ATM system and method

Abstract

An exemplary system includes an ATM ( 322 ) which is operative to conduct transactions including cash dispensing for users responsive to communication with a transaction host ( 336 ). The ATM is also operative to provide output signals which drive external displays ( 328, 330 ) which are separate from the ATM. The processor in the ATM is also operative to cause the ATM to receive visual and/or audio content from one or more content sources ( 342, 343 ) and to store data corresponding to such content in the ATM. Such content is then output through the external displays. The ATM is also operative to receive and store a plurality of advertising messages. The advertising messages are output in a targeted manner to users of the ATM.

1 . A method comprising: 
 (a) operating at least one processor in an ATM, wherein the ATM includes an ATM display and a cash dispenser, to cause communication between the ATM and a remote transaction host, to output instructions to ATM users through the ATM display responsive to the communication with the transaction host, and to dispense cash from the ATM to users responsive to the communication with the transaction host;    (b) operating the at least one processor in the ATM to cause the ATM to communicate with a broadcast server and to store data corresponding to broadcast content received from the broadcast server in at least one data store in operative connection with the at least one processor in the ATM, wherein the broadcast server is remote from the ATM and comprises a computer other than the transaction host;    (c) operating the at least one processor in the ATM to cause to be output through at least one external display other than the ATM display, at least one output corresponding to the broadcast content stored in the at least one data store.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the broadcast content corresponds to at least one of information concerning recent news events, information concerning recent sporting events, information concerning weather conditions and information concerning recent stock values, 
 and further comprising:    (d) operating the at least one processor in the ATM to cause the ATM to periodically communicate with the broadcast server and to change the data corresponding to the broadcast content stored in the at least one data store responsive to such communication.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  and further comprising: 
 (e) operating the at least one processor to cause data corresponding to the broadcast content to be output through the ATM display.    
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  and further comprising: 
 (f) operating the at least one processor to communicate with at least one advertising content server, wherein the at least one advertising content server is different than the broadcast server, and to store data corresponding to advertising content received from the at least one advertising content server in the at least one data store, and wherein the data corresponding to advertising content corresponds to a plurality of advertising messages;    (g) reading card data from a card placed by a user in operative connection with the ATM, through operation of a card reader in the ATM;    (h) operating the at least one processor to cause data corresponding to the card data to be sent from the ATM to at least one marketing computer, wherein the at least one marketing computer is a computer other than the transaction host;    (i) receiving at the ATM from the at least one marketing computer, user presentation data;    (j) operating the at least one processor responsive to the user presentation data to output through the ATM display, a selected one advertising message among the plurality of advertising messages corresponding to the advertising content stored in the at least one data store.    
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 (d) operating the at least one processor to provide outputs through the ATM display responsive to ATM communication with the transaction host,    wherein the output through the external display differs from the output through the ATM display.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein in (b) the broadcast server comprises a plurality of content servers, and wherein the at least one processor operates to store in the at least one data store, data corresponding to content received from each of the plurality of content servers.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein in (c) the at least one output corresponds to content received from each of the plurality of content servers.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein in (c) the broadcast content corresponds to information concerning recent stock prices.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein in (c) the broadcast content corresponds to information concerning recent sporting events.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein in (c) the broadcast information corresponds to general advertising for customers in a location where the ATM is located.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  and further comprising: 
 (e) operating the at least one processor to cause to be output through the ATM display, at least one marketing output targeted to a user of the ATM during at least a portion of the time an output corresponding to general advertising is output in (c).    
     
     
         12 . The method according  claim 11  and further comprising: 
 (f) prior to (e), operating the at least one processor to cause the ATM to communicate with a marketing computer remote from the ATM,    wherein in (e) the at least one marketing output is provided responsive to communications with the marketing computer in (f).    
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  and further comprising: 
 (g) reading card data from a card of the user through operation of a card reader in the ATM:    wherein in (f), data corresponding to card data is communicated to the marketing computer, and the ATM receives from the marketing computer user presentation data, and wherein in (e) the at least one marketing output is output responsive to the received user presentation data.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  and further comprising: 
 prior to (f), operating the at least one processor to cause the ATM to communicate with an advertising content server, wherein the advertising content server is other than the plurality of content servers, to store data corresponding to advertising content received from the advertising content server in the at least one data store, and wherein the data corresponding to advertising content corresponds to a plurality of advertising messages;    and wherein in (e) the at least one marketing output corresponds to at least one of the plurality of advertising messages.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein (a) includes operating the at least one processor to cause the ATM to send data corresponding to the card data to the transaction host.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the data corresponding to the card data is communicated to the marketing computer in (f) prior to the card data being communicated to the transaction host in (a).  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  and further comprising: 
 (h) reading through operation of at least one reading device in operative connection with the at least one processor, data which identifies a further user waiting to use the ATM, the further user being other than the user whose card data is read in (g);    (i) operating the at least one processor to cause the ATM to communicate data which identifies the further user to the marketing computer;    (j) receiving from the marketing computer responsive to the communication in (i), further user presentation data;    (k) operating the at least one processor to cause the at least one external display to temporarily cease the output of general advertising in (c), and during such cessation, outputting at least one further marketing output through the at least one external display responsive to the further user presentation data received in (j), wherein the at least one further marketing output is targeted to the further user waiting to use the ATM.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein in (h) the reading is accomplished through operation of at least one of a camera, RFID reader and biometric reader.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 4  and further comprising: 
 (k) reading through operation of at least one reading device in operative connection with the at least one processor, data which identifies a further user waiting to use the ATM, the further user being other than the user whose card data is read in (g);    (l) operating the at least one processor to cause the ATM to communicate data which identifies the further user to the at least one marketing computer;    (m) receiving from the at least one marketing computer responsive to the communication in (l), further user presentation data;    (n) operating the at least one processor to temporarily cease the output of general advertising through at least one external display in (c), and during such cessation outputting at least one further marketing output through at least one external display responsive to the further user presentation data received in (m), wherein the at least one further marketing output is targeted to the further user waiting to use the ATM.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19  and further comprising subsequent to (n), operating the at least one processor to output general advertising in (c).  
     
     
         21 . An article bearing computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one processor in an ATM to carry out the method steps recited in  claim 1.