U.S. patent application number 11/942757 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-20 for controlling electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal device.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Susann Marie Keohane, Gerald Francis McBrearty, Shawn Patrick Mullen, Jessica Murillo, Johnny Meng-Han Shieh.
Application Number | 20080067233 11/942757 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36146578 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080067233 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Keohane; Susann Marie ; et
al. |
March 20, 2008 |
Controlling Electronic Withdrawals By A Withdrawal Device
Abstract
Controlling electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal device
including creating in the withdrawal device a data structure
representing a withdrawal request, where the data structure
includes fields for a withdrawal device identifier, a drawer
identifier, a drawee identifier, and a withdrawal amount;
transmitting from the withdrawal device to a drawee a request for
limitations on electronic withdrawals for the drawer, where the
limitations include a limitation on drawer location; receiving in
the withdrawal device from storage in computer memory of the drawee
data representing the limitations on electronic withdrawals for the
drawer, including the limitation on drawer location; and
authorizing, by the withdrawal device, an electronic withdrawal in
dependence upon the limitations, including the limitation on drawer
location.
Inventors: |
Keohane; Susann Marie;
(Austin, TX) ; McBrearty; Gerald Francis; (Austin,
TX) ; Mullen; Shawn Patrick; (Buda, TX) ;
Murillo; Jessica; (Hutto, TX) ; Shieh; Johnny
Meng-Han; (Austin, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
INTERNATIONAL CORP (BLF)
c/o BIGGERS & OHANIAN, LLP
P.O. BOX 1469
AUSTIN
TX
78767-1469
US
|
Assignee: |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
CORPORATION
ARMONK
NY
|
Family ID: |
36146578 |
Appl. No.: |
11/942757 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10960561 |
Oct 7, 2004 |
|
|
|
11942757 |
Nov 20, 2007 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
235/379 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 40/02 20130101;
G06Q 20/1085 20130101; G06Q 20/108 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/379 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 40/00 20060101
G06Q040/00 |
Claims
1-8. (canceled)
9. A system for controlling electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal
device, the system comprising: means for creating in the withdrawal
device a data structure representing a withdrawal request, wherein
the data structure includes fields for a withdrawal device
identifier, a drawer identifier, a drawee identifier, and a
withdrawal amount; means for transmitting from the withdrawal
device to a drawee a request for limitations on electronic
withdrawals for the drawer, wherein the limitations include a
limitation on drawer location; means for receiving in the
withdrawal device from storage in computer memory of the drawee
data representing the limitations on electronic withdrawals for the
drawer, including the limitation on drawer location; and means for
authorizing, by the withdrawal device, an electronic withdrawal in
dependence upon the limitations, including the limitation on drawer
location.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the limitations on electronic
withdrawals further comprise limitations on withdrawal type,
drawer, account, withdrawal period, and maximum withdrawal
amount.
11. The system of claim 9 wherein the limitation on drawer location
further comprises a geographic area that includes one or more
locations of withdrawal devices.
12. The system of claim 9 further comprising: means for identifying
at least one drawer location for the withdrawal device, wherein
means for authorizing a withdrawal further comprises means for
authorizing a withdrawal in dependence upon the at least one drawer
location for the withdrawal device.
13. The system of claim 9 further comprising: means for retrieving
from storage in computer memory of the drawee data representing a
recorded description of at least one previous withdrawal for the
drawer, wherein means for authorizing a withdrawal further
comprises means for authorizing a withdrawal in dependence upon the
recorded description of at least one previous withdrawal.
14. The system of claim 9 wherein: the data representing
limitations on electronic withdrawals include a maximum withdrawal
amount; and means for authorizing a withdrawal further comprises
means for authorizing a withdrawal in dependence upon the maximum
withdrawal amount.
15. A computer program product for controlling electronic
withdrawals by a withdrawal device, the computer program product
comprising: a recording medium; means, recorded on the recording
medium, for creating in the withdrawal device a data structure
representing a withdrawal request, wherein the data structure
includes fields for a withdrawal device identifier, a drawer
identifier, a drawee identifier, and a withdrawal amount; means,
recorded on the recording medium, for transmitting from the
withdrawal device to a drawee a request for limitations on
electronic withdrawals for the drawer, wherein the limitations
include a limitation on drawer location; means, recorded on the
recording medium, for receiving in the withdrawal device from
storage in computer memory of the drawee data representing the
limitations on electronic withdrawals for the drawer, including the
limitation on drawer location; and means, recorded on the recording
medium, for authorizing, by the withdrawal device, an electronic
withdrawal in dependence upon the limitations, including the
limitation on drawer location.
16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the
limitations on electronic withdrawals further comprise limitations
on withdrawal type, drawer, account, withdrawal period, and maximum
withdrawal amount.
17. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the limitation
on drawer location further comprises a geographic area that
includes one or more locations of withdrawal devices.
18. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising:
means, recorded on the recording medium, for identifying at least
one drawer location for the withdrawal device, wherein means,
recorded on the recording medium, for authorizing a withdrawal
further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for
authorizing a withdrawal in dependence upon the at least one drawer
location for the withdrawal device.
19. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising:
means, recorded on the recording medium, for retrieving from
storage in computer memory of the drawee data representing a
recorded description of at least one previous withdrawal for the
drawer, wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for
authorizing a withdrawal further comprises means, recorded on the
recording medium, for authorizing a withdrawal in dependence upon
the recorded description of at least one previous withdrawal.
20. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein: the data
representing limitations on electronic withdrawals include a
maximum withdrawal amount; and means, recorded on the recording
medium, for authorizing a withdrawal further comprises means,
recorded on the recording medium, for authorizing a withdrawal in
dependence upon the maximum withdrawal amount.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of and claims
priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/960,561, filed on
Oct. 7, 2004. [0002] The present application is related to the
following co-pending applications: [0003] (1) U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/960,560 (Attorney Docket No.
AUS920040707US1); [0004] (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/960,566 (Attorney Docket No. AUS920040464US1);
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] 1. Field of the Invention
[0006] The field of the invention is data processing, or, more
specifically, methods, systems, and products for controlling
electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal device.
[0007] 2. Description of Related Art
[0008] Electronic withdrawals are typically effected through a
withdrawal device such as an Automatic Teller Machine (`ATM`) and
Point-of-Sale (`POS`) Terminals. An ATM is an electronic device
that allows a customer to make cash withdrawals and check account
balances at any time without the need for a human teller. Many ATMs
also allow people to deposit cash or checks, transfer money between
bank accounts, or even buy postage stamps. A `Point-of-Sale` is a
location where electronic withdrawals from customer accounts are
performed with the customer present, such as a retail store. The
customer typically presents a debit card or check card which is
then read magnetically, and the customer's signature often is
obtained as additional authentication and authorization for the
transaction. A `POS terminal` is the electromechanical equipment
used to capture, transmit and store data implementing electronic
withdrawals through debit card and check card transactions at the
point of sale. In this specification, ATMs and POS terminals are
referred to generally as `withdrawal devices.`
[0009] Most major banks work with credit card companies to issue
`debit cards` or `check cards.` Check cards effect electronic
withdrawals in a format sometimes referred to as an `electronic
check` or `echeck.` `E-check` or `electronic check` is a generic
term for an electronic withdrawal from a customer account that is
originated on the Internet, at a point of sale, over the telephone,
or by a bill payment sent through the mail or dropped in an
unattended dropbox. The terms `echeck` and `electronic check` are
used to refer to several types of electronic transactions: [0010]
ACH-based electronic check. A payment that begins as a paper check
is converted into, or truncated to, an ACH debit entry. The paper
check is not processed. [0011] Electronic network electronic check.
A payment that begins as a paper check is converted into, or
truncated to, an electronic network entry, using networks such as
an ATM network or a credit card network. The paper check is not
processed. [0012] Internet- or telephone-initiated payments. A
transaction that is initiated over the Internet or via phone, with
the debit carried out by an electronic debit, usually an ACH debit.
Some users categorize payments initiated via Internet or telephone
but that are effected by paper drafts as electronic checks, even
though the debit is paper-based. [0013] Catch-all terms used
loosely to refer to any attempt to initiate payment through PCs,
the Internet, ATMs, POS terminals, and other computer systems.
[0014] There are some differences between a check card and a
traditional ATM card: A check card has a customer name, account
number, an issuing company's logo, a bank's logo, and "Check Card"
printed across the front of it. An ATM card has only customer name,
account number, and the bank's logo on the front of it. Both cards
have magnetic strips on the back for an authorized cardholder to
sign on. A check card company, such as Visa, for example, has
agreements with banks to issue check cards that look like a Visa
credit card. Such a Visa check card can then be used at any
retailer that accepts Visa credit cards and at ATMs worldwide.
[0015] Like ATM cards, check cards function as debit cards,
effectively deducting money more or less directly from a customer's
account. Although a traditional ATM card can only be used at an ATM
machine (and some grocery stores), customer's can use a check card
at any retailer that accepts credit cards. In fact, a check card
can be used in the same manner as either a debit card or a credit
card: When a customer tells the POS clerk that the card is a credit
card, the customer is asked to sign a slip. When a customer tells
the POS clerk that the card is a debit card, the customer is asked
to enter a PIN number. Either way, the transaction amount is
debited directed from the customer's account.
[0016] A cardholder makes an electronic withdrawal with a debit
card or check card by providing the necessary information by means
of a magnetic card reader and keypad of a withdrawal device, an
ATM, a POS terminal, or some other withdrawal device. The
withdrawal device forwards information to a transaction processor,
either a third party vendor of debit processing services, the bank
or other institution that issued the card, or the customer's bank.
The entity that carries out the transaction processing causes an
electronic funds transfer to take place from the customer's bank
account to the transaction processor's account. Once the funds are
transferred to the transaction processor's bank account, the
transaction processor sends an approval code to the withdrawal
device authorizing the transaction, for example, a cash withdrawal
at an ATM or a sale of goods at a POS terminal. The transaction
processor then clears the cardholder's funds into the merchant's
bank account through an Automated Clearing House (`ACH`)
transaction, usually the next bank business day.
[0017] An `account,` as the term is used in this specification, is
any demand account offered by any financial institution that
supports electronic withdrawals including, for example, checking
accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, NOW accounts,
other kinds of interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing demand
accounts, and others as will occur to those of skill in the art. A
`financial institution` is any bank, savings association, savings
and loan company, credit union, or other institution organized
under national or state banking laws capable of offering accounts
that support electronic withdrawals. In this specification, such
financial institutions are referred to generally as `drawees.`
[0018] Today banks allow a customer to restrict electronic
withdrawals according to withdrawal type, Fast Cash, checking, or
savings. Banks also support maximum limits on withdrawals from a
particular account during a particular period of time. In current
methods and systems for electronic withdrawals, however, there is
no provision for controlling electronic withdrawals according to
drawer location, although it would be an advantage if there
were.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Exemplary methods, systems, and products are disclosed for
controlling electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal device that
include creating in the withdrawal device a data structure
representing a withdrawal request, where the data structure
includes fields for a withdrawal device identifier, a drawer
identifier, a drawee identifier, and a withdrawal amount;
transmitting from the withdrawal device to a drawee a request for
limitations on electronic withdrawals for the drawer, where the
limitations include a limitation on drawer location; receiving in
the withdrawal device from storage in computer memory of the drawee
data representing the limitations on electronic withdrawals for the
drawer, including the limitation on drawer location; and
authorizing, by the withdrawal device, an electronic withdrawal in
dependence upon the limitations, including the limitation on drawer
location. In typical embodiments, the limitations on electronic
withdrawals may include limitations on withdrawal type account,
withdrawal period, and maximum withdrawal amount. In typical
embodiments, the limitation on drawer location may include a
geographic area that includes one or more locations of withdrawal
devices.
[0020] Typical embodiments include establishing the limitations on
electronic withdrawals in the drawee, including the limitation on
drawer location, which may be carried out by transmitting to the
drawee by an authorized user through electronic data communications
one or more of the limitations on electronic withdrawals, including
the limitation on drawer location. Typical embodiments include
identifying at least one drawer location for the withdrawal device,
so that authorizing a withdrawal may be carried out in dependence
upon the at least one drawer location for the withdrawal device.
Typical embodiments include retrieving from storage in computer
memory of the drawee data representing a recorded description of at
least one previous withdrawal for the drawer, so that authorizing a
withdrawal may be carried out in dependence upon the recorded
description of at least one previous withdrawal. In typical
embodiments, the data representing limitations on electronic
withdrawals include a maximum withdrawal amount, authorizing a
withdrawal is carried out in dependence upon the maximum withdrawal
amount.
[0021] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the invention will be apparent from the following more particular
descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference
numbers generally represent like parts of exemplary embodiments of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 sets forth a block diagram of an exemplary data
processing system for controlling electronic withdrawals by a
withdrawal device according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 2 sets forth a block diagram of automated computing
machinery comprising a computer useful in controlling electronic
withdrawals by a withdrawal device according to embodiments of the
present invention.
[0024] FIG. 3 sets forth a data structure diagram illustrating
exemplary data structures and relations among them useful in
systems for controlling electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal
device according to embodiments of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 4 depicts a GUI of an exemplary software application
program, more particularly, in the example of FIG. 4, a
browser.
[0026] FIG. 5 sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary
method for controlling electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal
device according to embodiments of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 6 sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary
method of authorizing an electronic withdrawal according to
embodiments of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 7 sets forth a message sequence diagram illustrating a
method for controlling electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal
device in a distributed data processing system according to
embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Introduction
[0029] The present invention is described to some extent in this
specification in terms of methods for controlling electronic
withdrawals by a withdrawal device. Persons skilled in the art,
however, will recognize that any computer system that includes
suitable programming means for operating in accordance with the
disclosed methods also falls well within the scope of the present
invention. Suitable programming means include any means for
directing a computer system to execute the steps of the method of
the invention, including for example, systems comprised of
processing units and arithmetic-logic circuits coupled to computer
memory, which systems have the capability of storing in computer
memory, which computer memory includes electronic circuits
configured to store data and program instructions, programmed steps
of the method of the invention for execution by a processing
unit.
[0030] The invention also may be embodied in a computer program
product, such as a diskette or other recording medium, for use with
any suitable data processing system. Embodiments of a computer
program product may be implemented by use of any recording medium
for machine-readable information, including magnetic media, optical
media, or other suitable media. Persons skilled in the art will
immediately recognize that any computer system having suitable
programming means will be capable of executing the steps of the
method of the invention as embodied in a program product. Persons
skilled in the art will recognize immediately that, although most
of the exemplary embodiments described in this specification are
oriented to software installed and executing on computer hardware,
nevertheless, alternative embodiments implemented as firmware or as
hardware are well within the scope of the present invention.
Controlling Electronic Withdrawals by a Withdrawal Device
[0031] Exemplary methods, systems, and products for controlling
electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal device according to
embodiments of the present invention are described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, beginning with FIG. 1. FIG. 1 sets
forth a block diagram of an exemplary data processing system for
controlling electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal device according
to embodiments of the present invention. The system of FIG. 1 is an
example of a `distributed` processing system, a system that
includes processing capabilities on several computers connected for
data communications through networks.
[0032] A network is a data communications system for digital data
that operates by communicating data in packets through specialized
data communications computers called `routers.` An example of such
a network is an Internet Protocol or `IP` network. The example of
FIG. 1 includes two networks (101, 103) each of which may be
configured as a Local Area Network (`LAN`), or a Wide Area Network
(`WAN`), each of which may be coupled with other networks to form a
WAN. The network connection aspect of the system of FIG. 1 is only
for explanation, not for limitation. In fact, systems for
controlling electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal device according
to embodiments of the present invention may be connected as LANs,
WANs, intranets, internets, the Internet, webs, the World Wide Web
itself, or other connections as will occur to those of skill in the
art. Such networks are media that may be used to provide data
communications connections between various devices and computers
connected together within an overall data processing system.
[0033] Systems for controlling electronic withdrawals by a
withdrawal device according to embodiments of the present invention
operate generally by establishing limitations on electronic
withdrawals in a drawee, generally including a limitation on drawer
location. Such limitations on electronic withdrawals are then used
to authorize electronic withdrawals when requests for withdrawals
are received from withdrawal devices. In addition to limitations on
drawer location, limitations on electronic withdrawals may include
limitations on withdrawal type, account, withdrawal period, and
maximum withdrawal amount. In the example of FIG. 1, the
limitations on electronic withdrawals are stored in data structures
in computer memory of the drawee (108). Exemplary data structures
for the storage of limitations on electronic withdrawals, typically
including a limitation as to drawer location, are described and
discussed generally in this specification as `location control
records.`
[0034] Establishing the limitations on electronic withdrawals may
be carried out in the system of FIG. 1, for example, by a user, an
authorized user of an account, who transmits limitations to a
drawee (108) by electronic data communications through network
(101) from a workstation (128). Workstation (128) in this example
is a computer, a personal computer, a laptop, a Personal Digital
Assistant (`PDA`), or others as will occur to those of skill in the
art, and the data communications connection (136) from workstation
(128) to network (101) may be wired or wireless.
[0035] A drawer location is a physical location of a withdrawal
device through which a drawer requests an electronic withdrawal. A
limitation on drawer location may be a designation of a specific
location of a withdrawal device or may be a designation of a
geographic area that includes one or more locations of withdrawal
devices. That is, a limitation on drawer location is a data
encoding of a physical location and can therefore encode more than
one physical location at a time. More particularly, a location
limitation of `504 Lavaca` may be used to authorize electronic
withdrawals from a single ATM located in front of a bank building
at 504 Lavaca. And the location limitation `Las Vegas, Nev.` may be
used to authorize electronic withdrawals from the hundreds or
thousands of ATMs in Las Vegas.
[0036] Examples of withdrawal devices include Automatic Teller
Machines (`ATMs`) and Point-of-Sale (`POS`) terminals. In the
example of FIG. 1, withdrawal devices are represented as ATM (126)
and POS terminal (102). In some implementations of POS terminals,
the terminals themselves are relatively dumb, being made up
primarily of user input devices, keypads, magnetic cards readers,
and so on, so that the computing resources needed to carry out
methods of controlling electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal
device according to embodiments of the present invention are
included in an associated computer coupled for data communications
to one or more POS terminals and represented in FIG. 1 as
point-of-sale computer (106). In this specification, therefore, the
term `withdrawal device` includes such associated computers to the
extent required to implement any particular system for controlling
electronic withdrawals according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0037] A `drawer` is any person authorized to request electronic
withdrawals from an account in a drawee. A `drawee` is any
financial institution, bank, savings association, brokerage, or
others, that supports electronic withdrawals from accounts in the
institution. Authorization to request electronic withdrawals
typically is evidenced by possession of a debit card, eCheck card,
or ATM card which is swiped through a magnetic card reader on a
withdrawal device, thereby providing an electronic form of drawer
identification and other data which is in turn included in an
electronic request for a withdrawal. Withdrawal devices (126, 102,
106) in the example of FIG. 1 implement a withdrawal request as a
data structure in a withdrawal device, and use the data values from
the data structure to retrieve limitations on electronic
withdrawals from a drawee, drawer location records from a web
service, and location withdrawal records from a drawee. In the
example of FIG. 1, data communications regarding limitations on
electronic withdrawals and location withdrawal records are
communicated from withdrawal devices (126, 102, 106) to drawee
(108) through network (103), more or less directly (132), or, more
circuitously, through networks (103) and (101) by data
communications route (134, 120). In the example of FIG. 1, data
communications regarding drawer location records are communicated
withdrawal devices (126, 102, 106) to drawer location web service
(138) through networks (103) and (101) by data communications route
(103, 134, 101, 140).
[0038] In the system of FIG. 1, a withdrawal device (126, 102, 106)
is programmed to create a data structure, referred to as a
withdrawal request, that stores data describing a request for a
withdrawal or debit against a customer's account. The data
describing the request may be input into the withdrawal device by a
magnetic card reader of the withdrawal device through which is
swiped a debit card, electronic check card, or ATM card, for
example. Such data may also be entered through a keyboard, cash
register panel, numeric keypad, and in other ways that will occur
to those of skill in the art. Examples of data describing a
withdrawal request includes a withdrawal type, a withdrawal amount,
a drawee identification, and a time stamp.
[0039] In the system of FIG. 1, after gathering the data describing
a withdrawal request, the withdrawal device operates generally to
control electronic withdrawals according to embodiments of the
present invention by transmitting from the withdrawal device to a
drawee (108) a request for limitations on electronic withdrawals
for a drawer, where the limitations include a limitation on drawer
location; receiving in the withdrawal device from storage in
computer memory of the drawee data representing the limitations on
electronic withdrawals for the drawer, including the limitation on
drawer location; and authorizing, by the withdrawal device, an
electronic withdrawal in dependence upon the limitations, including
the limitation on drawer location. A withdrawal device may
implement transmitting a request for limitations on electronic
withdrawals and receiving limitations on electronic withdrawals by
data communications protocols including, for example, HTTP, TCP/IP,
and others as will occur to those of skill in the art.
[0040] In some systems for controlling electronic withdrawals by a
withdrawal device according to embodiments of the present
invention, a withdrawal device accepts a withdrawal type code (232
on FIG. 3) as part of a withdrawal request (240 on FIG. 3) so as to
support working with a smaller number of location control records
than would be represented by all the location control records of a
drawer. In such systems, a withdrawal type code received as data
input in a withdrawal device and included as part of a withdrawal
request is sent to a drawee as part of a request for limitations on
electronic withdrawals for a drawer. Such a system may reduce the
number of location control records retrieved by retrieving only the
location control records for a drawer for a withdrawal type. Such a
system may identify a withdrawal type by accepting as input data
into a withdrawal request data that includes a designation of
withdrawal type. Withdrawal types include, for example, `Fast
Cash,` checking account withdrawals with drawer-entered amounts
from ATMs, savings account withdrawals with drawer-entered amounts
from ATMs, POS debit withdrawals, POS eCheck withdrawals, and so
on, as will occur to those of skill in the art.
[0041] Consider `Fast Cash` as an example of withdrawal type for
further explanation. `Fast Cash` is a withdrawal type, typically
for ATMs, in which a predetermined amount is withdrawn, thereby
increasing transaction efficiency by eliminating the drawer's entry
of a withdrawal amount. When drawee (108) receives a request for
limitations on electronic withdrawals that includes a withdrawal
type code designating the withdrawal type as a Fast Cash
withdrawal, then the drawee computer can retrieve from memory only
a subset of the limitations for the drawer, that is, the subset
that encodes only Fast Cash as withdrawal type--rather than
retrieving and returning all the limitations, for example, all the
location control records, of the drawer. Such a procedure reduces
the data communications burden between the drawee and the
withdrawal device, reduces the data processing burden in the
withdrawal device which now needs to administer fewer location
control records, and thereby increases overall data processing
efficiency in the system.
[0042] In the example system of FIG. 1, a withdrawal device (126,
102, 106) may operate also to identify a drawer location for a
withdrawal device processing a withdrawal request and use the
drawer location to authorize a withdrawal. One or more drawer
locations, valid or supported by a withdrawal device, may be
manufactured into a withdrawal device, such as, for example, into
programmable read-only memory of the withdrawal device.
Alternatively, one or more drawer locations may be configured into
a withdrawal device at installation time, such as, for example, in
programmable read-only memory of the withdrawal device.
[0043] As mentioned above, however, there is no required one-to-one
relationship between a physical location of a withdrawal device and
the number of encoded drawer locations that the withdrawal device
may serve. One device may server encoded drawer locations of 504
Lavaca Street, the City of Austin, the State of Texas, the
southwest region of the United States, the contiguous 48 United
States, and so on, all separate, valid drawer locations for the
same ATM machine physically located in front a bank at 504 Lavaca
Street. Because there is no requirement of a predefined single
relationship between a physical location of a withdrawal device and
encoded representations of drawer location in systems for
controlling electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal device according
to embodiments of the present invention, configuring thousands of
individual withdrawal devices with millions of drawer locations may
be considered disadvantageous.
[0044] To reduce the need to configure many withdrawal devices with
many, changeable drawer locations, the system of FIG. 1
advantageously provides a remote lookup capability for drawer
addresses represented in FIG. 1 as a drawer location web service
(138). The drawer location web service (138) is capable of
accepting through a web service portal from any withdrawal device a
request for drawer locations for the withdrawal device and
returning in response a list of valid drawer locations for the
withdrawal device--thereby offloading from withdrawal devices
generally any particular need to store their own lists of valid
drawer locations. In a system that implements a remote lookup
capability as shown in FIG. 1, withdrawal device drawee uses a
request/response protocol, HTTP or SOAP (the Simple Object Access
Protocol), for example, to query a drawer location web service
(138) for the valid drawer locations for the withdrawal device so
identified. In doing so, the withdrawal device provides to the web
service a withdrawal device identifier unique to the withdrawal
device that the web service uses to look up the valid drawer
locations for the withdrawal device. The withdrawal device
identification code may be manufactured into non-volatile memory of
the withdrawal device or configured into non-volatile memory of the
withdrawal device upon installation.
[0045] In the system of FIG. 1, the drawee (108) typically
represents a financial institution that supports at least one
account of a drawer from which an amount of an electronic
withdrawal is debited in support of a cash withdrawal from a
withdrawal device or in support of a POS purchase through a
withdrawal device. A merchant owns a withdrawal device and delivers
cash, goods, or services to a customer as part of a transaction
involving the electronic withdrawal of an amount from a customer's
account in drawee (108). The system of FIG. 1 includes the
merchant's bank (104) into which a withdrawal device may pay the
merchant that owns the withdrawal device through an ACH transaction
in an automated clearing house (112), thereby reimbursing the
merchant for dispensing cash, goods, or services.
[0046] The arrangement of computers and withdrawal devices making
up the exemplary system illustrated in FIG. 1 are for explanation,
not for limitation. Data processing systems for controlling
electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal device according to various
embodiments of the present invention may include, for example,
servers, routers, client-server architectures, and peer-to-peer
architectures, not shown in FIG. 1, as will occur to those of skill
in the art. Networks in such data processing systems may support
many data communications protocols, including for example TCP/IP,
HTTP, WAP, HDTP, electronic banking protocols on private bank
networks, and others as will occur to those of skill in the art.
Various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented on
a variety of hardware platforms in addition to those illustrated in
FIG. 1.
[0047] Systems for controlling electronic withdrawals by a
withdrawal device according to embodiments of the present invention
are generally implemented with automated computing machinery, that
is, with computers. In the example of FIG. 1, all principal
components are represented primarily as computers, including drawee
(108), automated clearing house (112), merchant's bank (104),
drawer location web service (138), user workstation (128), POS
terminal (102), and ATM (126). For further explanation, FIG. 2 sets
forth a block diagram of automated computing machinery comprising a
computer (152) useful in controlling electronic withdrawals by a
withdrawal device according to embodiments of the present
invention. The computer (152) of FIG. 2 includes at least one
computer processor (156) or `CPU` as well as random access memory
(168) ("RAM"). Stored in RAM (168) is an electronic withdrawal
control application (407), an aggregation of computer instructions
that carry out steps of controlling electronic withdrawals by a
withdrawal device according to embodiments of the present
invention. Also stored in RAM is a withdrawal request (240), a data
structure representing a request from a drawer for an electronic
withdrawal that contains data describing the request, including,
for example, withdrawal device identifier, a drawer identifier, a
drawee identifier, and a withdrawal amount. Also stored in RAM
(168) is an operating system (154). Operating systems useful in
computers according to embodiments of the present invention include
Unix.TM., Linux.TM., AIX.TM., Microsoft NT.TM., and many others as
will occur to those of skill in the art. In the example of FIG. 2,
the electronic withdrawal control application (407) and the
operating system (154) are shown in RAM (168), but many components
of such software are also stored in non-volatile memory (166).
[0048] The computer (152) of FIG. 2 includes non-volatile computer
memory (166) coupled through a system bus (160) to processor (156)
and to other components of the computer. Non-volatile computer
memory (166) may be implemented as a hard disk drive (170), optical
disk drive (172), electrically erasable programmable read-only
memory space (so-called `EEPROM` or `Flash` memory) (174), RAM
drives (not shown), or as any other kind of non-volatile computer
memory as will occur to those of skill in the art.
[0049] The exemplary computer (152) of FIG. 2 includes a
communications adapter (167) for implementing connections for data
communications (184), including connections through networks, to
other computers (182), including, for example, drawee computers,
withdrawal devices, automated clearing houses, web services
portals, and others as will occur to those of skill in the art.
Communications adapters implement the hardware level of connections
for data communications through which one computer sends data
communications another computer, directly or through a network.
Examples of communications adapters useful for controlling
electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal device according to
embodiments of the present invention include modems for wired
dial-up connections, Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) adapters for wired
network connections, and 802.11b adapters for wireless network
connections.
[0050] The example computer of FIG. 2 includes one or more
input/output interface adapters (178). Input/output interface
adapters in computers implement user-oriented input/output through,
for example, software drivers and computer hardware for controlling
output to display devices (180) such as computer display screens,
as well as user input from user input devices (181) such as
keyboards, mice, numeric keypads, and magnetic card readers.
[0051] For further explanation, FIG. 3 sets forth a data structure
diagram illustrating exemplary data structures and relations among
them useful in systems for controlling electronic withdrawals by a
withdrawal device according to embodiments of the present
invention. The exemplary data structures of FIG. 3 include account
records (202), each of which represents an account in a drawee that
supports electronic withdrawals. Each account record (202) includes
data elements representing an account identification code (204),
typically referred to in this specification as an `account number,`
although in fact the account identification code may include text
and special characters as well as numbers. Each account record
(202) also includes a data element identifying an account holder
(206) and a current balance (208). The exemplary data structures of
FIG. 3 include account holder records (210), each of which
represents a holder of an account, where the account holder records
are related one-to-many (248) to the account records (202) through
the account holder identifier (206) functioning as a foreign
key.
[0052] The exemplary data structures of FIG. 3 include account user
records (238) each of which represents a person or entity that may
be authorized to effect electronic withdrawals from an account.
This data structure advantageously distinguishes authorized users
from account holders because a single account owner or `holder,`
such as a company or a head of a family, may authorize many persons
to make withdrawals from one or more accounts held by the holder.
The exemplary data structures of FIG. 3 also include user
authorization records (212) each of which represents a single
authorization of an account user to make electronic withdrawals
from a single account. Each user authorization record (212)
includes a drawer identification code (214), a unique identifier
for each account user that functions as a foreign key to the
account user records (238). Each user authorization record (212)
also includes an account number field (204), a foreign key into the
account records (202). The one-to-many relation (246) so effected
between account user records (238) and user authorization records
(212) taken with the one-to-many relation (250) so effected between
the account records (202) and the user authorization records (212),
taken together, effect a many-to-many relation between account
users (238) and accounts (202)--so that an account user may be
authorized to make electronic withdrawals from many accounts and an
account may have many authorized users.
[0053] The exemplary data structures of FIG. 3 include location
control records (216), each of which represents, in this example, a
set of limitations on electronic withdrawals for a drawer (214) for
a location (218). Each location control record (216) includes a
drawer field (214) that identifies an account user (238) authorized
to make electronic withdrawals from a drawer location. For
validating authorization, the drawer field (214) is a foreign key
into the user authorization records (212). Each location control
record includes a location field (218) that encodes a drawer
location. Drawer locations are not limited to a single physical
location of a withdrawal device; drawer locations instead are
capable of representing geographic areas that include many
withdrawal devices.
[0054] Each location control record (216) in the example of FIG. 3
includes a withdrawal type field (232) that encodes a limitation of
withdrawal type, Fast Cash, Checking, Savings, and so on, as will
occur to those of skill in the art. Each location control record
(216) in the example of FIG. 3 includes a type amount field (220)
that encodes a limitation of a predetermined withdrawal amount for
the withdrawal type (232). Not all withdrawal types have
corresponding type amounts. Fast Cash, for example, typically
does.
[0055] Each location control record (216) in the example of FIG. 3
includes an account number (226) that identifies an account from
which withdrawals are authorized for the drawer (214) at the drawer
location (218) during the withdrawal period (224) for the
withdrawal type (232). Each location control record in the example
of FIG. 3 also includes a field that encodes a current account
balance (208) for the account identified by account number (226).
The current account balance is useful in a withdrawal device for
determining whether sufficient funds are available for an
electronic withdrawal. A drawee, upon receiving a request for
limitations on electronic withdrawals for a drawee, may often send
a multiplicity of location control records containing the
limitations to a withdrawal device for more than one drawer
location for more than one account of the drawer. The sufficient
funds determination advantageously is made in the withdrawal
device, therefore, because the drawee does not know which account
will be affected when the drawee transmits the location control
records. In such an example, the withdrawal device determines which
drawer location is to be used for each transaction and therefore
which account and account balance will be used to authorize or deny
a request for an electronic withdrawal.
[0056] Each location control record (216) in the example of FIG. 3
includes a type maximum field (222) that encodes a limitation of
the maximum cumulative amount for the withdrawal type (232) that
may be withdrawn during a period of time, a `withdrawal period,` by
the drawer (214) from the drawer location (218). The withdrawal
period in this example is provided in field (224) and may be set to
a generic period, `daily,` `weekly,` `monthly,` and so on.
Alternatively, the withdrawal period (224) may be set to a specific
period, such as, for example: Jan. 10, 2004-Jan. 15, 2004. Each
location control record (216) in the example of FIG. 3 also
includes a total maximum field (228) that encodes a limitation of
the maximum cumulative amount for the withdrawal type (232) that
may be withdrawn during the withdrawal period from the drawer
location for all withdrawal types.
[0057] The exemplary data structures of FIG. 3 include location
withdrawal records (217) each of which represents a previous
electronic withdrawal by a drawer from a drawer location for a
withdrawal type during a withdrawal period. In effect, the location
withdrawal records make up a kind of location-specific set of debit
records. In addition to a drawer identification field (214), a
drawer location field (218), a withdrawal type field (232), and an
account number (226), each location withdrawal record also includes
a time stamp (236) that encodes a date and time of a withdrawal,
thereby indicating the relation of a withdrawal to a withdrawal
period, and the amount (234) of a withdrawal, which supports
determinations of cumulative amounts withdrawn during a withdrawal
period.
[0058] The exemplary data structures of FIG. 3 include a withdrawal
request (240), a data structure that represents a request, received
as data input into a withdrawal device, for an electronic
withdrawal for a drawer (214) of a withdrawal type (232) in an
amount (234). The withdrawal request (240) in this example also
includes a drawee identification field (262) that stores a drawee
identification for a drawee to which a withdrawal device may
transmit a request for limitation on electronic withdrawals. The
drawee identification may be implemented as a bank identification
number, a data communications network address, a network address
and a port number, or otherwise as will occur to those of skill in
the art. The withdrawal request (240) in this example also includes
a time stamp (236) for use in relating the withdrawal request to a
withdrawal period.
[0059] The exemplary data structures of FIG. 3 include a table
(244) each of whose records represents a valid drawer location
(218) for a withdrawal device (242). Each withdrawal device may be
physically located in many drawer locations, and many withdrawal
devices may be physically located in one drawer location. In this
particular example, the withdrawal request records (240) contain no
representations of drawer locations for a withdrawal device
identified in a device identification field (242) in a withdrawal
request. The withdrawal device is therefore left to infer, in
dependence upon a withdrawal device identification code, valid
drawer locations for the withdrawal device by a lookup in a table
such as the one represented at reference (244) on FIG. 3. The data
structures of FIG. 3 include a storage location (280, 242) for a
withdrawal device identification code, which may be configured into
non-volatile computer memory of the withdrawal device when the
device is manufactured or when it is installed. Because such a
lookup capability, finding drawer locations for a withdrawal device
identified by a withdrawal device identification code, is useful to
many withdrawal devices, such a table advantageously may be
maintained by a third party service and made available to
withdrawal devices through a web service such as the one
illustrated at reference (138) on FIG. 1.
[0060] For further explanation, FIG. 4 depicts a graphical user
interface (`GUI`) of an exemplary software application program,
more particularly, in the example of FIG. 4, a browser. `Browser,`
as the term is used in this specification, generally means a web
browser, a software application useful for establishing limitations
on electronic withdrawals in a drawee in systems for controlling
electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal device according to
embodiments of the present invention by transmitting to the drawee
from an authorized user through electronic data communications
limitations on electronic withdrawals. Browsers typically comprise
a markup language interpreter, web page display routines, and a
HyperText Transport Protocol (`HTTP`) communications client. Markup
languages interpreted by browsers include the HyperText Markup
Language (`HTML`), the eXtensible Markup Language (`XML`), the
Wireless Markup Language (`WML`) for browsers on wireless
web-enabled devices, the Handheld Device Markup Language (`HDML`),
and others as will occur to those of skill in the art. Typical
browsers today can display text, graphics, audio and video.
Browsers are operative in any computer capable of data
communications including web-enabled devices, wireless web-enabled
devices, microcomputers, PDAs, laptops, and so on. Browsers in
wireless web-enabled devices often are downsized browsers called
"microbrowsers." The example of FIG. 4 is represented as a browser
for convenience of explanation, not for limitation. In fact, many
computer application programs may be improved according to
embodiments of the present invention for use in establishing
limitations on electronic withdrawals, including, for example, word
processor programs, spreadsheet programs, database management
tools, and, of course, browsers.
[0061] The browser of FIG. 4, as depicted, has been operated to
point to a web site named "MyBank.com," as shown in the title bar
of the browser display (302). The browser of FIG. 4 includes a GUI
toolbar (306) with a Back button, a Forward button, and buttons for
refreshing the display, searching, printing, and stopping web page
retrievals. The browser of FIG. 4 also includes a horizontal menu
(304) containing the menu items File, Edit, View, Bookmark (called
`Favorites` on some browsers), Tools, and Help. The exemplary
browser of FIG. 4 includes an address bar (308), and invoking the
Universal Resource Locator (`URL`) identifying the displayed web
page may be carried out by entering the URL in a browser's address
bar (308) and invoking the browser's Go button (307) next to the
address bar (308) with a mouseclick or keyboard carriage
return.
[0062] The browser of FIG. 4 has been further navigated to a web
page at the network address represented by the URL:
http://www.myBank.com/establishLims. Accessing this web page
required a logon with user identification and a password. In this
example, the logon process identified an authorized user named
"Mike Wilson." The web page so accessed is a data entry form
displayed in the web page display area (328) of the browser of FIG.
4. The data entry form includes data entry fields for limitations
on electronic withdrawals for drawer Mike Wilson (310) at a
location (318) designated as "Austin." The limitations on
electronic withdrawal for drawer Mike Wilson for location Austin
include a withdrawal type (320) set to "Fast Cash"; a type amount
(312), that is, in this example, a Fast Cash withdrawal amount, set
to "$100.00"; an account limitation (322) set to account number
"AU13254"; a type maximum (314), that is, in this example, a
maximum for Fast Cash for a period of time, set to "$300.00"; a
period limitation (324) set to "Daily"; and a total maximum for the
period (316) set to "$500.00."
[0063] A user may operate the SAVE button (326) to transmit the
illustrated limitations on electronic withdrawal to the drawee
`MyBank,` thereby establishing limitations on electronic
withdrawals in a drawee in a system for controlling electronic
withdrawals by a withdrawal device according to embodiments of the
present invention by transmitting to the drawee from an authorized
user through electronic data communications limitations on
electronic withdrawals. In this example, the limitations so
established control Fast Cash withdrawals from the location
`Austin` for drawer `Mike Wilson.` Mike Wilson is permitted by the
illustrated limitations on electronic withdrawals to withdraw from
any ATM or POS terminal in the city of Austin $100.00 of Fast Cash
per withdrawal, provided that Mike Wilson's Fast Cash withdrawals
from within Austin do not exceed $300.00 daily and Mike Wilson's
total withdrawals of all withdrawal types including Fast Cash do
not exceed $500.00 daily.
[0064] For further explanation, FIG. 5 sets forth a flow chart
illustrating an exemplary method for controlling electronic
withdrawals by a withdrawal device according to embodiments of the
present invention. The method of FIG. 5 is explained with reference
both to FIG. 5 and also to the exemplary data structures of FIG.
3.
[0065] The method of FIG. 5 includes establishing (502) the
limitations on electronic withdrawals in the drawee, including the
limitation on drawer location, which may be carried out as
described above by transmitting to the drawee by an authorized user
through electronic data communications one or more of the
limitations on electronic withdrawals, including the limitation on
drawer location. In the method of FIG. 5, the limitations on
electronic withdrawals are described as location control records
(216) and may include limitations on withdrawal type (232 on FIG.
3), drawer (214), account (224), withdrawal period (226), and
maximum withdrawal amount (222, 228). In the method of FIG. 5, a
limitation on drawer location (218 on FIG. 3) may be represented as
a geographic area that includes one or more locations of withdrawal
devices.
[0066] The method of FIG. 5 includes creating (504) a withdrawal
request (240) in a withdrawal device. The method of FIG. 5 is
carried out in a withdrawal device (not shown on FIG. 5), that is,
in a POS terminal or ATM, for example. In the method of FIG. 5,
creating (504) a withdrawal request is carried out by receiving in
a withdrawal device through a user input device data describing a
request for an electronic withdrawal. Examples of such data input
devices include keyboards, mice, numeric keypads, and magnetic card
readers. The data elements describing a withdrawal request (240 on
FIG. 3) may include a withdrawal device identifier (242), a drawer
identifier (214), a withdrawal amount (234), and a drawee
identifier (262). As explained earlier, the withdrawal request may
optionally also include a withdrawal type (232 on FIG. 3).
[0067] The method of FIG. 5 also includes transmitting (505) from a
withdrawal device to a drawee a request for limitations on
electronic withdrawals for the drawer, wherein the limitations
include a limitation on drawer location. In the example of FIG. 5,
the transmission of a request for limitation on electronic
withdrawals is illustrated as directed ultimately to the computer
memory (516) of a drawee. The drawee is identified in a drawee
identification field (262 on FIG. 3) in a withdrawal request (240),
and transmitting (505) a request for limitations on electronic
withdrawals to a drawee is carried out by transmitting the request
to the drawee identified in the drawee identification field of the
withdrawal request.
[0068] The method of FIG. 5 also includes receiving (506) in a
withdrawal device from storage in computer memory (516) of a drawee
data representing the limitations (216) on electronic withdrawals
for the drawer, including the limitation on drawer location. The
limitations on electronic withdrawals as retrieved may be organized
in location control records such as the one illustrated at
reference (216) on FIG. 3, and receiving data representing
limitations on electronic withdrawals is described in this example
as receiving location control records. Receiving location control
records is carried out by receiving location control records of the
drawer, that is, location control records (216 on FIG. 3) having a
drawer identification field (214) set to the same value as a drawer
identification field on the withdrawal request (240). Receiving
(506) location control records of a drawer often will include
receiving more than one location control record because a drawer
often will establish several or many sets of limitations on
withdrawals for the drawer, for the same drawer location or for
more than one drawer location. In addition to varying according to
drawer location, each drawer's established limitations on
electronic withdrawals also may be varied by a drawer according to
withdrawal period, the account to be used for each withdrawal,
maximum amount for withdrawal of a type, maximum amount for all
withdrawals for a period, and so on.
[0069] The retrieving process may be made more selective by
including a withdrawal type in the process, so that instead of
retrieving all location control records for a drawer, the
retrieving process retrieves only a subset of the location control
records for a drawer, that is, the subset associated with the
withdrawal type. If the withdrawal type is Fast Cash, for example,
such a retrieval process, instead of retrieving all the location
control records for the drawer, retrieves only the drawer's
location control records having a type field set to `Fast Cash.`
Other ways of fine tuning the retrieval process will occur to those
of skill in the art, and all such ways are well within the scope of
the present invention.
[0070] The method of FIG. 5 also includes identifying (508) at
least one drawer location for the withdrawal device for use in
determining whether to authorize an electronic withdrawal. In the
example of FIG. 5, the withdrawal request (240) arrived bearing no
indication of valid drawer locations for the withdrawal device.
Identifying (508) at least one drawer location for the withdrawal
device therefore is carried out by retrieving from a data store
(514) drawer location records for the withdrawal device, by using
the withdrawal device identifier (242 on FIG. 3) from the
withdrawal request as an index into records (244 on both FIG. 3 and
FIG. 5) of drawer locations for withdrawal devices, and comparing
retrieved records representing valid drawer locations for the
withdrawal device with the retrieved location control records (215)
for the drawer.
[0071] For further explanation, consider an example in which the
step of retrieving (506) location control records for a drawer
retrieves three location control records which have drawer location
values (240, 218 on FIG. 3) of: [0072] Las Vegas, Nev. [0073]
Austin, Tex. [0074] Chicago, Ill.
[0075] In the same example, three records representing valid drawer
locations for the withdrawal device identified in the pertinent
withdrawal request are retrieved remotely from store (514) having
drawer location values (244, 218 on FIG. 3) of: [0076] Texas [0077]
Austin, Tex. [0078] 504 Lavaca Street, Austin, Tex.
[0079] In this example, identifying (508) at least one drawer
location for the withdrawal device is carried out by comparing
retrieved records representing valid drawer locations for the
withdrawal device with the retrieved location control records for
the drawer, that is, comparing the respective drawer location
values in the records for a match, which in this case results in
identifying `Austin, Tex.` as the drawer location for the
withdrawal.
[0080] In addition, in this example, where multiple retrieved
location control records for the drawer represent more than one
drawer location, identifying the drawer location for the withdrawal
device also identifies the location control record that contains
the limitations on electronic withdrawals that govern the current
withdrawal request. That is, in this example, the location control
record that contains the limitations on electronic withdrawals that
govern the subject withdrawal request is the retrieved location
control record (215) for the drawer identified in the withdrawal
request (240, 214 on FIG. 3) with its drawer location field (216,
218 on FIG. 3) set to `Austin, Tex.`
[0081] The method of FIG. 5 also includes retrieving (509) from
storage in computer memory of the drawee data representing a
recorded description (217) of at least one previous withdrawal for
the drawer for use in determining whether to authorize an
electronic withdrawal. Records of previous withdrawals may be
represented by location withdrawal records as illustrated at
reference (217) on FIG. 3. Each location withdrawal record (217)
represents a previous electronic withdrawal by a drawer from a
drawer location for a withdrawal type during a withdrawal period.
Each location withdrawal record stores data elements describing
drawer identification (214), drawer location (218) for a previous
withdrawal, withdrawal type (232), an account number (226), a time
stamp (236) for the previous withdrawal that can be used to
determine the relation of a previous withdrawal to a withdrawal
period, and the amount (234) of a previous withdrawal for use in
determining cumulative amounts withdrawn during a withdrawal
period. Retrieving (508) data representing a recorded description
of previous withdrawals can be carried out by retrieving from a
table of location withdrawal records a set of location withdrawal
records whose drawer identification field values (217, 214 on FIG.
3) match the drawer identification from a received withdrawal
request (240) and whose drawer location field values (217, 218 on
FIG. 3) match the drawer location of the withdrawal device
identified in the withdrawal request.
[0082] The method of FIG. 5 includes authorizing (510) by a
withdrawal device an electronic withdrawal in dependence upon
limitations on electronic withdrawals (219), including a limitation
on drawer location (218 on FIG. 3). After a withdrawal is
authorized, the method of FIG. 5, includes updating (512) the
location withdrawal records of a drawee institution, carried out
through electronic message exchange with the drawee, so that the
location withdrawal records will include data describing the
current transaction for use in processing future transactions. The
method of FIG. 5 also includes sending (519) ACH data to an
automated clearing house (112 on FIG. 1) to pay a merchant, the
owner of the withdrawal device used in the current transaction, an
ATM or POS terminal, for example.
[0083] As mentioned, the method of FIG. 5 includes authorizing
(510) an electronic withdrawal by a withdrawal device. For further
explanation, FIG. 6 sets forth a flow chart illustrating an
exemplary method of authorizing an electronic withdrawal by a
withdrawal device that includes adding (604) the withdrawal amount
from the current withdrawal request (240, 234 on FIG. 3), to all
the amounts of previous withdrawals for the drawer location,
withdrawal period, and withdrawal type. The amounts of previous
withdrawals for the drawer location, withdrawal period, and
withdrawal type are obtained through a query against location
withdrawal records (219) for which the drawer location (216, 218 on
FIG. 3), withdrawal period (224), and withdrawal type (232) are
taken from the governing location control record (215). The
governing location control record (215) is the location control
record that contains the limitations on electronic withdrawals that
govern the current withdrawal request--identified as described
above in the discussion of the method of FIG. 5.
[0084] The method of FIG. 6 includes comparing (606) by the
withdrawal device the sum of the withdrawal amount from the current
withdrawal request and the amounts of previous withdrawals for the
drawer location, period, and type to the type maximum (216, 222 on
FIG. 3) from the governing location control record (215). If the
sum of the currently requested withdrawal amount and the amounts of
previous withdrawals for the drawer location, period, and type
exceeds the type maximum (616), the withdrawal request is denied
(612).
[0085] If the sum of the current requested withdrawal amount and
the amounts of previous withdrawals for the drawer location,
period, and type does not exceed the type maximum (622), the method
of FIG. 6 also includes adding (608) the withdrawal amount, taken
from the withdrawal request (240, 234 on FIG. 3), to all the
amounts of previous withdrawals for the drawer location and
withdrawal period. The amounts of previous withdrawals for the
drawer location and withdrawal period are obtained through a query
against location withdrawal records (219) for which the drawer
location (216, 218 on FIG. 3) and withdrawal period (224) are taken
from the governing location control record (215).
[0086] The method of FIG. 6 includes comparing (610) by the
withdrawal device the sum of the withdrawal amount from the current
withdrawal request and the amounts of previous withdrawals for the
drawer location and withdrawal period to the total maximum
limitation (216, 228 on FIG. 3) on electronic withdrawals for the
drawer for the drawer location. The value of the total maximum
limitation is taken from the governing location control record
(215). If the sum of the currently requested withdrawal amount and
the amounts of previous withdrawals for the drawer location and
withdrawal period exceeds the total type maximum (618), the
withdrawal request is denied (612). If the sum of the current
requested withdrawal amount and the amounts of previous withdrawals
for the drawer location and withdrawal period does not exceed the
type maximum (620), in the method of FIG. 5, an electronic
withdrawal is authorized (614).
[0087] Controlling electronic withdrawals by a withdrawal device
according to embodiments of the present invention is further
explained with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 sets forth a message
sequence diagram illustrating a method for controlling electronic
withdrawals by a withdrawal device in a distributed data processing
system according to embodiments of the present invention. In FIG.
7, vertical line (270) represents a drawer, and vertical lines
(130, 108, and 138) represent computers coupled for electronic data
communications through at least one network. Horizontal lines (272,
240, 241, 216, and so on) in FIG. 7 represent electronic data entry
(272) or electronic data communications, message traffic in the
network. In the example of FIG. 7, a drawer (270) enters (272) into
withdrawal device (130) a withdrawal request (240), that is, data
described a request for an electronic withdrawal. The withdrawal
request may include a withdrawal device identifier, a drawer
identifier, a drawee identifier, and a withdrawal amount as
described above. The withdrawal device creates a withdrawal request
by gathering the entered data into a data structure in computer
memory of the withdrawal device. The withdrawal request represents
a request from a customer, a drawer, for an electronic withdrawal
from the customer's bank, a drawee.
[0088] In the example of FIG. 7, the withdrawal device (130)
transmits to the drawee (108) a request (241) for limitations on
electronic withdrawals for the drawer; the limitations include a
limitation on drawer location. The drawee (108) returns to the
withdrawal device (130) the limitations (216) from storage in
computer memory of the drawee. The limitations are data
representing limitations on electronic withdrawals for the drawer,
and they include a limitation on drawer location (218 on FIG.
3).
[0089] The withdrawal device in this example requests (508) and
receives (244) from drawer location web service (138) a list of
valid drawer locations for the withdrawal device (126). The
withdrawal device compares the valid drawer locations in the list
with the drawer locations in the limitations until it finds a match
between a drawer location in a location control record and a drawer
location in the list of valid drawer locations. The withdrawal
device reads the account number from the matching location control
record, and, now knowing for the first time in this transaction
both the account number pertinent to the current transaction and
the drawer location for the transaction, the withdrawal device
requests (509) and receives (219) from the drawee (108) the
location withdrawal records (219 on FIGS. 5 and 6) for the drawer,
the drawer location, and the account number.
[0090] The withdrawal device then determines (510) whether to
authorize an electronic withdrawal in dependence upon the
limitations, including the limitation on drawer location. The
determination may be made, for example, as described above in the
method of FIG. 6. If the withdrawal device (130) determines that
the electronic withdrawal is to be denied, the withdrawal device
displays a denial message (507) to the drawer (270). If the
withdrawal device determines that the electronic withdrawal is to
be authorized, the withdrawal device (130) notifies (511) the
drawer and carries out the transaction by, for example, dispensing
cash if the withdrawal device is an ATM or communicating an
authorization message to an electronic cash register if the
withdrawal device is a POS terminal. In addition, upon
authorization, the withdrawal device (130) sends to the drawee
(108) a message (515) updating the drawee's location withdrawal
records and also sends a message (517) to an automated clearing
house (112) to pay the merchant that owns the withdrawal device
(126).
[0091] It will be understood from the foregoing description that
modifications and changes may be made in various embodiments of the
present invention without departing from its true spirit. The
descriptions in this specification are for purposes of illustration
only and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of
the present invention is limited only by the language of the
following claims.
* * * * *
References