AU2012101270A4 - A system for facilitating a cash withdrawl from a financial account including an electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal and a separate automated cash dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a system for facilitating a withdrawal from a user's financial account and for dispensing cash to the user. The system includes an electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal that is operable for receiving a user's financial account information, verification information and desired cash withdrawal amount information. A server is operable for receiving the user's financial account, verification and desired cash withdrawal amount information from the electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal. A cash dispensing device that is remote from the electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal and that is operable for dispensing a cash amount equivalent to the desired cash withdrawal amount in response to instructions received from the server and identification of the user by the cash dispensing device. The invention also provides a method of operating an electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal to facilitate a withdrawal from a user's financial account and to facilitate a desired amount of cash to be dispensed to the user. The invention also provides a method of operating an automated cash dispensing device in a transaction involving a cash withdrawal from a user's financial account. o CD CO, 0o C o a_ C, (D Co a) w

Description

P/00/009A Section 29 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Invention Title: A SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING A CASH WITHDRAWAL FROM A FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INCLUDING AN ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER AT POINT OF SALE TERMINAL AND A SEPARATE AUTOMATED CASH DISPENSING DEVICE Applicant: EFTEX Pty Ltd The invention is described in the following statement: 1 7019 2 A SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING A CASH WITHDRAWAL FROM A FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INCLUDING AN ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER AT POINT OF SALE TERMINAL AND A SEPARATE AUTOMATED CASH DISPENSING DEVICE This application claims priority from Australian Provisional Application No. 2012902914 filed on 6 July 2012, the contents of which are to be taken as incorporated herein by this reference. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to methods, systems and apparatus for facilitating a financial transaction. In particular, the present invention relates to methods, systems and apparatus for facilitating a withdrawal of an amount from a user's financial account and dispensing an amount of cash equivalent to the withdrawal amount to the user. Background of the Invention Automated teller machines (ATMs) and electronic funds transfer at point of sale (EFTPOS) terminals have been in use for many years. Most ATM and EFTPOS devices function in the same manner whereby a user's financial account details are input into the device, which may include the user's financial account type and user identification information such as a personal identification number (PIN), and the information is sent to a bank, a financial institution or a third party transaction clearing organisation for authorisation. One type of transaction that can be carried out via an ATM or an EFTPOS terminal is known as a cash out transaction whereby a user can debit an amount to their financial account and receive an amount of cash equivalent to the debited amount. When authorisation is received by the ATM or the EFTPOS device the transaction is completed such as by providing cash to the user and issuing a receipt. In circumstances where the transaction involves a cash-out transaction carried out via an EFTPOS terminal then the cash provided to the user is typically taken from a cash register or till by an employee of the establishment operating the EFTPOS terminal. In establishments that operate one or more EFTPOS terminals and offer a cash-out service to patrons a number of cash registers or tills may be maintained on the premises. Furthermore, each cash register or till may contain substantial amounts of cash to ensure that sufficient quantities of cash are available for patrons wishing to utilize the cash-out facility. Furthermore, for each EFTPOS terminal maintained on the premises that offers a 3 cash-out service it is necessary to maintain a separate cash register or till. An establishment that maintains multiple cash registers or tills containing substantial quantities of cash offers an attractive target for theft or robbery. Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention provides, in a first aspect, a system for facilitating a withdrawal from a user's financial account and for dispensing cash to the user, the system including: - an electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal that is operable for receiving a user's financial account information, verification information and desired cash withdrawal amount information; - a server that is operable for receiving the user's financial account, verification and desired cash withdrawal amount information from the electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal; and - a cash dispensing device that is remote from the electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal and that is operable for dispensing a cash amount equivalent to the desired cash withdrawal amount in response to instructions received from the server and identification of the user by the cash dispensing device. In an embodiment, the server is operable for facilitating a withdrawal of the desired cash withdrawal amount from a user's financial account in response to an authentication of the user's financial account information, verification information and a verification of the availability of the desired cash amount in the user's account. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating an electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal to facilitate a withdrawal from a user's financial account and to facilitate a desired amount of cash to be dispensed to the user, the method including: - receiving a user's financial account and verification information and desired cash withdrawal amount information; and - transmitting the user's financial account, verification and desired cash withdrawal amount information to a server, whereby the server processes and sends instructions to a separate automated cash dispensing device to authorise the cash dispensing device to dispense an amount of cash equivalent to the desired cash withdrawal amount in response to identification of the user by the cash dispensing device.

4 In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating an automated cash dispensing device in a transaction involving a cash withdrawal from a user's financial account, including: - receiving instructions from a server to authorise the cash dispensing device to dispense an amount of cash equivalent to a desired cash withdrawal amount in response to the server receiving a user's financial account and verification information and desired cash withdrawal amount information from a separate electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal; and - dispensing the cash amount in response to identification of the user by the cash dispensing device. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating a server to facilitate a withdrawal from a user's financial account and to dispense cash to a user, the method including: - receiving a user's financial account information, verification information and desired cash withdrawal amount information from an electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal; - facilitating a withdrawal of the desired cash withdrawal amount from a user's financial account; and - authorising a cash dispensing device separate from the electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal to dispense an amount of cash equivalent to the desired cash withdrawal amount in response to the identification of the user by the automated cash dispensing device. It will be appreciated that further embodiments of the invention may be set forth in the following detailed description and drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings The following is a brief description of the figures which illustrate embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 is a diagram of a transaction system for enabling a cash-out transaction to be facilitated by an electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal and a separate automated cash dispensing device. Figure 2 is a diagram of an embodiment of the transaction system of figure 1.

5 Figure 3 illustrates the components of the embodiment of figure 2 including, an electronic funds transfer at point of sale (EFTPOS) terminal, a server, a financial institution processor and a separate automated cash dispenser. Figure 4 illustrates the components of another embodiment of the transaction system of Figure 1 including two electronic funds transfer at point of sale (EFTPOS) terminals, a server, a financial institution processor and a separate automated cash dispenser. Figure 5 is a diagram of a method of facilitating a withdrawal from a user's financial account and dispensing cash to the user wherein the method is carried out with an electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal and with a separate automated cash dispensing device. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein but rather is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Detailed description Various aspects of the present invention are described herein below with reference to embodiments of systems, methods and apparatus for facilitating a withdrawal from a user's financial account and dispensing an amount of cash to the user by an electronic funds transfer at point of sale (EFTPOS) terminal and a separate automated cash dispenser. Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a transaction system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The transaction system 100 includes an EFTPOS terminal 20 which is connected via a network connection 105 to a server 60. The transaction system 100 further includes a separate automated cash dispensing device 40 that is also connected to the server 60 via a further network connection 115. Furthermore, the server 60 is connected to a financial institution processor 110 via yet a further network connection 125. The financial institution processor 110 may include a bank processor, a financial institution processor or a third party transaction clearing organisation processor for the purpose of clearing financial transactions carried out on the system 100. The systems, methods and apparatus of embodiments of the present invention facilitate a financial transaction involving a debit to a user's financial account and dispensing cash to the user. In use, a user enters their financial account information, such as an account 6 number, and verification information, such as a personal identification (PIN) number, and a desired cash withdrawal amount into the EFTPOS terminal 20. The EFTPOS terminal 20 transmits the user's financial account and verification information and desired cash withdrawal amount to the server 60. The server 60 processes the information, which may include clearing the transaction with the financial institution processor 110. Assuming that the transaction is cleared the server 60 sends instructions to the separate automated cash dispensing device 40. The separate automated cash dispensing device 40 is responsive to instructions from the server 60 to dispense an amount of cash to the user that is equivalent to the cash withdrawal amount entered by the user into the EFTPOS terminal 20. However, the cash dispensing device 40 will only dispense cash to the user in response to identification of the user by the automated cash dispensing device 40. Accordingly, the transaction system 100 enables a user to carry out a cash withdrawal transaction and the cash is dispensed to the user by an automated cash dispensing device that is separate from the EFTPOS terminal 20. Thus, the automated cash dispensing device 40 can be a secure cash dispensing device that is resistant to theft or robbery and that can be located remotely from the EFTPOS terminal 20. Furthermore, any cash registers or tills that are maintained on the premises on which the transaction system 100 is installed need not contain large sums of cash to facilitate cash-out transactions via the EFTPOS terminal 20. Figure 2 illustrates a transaction system 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention and Figure 3 illustrates the components of the embodiment of Figure 2. Accordingly, Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a transaction system 200 that includes an EFTPOS terminal 120. The EFTPOS terminal 120 includes a card reader 122, a user interface 124 in the form of a keypad, a printer 126 and a display 128. The system 200 also includes a server 160 and a communication link 205 between the EFTPOS terminal 120 and the server 160. The EFTPOS terminal 120 may include a central processing unit (not shown) that is operable for executing instructions to control the card reader 122, the user interface 124, the printer 126 and the display 128. The communication link 205 could include an Internet connection or a direct connection and may include a wireless link (WAN or mobile telecommunications network) and/or a wired communications network (e.g. PSTN, ISDN, ADSL) or an optical link. The EFTPOS terminal 160 is operable to receive information entered by a user such as the user's account information, the user's identification information and an amount of cash that the user wants to withdraw from their financial account. The card reader 122 may determine 7 the user's account information from their user's card. Otherwise the user's account information can be entered manually into the user interface 124. The EFTPOS terminal 160 may include other means of reading other electronic media containing a user's account information such as an RFID reader or a device for communicating with a smartphone. The user may enter identification information into the EFTPOS terminal such as by entering a PIN into the user interface 124 or by other means. The user may also enter an amount of cash that the user wishes to withdraw from their financial account by entering an amount into the user interface 124. The EFTPOS terminal 124 sends the user's account information, the user's identification information and the amount of cash that the user wants to withdraw to the server 160. The server 160 is operable for receiving information from the EFTPOS terminal 120 via the communication link 205 such as the user's account information, the user's identification information and cash withdrawal amount information. Upon receiving the user's financial account information, verification information and cash withdrawal amount information from the EFTPOS terminal 120, the server 160 communicates with a financial institution processor 210 via a further communication link 225. In particular, the server 160 communicates with the financial institution processor 210 to authenticate the users financial account and verification information and the desired cash withdrawal amount to determine whether the transaction will be authorised by the financial institution processor 210. If the transaction is authorised by the financial institution processor 210 then this authorisation is communicated to the server 160 via the network connection 225. The communication link 225 between the server 160 and the financial institution processor 210 could include an Internet connection or a direct connection and may include a wireless link (WAN or mobile telecommunications network) and/or a wired communications network (e.g. PSTN, ISDN, ADSL) or an optical link. Upon receipt by the server 160 of authorisation of the transaction by the financial institution processor 210 the server communicates with the EFTPOS terminal 120 to confirm that the transaction has been approved by the financial institution processor 210 and the EFTPOS device 120 may display the approval of the transaction on the display 128 and/or print a receipt on the printer 126 confirming the approval of the transaction. Also, the server 160 communicates instructions via a further communication link 215 to an automated cash dispensing device 140 to authorise the automated cash dispensing device 140 to dispense an amount of cash to a user that is equivalent to the amount authorised to be withdrawn from the user's financial account by the financial institution processor 210. The server 160 includes a central processing unit (not shown) that is operable for executing instructions to 8 receive the above mentioned information from the EFTPOS terminal 120, to communicate with the financial institution processor 210 and to communicates instructions to the automated cash dispensing device 140. The automated cash dispensing device 140 includes a card reader 142, a cash storage device 144, such as a secure and hardened vault, and a cash dispensing assembly 146. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the automated cash dispensing device 140 also includes a visual display 148 to communicate information to a user. The automated cash dispensing device 140 receives instructions from the server 160 via the communication link 215 to dispense an amount of cash to a user that is equivalent to the amount authorised to be withdrawn from the user's financial account by the financial institution processor 210. The automated cash dispensing device 140 also receives user identification information from the server 160 with which to identify the user to ensure that cash is dispensed to the correct user and not to another person. Such user identification information may include the user's account information and/or the user's pin and/or any other information that may be provided by the EFTPOS terminal 120 to the user for the purpose of identification. The card reader 142 of the cash dispensing device 140 may identify the user's account information by reading the user's card and thereby identifying the user. Upon identification of the user the cash dispenser 146 dispenses an amount of cash to the user that is equivalent to the amount authorised to be withdrawn from the user's financial account by the financial institution processor 210. In another embodiment, the automated cash dispenser 140 may include a keypad (not shown) to enable the user to enter identification information such as the user's account information, the user's PIN or any other information, such as a pass-code, provided by the EFTPOS terminal 120 to the user for the purposes of identification. The cash dispensing device may include a printer 149 for printing a receipt upon the dispensing of cash by the cash dispenser 140. The automated cash dispenser 140 may include a central processing unit that is operable for executing instructions to control the card reader, the cash storage and cash dispensing devices 144, 146 and the visual display 148 and any other components such as a keypad. The communication link 215 between the automated cash dispensing device 140 and the server 160 could include an Internet connection or a direct connection and may include a wireless link (WAN or mobile telecommunications network) and/or a wired communications network (e.g. PSTN, ISDN, ADSL) or an optical link. Because there is no direct communication link between the EFTPOS terminal 20, 120 and the automated cash dispensing device 40, 140 it is not necessary for the automated cash dispensing device 40, 140 to be co-located with the EFTPOS terminal 20, 120. Nor is it 9 necessary for any hardware to be installed to provide a communication link between the EFTPOS terminal 20, 120 and the automated cash dispensing device 40, 140. The automated cash dispensing device 40, 140 may be located remotely from the EFTPOS terminal 20, 120. The embodiments of the transaction system 100, 200 illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 include a single EFPTOS terminal 20, 120. Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of the transaction system 250 that includes two EFTPOS terminals 270, 275 and a single automated cash dispensing device 280. Each of the two EFTPOS terminals 270, 275 is identical to the EFPTOS terminal 20, 120 of the embodiments of the transaction system 100, 200 illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The two EFTPOS terminals 270, 275 are each connected via network connections 271, 276 to a server 260. The transaction system 250 further includes a separate automated cash dispensing device 280 that is also connected to the server 260 via a further network connection 281. The server 260 is connected to a financial institution processor 290 via a further network connection 291. The financial institution processor 290 may include a bank processor, a financial institution processor or a third party transaction clearing organisation processor for the purpose of clearing financial transactions carried out on the system 250. The two EFTPOS terminals 270, 275 and the single automated cash dispensing device 280 can be installed in an establishment. It is to be appreciated that embodiments of the system of the invention may involve the installation of more than two EFTPOS terminals and a single automated cash dispensing device in an establishment. It is to be appreciated that in further embodiments of the system of the invention may involve the installation of a plurality of EFTPOS terminals and a plurality of automated cash dispensing devices in an establishment. In any of the above mentioned embodiments with multiple EFPTOS terminals cash may be dispensed via the automated cash dispensing device as a result of cash-out withdrawal transactions carried out on any one of the EFTPOS terminals located in the establishment. The financial institution processor 110, 210, 290 illustrated in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 4, may include a processor executing a set of instructions to carry out financial transactions. The financial institution processor 110, 210, 290 may be maintained by a financial institution such as a bank or may be maintained by a third party for the purposes of clearing transactions such as EFTPOS transactions. The financial institution processor 110, 210, 290 typically operates in a manner whereby it receives a request from a server, such as the server 60, 160, 260 of the embodiments illustrated in figures 1 to 4, to authorise a cash out transaction. The request from the server 60, 160, 260 to authorise the transaction includes the user's account information, the user's identification information, such as a pin, 10 and information in relation to the amount of cash that the user wishes to withdraw from their financial account. The financial institution processor 110, 210, 290 processes the request and either approves or denies the request. Approval or denial of the request is communicated by the financial institution processor 110, 210, 290 to the server 60, 160, 260. In response to an approval of the request by the financial institution processor 110, 210, 290 the server 60, 160, 260 sends instructions to the automated cash dispensing device 40, 140, 280 to dispense the cash amount to the user upon identification of the user by the automated cash dispensing device 40, 140, 280. In an embodiment, the server 60, 160 and/or the automated cash dispensing device 40, 140 are configured to cancel the transaction if the automated cash dispensing device 40, 140 does not dispense the cash amount to the user, because for example the user doesn't attempt to identify themselves to the automated cash dispensing device 40, 140 within a predetermined amount of time after entering a completing a cash-out transaction with the EFTPOS terminal 20, 120 (e.g. after 30 mins). In this embodiment, the automated cash dispensing device 40, 140 may send information to the server 60, 160 that the time permitted for the user to withdraw the cash amount has expired. The server 60, 160 may communicate with the financial institution processor 110, 210 to cancel the transaction request and the requested withdrawal amount is not deducted from the user's financial account. Figure 5 illustrates a method 300 of facilitating a withdrawal from a user's financial account and for dispensing cash to the user wherein the method is carried out with an electronic funds transfer and point of sale terminal, such as the EFTPOS terminal 20, 120, and a separate automated cash dispensing device, such as the automated cash dispensing device 40, 140 illustrated in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3. In the method, a user enters financial account information into an EFTPOS terminal 310, the user enters verification information into the EFTPOS terminal 320, and the user enters a cash withdrawal amount into the EFTPOS terminal 330. The EFTPOS terminal transmits 340 financial account information, verification information and cash withdrawal amount information to a server. The server verifies 350 the availability of the desired cash amount in the user's financial account. This may be achieved by the server communicating a request to a financial institution processor, or any other processor that processes EFTPOS transactions, including the user's financial account information, verification information and requested cash withdrawal amount. The financial institution processor processes the request and either approves or denies the request and communicates this decision to the server.

11 The server communicates with the EFTPOS terminal the approval or denial of the transaction for display by the EFTPOS terminal to the user or for a receipt to be printed. In circumstances in which the transaction is approved the server sends instructions 360 to an automated cash dispensing device which is separate and located remotely from the EFTPOS terminal. The cash dispensing device receives the instructions 370 from the server and in response to those instructions and upon identification of the user 380, such as by receiving the users account information or any other information to identify the user, dispenses cash 390 to the user that is equivalent to the amount to be withdrawn from the users account. In circumstances where the automated cash dispensing device does not identify the user 380 then the automated cash dispensing device may send information to the server confirming that the step of identifying the user 380 has not been carried and, as a result, the server may cancel the request to the financial institution processor for approval of the transaction. If the server cancels the request to the financial institution processor for approval of the transaction then the requested cash withdrawal amount will not be debited from the user's financial account. The present invention is not limited to what is described above or illustrated in the Figures, but also includes undescribed equivalents of the invention including but not limited to those recited in the claims.

Claims (5)

1. A system for facilitating a withdrawal from a user's financial account and for dispensing cash to the user, the system including: - an electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal that is operable for receiving a user's financial account information, verification information and desired cash withdrawal amount information; - a server that is operable for receiving the user's financial account, verification and desired cash withdrawal amount information from the electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal; and - a cash dispensing device that is remote from the electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal and that is operable for dispensing a cash amount equivalent to the desired cash withdrawal amount in response to instructions received from the server and identification of the user by the cash dispensing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is operable for facilitating a withdrawal of the desired cash withdrawal amount from a user's financial account in response to an authentication of the user's financial account information, verification information and a verification of the availability of the desired cash amount in the user's account.

3. A method of operating an electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal to facilitate a withdrawal from a user's financial account and to facilitate a desired amount of cash to be dispensed to the user, the method including: - receiving a user's financial account and verification information and desired cash withdrawal amount information; and - transmitting the user's financial account, verification and desired cash withdrawal amount information to a server, whereby the server processes and sends instructions to a separate automated cash dispensing device to authorise the cash dispensing device to dispense an amount of cash equivalent to the desired cash withdrawal amount in response to identification of the user by the cash dispensing device.

4. A method of operating an automated cash dispensing device in a transaction involving a cash withdrawal from a user's financial account, including: - receiving instructions from a server to authorise the cash dispensing device to dispense an amount of cash equivalent to a desired cash withdrawal amount in response to the server receiving a user's financial account and verification 13 information and desired cash withdrawal amount information from a separate electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal; and - dispensing the cash amount in response to identification of the user by the cash dispensing device.

5. A method of operating a server to facilitate a withdrawal from a user's financial account and to dispense cash to a user, the method including: - receiving a user's financial account information, verification information and desired cash withdrawal amount information from an electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal; - facilitating a withdrawal of the desired cash withdrawal amount from a user's financial account; and - authorising a cash dispensing device separate from the electronic funds transfer at point of sale terminal to dispense an amount of cash equivalent to the desired cash withdrawal amount in response to the identification of the user by the automated cash dispensing device.