Cash dispensing automated banking machine and method

Abstract

An automated banking machine ( 12 ) is operative to conduct transactions in response to HTML documents and TCP/IP messages exchanged with a local computer system ( 14 ) through an intranet ( 16 ), as well as in response to messages exchanged with foreign servers ( 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 96 ) in a wide area network ( 18 ). The banking machine includes a computer ( 34 ) having an HTML document handling portion ( 76, 80, 82 ). The HTML document handling portion is operative to communicate through a proxy server ( 88 ), with a home HTTP server ( 90 ) in the intranet or the foreign servers in the wide area network. The computer further includes a device application portion ( 84 ) which interfaces with the HTML document handling portion and dispatches messages to operate devices ( 36 ) in the automated banking machine. The devices include a sheet dispenser mechanism ( 42 ) which dispenses currency as well as other transaction devices. The device application portion communicates with a device interfacing software portion ( 64 ) in the banking machine through a device server ( 92 ) in the intranet. The device server maintains local control over the devices in the banking machine including the sheet dispenser. The banking machine operates to read indicia on the user's card corresponding to a system address. The computer is operative to connect the banking machine to the home or foreign server corresponding to the system address, which connected server operates the banking machine until the completion of transactions by the user.

1 . An automated banking machine apparatus comprising: 
 at least one input device including a first input device operative to receive inputs identifying at least one of a user and a user account;    at least one output device adapted for providing outputs to users;    at least one cash dispenser selectively operative to dispense currency sheets to users;    at least one computer in operative connection with the at least one input device, at least one output device, and at least one cash dispenser, wherein the at least one computer includes software operative therein, and wherein the software is operative to cause the apparatus to carry out cash dispensing transactions wherein cash is dispensed to users whose accounts are assessed for cash dispensed, and wherein in cash dispensing transactions the at least one computer is operative to process at least one mark up language document;    and wherein the software includes screening software operative to prevent the at least one computer from operating responsive to communication with at least one system address.    
     
     
         2 - 7 . (canceled)  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one system address corresponds to an address associated with at least one remote computer.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the screening software is operative to prevent the at least one computer from sending messages to at least one system address corresponding to at least one remote system.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the screening software comprises a firewall.  
     
     
         11 . A method comprising: 
 a) operating screening software in at least one computer, wherein the screening software is selectively operative to determine which of a plurality of remote systems are permitted and are not permitted to communicate with at least one computer in an automated banking machine;    b) responsive to (a) preventing with the screening software at least one first communication between at least one first remote system and the at least one computer in the automated banking machine;    c) responsive to (a) permitting with the screening software at least one second communication between at least one second remote system and the at least one computer in the automated banking machine;    d) enabling through operation of the at least one computer of the machine, a user to receive cash from the automated banking machine through operation of at least one cash dispenser in the automated banking machine responsive to the at least one second communication in (c), wherein the second communication is operative to cause the at least one computer in the automated banking machine to process at least one mark up language document.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein in (a) the screening software comprises a firewall.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein in (a) each of the plurality of remote systems is associated with a network address, wherein the screening software is operative responsive to the network address associated with each remote system to determine which remote systems are permitted and not permitted to communicate with the at least one computer in the automated banking machine.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein in (a) the at least one computer in which the screening software operates is located remotely from the automated banking machine.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein in (a) a proxy server includes the screening software.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein in (c) the at least one second remote system includes a foreign server.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein in (b) and (c) at least portions of the at least one first connection and at least one second connection include at least one wide area network.  
     
     
         18 . An article bearing instructions executable by at least one computer in an automated banking machine operative to cause an automated banking machine to carry out the method steps recited in  claim 11 .  
     
     
         19 . A method comprising: 
 a) screening connections between a plurality of remote systems and at least one automated banking machine responsive to operation of screening software operating in at least one computer;    b) limiting connection of at least one of the remote systems to the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the screening software in the at least one computer;    c) enabling connection between at least one of the remote systems and the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the screening software in the at least one computer;    d) processing at least one mark up language by at least one computer in the automated banking machine responsive to the enabled connection in (c);    e) responsive to (d) enabling through operation of the least one computer in the automated banking machine, a user to cause the automated banking machine to dispense cash through operation of a cash dispenser of the automated banking machine.    
     
     
         20 . An article bearing instructions executable by at least one computer in an automated banking machine operative to cause an automated banking machine to carry out the method steps recited in  claim 19 .  
     
     
         21 . A method comprising: 
 a) screening communications between a plurality of remote systems and at least one automated banking machine responsive to operation of screening software operating in at least one computer;    b) limiting operation of the automated banking machine responsive to communication with a first remote system responsive to operation of the screening software in the at least one computer;    c) enabling the automated banking machine to process at least one mark up language with the automated banking machine responsive to communication with a second remote system responsive to operation of the screening software in the at least one computer;    d) responsive to (c) enabling through operation of at least one computer in the automated banking machine, a user to cause the automated banking machine to dispense cash through operation of a cash dispenser of the automated banking machine.    
     
     
         22 . An article bearing instructions executable by at least one computer in an automated banking machine operative to cause an automated banking machine to carry out the method steps recited in  claim 21.