System and method for dispensing digital information from an automated transaction machine

Abstract

An automated teller machine (ATM) ( 10 ) includes an input device ( 16 ) a card reader ( 20 ), a cash dispenser ( 24 ), and an output device ( 18 ). The ATM is operative to read account information from a card with the card reader and validate a user PIN input through the input device. The ATM is also operative to dispense cash with the cash dispenser and dispense digital content with the output device responsive to user input selections. The ATM is further operative to charge a user fee to an account associated with the card for the dispense of cash and digital content. Digital content dispensed by the ATM may include sound recordings such as MP3 files, video files, books, and other digital data. To dispense sound files the output device may include a sound system that is operative to output audio that corresponds to the dispensed sound recording files. The sound files may be acquired by the ATM from a digital information source on the Internet or other network. Licensing fees associated with the dispense of the digital files may be transferred to a source or licensing entity associated with the digital content.

1 . A method comprising: 
 a) through operation of an ATM including a cash dispenser communicating data corresponding to at least one audiovisual presentation to a portable computing device placed in operative connection with the ATM by a user,    b) through operation of the ATM, assessing to an account of the user a fee associated with communicating the data corresponding to the at least one audiovisual presentation to the portable computing device    
   
   
       2 - 82 . (canceled)  
   
   
       83 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in (a) the at least one audiovisual presentation includes audio and visual content of a movie.  
   
   
       84 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in (a) the at least one audiovisual presentation includes audio and visual content of a TV program.  
   
   
       85 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in (a) the at least one audiovisual presentation includes audio and visual content of a video.  
   
   
       86 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in (a) the data corresponding to at least one audiovisual presentation includes data corresponding to audio and visual content capable of being played through operation of the portable computing device subsequent to (a).  
   
   
       87 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 c) during at least a portion of (a), performing a banking transaction through operation of the ATM.    
   
   
       88 . The method according to  claim 87 , wherein in (c) the banking transaction includes dispensing cash through operation of the cash dispenser in the ATM.  
   
   
       89 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ATM includes a portable computing device communication port, wherein (a) includes the ATM and the portable computing device communicating the data corresponding to the at least one audiovisual presentation through the portable computing device communication port.  
   
   
       90 . The method according to  claim 89 , wherein in (a), the portable computing device communication port includes a USB port.  
   
   
       91 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 c) storing in a local content data store in the ATM, digital content from at least one remote content data store accessed through at least one network by the ATM;    d) producing the data corresponding to at least one audiovisual presentation in (a) through operation of at least one processor in the ATM responsive to at least portions of the digital content stored in the local content data store in the ATM.    
   
   
       92 . The method according to  claim 91 , further comprising: 
 e) prior to (a) through operation of the at least one processor, causing content indicia corresponding to a plurality of portions of the digital content to be output through at least one display device of the ATM;    f) receiving at least one selection input through at least one input device of the ATM, wherein the selection input corresponds to one of the plurality of portions of the digital content, wherein the at least one audiovisual presentation in (a) corresponds to a selected one of the plurality of portions of the digital content.    
   
   
       93 . The method according to  claim 91 , further comprising: 
 e) prior to (a) through operation of the at least one processor in the ATM, causing output of audio and visual content through at least one output device of the ATM responsive to the digital content stored in the local content data store in the ATM.    
   
   
       94 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 c) prior to (a) receiving at least one input through at least one input device of the ATM, wherein the at least one input provides data identifying the account assessed the fee in (b).    
   
   
       95 . The method according to  claim 94 , wherein in (c) the input device includes a card reader, wherein the data identifying the account includes a financial account number.  
   
   
       96 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data corresponding to the at least one audiovisual presentation communicated in (a) is adapted to restrict access to audiovisual content in the audiovisual presentation by a further computing device.  
   
   
       97 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data corresponding to the at least one audiovisual presentation communicated in (a), is adapted to limit a number of times the at least one audiovisual file can be output by the portable computing device.  
   
   
       98 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data corresponding to the at least one audiovisual presentation communicated in (a), is adapted to limit a time period during which the at least one audiovisual presentation can be output by the portable computing device.  
   
   
       99 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in (a) the portable computing device includes a personal digital assistant (PDA).  
   
   
       100 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in (a) the portable computing device includes a computer.  
   
   
       101 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in (a) the portable computing device includes a mobile phone.  
   
   
       102 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in (a) the portable computing device includes a hard drive.  
   
   
       103 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in (a) the portable computing device includes a flash memory.  
   
   
       104 . Computer readable media bearing computer executable instructions which are operative to cause at least one processor included in the ATM to cause the ATM to carry out the method steps recited in  claim 1.