METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CASH WITHDRAWAL FROM AN AUTOMATED

TELLER MACHINE

Scope of technology

The present invention refers to a method and a system for withdrawing cash outside the bank office, with an application in the existing or newly developed network of Automated Teller Machines, which are intended to serve clients outside the bank office.

State of the existing technology

At present, the networks for cash withdrawing out of the bank office are widely known and used. As a rule, these networks consist of at least one ATM, supplied with a credit/debit card reader and a panel for information entering, connected to a central processing unit, which is connected with a printing device and with at least one bank computer system. The method for cash withdrawal outside the bank office, developed out of the existing systems, include the following actions: inserting the credit/debit card in the ATM slot, selecting the required function - cash withdrawal or other services; connecting the processing unit of the ATM with a bank computer system; entering the identification data of the card owner into the ATM processor; transmission of the identification data to the bank computer system to verify the bank account and its balance; sending a control information packet from the bank computer system to the ATM processor in order for the selected function to be performed, in case there is sufficient cash jtuthe-card owner -bank aceountr

The familiar method and system are limited only to the performance of financial operations and the ATM service receipt usually contains only information about the cash available in the account before the transaction (or payment), the amount withdrawn or paid and the cash, available in the account after the transaction.

Technical essence of the invention

The task of the present invention is to develop a method and a system for ATM cash withdrawal outside the bank office with extended functional options. This task has been achieved by proposing a method of ATM cash withdrawal, which includes the following actions: inserting the credit/debit card in the ATM slot, selecting the required function - cash withdrawal or other services; connecting the processing unit of the ATM with a bank computer system; entering the identification data of the card owner into the ATM processor; transmission of the identification data to the bank computer system to verify the bank account and its balance; sending a control information packet from the bank computer system to the ATM processor in order for the selected function to be performed, in case there is sufficient cash in the card owner bank account. The method is characterized by the fact that an entertaining information command is generated in the control information packet. On the basis of this information an image is entered into the receipt, received by the card owner after the performance of the function he/she has selected.

One of the possible realizations of the method includes personalization of the entertaining information in accordance with the personal data (name and/or date of birth) of the card owner.

For the purposes of this option it is appropriate that the entertaining information should include a birthday greeting to the card owner and/or the personal daily horoscope of the card owner.

In another possible realization of the method, the entertaining information includes an anecdote.

In another possible realization of the method, the entertaining information includes sudoku and for the purposes of this option it is appropriate that the 'select function' command should have the option to set the sudoku difficulty level.

For all possible realization options of the method it is appropriate that the entertaining --information-isxeceived-from th&.bankxomputer.sy^tem _. and/orjnterne _. t.

The purpose has been achieved through the cash withdrawal system outside the bank office, including at least one ATM, supplied with a credit/debit card reader and panel for information entering, connected to a processing unit, which is connected with a printing device and with at least one computer system. The system is characterized by the fact that the ATM processor has an additional function for transmitting entertaining information to the ATM printing device.

In one possible realization of the system, the bank computer system has a function for generating entertaining information, transmitted to the ATM in the control information packets.

In another possible realization, the ATM processor is connected to the Internet as well.

The purposes of another realization require that the bank computer system is connected to the Internet as well.

The advantages of the method and the system in relation to the invention are in the supply of additional functions, which allow the reception of required entertaining information together with the process of performing financial operations. Through the new functions the number of performed bank operation and/or account balance checks shall increase, while at the same time the clients shall be convinced that the bank transaction fees are completely justified.

Brief explication of the drawings

Figure 1 constitutes a block diagram of the system for ATM cash withdrawal outside the bank office, corresponding to the invention;

Figure 2 presents the algorithm for entering the new method and system functions related to the invention;

Figure 3 shows an ATM monitor and a keyboard for entering data;

Figure 4 presents an example of a text notification on the display of the ATM;

Figure 5 shows the options for selecting entertaining information;

Figure 6 shows a way for setting the difficulty level of sudoku;

Figure 7 represents a receipt, containing not only the usual data but also the new entertaining information - birthday greetings, daily horoscope and an anecdote;

-Figure-8-also presents-a-receipt, but this one cόntainslf birthday greeting, horoscope and sudoku;

Examples of realization of the invention

The system for cash withdrawal from ATMs (fig. 1) includes at least one ATM (1), supplied with debit/credit card (3) reader (2) and a panel (4) for entering information, connected to a processor (5), which is connected to a printing device (6) and with at least one bank computer system (7). The processor (5) of the ATM (1) has an additional function for

transmitting entertaining information to the printing device (6) of the ATM (1). The panel (4) of the ATM (1) usually has a monitor (8) and a keyboard (9) (fig. 3 to 6).

The algorithm according to which the method related to the present invention is realized is shown in figure 2, where it is visible that the data base of the processor (5) or of the bank computer system (7) includes information on the date of birth of the user. Depending on whether the user is male or female, the date of birth is used to make a horoscope, taking into account the current month and date and whether the user is young, middle-aged or elderly. The anecdote, which the user may require, takes into consideration the age of the user - the anecdotes are divided into groups for users aged between 16 and 25 and over 25, and into groups depending on whether their content is more appropriate to the male or the female users. After making the daily horoscope, the algorithm allows for selecting sudoku and setting the difficulty level of the game. Thus, the entertaining information of the client's choice can be included into the final receipt.

Figure 3 presents a possible realization of the system, where the client enters his/her date of birth (generally, the date of birth can be taken from the data base of the bank computer system following the user's PIN code).

Figure 4 shows a subsequent display in which the client chooses whether he/she would like to receive a daily horoscope or not.

Figure 5 shows the further possibilities of the system for including sudoku or an anecdote into the receipt. If sudoku is selected, a subsequent display for selection of the difficulty level shows (fig. 6).

The final receipt with all requested entertaining options is shown in figures 7 and 8.

There is another possible system realization. In this variant, the bank computer system (7) has a function to generate entertaining information, which is transmitted to the processor (5) of the ATM-(I) in the control information-packets.-

It is also possible that the entertaining information - horoscopes, anecdotes and sudoku are received through the Internet, in which case the processor (5) of the ATM (1) or the bank computer system (7) are connected to the Internet.