On-line/off-line automated banking system

Abstract

An automated banking system, which comprises at least one remote transaction and cash dispensing unit interconnected with a central unit via a communication network is disclosed. Each remote unit is operable following a single customer card insertion, in either a first mode or a second mode, to process one or more transactions, including cash withdrawal, fund transfer and payment and deposit transactions. The central unit determines the mode of operation of each remote unit. In the first mode, the central unit communicates data to a remote unit following a request from the remote unit. The central unit may transmit information for updating the customer's card. The central unit communicates actual account balances which the remote unit reports to the customer. From other communicated data, which includes account descriptions, the remote unit determines which transactions a customer may perform. The remote unit then processes customer-selected transactions in accordance with additional communicated data, which includes working balances, an extended credit balance and a maximum cash limit. In the second mode, the remote unit does not communicate with the central unit, but itself both determines which transactions a customer may perform and processes customer-selected transactions in accordance with information included on the customer's card. In the first mode, the remote unit communicates customer transaction data to the central unit immediately after the customer completes his transactions. The remote unit, in the second mode, records customer transaction data which it communicates to the central unit when the remote unit becomes operable in the first mode. Line security and customer verification schemes are provided to protect the integrity of the system. Additional features are disclosed.

Claims

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In an automated banking system having a central processing unit coupled to a remote unit via a communication link, the improvement comprising:

a card with customer-identifying information encoded thereon, said customer-identifying information being unique to said customer,

a card reader associated with said remote unit and responsive to said customer-identifying information encoded on said card for reading said customer-identifying information,

request message assembly means associated with said remote unit responsive to said customer-identifying information read from said card for preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying information to said central processing unit via said communication link,

reply message assembly means associated with said central processing unit and responsive to said request message received from said remote unit for preparing and transmitting to said remote unit a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including (a) account description information designating multiple different accounts of said customer and (b) account balance information for said multiple different accounts of said customer,

transaction selection means associated with said remote unit responsive to said account description information in said reply message for permitting said customer to select a series of different transactions involving said multiple different accounts, including cash withdrawal and/or fund transfer and/or deposits and/or payments,

amount selection means associated with said remote unit for customer-entry of a series of different transaction amounts corresponding, respectively, to transactions of said series of different transactions,

transaction processing means associated with said remote unit responsive to customer actuation of said transaction selection means and said amount selection means for processing independently of said central processing unit said different customer-selected transactions for said different customer-entered amounts in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message so as to determine the allowability of said series of different transactions,

whereby a customer upon a single insertion of his card into said card reader may perform a series of different transactions involving different accounts for different amounts based upon transmission of a single request message to said central processing unit containing said customer-identifying information and receipt of a single reply message from said central processing unit containing said account data, thereby economizing utilization of said communication link and said central processing unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said transaction selection means includes an actual account balance inquiry transaction selector for customer actuation, said actual account balance inquiry transaction selector being actuable by said customer prior to the availability for selection of other transactions, said system further comprising:

a printer associated with said remote unit responsive to said account data in said reply message and under control of said actual account balance inquiry transaction selector for printing said actual account balances prior to said other customer-selected transactions,

whereby a customer may obtain his actual account balances in secrecy and, thus, learn what actual balances are contained in his various accounts before performing other transactions, thereby facilitating transactions in amounts permitted by said account balance information transmitted from said central processing unit.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said reply message assembly means also supplies a working balance associated with each one of said customer's accounts for inclusion in said reply message, each said working balance not exceeding the actual account balance for said associated one of said customer's accounts, and wherein said transaction processing means processes said customer-selected transactions in accordance with said working balances for said customer's accounts, said transaction processing means permitting each of said customer-selected transactions in an amount which does not exceed the working balance of said customer's account from which said customer indicates said transaction amount is to be deducted,

whereby system operation compensates for presumed customer debits in transit and customer-selected transactions based on deposits which have been posted by a bank but which have not yet cleared.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a cash dispenser associated with said remote unit for dispensing cash in response to customer selection of cash withdrawals and customer entry of amounts and under control of said transaction processing means, wherein said reply message assembly means also supplies an extended credit balance for inclusion in said reply message and wherein said transaction processing means processes said customer-selected cash withdrawals in accordance with said working balances for said customer's accounts and said extended credit balance, said transaction processing means applying the balance of said extended credit balance to each of said customer-selected cash withdrawals in which said customer-entered amount exceeds the working balance of said customer's account from which said customer indicates said cash withdrawal is to be deducted, said extended credit balance being decremented by the amount which said cash withdrawal exceeds said working balance of said customer's account from which said customer indicates said cash withdrawal is to be deducted, said transaction processing means permitting each said customer-selected cash withdrawal in an amount which does not exceed the sum of the working balance of said customer's account from which said customer indicates said cash withdrawal is to be deducted and the balance of said extended credit balance,

whereby the system dispenses cash to said customer in an amount which exceeds the working balance of one of said customer's accounts but which does not exceed the sum of said working balance plus said extended credit balance, thereby facilitating split deposit transactions in which said customer desires to withdraw cash in an amount which exceeds said one or more working balances.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said reply message assembly means also supplies a predetermined maximum cash limit for inclusion in said reply message and wherein said transaction processing means limits the sum of all customer-selected cash withdrawals to said maximum cash limit.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cash dispenser associated with said remote unit, wherein said reply message assembly means also supplies a predetermined maximum cash limit for inclusion to said reply message and wherein said transaction processing means limits the sum of all customer-selected cash withdrawals to said maximum cash limit.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

card capture means in said remote unit, including

memory means,

analyzing means, and

card retaining means,

said analyzing means being responsive to said customer-identifying information read from said card and said memory means for actuating said card retaining means if said memory means indicates said card is designated for capture, and wherein said request message assembly means is under control of said card capture means, said request message assembly means preparing said request message only in the event said card is not retained, whereby said remote unit does not utilize communication and central processing unit time when said card has been designated for capture.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said reply message assembly means also supplies card updating data for inclusion in said reply message, said system further comprising a card updater associated with said remote unit responsive to said reply message for updating said information on said card in accordance with said card updating data.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising card capture means associated with said remote unit and responsive to said reply message for retaining said card when said card updating data designated said card for capture.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising clock means associated with said remote unit for providing changing time and date information, and wherein said request message assembly means is also responsive to said time and date information for including said time and date information in said request message, and wherein said reply message assembly means is responsive to said time and date information in said request message for generating a first security code for inclusion in said reply message, and wherein said transaction processing means is responsive to said time and date information for generating a second security code, said system further comprising comparison means associated with said remote unit for comparing said first security code with said second security code, said comparison means denying said transactions in the event said first and second security codes do not compare favorably, whereby changing time and date information is used in calculating security codes which are in turn used to maintain system integrity in the event said communication link is accessed for the purpose of supplying a simulated reply message to said remote unit for the purpose of conducting fraudulent transactions.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

completion message assembly means associated with said remote unit under control of said transaction processing means for preparing and transmitting a completion message of said customer-selected transactions to said central processing unit via said communication link after said series of different transactions, and

account updating means associated with said central processing unit and responsive to said completion message for updating customer account data stored at said central processing unit in accordance with said completion message received from said remote unit,

whereby said central processing unit assumes responsibility for updating customer account data stored at said central processing unit based on transactions processed by said remote unit.

12. the system of claim 1 further comprising multiple debit and credit account analyzing means and customer debit and credit account designation means associated with said remote unit, wherein said multiple debit and credit account analyzing means is responsive to said account description information and under control of said transaction selection means for determining if a plurality of said multiple different accounts can serve as the account from which said customer-selected transaction indicates said customer-entered amount is to be deducted and/or to which said customer-selected transaction indicates said customer-entered amount is to be added, said debit and credit analyzing means also being responsive to entry of at least one predetermined designation by said customer from said customer debit and credit account designation means for determining which of said plurality of said multiple different accounts should serve as said debit and/or credit accounts.

13. In an automated banking system having a central processing unit coupled to a remote unit via a communication link, the improvement comprising:

a card with customer-identifying information encoded thereon, said customer-identifying information being unique to said customer,

a card reader associated with said remote unit and responsive to said customer-identifying information encoded on said card for reading said customer-identifying information,

request message assembly means associated with said remote unit responsive to said customer-identifying information read from said card for preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying information to said central processing unit via said communication link,

reply message assembly means associated with said central processing unit and responsive to said request message received from said remote unit for preparing and transmitting to said remote unit a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including (a) account description information designating multiple different accounts of said customer and (b) account balance information for said multiple different accounts of said customer,

transaction selection means associated with said remote unit responsive to said account description information in said reply message for permitting said customer to select at least one of a plurality of different transactions involving said multiple different accounts, including cash withdrawal and/or fund transfer and/or deposits and/or payments,

amount selection means associated with said remote unit for customer-entry of at least one transaction amount corresponding to said at least one transaction,

transaction processing means associated with said remote unit responsive to customer actuation of said transaction selection means and said amount selection means for processing independently of said central processing unit said at least one customer-selected transaction for said at least one customer-entered amount in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message so as to determine the allowability of said at least one transaction,

whereby a customer upon a single insertion of his card into said card reader may perform at least one of a plurality of different transactions involving different accounts for at least one selective amount based upon transmission of a single request message to said central processing unit containing said customer-identifying information and receipt of a single reply message from said central processing unit containing said account data, thereby economizing utilization of said communication link and said central processing unit.

14. In an automated banking system having a central processing unit coupled to a remote unit via a communication link, the improvement comprising:

a card with customer-identifying information encoded thereon, said customer-identifying information being unique to said customer,

a card reader associated with said remote unit and responsive to said customer-identifying information encoded on said card for reading said customer-identifying information,

request message assembly means associated with said remote unit responsive to said customer-identifying information read from said card for preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying information to said central processing unit via said communication link,

reply message assembly means associated with said central processing unit and responsive to said request message received from said remote unit for preparing and transmitting to said remote unit a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including account balance information for said customer,

amount selection means associated with said remote unit for customer-entry of a series of different transaction amounts corresponding, respectively, to transactions of a series of different transactions,

transaction processing means associated with said remote unit responsive to customer actuation of said amount selection means for processing independently of said central processing unit said series of different transactions for said different customer-entered amounts in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message so as to determine the allowability of said series of different transactions.

whereby a customer upon a single insertion of his card into said card reader may perform a series of different transactions for different amounts based upon transmission of a single request message to said central processing unit containing said customer-identifying information and receipt of a single reply message from said central processing unit containing said account data, thereby economizing utilization of said communication link and said central processing unit.

15. In an automated banking system having a central processing unit coupled to a remote unit via a communication link, the improvement comprising:

a card with customer-identifying information encoded thereon, said customer-identifying information being unique to said customer,

a card reader associated with said remote unit and responsive to said customer-identifying information encoded on said card for reading said customer-identifying information,

request message assembly means associated with said remote unit responsive to said customer-identifying information read from said card for preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying information to said central processing unit via said communication link,

reply message assembly means associated with said central processing unit and responsive to said request message received from said remote unit for preparing and transmitting to said remote unit a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including account balance information for said customer,

amount selection means associated with said remote unit for customer-entry of a transaction amount,

transaction processing means associated with said remote unit responsive to customer actuation of said amount selection means for processing independently of said central processing unit said transaction for said customer-entered amount in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message so as to determine the allowablity of said transaction,

whereby a customer upon a single insertion of his card into said card reader may perform a transaction for a selective amount based upon transmission of a single request message to said central processing unit containing said customer-identifying information and receipt of a single reply message from said central processing unit containing said account data, thereby economizing utilization of said communication link and said central processing unit.

16. An automated banking system available to a plurality of customers for processing banking transactions comprising:

a card with customer-identifying information, credit limit information and permissible transaction information encoded thereon,

at least one remote unit alternatively operable in on-line and off-line modes,

a card reader associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive to said information encoded on said card for reading said information,

a central processing unit,

a communication link for interconnecting said at least one remote unit and said central processing unit,

request message assembly means associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, to said customer-identifying information read from said card for preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying information to said central processing unit via said communication link,

reply message assembly means associated with said central processing unit and responsive to said request message received from said at least one remote unit for preparing and transmitting to said at least one remote unit a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including (a) account description information designating multiple different accounts of said customer and (b) account balance information for said multiple different accounts of said customer,

transaction selection means associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, to said account description information in said reply message from said central processing unit and responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, to said permissible transaction information read from said card, respectively, for permitting said customer to select a series of different transactions, including cash withdrawal and/or fund transfer and/or deposits and/or payments,

amount selection means associated with said at least one remote unit for customer-entry of a series of different transaction amounts corresponding, respectively, to transactions of said series of different transactions,

transaction processing means associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive to customer actuation of said transaction selection means and said mount selection means, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line and off-line modes, for processing independently of said central processing unit said different customer-selected transactions for said different customer-selected amounts in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode and in accordance with said credit information read from said card when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, respectively, so as to determine the allowabiity of said series of different transactions.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising command means associated with said central processing unit for alternatively generating and transmitting on-line and off-line command signals to said at least one remote unit via said communication link and wherein said at least one remote unit is responsive to said on-line command signal for operating in said on-line mode and responsive to said off-line command signal for operating in said off-line mode, whereby said central processing unit determines the mode of operation of said at least remote unit.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising timing means associated with said at least one remote unit responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, to the nonreceipt of a reply message following transmission of a request message for causing said at least one remote unit to switch its mode of operation to said off-line mode, whereby use of the system initiated with a remote unit in the on-line mode is completed in the off-line mode when the central processing unit fails to timely transmit a reply message in response to a request message.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

card capture means in said at least one remote unit, including

memory means,

analyzing means, and

card retaining means,

said analyzing means being responsive to said customer-identifying information read from said card and said memory means for actuating said card retaining means if said memory means indicates said card is designated for capture, said analyzing means being operative when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line and off-line modes, and wherein said request message assembly means is under control of said card capture means when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode to prepare said request message only in the event said card is not retained, whereby said at least one remote unit does not utilize communication and central processing unit time when said card has been designated for capture and said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein said reply message assembly means also supplies card updating data for inclusion in said reply message, said system further comprising a card updater associated with said at least one remote unit responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, to said reply message for updating at least one of said credit limit information and permissible transaction information on said card in accordance with said card updating data.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising card capture means associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, to said reply message for retaining said card when said card updating data designates said card for capture.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein said reply message assembly means is responsive to said request message received from said at least one remote unit when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode for generating a first security code for inclusion in said reply message, and wherein said transaction processing means is responsive to said reply message for generating a second security code, said system further comprising comparison means associated with said at least one remote unit for comparing said first security code with said second security code when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, said comparison means causing said at least one remote unit to operate in said off-line mode in the event said first and second security codes do not compare favorably, whereby a failure in line security causes the system to switch to the off-line mode and process transactions in accordance with said credit limit and permissible transaction information on said card.

23. The system of claim 16 further comprising clock means associated with said at least one remote unit for providing changing time and date information and wherein said request message assembly means is also responsive to said time and date information for including said time and date information in said request message when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, and wherein said reply message assembly means is responsive to said time and date information in said request message for generating a first security code for inclusion in said reply message, and wherein said transaction processing means is responsive to said time and date information for generating a second security code, said system further comprising comparison means associated with said at least one remote unit for comparing said first security code with said second security code when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, said comparison means causing said at least one remote unit to operate in said off-line mode in the event said first and second security codes do not compare favorably, whereby a failure in line security causes the system to switch to the off-line mode and process the transactions in accordance with said credit limit and permissible transaction information on said card.

24. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

completion message assembly means associated with said at least one remote unit and under control of said transaction processing means for preparing and transmitting a completion message of said customer-selected transactions to said central processing unit via said communication link after said series of different transactions when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, and

account updating means associated with said central processing unit and responsive to said completion message for updating customer account data stored at said central processing unit in accordance with said completion message received from said at least one remote unit,

whereby said central processing unit assumes responsibility for updating customer account data stored at said central processing unit based on transactions processed by said at least one remote unit.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising record storage means associated with said at least one remote unit and under control of said transaction processing means for storing a record of said customer-selected transactions when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, and wherein said completion message assembly means is responsive to said at least one remote unit being returned to said on-line mode for preparing and transmitting transaction record stored in said record storage means at said at least one remote unit to said central processing unit for updating said customer account data.

26. The system of claim 16 further comprising multiple debit and credit account analyzing means and customer debit and credit account designation means associated with said at least one remote unit, wherein said multiple debit and credit account analyzing means is responsive to said account description information and under control of said transaction selection means, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, for determining if a plurality of said multiple different accounts can serve as the account from which said customer-selected transaction indicates said customer-entered amount is to be deducted and/or to which said customer-selected transaction indicates said customer-entered amount is to be added, said debit and credit account analyzing means also being responsive to entry of at least one predetermined designation by said customer from said customer debit and credit account designation means, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, for determining which of said plurality of said multiple different accounts should serve as said debit and/or credit accounts.

27. An automated banking system available to a plurality of customers for processing banking transactions comprising:

a card with customer-identifying information, credit limit information and permissible transaction information encoded thereon,

at least one remote unit alternatively operable in on-line and off-line modes,

a card reader associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive to said information encoded on said card for reading said information,

a central processing unit,

a communication link for interconnecting said at least one remote unit and said central processing unit,

request message assembly means associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, to said customer-identifying information read from said card for preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying information to said central processing unit via said communication link,

reply message assembly means associated with said central processing unit and responsive to said request message received from said at least one remote unit for preparing and transmitting to said at least one remote unit a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including (a) account description information designating multiple different accounts of said customer and (b) account balance information for said multiple different accounts of said customer,

transaction selection means associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, to said account description information in said reply message from said central processing unit and responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, to said permissible transaction information read from said card, respectively, for permitting said customer to select at least one of a plurality of different transactions, including cash withdrawal and/or fund transfer and/or deposits and/or payments,

amount selection means associated with said at least one remote unit for customer-entry of at least one transaction amount corresponding to said at least one transaction,

transaction processing means associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive to customer actuation of said transaction selection means and said amount selection means, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line and off-line modes, for processing independently of said central processing unit said at least one customer-selected transaction for said at least one customer-selected amount in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode and in accordance with said credit information read from said card when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, respectively, so as to determine the allowability of said at least one transaction.

28. An automated banking system available to a plurality of customers for processing banking transactions comprising:

a card with customer-identifying information, credit limit information and permissible transaction information encoded thereon,

at least one remote unit alternatively operable in on-line and off-line modes,

a card reader associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive to said information encoded on said card for reading said information,

a central processing unit,

a communication link for interconnecting said at least one remote unit and said central processing unit,

request message assembly means associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, to said customer-identifying and permissible transaction information read from said card for preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying and permissible transaction information to said central processing unit via said communication link,

reply message assembly means associated with said central processing unit and responsive to said request message received from said at least one remote unit for preparing and transmitting to said at least one remote unit a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including (a) account description information designating multiple different accounts of said customer and (b) account balance information for said multiple different accounts of said customer,

transaction selection means associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, to said account description information in said reply message from said central processing unit and responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, to said permissible transaction information read from said card, respectively, for permitting said customer to select a series of different transactions, including cash withdrawal and/or fund transfer and/or deposits and/or payments,

amount selection means associated with said at least one remote unit for customer-entry of a series of different transaction amounts corresponding, respectively, to transactions of said series of different transactions,

transaction processing means associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive to customer actuation of said transaction sellection means and said amount selection means, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line and off-line modes, for processing independently or said central processing unit different customer-selected transactions for said customer-selected amounts in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode and in accordance with said credit information read from said card when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, respectively.

29. An automated banking system available to a plurality of customers for processing banking transactions comprising:

a card with customer-identifying information, credit limit information and permissible transaction information encoded thereon,

at least one remote unit alternatively operable in on-line and off-line modes,

a card reader associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive to said information encoded on said card for reading said information,

a central processing unit,

a communication link for interconnecting said at least one remote unit and said central processing unit,

request message assembly means associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, to said customer-identifying and permissible transaction information read from said card for preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying and permissible transaction information to said central processing unit via said communication link,

reply message assembly means associated with said central processing unit and responsive to said request message received from said at least one remote unit for preparing and transmitting to said at least one remote unit a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including (a) account description information designating multiple different accounts of said customer and (b) account balance information for said multiple different accounts of said customer,

transaction selection means associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, to said account description information in said reply message from central processing unit and responsive, when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, to said permissible transaction information read from said card, respectively, for permitting said customer to select at least one of a plurality of different transactions, including cash withdrawal and/or fund transfer and/or deposits and/or payments,

amount selection means associated with said at least one remote unit for customer-entry of at least one transaction amount corresponding to said at least one transaction,

transaction processing means associated with said at least one remote unit and responsive to customer actuation of said transaction selection means and said amount selection means, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line and off-line modes, for processing independently of said central processing unit said at least one customer-selected transaction for said at least one customer-selected amount in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode and in accordance with said credit information read from said card when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, respectively.

30. In an automated banking system having a central processing unit coupled to a remote unit via a communication link, the method of:

responding to insertion at said remote unit of a card with customer-identifying information encoded thereon by reading said customer-identifying information,

preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying information to said central processing unit via said communication link,

responding to said request message by preparing and transmitting to said remote unit via said communication link a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including (a) account description information designating multiple different accounts of said customer and (b) account balance information for said multiple different accounts of said customer,

permitting said customer to select a series of different transactions involving said multiple different accounts, including cash withdrawal and/or fund transfer and/or deposits and/or payments in accordance with said account description information in said reply message,

permitting customer-entry of a series of different transaction amounts corresponding, respectively, to transactions of said series of different transactions,

responding to customer selection of a transaction and customer entry of an amount by processing independently of said central processing unit said different customer-selected transactions for said different customer-entered amounts in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message so as to determine the allowability of said series of different transactions by transaction processing measns at said remote unit,

whereby a customer upon a single insertion of his card may perform a series of different transactions involving different accounts for different amounts based upon transmission of a single request message to said central processing unit containing said customer-identifying information and receipt of a single reply message from said central processing unit containing said account data, thereby economizing utilization of said communication link and said central processing unit.

31. The method of claim 30 further including the steps of:

permitting said customer to select an actual account balance inquiry transaction prior to the availability for selection of other transactions,

responding to customer selection of an actual account balance inquiry transaction by printing said actual account balances prior to said other customer-selected transactions,

whereby a customer may obtain his actual account balances in secrecy and, thus, learn what actual balances are contained in his various accounts before performing other transactions, thereby facilitating transactions in amounts permitted by said account balance information transmitted from said central processing unit.

32. The method of claim 30 further including the steps of:

supplying a working balance associated with each one of said customer's accounts for inclusion in said reply message, each said working balance not exceeding the actual account balance for said associated one of said customer's accounts, and wherein said processing of said customer-selected transactions is done in accordance with said working balances for said customer's accounts, each of said customer-selected transactions being permitted in an amount which does not exceed the working balance of said customer's account from which said customer indicates said transaction amount is to be deducted,

whereby system operation compensates for presumed customer debits in transit and customer-selected transactions based on deposits which have been posted by a bank but which have not yet cleared.

33. The method of claim 32 further including the steps of:

supplying an extended credit balance for inclusion in said reply message,

processing customer-selected cash withdrawals in accordance with said working balances for said customer's accounts and said extended credit balance by applying the balance of said extended credit balance to each of said customer-selected cash withdrawals in which said customer-entered amount exceeds the working balance of said customer's account from which said customer indicates said cash withdrawal is to be deducted,

permitting each said customer-selected cash withdrawal in an amount which does not exceed the sum of the working balance of said customer's account from which said customer indicates said cash withdrawal is to be deducted and the balance of said extended credit balance,

dispensing cash in said permitted amount,

decrementing said extended credit balance by the amount which said cash withdrawal exceeds said working balance of said customer's account from which is customer indicates said cash withdrawal is to be deducted,

whereby the system dispenses cash to said customer in an amount which exceeds the working balance of one of said customer's accounts but which does not exceed the sum of said working balance plus said extended credit balance, thereby facilitating split deposit transactions in which said customer desires to withdraw cash in an amount which exceeds said one or more working balances.

34. The method of claim 33 further including the steps of supplying a predetermined maximum cash limit for inclusion in said reply message and limiting the sum of all customer-selected cash withdrawals to said maximum cash limit.

35. The method of claim 30 further including the steps of supplying a predetermined maximum cash limit for inclusion in said reply message and limiting the sum of all customer-selected cash withdrawals to said maximum cash limit.

36. The method of claim 30 further including the steps of:

analyzing said customer-identifying information read from said card,

retaining said card if a memory at said remote unit indicates said card is designated for capture, and

wherein said request message is prepared and transmitted only in the event said card is not retained, whereby said remote unit does not utilize communication and central processing unit time when said card has been designated for capture.

37. The method of claim 30 further including the steps of supplying at said central processing unit card updating data for inclusion in said reply message and updating at said remote unit said information on said card in accordance with said card updating data.

38. The method of claim 37 further including the step of retaining said card when said card updating data designated said card for capture.

39. The method of claim 30 further including the steps of:

generating at said central processing unit a first security code for inclusion in said reply message,

generating at said remote unit a second security code,

comparing said first security code with said second security code at said remote unit,

denying said transactions in the event said first and second security codes do not compare favorably,

whereby security codes are used to maintain system integrity in the event said communication link is accessed for the purpose of, supplying a simulated reply message to said remote unit for the purpose of conducting fraudulent transactions.

40. The method of claim 30 further including the steps of:

preparing and transmitting a completion record of said customer-selected transactions to said central processing unit via said communicaton line after said series of different transactions, and

updating customer account data stored at said central processing unit in accordance with said completion message received from said remote unit,

whereby said central processing unit assumes responsibility for updating customer account data stored at said central processing unit based on transactions processed by said remote unit.

41. The method of claim 30 further including the steps of:

determining from said account description information if a plurality of said multiple different accounts can serve as the account from which said customer-selected transaction indicates said customer-entered amount is to be deducted and/or to which said customer-selected transaction indicates said customer-entered amount is to be added, and

responding to entry of at least one predetermined designation by said customer by determining which of said plurality of said multiple different accounts should serve as said debit and/or credit accounts.

42. In an automated banking system having a central processing unit coupled to a remote unit via a communication link, the method of:

responding to insertion at said remote unit of a card with customer-identifying information encoded thereon by reading said customer-identifying information,

preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying information to said central processing unit via said communication link,

responding to said request message by preparing and transmitting to said remote unit via said communication link a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including (a) account description information designating multiple different accounts of said customer and (b) account balance information for said multiple different accounts of said customer,

permitting said customer to select at least one of a plurality of different transactions involving said multiple different accounts, including cash withdrawal and/or fund transfer and/or deposits and/or payments in accordance with said account description information in said reply message,

permitting customer-entry of at least one transaction amount corresponding to said at least one transaction,

responding to customer selection of a transaction and customer entry of an amount by processing independently of said central processing unit said at least one customer-selected transaction for said at least one customer-entered amount in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message so as to determine the allowability of said at least one transaction by transaction processing means at said remote unit,

whereby a customer upon a single insertion of his card may perform at least one of a plurality of different transactions involving different accounts for at least one selective amount based upon transmission of a single request message to said central processing unit containing said customer-identifying information and receipt of a single reply message from said central processing unit containing said account data, thereby economizing utilization of said communication link and said central processing unit.

43. In an automated banking system having a central processing unit coupled to a remote unit via a communication link, the method of:

responding to insertion at said remote unit of a card with customer-identifying information encoded thereon by reading said customer-identifying information,

preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying information to said central processing unit via said communication link,

responding to said request message by preparing and transmitting to said remote unit via said communication link a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including account balance information for said customer,

permitting customer-entry of a series of different transaction amounts corresponding, respectively, to transactions of a series of different transactions,

responding to customer entry of an amount by processing independently of said central processing unit said series of different transactions for said different customer-entered amounts in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message so as to determine the allowability of said series of different transactions by transaction processing means at said remote unit,

whereby a customer upon a single insertion of his card may perform a series of different transactions for different amounts based upon transmission of a single request message to said central processing unit containing said customer-identifying information and receipt of a single reply message from said central processing unit containing said account data, thereby economizing utilization of said communication link and said central processing unit.

44. In an automated banking system having a central processing unit coupled to a remote unit via a communication link, the method of:

responding to insertion at said remote unit of a card with customer-identifying information encoded thereon by reading said customer-identifying information,

preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying information to said central processing unit via said communication link,

responding to said request message by preparing and transmitting to said remote unit via said communication link a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including account balance information for said customer,

permitting customer-entry of a transaction amount,

responding to customer entry of an amount by processing independently of said central processing unit said transaction for said customer-entered amount in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message so as to determine the allowability of said transaction by transaction processing means at said remote unit,

whereby a customer upon a single insertion of his card may perform a transaction for a selective amount based upon transmission of a single request message to said central processing unit containing said customer-identifying information and receipt of a single reply message from said central processing unit containing said account data, thereby economizing utilization of said communication link and said central processing unit.

45. In an automated banking system having at least one remote unit alternatively operable in on-line and off-line modes, a central processing unit and a communication link for interconnecting said at least one remote unit and said central processing unit, the method for processing banking transactions including:

responding to insertion at said at least one remote unit of a card with customer-identifying information, credit limit information and permissible transaction information encoded thereon by reading said information,

preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying information to said central processing unit via said communication link when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode,

responding to said request message by preparing and transmitting to said at least one remote unit via said communication link a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including (a) account description information designating multiple different accounts of said customer and (b) account balance information for said multiple different accounts of said customer,

permitting said customer to select a series of different transactions, including cash withdrawal and/or fund transfer and/or deposits and/or payments, in accordance with said account description information in said reply message from said central processing unit, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, and in accordance with said permissible transaction information read from said card, when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, respectively,

permitting customer-entry of a series of different transaction amounts corresponding, respectively, to transactions of said series of different transactions,

responding to customer selection of a transaction and customer entry of an amount, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line and off-line modes, by processing independently of said central processing unit said different customer-selected transactions for said different customer-entered amounts in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode and in accordance with said credit information read from said card when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, respectively.

46. The method of claim 45 further including the steps of:

alternatively generating on-line and off-line command signals at said central processing unit,

transmitting said signals to said at least one remote unit via said communication link, said at least one remote unit being responsive to said on-line command signal for operating in said on-line mode and responsive to said off-line command signal for operating in said off-line mode,

whereby said central processing unit determines the mode of operation of said at last one remote unit.

47. The method of claim 45 further including the step of causing said at least one remote unit to switch its mode of operation from said on-line mode to said off-line mode in response to the nonreceipt of a reply message within a predetermined amount of time after transmission of a request message, whereby use of the system initiated with a remote unit in the on-line mode is completed in the off-line mode when the central processing unit fails to timely transmit a reply message in response to a request message.

48. The method of claim 45 further including the steps of:

analyzing said customer-identifying information read from said card,

retaining said card if a memory at said at least one remote unit indicates said card is designated for capture, and

wherein said request message is prepared and transmitted when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, only in the event said card is not retained, whereby said at least one remote unit does not utilize communication and central processing unit time when said card has been designated for capture and said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode.

49. The method of claim 45 further including the steps of supplying at said central processing unit card updating data for inclusion in said reply message and updating at said at least one remote unit at least one of said credit limit information and permissible transaction information on said card in accordance with said card updating data when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode.

50. The method of claim 49 further including the step of retaining said card when said card updating data designates said card for capture when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode.

51. The method of claim 45 further including the steps of:

generating at said central processing unit a first security code for inclusion in said reply message,

generating at said at least one remote unit, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, a second security code,

comparing at said at least one remote unit said first security code with said second security code when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode,

causing said at least one remote unit to operate in said off-line mode in the event said first and second security codes do not compare favorably,

whereby a failure in line security causes the system to switch to the off-line mode and process the transactions in accordance with said credit limit and permissible transaction information on said card.

52. The method of claim 45 further including the steps of:

preparing and transmitting a completion message of said customer-selected transactions to said central processing unit via said communication link after said series of different transactions when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, and

updating customer account data stored at said central processing unit in accordance with said completion message received from said at least one remote unit,

whereby said central processing unit assumes responsibility for updating customer account data stored at said central processing unit based on transactions processed by said at least one remote unit.

53. The method of claim 52 further including the steps of:

storing a record of said customer-selected transactions when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, and

preparing and transmitting transaction records stored at said at least one remote unit to said central processing unit for updating said customer account data when said at least one remote unit returns to said on-line mode.

54. The method of claim 45 further including the steps of:

determining from said account description information, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, if a plurality of said multiple different accounts can serve as the account from which said customer-selected transaction indicates said customer-entered amount is to be deducted and/or to which said customer-selected transaction indicates said customer-entered amount is to be added, and

responding to entry of at least one predetermined designation by said customer by determining, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, which of said plurality of said multiple different accounts should serve as said debit and/or credit accounts.

55. In an automated banking system having at least one remote unit alternatively operable in on-line and off-line modes, a central processing unit and a communication link for interconnecting said at least one remote unit and said central processing unit, the method for processing banking transactions including:

responding to insertion at said at least one remote unit of a card with customer-identifying information, credit limit information and permissible transaction information encoded thereon by reading said information,

preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying information to said central processing unit via said communication link when said remote unit is in said on-line mode,

responding to said request message by preparing and transmitting to said at least one remote unit via said communication link a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including (a) account description information designating multiple different accounts of said customer and (b) account balance information for said multiple different accounts of said customer,

permitting said customer to select at least one of a plurality of different transactions, including cash withdrawal and/or fund transfer and/or deposits and/or payments, in accordance with said account description information in said reply message from said central processing unit, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, and in accordance with said permissible transaction information read from said card, when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, respectively,

permitting customer-entry of at least one transaction amount corresponding to said at least one transaction,

responding to customer selection of a transaction and customer entry of an amount, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line modes, by processing independently of said central processing unit said different customer-selected transactions for said different customer-entered amounts in accordance with said account balance informaion in said reply message when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode and in accordance with said credit information read from said card when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, respectively.

56. In an automated banking system having at least one remote unit alternatively operable in on-line and off-line modes, a central processing unit and a communication link for interconnecting said at least one remote unit and said central processing unit, the method for processing banking transactions including:

responding to insertion at said at least one remote unit of a card with customer-identifying information, credit limit information and permissible transaction information encoded thereon by reading said information,

preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying and permissible transaction information to said central processing unit via said communication link when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode,

responding to said request message by preparing and transmitting to said at least one remote unit via said communication link a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including (a) account description information designating multiple different accounts of said customer and (b) account balance information for said multiple different accounts of said customer,

permitting said customer to select a series of different transactions, including cash withdrawal and/or fund transfer and/or deposits and/or payments, in accordance with said account description information in said reply message from said central processing unit, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, and in accordance with said permissible transaction information read from said card, when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, respectively,

permitting customer-entry of a series of different transaction amounts corresponding, respectively, to transactions of said series of different transactions,

responding to customer selection of a transaction and customer entry of an amount, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line and off-line modes, by processing independently of said central processing unit said different customer-selected transactions for said different customer-entered amounts in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode and in accordance with said credit information read from said card when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, respectively.

57. In an automated banking system having at least one remote unit alternatively operable in on-line and off-line modes, a central processing unit and a communication link for interconnecting said at least one remote unit and said central processing unit, the method for processing banking transactions including:

responding to insertion at said at least one remote unit of a card with customer-identifying information, credit limit information and permissible transaction information encoded thereon by reading and information,

preparing and transmitting a request message containing said customer-identifying and permissible transaction information to said central processing unit via said communication link when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode,

responding to said request message by preparing and transmitting to said at least one remote unit via said communication link a reply message containing account data associated with said identified customer, said account data including (a) account description information, designating multiple different accounts of said customer and (b) account balance information for said multiple different accounts of said customer,

permitting said customer to select at least one of a plurality of different transactions, including cash withdrawal and/or fund transfer and/or deposits and/or payments, in accordance with said account description information in said reply message from said central processing unit, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode, and in accordance with said permissible transaction information read from said card, when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, respectively,

permitting customer-entry of at least one transaction amount corresponding to said at least one transaction,

responding to customer selection of a transaction and customer entry of an amount, when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line and off-line modes, by processing independently of said central processing unit said different customer-selected transactions for said different customer-entered amounts in accordance with said account balance information in said reply message when said at least one remote unit is in said on-line mode and in accordance with said credit information read from said card when said at least one remote unit is in said off-line mode, respectively.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for processing commercial or financial transactions and, specifically, to an automated banking system which includes central and remote units interconnected by a communication network for processing commercial or financial transactions.

Businesses and, more particularly, banks continually search for new business methods to reduce the cost of their commercial or financial services. However, banks must maintain the quality of the services which they offer and, due to competition, must constantly improve their services in order to keep present customers and attract new customers. To accomplish these objectives, banks have resorted to establishment of branch offices. By using branch offices, banks are able to make their services more convenient to present customers in outlying areas, rather than requiring them to utilize a central location. They are also able to attract new customers who seek a conveniently located bank. However, branch banking is expensive since each branch office requires substantial capital investment and operational expense. Where the expense of a branch bank is not feasible or justified, but the bank still wishes to provide services in a effort to transact more business with its present customers and/or attract new customers, banks have installed manned, or staffed, counters in supermarkets, shopping center malls and airports.

Another pressure on banks for added services stems from customers' inability to satisfy their banking needs during normal banking hours except at considerable inconvenience, such as when customers must interrupt their work to journey to the bank during normal banking hours because banking hours coincide with their working hours. Thus, customers want extended banking hours or after hours banking. Additionally, most banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday, yet a substantial share of purchases of consumer goods occurs on weekends. As a result, customers want access to the bank on weekends. Customers also wish to transact business around the clock at locations such as hospitals, hotels and bus depots, airpots, etc. Thus, customers' demand for after hours, weekend and around-the-clock banking services has increased the problem banks have in satisfying their customers.

To meet these needs banks have begun to use unmanned, automated card-actuated banking equipment. Voss et al., "Off-Line Cash Dispenser and Banking System," U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,277 discloses such an unmanned, automated card-actuated teller. The teller unit is completely self-contained, relying on data stored on the customer's card and/or stored locally in a memory at the site of the installation to limit the nature and/or amount of the transaction. Such equipment can be located at a remote location to serve as a branch office at significantly reduced capital investment and operational expense, or outside a bank building for use when the bank is closed. In either case, the customer receives the benefit of after hours, weekend and around-the-clock banking services, including cash withdrawal, fund transfer and payment and deposit transactions.

While these teller units have been extremely useful, they are not without limitations. For example, the immediate centralized accounting capability of conventional teller-assisted banking systems, which facilitates maintenance of an up-to-date running balance of each customer's account, is absent. Moreover, the teller unit must operate under limitations imposed by the types and amounts of data which are encoded on the customer's card and which can be stored locally in the teller unit memory. To increase the flexibility of the teller unit by increasing the size of the memory and/or the amount of hardware increases the cost.

An even more recent development in automated banking comprehends providing a plurality of remotely located teller machines which are each interconnected with a central unit via a communication network. These remote teller machines operate in what is termed an "on-line" mode. That is, each remotely located teller machine serves as an input/output (I/O) terminal relative to the centrally located unit. The remote teller machine transmits transaction data to the central unit. The central unit processes the transaction and generates an authorization or denial code for transmission to the remote teller machine. Prior to transmitting the code, the central unit ascertains the condition of the remote teller machine to receive the code. If the remote teller machine responds that it is in condition to receive the code, the central unit transmits the code to the remote teller machine. The remote teller machine executes the transaction in accordance with the code and thereafter transmits transaction completion data to the central unit. The central unit then accounts for the transaction. This "on-line" seqence is followed for each and every transaction by each and every customer.

The foregoing "on-line" equipment, wherein the remote teller machines are linked with, and controlled by, a central unit are to be distinguished from the previously described teller units which are self-contained, i.e., not linked with or controlled by a central unit. Such previously described completely self-contained teller units are often termed "off-line" teller machines.

One objective of the present invention is to provide an alternative to branch banking by providing teller units in remote areas at significantly reduced capital investment and operational expense. Another objective is to provide teller units for the transaction of banking business after normal bank hours, on weekends and around-the-clock.

It is also an objective of the present invention to provide a remote unit which is operable in both an "off-line" mode and an "on-line" mode; that is, a remote unit which is operable to process transactions either with or without communication with a central unit, depending on the availability of the central unit, which is often needed by the bank for other purposes and unavailable to assist in remote unit transactions.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a remote unit which, in the "on-line" mode, does not depend on an authorization or denial code from the central unit but instead operates to economize central unit processing time and communication time with the central unit by processing one or more customer transactions following a single data transmission from the central unit.

The present invention also has as an objective the recording of all transaction data at the remote unit, when operating in either the "on-line" mode or the "off-line" mode, and the communication of all transaction data to the central unit for centralized accounting purposes either immediately after the customer completes his transactions when in the "on-line" mode or after the system becomes operable in the "on-line" mode if the transaction is one which occurred when the system was in the "off-line" mode.

The present invention also has an objective the provision of improved line security for the protection of system integrity. However, if for some reason in the "on-line" mode line security should not exist, the system will change its status from the "on-line" mode to the "off-line" mode. Thus, the customer is given the opportunity to perform transactions "off-line" in the event unavoidable circumstances, such as faulty "on-line" data communication, would inhibit the customer from conducting transactions "on-line."

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objectives are accomplished in a preferred embodiment of the present invention by providing an automated banking system having at least one card-actuated remote transaction and cash dispensing unit interconnected with a central unit via a communication network. Each remote unit is operable in either a first, "on-line" mode or a second, "off-line," mode, with the mode of operation preferably being determined by the central unit.

In the "on-line" mode, the remote unit reads a customer's card and performs checks on the card, such as a check of a discretionary file in a remote unit memory to determine, for example, whether or not the card has been reported stolen. Only if the checks indicate that the card should not be retained by the remote unit or returned to the customer does the remote unit transmit a request message, including the customer's account number encoded on the card, to the central unit. No transaction data, such as amount of money to be withdrawn, debit account or the like, is included in the request message.

The central unit uses the customer's account number to access the customer's account files, from which the central unit calculates working balances, an extended credit balance and a maximum cash limit. This calculated data, together with actual account balances and account descriptions are transmitted to the inquiring remote unit in a reply message. The reply message in this invention contains only account data; that is, the data content of the reply message in this invention is completely independent and unrelated to the amount or type of transaction desired by the customer at the remote unit, which latter information, as noted, is not even transmitted to the central unit in the request message.

After receiving the reply message, the remote unit of the system of the present invention reports the actual account balances contained in the reply to the customer on request, for example, in the form of a printed memorandum, to advise the customer with regard to his account balances. This facilitates selection by the customer of transactions which are appropriate for the types of accounts the customer has as well as their balances. The remote unit operates to process one or a series of customer transactions, including cash withdrawal, fund transfer between accounts and deposit and payment transactions, based on an evaluation of (a) the types of the customer's various accounts, (b) the amount and nature of the customer request selected by the customer at the remote unit, and (c) the customer's account data transmitted from the central unit. For example, the remote unit determines from the account descriptions received in the reply from the central unit the identity of permissible transactions which a customer may select. If the account descriptions include an account description for a savings account and an account description for a checking account, withdrawals from savings and checking and transfers from savings to checking and checking to savings would be permissible transactions. The remote unit uses the working balances received in the reply from the central unit to determine the amount of funds from each account which the customer has available for the permissible transactions which he selects. The remote unit uses the extended credit balance contained in the reply message as the amount which the customer has available for cash withdrawal transactions where the selected amount of cash withdrawal exceeds the working balance for the designated debit account. Finally, the remote unit uses the maximum cash limit transmitted from the central unit as the amount which imposes a restraint on the total for cash withdrawals by the customer regardless of the customer's working balance and/or extended credit balance.

The remote unit may assemble and transmit in the request message to the central unit certain other information read from the customer's card, including a control code. When a customer's control code is received in the request message, the central unit can determine which customer account files are available and which customer account files are unavailable. The central unit assembles and transmits in the reply message (a) the account descriptions, working balances, etc. for those customer accounts which are available and (b) the account descriptions and blank fields, for example, for working balances, etc., for those customer accounts which are unavailable. The remote unit processes the transactions which the customer selects like in the on-line operation above, in the off-line operation below, or in a mixed on-line/off-line operation depending upon whether all accounts are available, no accounts are available, or some accounts are available and others are unavailable, respectively. This allows the customer to select the same transactions in both the on-line and off-line modes of operation.

Thus, the present invention provides an "on-line" system wherein one or more customer-selected transactions are processed, and an evaluation made whether or not to proceed, by decision-making logic located at the remote unit, rather than at the central unit. The system of the present invention requires only a single data communication from the remote unit to the central unit, and a single data communication from the central unit to the remote unit, to enable the remote unit to process and evaluate, either grant or deny, one or a series of transactions which a customer selects. This reduces central unit processing time and system communication time. Of course, once the transactions are completed at the remote unit, a single transmission of the nature and amount of the transaction to the central unit will suffice to permit the central unit records to be updated to reflect the transaction. Such an "on-line" system is to be contrasted with prior art schemes in which the central station determines the propriety of the transaction by comparison at the central station of (a) transaction data transmitted from the remote unit and (b) account data stored at the central station, and thereafter sends an "approval" or "disapproval" reply to the remote unit which then grants or denies the customer request depending upon whether it was approved or disapproved by the central unit.

The system of the present invention also provides "off-line" operation of the remote unit when access to the central unit is not available or desired. In the "off-line" mode, the remote unit does not communicate with the central unit. In the "off-line" mode, the remote unit is operable following a single customer card insertion to process one or more customer transactions, including cash withdrawal, fund transfer between accounts and deposit and payment transactions based on an evaluation of data encoded on the customer's card. The card includes a control code which identifies permissible transactions from which the remote unit determines which transactions a customer may select. The card also includes, for example, a next usage date and a credit amount remaining, which the remote unit uses to evaluate a cash withdrawal transaction. In the "off-line" mode the remote unit records customer transaction data for all "off-line" transactions and subsequently transmits the transaction data in a series of completion messages to the central unit when the system resumes "on-line" operation.

In the "on-line" mode the integrity of the system of the present invention is protected by line security which requires a favorable comparison at the remote unit of remotely and centrally calculated line security codes before the remote unit will utilize other data in the reply message from the central unit to process customer transactions. The line security system of the present invention economizes by substituting a clock for the conventional random or pseudo-random number generator typically found at the remote unit. The central unit of the system of the present invention calculates a line security code as a function of date and time data generated by the remote unit clock which is transmitted by the remote unit to the central unit in the request message. The line security code calculated by the central unit is transmitted to the remote unit in the reply and must match the line security code calculated locally by the remote unit. Since the time and date continuously changes, the line security codes also change continuously, enhancing security. However, if the centrally and locally calculated line security codes do not match, due to transmission of an incorrect security code by one who has accessed the communication network in an attempt to defraud the bank or merely data communication problems which preclude proper transmission of the centrally calculated line security code to the remote unit, the customer is not foreclosed from performing transactions. If the line security codes do not match, the system simply changes from the "on-line" mode to the "off-line" mode and the customer is permitted to perform transactions "off-line".

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing objectives and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description thereof given in connection with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the on-line/off-line automated banking system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred form of a customer card utilized in the system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a panel of a remote transaction and cash dispensing unit employed in the system of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the general operation of the system which is depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, comprising FIGS. 5A through 5C connected as shown, is a flow diagram which illustrates the operational steps of the remote unit;

FIG. 6, comprising FIGS. 6A through 6D connected as shown, is a block diagram of a construction for the remote unit for performing the operational steps which are depicted in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates the message format of a request transmitted from the remote unit to the central unit;

FIG. 8, comprising FIGS. 8A and 8B connected as shown, illustrates the mesage format of a reply transmitted from the central unit to the remote unit; and

FIG. 9 illustrates the message format of a completion message transmitted from the remote unit to the central unit.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM AND OPERATION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the on-line/off-line automated banking system of the present invention. The system includes one or more remote stations A, B . . . I; a data communication network DCN; and a central station CS.

Each remote station has associated therewith one or more remote units, for example, remote units A.sub.1, A.sub.2 . . . A.sub.n are associated with remote station A, remote units B.sub.1, B.sub.2 . . . B.sub.n are associated with remote station B and remote units I.sub.1, I.sub.2. . . I.sub.n are associated with remote station I. In order to facilitate use of the present invention in data communication networks of conventional teller-assisted on-line banking systems, remote units A.sub.1, A.sub.2 . . . A.sub.n, B.sub.1, B.sub.2 . . . B.sub.n . . . I.sub.1, I.sub.2 . . . I.sub.n of the present invention are constructed to emulate conventional I/O terminals, such as CRT's and teletypewriters, and terminal communication controllers presently employed in conventional teller-assisted on-line banking systems. Thus, each remote unit A.sub.1, A.sub.2 . . . A.sub.n, B.sub.1, B.sub.2 . . . B.sub.n . . . I.sub.1, I.sub.2 . . . I.sub.n may be constructed in a conventional manner to emulate a remote IBM 2848 controller with one IBM 2260 CRT attached, a remote IBM 3272 controller with one IBM 3270 CRT attached or a remote IBM 2972 controller with one IBM 2980 CRT attached. Each remote unit A.sub.1, A.sub.2 . . . A.sub.n, B.sub.1, B.sub.2 . . . B.sub.n . . . I.sub.1, I.sub.2 . . . I.sub.n may also be constructed in a conventional manner to emulate certain Burroughs and NCR terminal facilities. As a result, remote units A.sub.1, A.sub.2 . . . A.sub.n, B.sub.1, B.sub.2 . . . B.sub.n . . . I.sub.1, I.sub.2 . . . I.sub.n may be interchanged with I/O terminal facilities in conventional teller-assisted on-line banking systems to provide an on-line/off-line automated banking system capability. Each remote station also has associated therewith a set of voice-grade data transmission lines, such as telephone wires; that is, telephone wires A" are associated with remote station A, telephone wires B" are associated with remote station B and telephone wires I" are associated with remote station I.

Each remote unit associated with a remote station connects via a modem to the telephone wires associated with the remote station, for example, remote units A.sub.1, A.sub.2 . . . A.sub.n connect via modems A.sub.1 ', A.sub.2 ' . . . A.sub.n ', respectively, to telephone wires A" at remote station A, remote units B.sub.1, B.sub.2 . . . B.sub.n connect via modems B.sub.1 ', B.sub.2 ' . . . B.sub.n ', respectively, to telephone wires B" at remote station B and remote units I.sub.1, I.sub.2 . . . I.sub.n connect via modems I.sub.1 ', I.sub.2 ' . . . I.sub.n ', respectively, to telephone wires I" at remote station I.

Each set of telephone wires associated with a remote station connects via a modem to a master communication controller MCC associated with central station CS, for example, telephone wires A" connect via modem A''' to master communication controller MCC, telephone wires B" connect via modem B''' to master communication controller MCC and telephone wires I" connect via modem I''' to master communication controller MCC. Master communicaion controller MCC interfaces with a central processing unit CPU at central station CS.

Modems A.sub.1 ', A.sub.2 ' . . . A.sub.n ', B.sub.1 ', B.sub.2 ' . . . B.sub.n ' . . . I.sub.1 ', I.sub.2 ' . . . I.sub.n ' and A''', B''' . . . I''' and master communication controller MCC handle encoding and transmission of data between remote units A.sub.1, A.sub.2. . . A.sub.n, B.sub.1, B.sub.2 . . . B.sub.n . . . I.sub.1, I.sub.2 . . . I.sub.n and data processing unit CPU over telephone wires A", B" . . . I".

A representative system of the present invention might comprise, for example, remote units A.sub.1, A.sub.2 . . . A.sub.n, B.sub.1, B.sub.2 . . . B.sub.n . . . I.sub.1, I.sub.2 . . . I.sub.n constructed to emulate remote IBM 2848 controllers with IBM 2260 CRT's attached; DEC DL-11 asynchronous line interfaces (not shown); Bell 202 modems employing telephone company four wire half duplex service; and IBM system 370 integrated communications adapter; and an IBM system 370 computer.

A, for example, in FIG. 1 has been described as a remote station having remote units A.sub.1, A.sub.2 . . . A.sub.n. However, A may represent, for example, one or more financial institutions having remote units A.sub.1, A.sub.2 . . . A.sub.n at various locations. Each remote unit A.sub.1, A.sub.2 . . . A.sub.n would connect via a modem A.sub.1 ', A.sub.2 ' . . . A.sub.n ', respectively, at each branch location to telephone wires A", whereby remote units A.sub.1, A.sub.2 . . . A.sub.n would be connected to, or multidropped on, the same set of telephone wires. Telephone wires A" would connect via modem A''' to master communication controller MCC. Master communication controller MCC would interface with central processing unit CPU at central station CS.

FIG. 2 illustrates a card 10 which a bank issues to a customer to whom it extends use of the on-line/off-line automated banking system of the present invention. Card 10 includes a ferrous oxide strip 11 which is magnetically encoded with fields of data. Each field of data consists of one or more groups of four-bit BCD characters plus a character parity bit.

A first field of data, account number field 13, consists of 16 characters which comprise an account number for the customer. A second field of data, account suffix field 16, consists of one character which identifies the customer as the holder of one of a plurality of cards which have the same account number in account number field 13, such as when separate cards are provided for different members of a given family. A third field of data, expiration date field 14, consists of four characters which identify card 10 expiration date by month and year. A fourth field of data, bank code field 15, consists of four characters. Bank code field 15 identifies the commercial bank or other financial institution such as a savings and loan, credit union, etc. with which the customer maintains his accounts. Start sentinel field 12, separator field 22, stop sentinel field 23 and longitudinal register check (LRC) field 24 consist individually of one character. Each of these data fields functions to effect control of card reader/writer 43 (FIG. 3). Other fields of data include control code field 17, next usage date field 18, usage interval field 19, credit limit field 20 and amount remaining field 21. These fields of data relate primarily to off-line operation and are described in greater detail in Voss et al., "Off-Line Cash Dispenser and Banking System," U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,277, which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a panel 30 which is associated with a remote unit 60 of the on-line/off-line automated banking system of the present invention. Panel 30 includes a card reader/writer 43 into which the customer inserts card 10 to initiate use of the system. The customer operates card return switch 44 to cancel his use of the system and to have card 10 returned to him prior to his selection of a transaction. A message display 41 communicates messages, such as "Enter Card," to the customer. With the exception of card reader/writer 43, card return switch 44 and message display 41, panel 30 is concealed behind a vertically movable protective door 45 (shown in its open position) when remote unit 60 is idle.

The customer operates keyboard 38 to enter digits of a personal identification number (PIN) which he was instructed to memorize at the time he was issued his card. Remote unit 60 compares the customer's PIN with a number which is derived from data on card 10 to verify that the customer is the rightful user of the card. The card verification technique disclosed in Spetz, "Verification System," U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,813, incorporated herein by reference, may be used to verify a cardholder, if desired.

Panel 30 also includes illuminable push button transaction selector keys 31. Remote unit 60 selectively enables certain transaction selector keys 31 so that the customer may select a transaction. Transaction selector keys 31 may be provided for any of numerous different transactions in the basic categories of withdrawal, transfer and payment and deposit transactions. The number and designation of transaction selector keys 31, which will be described below, provide a selection of various exemplary transactions in the basic categories and are not intended to limit the number or designation of transaction selector keys which may be included in panel 30.

The customer operates deposit/payment key 32 to select deposit and payment transactions. The customer must enter the amount of a deposit or payment by operating the numerical keys of keyboard 38. The customer inserts deposits and payments in depository 33.

A group of three illuminable push button transaction selector keys 34 is associated with cash withdrawal transactions. The customer operates one of the transaction selector keys 34 to select a cash withdrawal from his credit card account, a cash withdrawal from his checking account or a cash withdrawal from his savings account. The customer must enter the amount of a cash withdrawal by operating the illuminable push button cash amount selector keys 37. Paper currency is dispensed to the customer via cash slot 40. A cash dispenser of the type disclosed in Ransom et al., "Dispenser for Documents Such As Currency and the Like," U.S. Pat. No. 3,795,395 may be used, if desired.

A group of six illuminable push button transaction selector keys 35 is associated with transfer transactions. The customer operates one of the transaction selector keys 35 to select (a) transfer of funds from his checking account to his savings account, from his credit card account to his checking account, or from his savings account to his checking account; (b) loan payment comprising a transfer of funds from his checking account to his credit card account or from his checking account to his loan account; or (c) mortgage payment comprising a transfer of funds from his checking account to his mortgage account. The customer must enter the amount of a fund transfer by operating the numerical keys of keyboard 38.

Display panel 39 reports amounts which the customer enters on keyboard 38. Display panel 39 also communicates instructional messages to the customer which guide the customer as he performs transactions. For example, display panel 39 instructs the customer to "Select Transaction."

Panel 30 includes a pair of illuminable push button "Yes" and "No" keys 36 which the customer operates to respond "yes" and "no" to queries such as "Do You Wish Balance Inquiry?" which remote unit 60 displays on display panel 39. If the customer requests, a memorandum containing the customer's actual account balances is printed and dispensed to the customer through printer slot 42 in on-line operation. A receipt containing the customer's transaction data which is generated at the end of each series of one or more transactions by a customer is printed and dispensed to the customer through printer slot 42 in both on-line and off-line operation.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the general operation of the system which is depicted in the block diagram of FIG. 1. Preferably, central station CS controls the operational status of each remote unit A.sub.1, A.sub.2 . . . A.sub.n, B.sub.1, B.sub.2 . . . B.sub.n . . . I.sub.1, I.sub.2. . . I.sub.n (FIG. 1). Thus, the central processing unit CPU may (a) command a remote unit to shut down, thereby rendering the remote unit inoperative; (b) command a remote unit to operate off-line, thereby rendering the remote unit operable in an off-line mode; or (c) command a remote unit to operate on-line, thereby rendering the remote unit operable in an on-line mode.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, when a remote unit is in its off-line operational mode, the remote unit operates in the manner generally described in Voss et al., "Off-Line Cash Dispenser and Banking System," U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,277 which has been incorporated by reference herein.

If a customer inserts his card while the remote unit is in its off-line operational mode, the remote unit reads the card and checks the card data for parity. The remote unit checks bank code 15. The remote unit returns the card to the customer if bank code 15 does not appear in a bank code file in remote unit memory, thereby indicating that the card is not usable in the system. If bank code 15 does appear in the bank code file, the remote unit subsequently checks the card data against images in a duplicate card file in remote unit memory. A match indicates a fraud based on card duplication, and the remote unit captures the card. If there is no match, the remote unit then checks account number 13 and account suffix 16 against numbers in a discretionary file in remote unit memory. If this check produces a match, the remote unit determines from other data in the discretionary file what action to take. For example, if the data associated with the matching account number and account suffix in the discretionary file consists entirely of zeros, the remote unit captures the card, and, if the data is non-zero, the remote unit sets an update flag and later uses the discretionary file data as a source of updating information for the card. The remote unit checks credit limit 20 against the maximum credit limit which is associated with bank code 15. If the credit limit on the card exceeds the maximum credit limit for the bank, the remote unit captures the card. Otherwise the remote unit checks expiration date 14 and captures the card if it has expired.

If the card passes the above checks when the remote unit is in its off-line operational mode, the remote unit compares the PIN which the customer enters with a number which the remote unit calculates using account number 13 and an algorithm which is associated with bank code 15. If a match occurs, the remote unit enables certain of transaction selector keys 31 for customer selection depending on control code 17. The customer is instructed to "Select Transaction" and thereafter "Enter Amount" by the remote unit on display panel 39.

Once the customer selects one of the enabled transactions using one of the transaction selector keys 31 and enters an amount using either amount selector keys 37 or keyboard 38, the remote unit proceeds to determine what type of transaction the customer has selected. Each of the transactions falls into one of three categories; that is, each transaction is (a) a cash withdrawal, (b) a fund transfer, or (c) a deposit or payment.

If the customer selects a cash withdrawal while the system is off-line, the remote unit checks next usage date 18 to determine whether or not the current date is the same as or later than the next usage date. If the current date is not the same as or later than next usage date 18, the remote unit denies the cash withdrawal and queries the customer whether or not he desires "Another Transaction?" on display panel 39. If the current date is the same as or later than next usage date 18, the remote unit compares the amount entered by the customer using amount selector keys 37 with amount remaining 21. The remote unit dispenses cash to the customer in the amount entered by the customer provided, however, that the amount entered by the customer does not exceed amount remaining 21. If the amount entered by the customer exceeds amount remaining 21, the remote unit dispenses cash equivalent to amount remaining 21, in which case the remote unit informs the customer that he has exceeded his credit limit on display panel 39.

In the case of an off-line cash withdrawal, the remote unit writes the image of card 10 on the duplicate card file. The remote unit updates amount remaining 21 by subtracting from amount remaining 21 the amount of cash dispensed if the amount requested by the customer does not exceed amount remaining 21. If the amount requested by the customer exceeds amount remaining 21, the remote unit updates next usage date 18 to the next usage date plus usage interval 19 and amount remaining 21 to credit limit 20. The remote unit also records the cash withdrawal in a transaction file in remote unit memory and queries the customer whether or not he desires "Another Transaction?" on display panel 39.

If the customer selects a fund transfer while the system is off-line, the remote unit records the fund transfer in the amount entered by the customer using keyboard 38 in the transaction file in remote unit memory and queries the customer whether or not he desires "Another Transaction?" on display panel 39.

If the customer selects a deposit or payment while the system is off-line, the remote unit operates depository 33 to accept the deposit or payment; records the deposit or payment in the amount entered by the customer using keyboard 38 in the transaction file in remote unit memory; and queries the customer whether or not he desires "Another Transaction?" on display panel 39.

After the customer completes his transactions, the remote unit, in the event that the discretionary file contains card update data or in the event the customer performs a cash withdrawal, updates card 10 and returns it to the customer. The remote unit also prints a receipt for the customer's off-line transactions and dispenses it to the customer.

When a remote unit is in its on-line operational mode, the remote unit is responsive to polls from the central station. If the remote unit was previously in its off-line operational mode and during such time accumulated off-line transaction data, the remote unit when it goes on-line responds to the polls by transmitting the accumulated off-line transaction data in completion messages whose format will be described in greater detail below.

Briefly, each off-line transaction completion message includes, as shown in FIG. 9, a transacting customer's account number and suffix 401, a system utilization serial number 402, a date 403, a time 404, a bank code 405 which identifies the bank with which the customer maintains his accounts, a transaction identification 407n, a serial number 410n which corresponds to the number printed on the customer's deposit or payment envelope in the case where the customer makes a deposit or payment and a transaction amount 411n. If the transacting customer performed more than one transaction, the off-line transaction completion message includes a plurality of transaction identifications 407n, serial numbers 410n and transaction amounts 411n. The central unit is responsive to an off-line transaction completion message to account for the transactions which are reported therein, the accounting being performed in any desired, conventional manner.

If a customer inserts his card while the remote unit is in its on-line operational mode, the remote unit reads the card and checks the card data for parity. The remote unit checks bank code 15. The remote unit returns the card to the customer if bank code 15 does not appear in the bank code file in remote unit memory, thereby indicating that the card is not usable in the system. If bank code 15 does appear in the bank code file, the remote unit subsequently checks the card data against images in the duplicate card file in remote unit memory. A match indicates a fraud based on card duplication, and the remote unit captures the card. If there is no match, the remote unit then checks account number 13 and account suffix 16 against numbers in the discretionary file in remote unit memory. If this check produces a match, the remote unit determines from other data in the discretionary file what action to take. For example, if the data associated with the matching account number and account suffix in the discretionary file consists entirely of zeros, the remote unit captures the card, and, if the data is non-zero, the remote unit sets an update flag and later uses the discretionary file data as a source of updating information for the card. The remote unit checks credit limit 20 against the maximum credit limit which is associated with bank code 15. If the credit limit on the card exceeds the maximum credit limit for the bank, the remote unit captures the card. Otherwise the remote unit checks expiration date 14 and captures the card if it has expired.

If the card passes the above checks when the remote unit is in its on-line operational mode, the remote unit assembles a request message whose format will be described in greater detail below. Briefly, the request message includes, as shown in FIG. 7, a transacting customer's account number and suffix 301, a date 302, a time 303 and a bank code 304 which identifies the bank with which the customer maintains his accounts. The remote unit transmits the request message to the central station in response to a central station poll.

Referring to FIG. 1, central processing unit CPU in response to the request message searches an update file UF in central station memory which is associated with bank code 304 (FIG. 7) for account number and suffix 301 (FIG. 7) included in the request message to determine whether or not the card requires update. Central processing unit CPU also uses bank code 304 (FIG. 7) to address, or access, an algorithm in an algorithm file AF in central station memory and uses the algorithm to derive from the account number portion of account number and suffix 301 (FIG. 7) a number for comparison with the customer's PIN. Central processing unit CPU also searches a customer data file CDF in central station memory which is associated with bank code 304 (FIG. 7) and uses account number and suffix 301 (FIG. 7) to access the customer's account balances and other customer-related tabular information, such as the customer's credit profile.

Central processing unit CPU uses the customer's account balances and credit profile to compute a working balance, which comprises the amount of funds which the customer has available for on-line transactions, for each of the customer's credit-type accounts, such as his checking, savings and credit card accounts, it being noted here that the working balance for each of the customer's debit-type accounts, such as his mortgage and loan accounts, equals zero. Central processing unit CPU also uses the customer's account balances, including the account balances of both credit- and debit-type accounts, and credit profile to calculate an extended credit balance, i.e., a sum which extends a working balance when a customer transacts an on-line cash withdrawal. The purpose of the extended credit balance, to facilitate "split deposits" with little risk to the bank, will be discussed in greater detail below. Central processing unit CPU also uses the customer's account balances and credit profile to compute a maximum cash limit which prohibits the customer from withdrawing as cash more than a certain amount during any one use of the system while it is operating on-line. Central processing unit CPU uses bank code 304 (FIG. 7) to access an algorithm in algorithm file AF and uses the algorithm to calculate a line security code from date 302 and time 303 (FIG. 7) in the request message. Central processing unit CPU then assembles a reply message whose format will be described in greater detail below.

Briefly, the reply message includes, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, card update data 351, 352, 353 and 354 for use interval 19, credit limit 20, expiration date 14 and control code 17, respectively, and/or line security code 357 which has been calculated by central processing unit CPU, a customer command 358 which instructs the remote unit to either (a) close out the customer and capture or return the customer's card, (b) process the customer's transactions off-line or (c) receive number 359 which has been calculated by central processing unit CPU for comparison with the customer's PIN, extended credit balance 362, maximum cash limit 364 and one or more account descriptions 366n, actual account balances 369n and working balances 367n.

After central processing unit CPU assembles the reply message, the central processing unit CPU polls the remote unit via master communication controller MCC. The poll queries the remote unit whether or not the remote unit is in condition to receive the reply message. The remote unit responds by transmitting an acknowledgement if it is in condition to receive the reply message. Master communication controller MCC then transmits the reply message to the remote unit.

The remote unit in response to the reply message uses bank code 15 to access an algorithm in remote unit memory and uses the algorithm to calculate from the same date and time data which the remote unit assembled in the request message a number for comparison with line security code 357 (FIG. 8B). If the number calculated by the remote unit matches line security code 357 (FIG. 8B) in the reply message, the remote unit proceeds to determine whether or not the reply message includes a number 359 for comparison with the customer's PIN. If the check of line security code 357 does not result in a match, the remote unit sets an off-line flag and proceeds in the off-line mode of operation.

Focusing here on the on-line mode of operation, if the reply message includes a number 359 (FIG. 8B) for comparison with the customer's PIN, the remote unit compares the PIN which the customer has entered with the number in the reply message. If the reply does not include a number 359 (FIG. 8B), the remote unit compares the PIN which the customer has entered with a number which the remote unit has calculated from account number 13 using an algorithm which is associated with bank code 15. If a match results, the remote unit determines whether or not the reply message includes card update data and, if so, sets a card update flag. The remote unit then checks customer command 358 (FIG. 8B) in the reply message.

Assuming that the remote unit is instructed to proceed with on-line operation, the remote unit queries the customer whether or not he wants to know his actual account balances by displaying "Do You Wish Balance Inquiry?" on display panel 39. The customer responds "yes" or "no" using "Yes" and "No" keys 36. Alternatively, panel 30 may have a separate inquiry balance key. If the customer responds "yes" using "Yes" key 36 or depresses a separately provided balance inquiry key, the remote unit prints the customer's actual account balances 369n (FIG. 8B) in the reply message on a memorandum and dispenses it to the customer through printer slot 42. The remote unit then queries the customer whether or not he wishes "Another Transaction?" on display panel 39. The customer again responds "yes" or "no" using "Yes" and "No" keys 36.

Assuming that the customer has rejected a balance inquiry or that after a balance inquiry he wishes a transaction involving funds in one or more of his accounts, the remote unit enables certain transaction selector keys 31 for customer selection depending on the account descriptions 366n (FIG. 8B) in the reply message. The remote unit instructs the customer to (a) "Select Transaction" and, after the customer selects a transaction using transaction selector keys 31, (b) "Enter Amount" on display panel 39.

Once the customer selects a transaction using one of the transaction selector keys 31 and enters a transaction amount using either amount selector keys 37 or keyboard 38, the remote unit proceeds to determine what type of transaction the customer has selected. The transaction falls into one of three categories; that is, each transaction is (a) a cash withdrawal, (b) a fund transfer or (c) a deposit or payment.

If the customer selects a cash withdrawal while the system is on-line, the remote unit determines from the transaction selector key 31 which the customer selects and the account descriptions 366n (FIG. 8B) in the reply message whether or not the customer has several accounts which can serve as the debit account. For example, the customer may have selected a cash withdrawal from savings account, and he has several savings accounts. In this multiple account situation, the remote unit instructs the customer to "Enter `From` Account Suffix Code." When so instructed, the customer enters a predetermined numerical designation, such as "02", to specify the debit account. After the remote unit determines which account is the debit account, it compares the amount entered by the customer using amount selector keys 37 (FIG. 3) with working balance 367n (FIG. 8B) for the debit account. If the amount entered by the customer exceeds the working balance for the debit account, the remote unit adds extended credit balance 362 (FIG. 8B) in the reply to the working balance for the debit account and compares the amount entered by the customer against the sum. If the amount entered by the customer exceeds the sum of the working balance for the debit account plus the extended credit balance, the remote unit changes the amount entered by the customer so that it equals the sum of the working balance for the debit account plus the extended credit balance.

Thereafter, the remote unit adds the original amount entered by the customer, or as changed to the sum of the working balance for the debit account plus the extended credit balance, to the previous total of the customer's cash withdrawals since he inserted his card, i.e., since he most recently commenced use of the system. If the total exceeds maximum cash limit 364 (FIG. 8B) included in the reply, the remote unit first responds "Limit Exceeded" and then queries the customer whether or not he desires "Another Transaction?" on display panel 39. If the maximum cash limit is not exceeded, the remote unit dispenses cash to the customer in the amount entered by the customer, or as changed to the sum of the working balance for the debit account plus the extended credit balance; debits the working balance for the debit account by the amount dispensed to the customer or debits the working balance to zero and the extended credit balance by the amount by which the amount dispensed to the customer exceeds the working balance for the debit account; adds the amount dispensed to the customer to the previous total of the customer's cash withdrawals since he inserted his card; records the cash withdrawal in a transaction file in remote unit memory; and queries the customer whether or not he desires "Another Transaction?" on display panel 39.

If the customer selects a fund transfer while the system is on-line, the remote unit determines from the transaction selector key 31 which the customer selects and the account descriptions 366n (FIG. 8B) in the reply message whether or not the customer has several accounts which can serve as the debit account, i.e., whether or not the selected one of transaction selector keys 31 and account descriptions 366n (FIG. 8B) indicate that funds are to be transferred from one of multiple accounts. Similarly, the remote unit determines from the transaction selector key 31 which the customer selects and the account descriptions 366n (FIG. 8B) in the reply message whether or not the customer has several accounts which can serve as the credit account, i.e., whether or not the selected one of transaction selector keys 31 and account descriptions 366n (FIG. 8B) indicate that funds are to be transferred to one of multiple accounts. For example, the customer may have selected a transfer from savings to checking accounts, and he has several savings and several checking accounts. In this multiple account situation, the remote unit (a) instructs the customer to "Enter `From` Account Suffix Code" and (b) instructs the customer to "Enter `To` Account Suffix Code." When so instructed, the customer enters predetermined numerical designations, such as "01" and "04," to designate the debit and credit accounts, respectively.

After the remote unit determines which account is the debit account and which account is the credit account, it compares the amount entered by the customer using keyboard 38 with the working balance 367n (FIG. 8B) for the debit account. If the amount entered by the customer exceeds the working balance, the remote unit denies the fund transfer. The remote unit then queries the customer whether or not he desires "Another Transaction?" on display panel 39. If the amount entered by the customer does not exceed the working balance, the remote unit debits the working balance for the debit account; records the fund transfer in the transaction file in remote unit memory; and queries the customer whether or not he desires "Another Transaction?" on display panel 39.

If the customer selects a deposit or payment while the system is on-line using deposit/payment key 32, the remote unit operates depository 33 to accept the deposit or payment; records the deposit or payment in the amount entered by the customer using keyboard 38 in the transaction file in remote unit memory; and queries the customer whether or not he desires "Another Transaction?" on display panel 39.

In summary of the on-line transaction sequence, the remote unit queries the customer whether or not he desires to review his actual account balances prior to withdrawing cash, transferring funds or making deposits or payments. If he does, the remote unit prints the customer's actual account balances 369n (FIG. 8B) on a memorandum and dispenses it to the customer. The remote unit then determines from account descriptions 366n (FIG. 8B) in the reply which transactions the customer may perform and enables certain transaction selector keys 31 accordingly. The remote unit then determines from the enabled transaction selector key 31 which the customer selects and the account descriptions 366n (FIG. 8B) in the reply whether or not multiple debit accounts are involved in the case of a cash withdrawal or multiple debit and/or credit accounts are involved in the case of a fund transfer. If multiple accounts are involved, the remote unit instructs the customer to enter predetermined numerical designations before proceeding.

The remote unit processes and authorizes or denies the transaction which the customer selects. It uses working balance 367n for the debit account, extended credit balance 362 and maximum cash limit 364 (FIG. 8B) in the reply to process a cash withdrawal. It uses the working balance 367n (FIG. 8B) in the reply to process a fund transfer. Thus, the burden of processing and authorizing or denying customer transactions, such as cash withdrawals and fund transfers, rests with the remote unit. The remote unit operates the depository 33 to accept a deposit or payment.

After each transaction, regardless of whether it is authorized or denied, the remote unit queries the customer whether or not he wants another transaction. This permits the customer to transact a series of transactions, including cash withdrawals, fund transfers and deposits and payments, pursuant to a single insertion of his card. In addition, the remote unit processes and authorizes or denies additional transactions in the series without any further communication with the central station.

After the customer completes his transactions, the remote unit, in the event that the discretionary file contains card update data or in the event the reply message includes card update data, updates card 10 and returns it to the customer. The remote unit also prints a receipt for the customer's on-line transactions and dispenses it to the customer.

The remote unit then assembles an on-line transaction completion message which includes the same data as the off-line transaction completion message which has been discussed above, but the on-line completion message also includes predetermined numerical designations 408n (FIG. 9) for "From" accounts and 409n (FIG. 9) for "To" accounts if multiple accounts are involved.

The remote unit transmits the on-line completion message to the central station. The central unit is responsive to the on-line completion message to account for the on-line transactions reported therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM AND OPERATION

Operation of the on-line/off-line automated banking system of the present invention will be better understood by reference jointly to the panel drawing of FIG. 3 and the flow diagram of FIG. 5.

Card Reading

Initially, protective door 45 is closed to conceal transaction selector keys 31, depository 33, "Yes" and "No" keys 36, keyboard 38, display panel 39, cash amount selector keys 37, cash slot 40 and printer slot 42, and remote unit 60 is idle. A customer inserts card 10 (FIG. 2) into card reader/writer 43 as indicated by customer function 70. The customer activates card reader/writer 43 when he inserts his card. Remote unit 60 senses the actuation of card reader/writer 43 and exits its idle condition as indicated by machine function 71.

Card reader/writer 43 reads card 10 (FIG. 2) as indicated by machine function 72. FIG. 6 shows the card reading operation in greater detail. The customer inserts card 10 in card reader/writer 43. Card reader/writer 43 reads card 10 and enters data from card 10 into buffer register 201 via data line 202.

Card Data Checking and Storage

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 5, remote unit 60 conducts checks on data which card reader/writer 43 reads from card 10 (FIG. 2) as indicated by machine function 73. The checks comprise parity and longitudinal register check (LRC) operations which are indicated in FIG. 6 at 203 and 204, respectively. Thus, remote unit 60 first checks data in buffer register 201 to determine whether or not its vertical bit format is correct. Second, remote unit 60 checks data in buffer register 201 to determine whether or not its horizontal bit format is correct. Of course, different data checks could be used as substitutes and/or supplements.

Returning to FIG. 5, if machine function 73 indicates that the data format is incorrect, card reader/writer 43 re-reads card 10 as remote unit 60 returns to machine function 72. If machine function 73 indicates that the data format is correct, the data from card 10 is transcribed into remote unit 60 memory as indicated by machine function 74. Referring to FIG. 6, if the data format is correct, a signal from longitudinal register check 204 gates data in buffer register 201 to remote unit 60 memory 205 via AND gate 28 and data line 29. Data from buffer register 201 which enters remote unit 60 memory 205 includes account number 13 and account suffix 16, expiration date 14, bank code 15, control code 17, usage interval 19, next usage date (NUD) 18, credit limit 20 and amount remaining 21, which enter registers 206 through 213, respectively.

Bank Code Check

Referring again to FIG. 5, after data on card 10 (FIG. 2) is stored in remote unit 60 memory, remote unit 60 checks bank code 15 (FIG. 2) to determine whether or not the card is usable in the system as indicated by machine function 75. Referring to FIG. 6, the bank code check operation entails a comparison by bank code comparator 214 of data in bank code register 208 read from the card with a file of recognized bank codes in registers 216.sub.1, 216.sub.2, . . . 216.sub.n in remote unit 60 memory 215. Returning to FIG. 5, if bank code 15 (FIG. 2) does not appear in the file of recognized bank codes in remote unit 60 memory, card 10 is returned to the customer as indicated by machine function 69, and remote unit 60 returns to its idle condition.

Duplicate Card