handheld dispenser 100.
Remove 44, remove any bill 106 in dispenser 100, insert a new bill supply 142 or 154 into dispenser 100, manually send bill 106 to printer 148, and return battery 144.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 show another embodiment 200 of the portable handheld dispenser 50 (FIG. 1) of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the portable handheld dispenser 200 is similar to a handheld organizer,
It may include functions such as a phone book, word processor, memo pad, reminder, scheduler, calendar, and calculator. Portable handheld dispenser 200 includes an upper body 203, a lower body 205, and a hinge 256.
Hinge 256 connects upper body portion 203 to lower body portion 205 and folds (ie, closes) body portions 203 and 205 adjacent to each other;
Or, allow it to open as shown. Flexible ribbon cable 2
57 is incorporated in the hinge 256, and the circuit in the upper body 203 is connected to the lower body 20.
5 to be connected to the circuit. The display 240 is arranged on the inner surface 255 of the upper main body 203. Display 240 is used to display menu options, prompts, and information to a user of handheld dispenser 200. Display 240 is preferably a backlit liquid crystal display (LCD), but any other suitable display may be used.

The lower body 205 includes an antenna 202, a distribution slot 204, a bill 206, an external power input 216, an external device interface 218, and a keypad 220. Antenna 202, distribution slot 204, bill 206, external power input 216
, And external device interface connector 218 are substantially the same as antenna 102, distribution slot 104, bill 106, external power input 116, and external device interface connector 118, respectively, described above with respect to FIG. The keypad 220 preferably includes all of the letters, numbers and symbols of a complete typewriter style keyboard to provide the user with control of the operation of the portable handheld dispenser 200 used as an organizer or security dispenser. Keypad 220 may be any suitable style of keypad, such as a membrane keypad.

The top of the upper body 203 of the portable handheld dispenser 200 is shown in FIG. As shown, the top of upper body portion 203 holds portable handheld dispenser 2 when body portions 203 and 205 (FIG. 5) are in the closed position.
00 incorporates components that allow it to be used as a telephone. These components include a power button 208, a speaker 210, a power indicator 212, a keypad 219, a microphone 214, and a display 241. Power button 208, speaker 210, power indicator 212, keypad 219,
And microphone 214, respectively, power button 108, speaker 110, power indicator 112, keypad 120,
And the microphone 114. Display 241 is used to display telephone numbers, menu options, prompts, and any other suitable information when portable handheld dispenser 200 is being used as a telephone or security dispenser. The display 241 is
Preferably, it is a backlit liquid crystal display (LCD), but any other suitable display may be used. Although these components are shown as being incorporated at the top of the upper body portion 203, these components may be incorporated at the bottom of the lower body portion 205. In such an implementation, battery 2
44 (shown in FIG. 7) is preferably located on the upper body 203.

FIG. 7 shows a side layout diagram of the portable handheld dispenser 200, showing the upper body 203, the display 240, the lower body 205, the keypad 220, and the bill 206. As also shown, lower body 205 includes electronics 246, continuous paper bond supply 242, bond 206, printer 2
48, and a battery 244. The electronics 246, the continuous paper supply 242, the security 206, the printer 248, and the battery 244 are respectively the electronics 146, the continuous paper supply 142, described above with respect to FIG.
It is substantially the same as the certificate 106, the printer 148, and the battery 144. Instead of using the continuous paper security supply 242 to provide security 206 as shown in FIG. 7, a roll security supply 254 as shown in FIG. 200 may be used. To load either a continuous paper security supply 242 or a roll security supply 254, the user preferably operates the portable handheld dispenser 200.
Remove the battery 244 from the bottom surface of any of the securities 206 in the dispenser 200.
, Insert a new security supply 242 or 254 into the dispenser 200, manually send the security 206 to the printer 248, and return the battery 244.

Although FIGS. 2-8 illustrate portable handheld dispensers 100 and 200 in a manner similar to cell phones and personal organizers, the present invention allows bank customers to request and distribute bills of sale. It can be implemented in any device that does. For example, portable handheld dispensers 100 and 2
00 may be implemented on a palmtop computer, laptop computer, portable pen computer, or any other suitable portable electronic device.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the portable handheld dispenser 100. Although FIG. 9 is shown for a portable handheld dispenser 100, the block diagram of FIG. As shown, the portable handheld dispenser 100 includes an antenna 102, electronics 146, a printer 148,
Display 140, speaker 110, microphone 114, keypad 12
0, external device interface connector 118, power indicator 112, battery 1
44, a power button 108, and an external power input 116. These components have been described above with respect to FIGS. Specifically, electronics 146 includes radio frequency (RF) transceiver 172, modem 173, memory 1
74, microprocessor 175, printer controller 176, display controller 177, audio controller 178, keypad controller 179, external device interface 180, power supply 181, data / address bus 1
82, a power bus 184, and an audio bus 183.

Central control of electronics 146 is performed by microprocessor 175. The microprocessor 175 receives inputs from other components of the electronics 146, processes the inputs,
It then executes software instructions that allow it to send output to other components of electronics 146. Microprocessor 175 may be any suitable microprocessor or microcontroller, and may be any other device capable of receiving inputs, processing those inputs, and producing outputs. . Memory 174 is used to store data and software for microprocessor 175 and other components of electronics 146. The memory 174 is a random access memory (R
AM), read only memory (ROM), programmable read only memory (ROM)
(PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, and / or any other suitable memory, or combination of memories.

The keypad controller 179 monitors an input from the keypad 120,
Buffer these inputs and generate an interrupt to microprocessor 175 when those inputs are received. Audio controller 178 controls an audio output signal sent to speaker 110 and an audio input signal received from microphone 114. The audio output signal and the audio input signal are transmitted to the audio controller 178 via the audio bus 183.
And the RF transceiver 172. Audio output signals and audio input signals may also be sent between audio controller 183 and microprocessor 175 via address / data bus 182. These audio output signals and audio input signals may be telephone conversation signals, DTMF tones, or indicator tones, and / or any other audio signals. Display controller 177 receives input from microprocessor 175 and drives display 140. Printer controller 176 receives input from microprocessor 175 and controls the feeding, alignment and printing of securities 106 (FIGS. 2-4) by printer 148.

The RF transceiver 172, the modem 173, and the external device interface 18
All zeros allow the electronics 146 to communicate with external equipment.
RF transceiver 172 is a combination of a transmitter and a receiver, and preferably allows electronics 146 to communicate with wireless network 42 (FIG. 1). This wireless network 42 (FIG. 1) may be a cellular phone system, a wireless radio network, a satellite communication network, or any other suitable wireless communication network, or may be a combination of networks. Instead of implementing electronics 146 with RF transceiver 172, electronics 146 communicates over a standard telephone line by being connected to the telephone line via a telephone jack (not shown) instead of antenna 102. Electronics 146 with a telephone transceiver (not shown) that enables

The modem 173 is connected to the electronics 146 of the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1).
, And other computers, network access servers, facsimile machines, and any other modem compatible equipment. Modem 173 is preferably a 56 kilobaud modem, but any other suitable modem may be used. Modem 173 communicates with RF transceiver 172 via audio bus 183 and with microprocessor 175 via address / data bus 182.

External device interface 180 allows electronics 146 to communicate with an external printer, computer, and any other suitable equipment via external device interface connector 118. External device interface 180
Is preferably a serial interface, but a parallel interface, an optical interface, or any other suitable interface may be used, or a combination of interfaces may be used.

Finally, power supply 181 provides the functions of power rectification and regulation, power monitoring, watchdog of microprocessor 175, monitoring of power button 108, and activation of power indicator 112. Power supply 181 is power bus 1
Power is provided to each of the electronic circuits of the portable handheld dispenser 100 via 84. Power supply 181 may include battery 144 and / or external power input 116.
Receive power from Whenever power button 108 is depressed, power 18
1 buffers this input push and sets the power state of the portable handheld dispenser 100 to the appropriate state, and turns the power indicator 112 on or off accordingly. When powering down, power supply 181 may request that a power down sequence be performed by microprocessor 175.

A preferred embodiment 300 of the fixed position dispenser 48 is shown in FIG. As shown, the fixed position dispenser 300 includes a display 340, a keypad 320, a power button 308, a power indicator 312, a handset 361,
External device interface connector 318, external power input 316, telephone jack 3
58, a telephone line code 359, a distribution slot 304, and a security 306.
Display 340 displays menu options, prompts, telephone numbers, and / or
Alternatively, any other suitable information is used to indicate to the user of the fixed position dispenser 300. Display 340 is preferably a backlit liquid crystal display, but any suitable display may be used. Keypad 320, power button 308, power indicator 312, distribution slot 30
4, security 306, external power input 316, and external device interface connector 318, respectively, keypad 120, power button 108, power indicator 112, distribution slot 104, security 106, external power input as described above with respect to FIG. 116 and the external device interface connector 118. Handset 361 allows a user to operate fixed position dispenser 300 as a telephone. Handset 361 incorporates a microphone (not shown) and a speaker (not shown), similar to a traditional telephone handset. Telephone jack 358 and telephone line cord 359 are used to connect fixed-position dispenser 300 to a standard telephone wall outlet, and may be any suitable telephone jack or line cord.

A block diagram of the fixed position dispenser 300 is shown in FIG. As shown, fixed position dispenser 300 (FIG. 10) includes electronics 346, telephone jack 358, printer 348, display 340, handset 361.
, Keypad 320, external device interface connector 318, power indicator 312, power button 308, and external power input 316. Phone jack 358, display 340, handset 361, keypad 320, external device interface connector 318, power indicator 312, power button 308
, And external power input 316 are described above with respect to FIG. Printer 348 is substantially the same as printer 148 described above with respect to FIGS. Electronics 346 includes telephone transceiver 385, modem 373
, A memory 374, a microprocessor 375, a printer controller 376, a display controller 377, an audio controller 378, a keypad controller 379, an external device interface 380, and a power supply 381.
Modem 373, memory 374, microprocessor 375, printer controller 376, display controller 377, keypad controller 379,
And the external device interface 380 are respectively the modem 173, the memory 174, the microprocessor 175, the printer controller 176, the display controller 177, and the keypad controller 17 described above with reference to FIG.
9 and the external device interface 180. Telephone transceiver 385 allows fixed position dispenser 300 (FIG. 10) to operate as a telephone by converting audio signals transmitted to and received from audio controller 378 via audio bus 383 to signals compatible with the telephone system. To Telephone transceiver 385 connects to the telephone system via modem 373 and telephone jack 358. The audio controller 378 of the fixed position dispenser 300 (FIG. 10) is the audio controller 1 described above with respect to FIG. 9 for the portable handheld dispenser 100 (FIGS. 2-4).
78 is substantially the same. However, in the fixed position dispenser 300 (FIG. 10), the audio controller 378 has a separate speaker 1 as shown in FIG.
Instead of 10 and microphone 114, it is connected to handset 361 (incorporating speakers and microphone). Power supply 381 is also substantially the same as power supply 181 described above with respect to FIG. 9 for portable handheld dispenser 100 (FIGS. 2-4). However, the fixed position dispenser 30
At 0 (FIG. 10), power supply 381 receives power only from external power input 316 and does not receive power from battery 144 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 shows one embodiment 400 of the receive-only dispenser 46 (FIG. 1). As shown, receive-only dispenser 400 includes receive-only dispenser 40.
0 includes a body 403 that houses all components. The body 403 is preferably made of plastic, but aluminum or any other suitable material may be used. On the upper surface 462 of the main body 403, there are a power button 408, a power indicator 412, a security receipt indicator 465, a display 440, and a keypad 420. Power button 408 and power indicator 412 are substantially the same as power button 108 and power indicator 112, respectively, described above with respect to FIG. The security receipt indicator 465 is used to indicate to the recipient of the security that one or more securities are available for distribution by the receive-only dispenser 400. Display 440 is used to display menu options, prompts, and information to a user of receive-only dispenser 400. Display 440 is preferably a backlit liquid crystal display, but any other suitable display may be used. Keypad 420 is used to control the operation of receive-only dispenser 400 and includes numeric keys 421-429 and 431, star key 430, pound key 432, print key 466, OK key 467, and clear key 468. Numeric key 4
21 to 429 and 431, the star key 430, and the pound key 432, respectively, are the numeric keys 121 to 129 and 131 described above with respect to FIG.
, Star key 130, and pound key 132. Print key 466 is used to notify dispenser 400 that the user wants to print the received security. Normally, the user presses this button in response to the receipt indicator 465 illuminating. OK button 467
Used to indicate that the user wishes to accept the current entry, menu option, or prompt response displayed on display 440. Clear button 468 is used to clear all or a portion of the entry displayed on display 440.

The distribution slot 4 is provided on the left side 463 of the main body 403 of the reception-only dispenser 400.
04 and securities 406. Distribution slot 404 and security 406 are substantially the same as distribution slot 104 and security 106, respectively, described above with respect to FIG. On the back 464 of the main body 403 of the reception-only dispenser 400,
There is a telephone jack 458, a telephone line cord 459, an external power input 416, and an external device interface connector 418. Telephone jack 458 and telephone line cord 459 are used to connect receive-only dispenser 400 to a standard telephone wall outlet, and may be any suitable telephone jack and line cord. External power input 416 connects receive-only dispenser 400 to 110 VA
Connect to an external power supply, such as a C-wall outlet, DC transformer, or any other suitable power source. External device interface connector 418 is similar to connector 118 described above with respect to FIG. 2 for connecting receive-only dispenser 400 to an external device, such as a printer, computer, or any other suitable external device. Used for

A block diagram of the receive-only dispenser 400 is shown in FIG. As shown, the receive only dispenser includes electronics 446, telephone jack 458
, An external power input 416, a power button 408, a power indicator 412, an external device interface connector 418, a keypad 420, a display 440, and a printer 448. A telephone jack 458, an external power input 416, a power button 408, a power indicator 412, an external device interface connector 418,
The keypad 420 and the display 440 are described above with respect to FIG. Printer 448 is substantially the same as printer 148 described above with respect to FIGS. Electronics 446 includes a modem 473, memory 474, microprocessor 475, printer controller 476, display controller 477, keypad controller 479, external device interface 480, and power supply 481. The modem 473 is connected to the electronics 4
46 is used to allow communication via telephone jack 458 with computers, network access servers, and any other suitable equipment. A memory 474, a microprocessor 475, a printer controller 476,
The display controller 477, keypad controller 479, and external device interface 480 are respectively the memory 174, microprocessor 175, printer controller 176, display controller 177, keypad controller 479, and external device interface described above with respect to FIG. 180 is substantially the same. Power supply 481 is a power rectifier and regulator,
It provides power monitoring, microprocessor 175 watchdog, power button 408 monitoring, and power indicator 412 drive functions. The power supply 481 is connected via the power bus 484 to the reception-only dispenser 400 (FIG. 1).
Power is provided to each of the electronic circuits of 2). Power supply 481 receives power from external power input 416. Whenever power button 408 is depressed, power 481
Buffer this input push and receive only dispenser 400 (
The power state in FIG. 12) is set to an appropriate state, and the power indicator 412 is turned on or off accordingly. When powering down, power supply 481 may request that a power down sequence be performed by microprocessor 475.

The bank computer process 500 running on the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1) is shown in FIG. As shown, once the bank computer process 500 begins at step 502, the process 500 proceeds to step 504, where
Waits for and receives a security request telephone call from customer telephone 44, customer computer 45, fixed location dispenser 48, or portable handheld dispenser 50 (FIG. 1). After receiving the call, the process 500 determines at test 506 whether the call is an interactive call. In an interactive call, a bank customer generates a security request by responding to menu options and prompts generated by the bank's computer 32 (FIG. 1). In a non-interactive call, the bank customer generates a security request before connecting to the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1) and then connects to the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1) to transmit the generated request. Determining whether a call is an interactive call may be based in part on the type of call received. The customer's telephone 44 (FIG. 1), or a fixed position dispenser 48 or a portable handheld dispenser 50 (FIG. 1)
), Voice answering call and DTM initiated while operating as a phone
An F-tone answer call is an interactive call.

Process 500 determines whether the call is a voice answer call or a DTMF tone call by detecting the absence of a modem signal on the telephone line during the first few seconds after receiving the call. I can do it. Calls from the customer's computer 45 (FIG. 1) using, for example, a dumb terminal or an Internet browser are also interactive calls. In these cases, the modem signal may be present on the telephone line for the first few seconds after receiving each call, but the process 500 may include a special non-interactive mode indicator data packet during the first few seconds of each telephone call. By not receiving additional signals, such as, these calls may be determined to be interactive calls. Other calls from the customer's computer 45, fixed location dispenser 48, or portable handheld dispenser 50 (FIG. 1) may be interactive calls, depending on the particular software (or hardware) implemented in the calling device. Or a non-interactive call. In these cases, process 500 may also determine whether these calls are interactive or non-interactive based on whether they receive additional signals, such as special non-interactive mode indicator data packets, during the first few seconds of each telephone call. It can be determined that there is.

If the test 506 determines that the call is not an interactive call, the process 500 then receives, at step 508, the security request digitally. Once this request is received, process 500 determines at test 510 whether to authorize the requested instrument and notifies the customer of this decision. Whether permission is granted depends on the amount of the security requested, the available balance or deposit in the customer's account, whether the personal identification number (PIN) entered by the bank customer is genuine, and It may be based on factors such as the number or amount of requests made. If the test 510 determines that the request is not granted, the process 500 then ends the call at step 514 and loops back to step 504 to wait for another telephone call. However, if the test 510 determines that the request is granted, then the process 500, at step 512, transmits the distribution information to the designated security dispenser. This securities dispenser is a computer 3
2 (FIG. 1), any receive-only dispenser 46, fixed-position dispenser 48, or portable handheld dispenser 50 (FIG. 1).
It may be.

If the test 506 determines that the call is an interactive call, the process 500 then provides an interactive menu or prompt to the bank customer at step 516. In response to this menu or prompt, the customer enters a response and, at step 518, the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1)
Receives the response. As each response is received at step 518, process 5
00 then tests 520 to determine if the customer has responded to menus and prompts. If the customer has not responded to the menu or prompt, then the process 500 loops back to step 516 to provide the customer with a further menu or prompt. Otherwise, process 500 proceeds to test 524 to determine whether the customer has requested a security. Process 5
If test 00 determines at 524 that the security has not been requested, then process 50
0 ends the telephone call at step 514, and loops back to step 504 to wait for another telephone call and receive the telephone call.

However, if the process 500 determines in test 524 that the security has been requested, then the process 500 branches to test 510 to determine whether to authorize the requested security, and this determination Notify the customer. If the requested security is authorized, the process 500 then transmits the distribution information to the designated security dispenser at step 512. The designated security dispenser is preferably indicated in the security request issued by the bank customer, but the default security dispenser designation may be used. Once the distribution information has been transmitted at step 512, or if test 510 determines that the requested instrument is not authorized, then process 50
0 ends the telephone call at step 514 and loops back to step 504 to wait for another call.

Before transmitting the dispensing information to the fixed position dispenser 48 or the portable handheld dispenser 50 (FIG. 1) being used as a telephone or in the interactive voice mode, at step 512, the bank customer is contacted with the “Receive” key 138 ( FIG.
) Or 338 (FIG. 10) by pressing dispenser 48 or 50 (FIG. 1).
) May have to be prompted to activate the modem. Also, when transmitting distribution information to a designated securities dispenser, the bank computer may not be able to transmit the information without first establishing communication with the designated securities dispenser. For example, if a customer requests that securities be distributed from a different security dispenser than the one used to issue the security request, or the customer issues a security request from the customer's telephone or the customer's computer In that case, the bank's computer must establish communication with the designated securities dispenser before transmitting the distribution information.

The fixed position dispenser 48 or the portable handheld dispenser 50 (
The process 550 of the interactive voice mode of FIG. 1) is shown in FIG.
The interactive voice mode process 550 may be initiated by a bank customer selecting an interactive voice mode menu option from a main menu option on the dispenser 48 or 50. As shown, once the interactive voice mode process begins at step 552, the bank customer calls, at step 554, the bank's computer 32 (FIG. 1). This call may be automatically placed upon selecting to initiate the interactive voice mode securities request option from the main menu on the dispenser 48 or 50 (FIG. 1), using the dispenser 48 or 50 (FIG. 1) as a telephone. Sometimes it may be called manually. Once the call is received by the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1), the computer generates a series of menu options and prompts, and the customer listens to and responds to these menu options and prompts at step 556. These options and prompts include recorded audio,
It can be provided using synthetic speech, or the voice of a live banker. For example, one menu may give a customer the option to listen to the customer's account balance or request a currency exchange. As another example, the prompt may prompt the customer to select the account number of the customer, the PIN of the customer, the number of the payee selected from the payee menu, the amount displayed on the security, and the currency type menu. You may be asked to enter the currency type, payment date, etc.

For example, in order to respond to these options and prompts, the banking customer must press the number keys 121-1 on the portable handheld dispenser 100 (FIG. 2).
Pressing either 29 and 131, the star key 130, or the pound key 132 (FIG. 2) may generate the corresponding DTMF tone. Each response requires the indicated number of digits or only the required digits (omitting leading zeros) followed by the pound key 13
2 (FIG. 2) can be exited. When entering a character, the customer can quickly and continuously enter a number corresponding to that character on the numeric keys 121-129 (FIG. 2) a predetermined number of times. For example, to enter “c”, the customer must enter the 2 key 12
2 can be pressed four times, to enter "b", the customer can press the 2 key 122 three times, and to enter "a", the customer can press the 2 key 122 twice. And "
To enter "2", the customer may press the 2 key 122 once. Instead of responding with DTMF tones, the customer may ask the bank clerk or bank computer 32 (
A voice response may be issued to a suitable voice recognition system incorporated in FIG. 1).

While the bank customer is interacting with the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1), the process 55
0 is a test 558 that monitors the receive and end keys on the dispenser 48 or 50 (FIG. 1). If neither the receive key nor the end key has been pressed, the process 550 loops back to step 556 to allow the bank customer to listen to and respond to additional menu options and prompts. If the end key is pressed, the process 550 ends at step 560. When the customer presses the receive key, perhaps in response to instructions from the bank's computer 32 (FIG. 1),
Dispenser 48 or 50 (FIG. 1) activates its dispenser modem at step 562, receives distribution information from bank computer 32 (FIG. 1) at step 564, and ends the call at step 566. After the dispensing information has been received and the call has been terminated, the dispenser 48 or 50 (FIG. 1) determines in step 568 and test 570 that the customer has requested or wished to print the requested security at a later time. Prompt and judge it. If it is determined that the customer wants to print now, then at step 574, the requested security is printed and distributed. Otherwise, at step 572, distribution information for the requested security is stored for later printing. Step 574
After the requested securities have been distributed, or at step 572, the distribution information has been saved for later printing, the process 550 ends at step 560.

FIG. 16 illustrates an interactive data mode process 600 for the fixed position dispenser 48 or the portable handheld dispenser 50 (FIG. 1). The interactive data mode process 600 may be initiated by a bank customer selecting an interactive data mode menu option from a main menu option on the dispenser 48 or 50 (FIG. 1). Once process 6
When 00 begins at step 602, process 600 activates the modem within dispenser 48 or 50 (FIG. 1) and calls bank computer 32 (FIG. 1) at step 604. After a call to the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1) has been established, at step 606, data is received from the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1). This data may be menu information, prompt information, request notification information, distribution information, and / or any other suitable information. Process 600 then determines, at test 608, whether this information is for a menu or prompt. If the data is determined to be for a menu or prompt, then, at step 610, the menu or prompt is displayed, and at step 612, a response is received from the customer and the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1). Is transmitted to Once this response has been transmitted to the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1), the process 600 returns to step 606 to receive further data from the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1).

If test 608 determines that the data is not for a menu or prompt, then process 600 determines at test 614 whether the bank customer has requested a security. If the customer has not requested the security at test 614, the call is terminated at step 616 and the process 600 ends at step 618. If the customer has requested the security, then the process 600 determines, at test 620, whether the request was granted. If the request is not granted, step 622
At 616, the call is terminated at step 616, and the process 600 ends at step 618. Otherwise, if the test 620 determines that the request is allowed, then the process 600 asks at step 624 if the customer has requested to print the requested security now or later. If the customer chooses to print the security now, at step 628, the security is printed and distributed. Otherwise, if the customer chooses to print the security later, at step 626, the distribution information for the security is saved. Once the security is printed in step 628, or
Once the distribution information has been saved at step 626, the process 600 proceeds to step 618.
Ends.

The fixed position dispenser 48 or the portable handheld dispenser 50 (
The non-interactive mode process 650 of FIG. 1) is shown in FIG. The non-interactive mode process 650 includes the dispenser 48 or 50 (FIG. 1).
It can be activated by selecting the non-interactive mode process menu option or the fast cash menu option from the main menu above. Once process 650 begins at step 652, the bank customer is provided with a menu and prompts, and the customer enters the requested information at step 654 to generate a security request. Once the security request has been generated, the process 650 activates the modem in the dispenser 48 or 50 (FIG. 1) at step 656 and calls the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1). Bank computer 3
After communication has been established between 2 and dispenser 48 or 50 (FIG. 1), at step 658, the security request is transmitted to bank computer 32 (FIG. 1) and the response to the security request is transmitted to dispenser 48 or 50. 50 (FIG. 1). The response may include a denial or permission notification and / or distribution information. If a response is received, the call is terminated at step 660.

Once the call is terminated, at test 662, process 650 determines from the response whether the security request was granted. If test 662 determines that the request is not granted, then process 650 notifies the bank customer of the rejection at step 664, and process 650 ends at step 672. Otherwise, if test 662 determines that the request was granted, then process 650 proceeds to test 6
At 66, it is determined whether the customer has requested to print the requested security now or later. If it is determined that the bank customer wishes to print the requested security at a later time, at step 668, the distribution information for the security is saved for later printing. Otherwise, if it is determined that the banking customer wants to print the requested security now, at step 670, the requested security is printed and distributed. Once the distribution information has been saved at step 668, or once the security has been printed at step 670, the process 650 ends at step 672.

The receive and dispense process 700 performed in the receive only dispenser 46, fixed position dispenser 48, or portable handheld dispenser 50 (FIG. 1) is shown in FIG. As shown, once the process 700 begins at step 702, the process 700 waits at step 704 for a call to be received at the dispenser 46, 48 or 50 (FIG. 1), or Wait for a print button to be pressed on 50 (FIG. 1) or a menu option to be selected. Once the call has been received,
Alternatively, when a print button or menu option is selected, the process 70
0 determines in test 706 whether a call or print request has been received. If it is determined that the call has been received, then process 700 activates the modem in dispenser 46, 48 or 50 (FIG. 1) at step 708 and responds to the call. Once answering the call, the process 700 includes:
At step 710, data is received from the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1), and the call is terminated at step 712. After ending the call, process 700 includes:
Either light the security receipt indicator, or display a security receipt message on dispenser 46, 48 or 50 (FIG. 1) and loop back to step 704 to wait for another call to be received, or Wait for a print request.

However, if test 706 determines that the call has not been received, then process 700 proceeds to step 716 with dispenser 46, 48 or 50 (
The user of FIG. 1) is prompted for security identification information and a password and receives it. This user may be a bank customer or a securities beneficiary. The security identification information is used to identify a desired one of a number of securities for which distribution information may be stored at a particular dispenser 46, 48 or 50 (FIG. 1). This security identification information is provided from the bank computer 32 (FIG. 1) to the dispenser 46, 48 or 50.
It may include any of the distribution information transmitted to FIG. 1 and preferably includes an account number and a security number. Once the security identification and password have been entered, the process 700 determines at test 718 whether the password is valid. This means that the entered password is stored in the dispenser 46, 48 or 50 (FIG. 1).
) May be achieved by comparing with a password or PIN contained in the corresponding distribution information stored in the corresponding distribution information. If the password is determined to be valid, step 7
At 20, the requested securities are printed and distributed to the user. Once the requested instrument has been distributed in step 720, or if the entered password is determined to be invalid in test 718, process 700 then proceeds to step 704.
Loop back to wait for another call or print request.

Thus, a system and method for requesting and distributing negotiable bills, wherein a banking customer can request and receive a negotiable bill using a portable handheld dispenser, and the banking client can Systems and methods are provided that can require a bill of exchange to be printed and distributed from another device. It is understood that the above description is only illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the appended claims. You.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary negotiable bill request and distribution system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a portable handheld dispenser according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a portable handheld dispenser having a continuous paper bill supply according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of a portable handheld dispenser having a roll bill supply according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an organizer style portable handheld dispenser (top open) according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an organizer style portable handheld dispenser (top closed) according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional front view of one embodiment of an organizer-style portable handheld dispenser with a continuous paper bill supply (top open) in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional front view of another embodiment of an organizer-style portable handheld dispenser with rolled securities supply (top open) in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an exemplary portable handheld dispenser according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fixed position dispenser according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an exemplary fixed position dispenser according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a reception-only dispenser according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an exemplary receive-only dispenser according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating the processing of a securities request on a bank computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating requesting and distributing securities using the interactive voice mode according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating the request and distribution of securities using the interactive data mode according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram illustrating requesting and distributing securities using a non-interactive mode according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flow diagram illustrating receiving a security authorization, printing and distributing a security using a receive-only dispenser according to the present invention.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 506 G07D 9/00 431Z G07D 9/00 431 H04M 1/00 R H04M 1/00 11/00 302 11/00 302 G07D 9/00 476 (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW) , SD, SZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IS , JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZW (72) Inventor Carlander, Glen United States of America New York 10514, Chappaca, Cross Ridge Road 46 F Term (Reference) 3E040 AA05 BA18 CA14 CB01 DA03 EA01 FH01 FK04 5B049 AA01 BB47 CC16 FF02 GG02 GG06 5B055 BB12 BB19 CB11 CC00 EE12 EE13 5K027 AA11 GG03 HH26 5K101 KK17 Q17Q

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A portable handheld dispenser that allows a user to request and distribute bills, a wireless receiver receiving distribution information about a particular bill from a granting computer, and the wireless receiver. A microprocessor coupled to the receiver, receiving the distribution information from the wireless receiver, and generating print information based on the distribution information; a microprocessor coupled to the microprocessor, receiving the print information from the microprocessor; and A printer that prints the particular negotiable instrument upon receiving the print information from the microprocessor; a microprocessor, the wireless receiver, and a battery that provides power to the printer; a wireless receiver, the microprocessor; Housing the printer and the battery A dispenser body, the dispenser body being sized and weighted to allow the portable handheld dispenser to be carried with one hand of the user; and a dispenser body coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the user is in telephone mode. An input mechanism that allows the user to issue commands, wherein the microprocessor operates the portable handheld dispenser as a telephone and the user makes a voice call when the telephone mode command is received at the microprocessor. A portable handheld dispenser that makes it possible.