Cash dispensing automated transaction machine and method

Abstract

A system for connecting transaction services to an ATM ( 10, 500 ) that includes a network ( 20 ). A user interface service ( 12 ) and a lookup service ( 22 ) are in operative connection with the network. Transaction services such as a printer service ( 16 ), card reader service ( 18 ), and cash dispenser service ( 14 ) are also in operative connection with the network. These transaction services are operative to register with the lookup service and to upload a service proxy to the lookup service. The user interface service is operative to locate transaction services on the network by invoking a remote lookup method on the lookup service. The lookup service is operative to return service proxies that match the type of service that is required. The user interface service is further operative to invoke methods of the service proxies that remotely control the functionality of the transaction services on the network. The user interface service is further operative to register events with the service proxies for notification when certain events on the services occur.

1 - 35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . An automated transaction machine including a cash dispenser comprising: 
 at least one transaction service including: 
 a processor;  
 a transaction function device in operative connection with the processor; and  
 a service proxy software component stored in operative connection with the processor,  
   wherein the processor is operative to communicate with at least one other service in the automated transaction machine, wherein the processor is operative to cause a copy of the service proxy to be delivered from the at least one transaction service to the at least one other service, and wherein the service proxy in the at least one other service is operative to cause at least one command to be sent to the processor, wherein the processor is operative responsive to the at least one command to cause the transaction function device to perform a transaction function.    
   
   
       37 . The machine according to  claim 36 , wherein the transaction function device is a card reader, and wherein the transaction function includes reading an account number from a card.  
   
   
       38 . The machine according to  claim 36 , wherein the service proxy is operative in a JVM associated with the at least one other service.  
   
   
       39 . The machine according to  claim 36 , wherein the processor of the at least one transaction service is operative to register with the at least one other service responsive to the processor of the at least one transaction service receiving a discovery announcement message from the at least one other service.  
   
   
       40 . The machine according to  claim 36 , wherein the automated transaction machine comprises a lookup service and wherein the processor of the at least one transaction service is operative to cause the service proxy to register with the lookup service.  
   
   
       41 . The machine according to  claim 36 , wherein the transaction function device includes the cash dispenser, and wherein the transaction function includes dispensing cash through operation of the cash dispenser.  
   
   
       42 . (canceled)  
   
   
       43 . The machine according to  claim 36 , wherein the at least one other service includes a user interface software component operative in at least one other processor of the machine, wherein the machine includes an input device, wherein the user interface software component is operative responsive to an input received through the input device to cause a method of the service proxy to be invoked which is operative to send the at least one command.  
   
   
       44 . A cash dispensing automated transaction machine including a cash dispenser comprising: 
 a cash dispenser;    at least one transaction service including: 
 a processor;  
 a data store in operative connection with the processor;  
 a transaction function device in operative connection with the processor; and  
 device driver data stored in the data store,  
   wherein the processor is operative to enable the device driver data to be communicated from the data store to at least one further processor in the machine, wherein the device driver data is operative in the at least one further processor to enable the at least one further processor to communicate at least one command to the at least one transaction service, which command causes the transaction function device to perform a transaction function.    
   
   
       45 . The machine according to  claim 44 , wherein the device driver data comprises a device driver software component, wherein the device driver software component is operative to execute in the at least one further processor.  
   
   
       46 . The machine according to  claim 45 , wherein the device driver software component comprises a service proxy software component that is operative to execute in a virtual machine of the at least one further processor.  
   
   
       47 . The machine according to  claim 45 , wherein the device driver software component includes a software method operative to be invoked by the at least one further processor, wherein the software method is operative to cause communication between the at least one further processor and the processor of the at least one transaction service, which communication includes the at least one command.  
   
   
       48 . The machine according to  claim 47 , wherein the communication between the at least one further processor and the processor of the at least one transaction service includes a remote procedure call.  
   
   
       49 . The machine according to  claim 47 , and further comprising an input device in operative connection with the at least one further processor, and a further software component operative in the at least one further processor, wherein the further software component is operative responsive to an input received through the input device to cause the at least one further processor to invoke the software method of the device driver software component.  
   
   
       50 . The machine according to  claim 45 , and further comprising a lookup service and a data store associated with the lookup service, wherein the processor of the at least one transaction service is operative to communicate the device driver software component to the lookup service for storage in the data store associated with the lookup service, wherein the at least one further processor is operative to access the device driver software component from the lookup service.  
   
   
       51 . The machine according to  claim 45 , wherein the transaction function device includes the cash dispenser, wherein the device driver software component corresponds to a cash dispenser device driver software component, wherein the transaction function includes dispensing cash through operation of the cash dispenser.  
   
   
       52 . The machine according to  claim 45 , and further comprising a card reader, and wherein the transaction function device includes the card reader, wherein the device driver software component corresponds to a card reader device driver software component, wherein the transaction function includes reading financial account data from a card through operation of the card reader.  
   
   
       53 . The machine according to  claim 45  and further comprising a deposit accepting device, and wherein the transaction function device includes the deposit accepting device, wherein the device driver software component corresponds to a deposit accepting device driver software component, wherein the transaction function includes accepting a deposit into the machine through operation of the deposit accepting device.  
   
   
       54 . The machine according to  claim 44 , further comprising at least one further service comprising: 
 the at least one further processor;    a data store in operative connection with the at least one further processor;    further device driver data stored in the data store;    wherein the at least one further processor is operative to enable the further device driver data to be communicated from the data store of the further service to the processor of the at least one transaction service, wherein the further device driver data is operative in the processor of the at least one transaction service to enable the processor of the at least one transaction service to communicate at least one further command to the further service, wherein the further command causes the at least one further processor to carry out at least a portion of a financial transaction which financial transaction includes the transaction function.    
   
   
       55 . The machine according to  claim 54 , wherein the further service includes a user interface service.  
   
   
       56 . The machine according to  claim 54 , wherein the further service includes a further transaction function device.  
   
   
       57 . A method comprising: 
 a) communicating, through operation of a processor of a transaction service in an ATM including a cash dispenser, device driver data from a data store of the transaction service to at least one further processor in the machine, wherein the transaction service includes a transaction function device in operative connection with the processor of the transaction service;    b) causing, through operation of the at least one further processor responsive to the device driver data, at least one command to be communicated from the at least one further processor to the transaction service;    c) performing a transaction function with the transaction function device of the ATM responsive to the at least one command.    
   
   
       58 . The method according to  claim 57 , wherein the device driver data comprises a device driver software component, wherein (b) includes executing device driver software component in the at least one further processor.  
   
   
       59 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein the device driver software component comprises a service proxy software component, wherein (b) includes operating the service proxy software component in a virtual machine of the at least one further processor.  
   
   
       60 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein the device driver software component includes a software method, wherein (b) includes: 
 d) invoking the software method of the device driver software component through operation of the at least one further processor, wherein the software method causes the at lease one command to be communicated.    
   
   
       61 . The method according to  claim 60 , wherein (b) includes performing a remote procedure call.  
   
   
       62 . The method according to  claim 60 , wherein the ATM further comprises an input device in operative connection with the at least one further processor, and further comprising: 
 e) prior to (c), receiving an input through the input device;    wherein (d) is performed responsive to (e).    
   
   
       63 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein the ATM comprises a lookup service, wherein the lookup service includes a data store, wherein (a) includes: 
 d) communicating the device driver software component from the processor of the transaction service to the lookup service;    e) storing the device driver software component in a data store of the lookup service;    f) accessing the device driver software component from the lookup service through operation of the at least one further processor.    
   
   
       64 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein the transaction function device includes the cash dispenser, wherein the device driver software component corresponds to a cash dispenser device driver software component, wherein (c) includes dispensing cash through operation of the cash dispenser.  
   
   
       65 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein the transaction function device includes a card reader, wherein the device driver software component corresponds to a card reader device driver software component, wherein (c) includes reading financial account data from a card through operation of the card reader.  
   
   
       66 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein the transaction function device includes a deposit accepting device, wherein the device driver software component corresponds to a deposit accepting device driver software component, wherein (c) includes accepting a deposit into the machine through operation of the deposit accepting device.  
   
   
       67 . The method according to  claim 57 , wherein the machine includes at least one further service including the at least one further processor and a further data store, and further comprising: 
 d) communicating, through operation of the at least one further processor, further device driver data from the further data store to the processor of the transaction service;    e) causing, through operation of the processor of the transaction service responsive to the further device driver data, at least one further command to be communicated from the processor of the transaction service to the further service,    f) causing through operation of the at least one further processor responsive to the further command, at least a portion of a financial transaction to be carried out, which financial transaction includes the transaction function in (c).    
   
   
       68 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein the further service includes a user interface service, wherein (f) includes providing a user interface output through a display device of the ATM.  
   
   
       69 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein the further service includes a further transaction function device, wherein (f) includes causing the further transaction function device to perform a further transaction function.  
   
   
       70 . Computer readable media bearing instructions which are operative to cause at least one processor in an ATM to cause the ATM to carry out the method steps recited in  claim 57.