Patent Application
20220012696
This invention relates to a method of validating cash transactions, and a cash transaction validation system.
The invention is expected to be advantageously applicable to validating banknotes. Accordingly, such applications should particularly, but not exclusively, be borne in mind when considering this specification.
In the specification,
CPT means Cash Processing Terminal;
POS means Point of Sale;
the term “checking” should be broadly interpreted to include a “look-up”.
The inventor is aware of the practice of tracking the movement of banknotes, similar to how a parcel may be tracked by a courier service. Typically, users are able to track banknotes via user-registered websites. However, in some countries like the United States, the marking of banknotes is illegal if there is intent to render the notes unfit to be re-issued.
The inventor is also aware of intelligent banknote neutralization systems, which systems protect valuables against unauthorized access to its contents by rendering it unusable through the marking of stolen cash with a degradation agent when an attempted attack on the systems is detected. For example, as a popular agent, ink is used to stain banknotes with a permanent dye to flag the banknotes as conspicuous. Such neutralization systems are aimed, amongst others, at providing additional security of cash-in-transit and consumer payments.
The present invention aims to provide a mechanism of verifying or validating the legitimacy of banknotes.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of validating cash transactions, the method being conducted at a cash validation server of a cash transaction validation system, and comprising the steps of:
capturing a unique identifier of one or more banknotes of a user;
storing the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes against a user identity of the user in a repository connected to the cash validation server; and
upon receiving the one or more banknotes as tender for payment at a receiving Cash Processing Terminal (CPT), checking the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes against the user identity stored in the repository, requesting an authorization from the user to release the one or more banknotes for payment and, in response to receiving a successful authorization, transmitting an accept banknote message to the receiving CPT and in response to a failed authorization, transmitting a decline banknote message to the receiving CPT.
Requesting the authorization from the user may include authenticating the user by way of any one or more of: a Personal Identification Number (PIN) and a two-factor authentication method.
The receiving CPT may include a merchant Point of Sale (POS) terminal of a cashier, for example a mobile merchant POS terminal.
Checking the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes against the user identity stored in the repository may include electronically receiving the unique identifier at a client-side cash validation software application installed at the merchant POS terminal and transmitting the unique identifier to a server-side cash validation application installed on the cash validation server.
The client-side cash validation application may be integrated with the merchant POS terminal.
Capturing of the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes may include capturing the unique identifier upon withdrawal of the one or more banknotes at a dispensing CPT. To this end, the method may include accessing a storage controller of the dispensing CPT.
Requesting the authorization from the user may include receiving the authorization from a front-end user terminal having installed thereon a user authentication application in data communication with any one or more of: the server-side cash validation application installed on the cash validation server, and the merchant POS terminal.
The front-end user terminal may include any one or more of: a mobile device wherein the user authentication application comprises a mobile device application for example an iOS™ or Mac App Store™ application, and a desktop computer wherein the user authentication application comprises any one or more of: a desktop application and a browser-based application.
The method may include flagging the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes with a captured or released status. To this end, the captured or released status may be updated by the user, the merchant or the server-side cash validation application.
The unique identifier of the one or more banknotes may include, but is not limited to, a banknote serial number and a barcode.
The dispensing CPT may form part of a local dispensing CPT network, and the merchant POS may form part of a local merchant POS network.
The local dispensing CPT network may include a cluster of CPT's of the bank. Likewise, the local merchant POS network may include a cluster of POS terminals of the merchant.
The cash validation server may be located in a network remote from the local dispensing CPT network and the local merchant POS network. In one embodiment of the invention, the cash validation server and the user repository connected thereto may be cloud-based.
Capturing of the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes upon withdrawal may include presenting the user with an option to capture the one or more banknotes at the dispensing CPT.
The dispensing CPT may include, but is not limited to, an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM).
The method may include tracking the one or more banknotes via the unique identifier. Tracking of the one or more banknotes may include lifecycle analysis, supply and location intelligence of the one or more banknotes.
The method may include, upon receipt of the authorization from the user, displaying a notification of the user identity and the status of the one or more banknotes at the merchant POS.
The client-side cash validation application, server-side cash validation application, and user authentication application may be in communication with each other via a peer-to-peer network.
It should be appreciated that the method provides for the enabling and disabling of banknotes to control their tender-ability. The enabling and disabling of the banknotes may provide for the temporary suspension of the intrinsic value of banknotes, thereby eliminating the anonymity associated with cash.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a cash transaction validation system for conducting the method of validating cash transactions as hereinbefore described, the system comprising:
a cash validation server connected to a repository and having installed thereon a server-side cash validation application; and
a receiving Cash Processing Terminal (CPT) having installed thereon a client-side cash validation application, the system operable to
capture a unique identifier of one or more banknotes of a user; store the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes against a user identity of the user in the repository; and upon receiving the one or more banknotes as tender for payment at the receiving CPT, check the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes against the user identity stored in the repository, request an authorization from the user to release the one or more banknotes for payment and, in response to receiving a successful authorization, transmit an accept banknote message to the receiving CPT and in response to a failed authorization, transmit a decline banknote message to the receiving CPT.
The invention is now described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.
In the drawings,
With reference to
To one side, the cash validation server (202) is in data communication with a local dispensing Cash Processing Terminal (CPT) network (208) having dispensing CPT's in the form of ATM's (210.1), (210.2) and (210.3). The local dispensing CPT network (208) holds three banknotes at its ATM's (210.1), (210.2) and (210.3), the banknotes having unique identifiers (212.1), (212.2) and (212.3).
To another side, the cash validation server (202) is in data communication with a local receiving CPT network (214) which comprises receiving CPT's in the form of merchant Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals (216.1) and (216.2). A client-side cash validation software application (218) is installed at the merchant POS terminals (216.1) and (216.2), the client-side cash validation software application (218) being integrated with the POS terminals (216.1) and (216.2).
In this embodiment of the invention, the cash transaction validation system (200) comprises a front-end user terminal in the form of a mobile device (220) of a user (222) having installed thereon a user authentication application (224) in data communication with the merchant POS terminals (216.1) and (216.2) and the cash validation server (202).
As will become more apparent with reference to
With reference to
At a first step (301), the user 222 withdraws three banknotes from the ATM (210.1) that forms part of the local dispensing Cash Processing Terminal (CPT) network (208). Upon withdrawal of the banknotes, the user is presented with an option to have the banknotes captured by the system.
Next at step (302) and upon the user's (222) electing to capture the banknotes, the unique identifiers (212.1), (212.2) and (212.3) of the banknotes of the user (222) are captured and the unique identifiers (212.1), (212.2) and (212.3) are stored against a user identity of the user (222) in the database (204) connected to the cash validation server (202). In this embodiment of the invention, the unique identifiers (212.1), (212.2) and (212.3) are banknote serial numbers.
At step (304), the banknotes having unique identifiers (212.1), (212.2) and are tendered as payment for goods at the merchant POS terminal (216.2) and the banknote having unique identifier (212.3) is tendered as payment for goods at the merchant POS terminal (216.1).
Next at step (306), the unique identifiers (212.1), (212.2) and (212.3) are checked against the user identity stored in the database (204) by electronically receiving the unique identifiers (212.1), (212.2) and (212.3) at the client-side cash validation software application (218) installed at the merchant POS terminals (216.1) and (216.2) and the unique identifiers (212.1), (212.2) and (212.3) are transmitted to the server-side cash validation application (206) installed on the cash validation server (202).
Next at step (308), the user (222) is requested to authorize the release of the banknotes having unique identifiers (212.1), (212.2) and (212.3). In one embodiment, the authorization comprises requesting the authorization from the user (222) by a Personal Identification Number (PIN), whereas in another embodiment, the authorization is requested via two-factor authentication. In yet another embodiment, requesting the authorization from the user (222) comprises receiving the authorization from the front-end user terminal in the form of the mobile device (220) having installed thereon the user authentication application (224) being in data communication with the server-side cash validation application (206) installed on the cash validation server (202).
At step (310) and upon receipt of successful authorization for the release of the banknotes having unique identifiers (212.1) and (212.2), the banknotes having unique identifiers (212.1) and (212.2) are flagged with a released status and an accept banknote message is transmitted to the POS terminal (216.2) for acceptance of the banknotes as payment.
At step (312) and in in response to a failed authorization for the banknote having unique identifier (212.3), the captured status of the banknote having unique identifier (212.3) remains unchanged and a decline banknote message is transmitted to the POS terminal (216.1) and the banknote is rejected as payment.
In
To one side, the cash validation server (70) is in data communication with a local dispensing CPT network (58) having dispensing CPT's in the form of ATM's (52.1), (52.2) and (52.3) and a dispensing storage controller (60.1). The local dispensing CPT network (58) holds three banknotes of a user (50) at its ATM's (52.1), (52.2) and (52.3), the banknotes having unique identifiers in the form of serial numbers (54.1), (54.2) and (54.3).
To another side, the cash validation server (70) is in data communication with a local receiving CPT network (64) which includes receiving CPT's in the form of merchant POS terminals (62.1) and (62.2), and a receiving storage controller (60.2).
In this embodiment of the invention, the cash transaction validation system (7) includes a front-end user terminal in the form of a mobile device (82) having installed thereon a client-side cash validation application in the form of a mobile device application (80), the mobile device application (80) having been downloaded from an online store by the user (50). The cash transaction validation system (7) further includes a front-end terminal in the form of a desktop computer (86) having a client-side cash validation application accessible in the form of a browser-based application (84).
The system (7) is operable to capture the serial numbers (54.1), (54.2), and (54.3); store the serial numbers against the user name in the database (72) connected to the cash validation server (70); add a “captured” or “released” status to the serial numbers (54.1), (54.2), and (54.3); and upon tendering of the banknotes having any one or more of the serial numbers for payment at the receiving CPT (62.1) or (62.2), take the serial number of the tendered banknote, check its “captured” or “released” status, and in response to a “captured” status, transmit a “decline banknote” message to the receiving CPT (62.1) or (62.2) and in response to a “released” status, transmit an “accept banknote” message to the receiving CPT (62.1) or (62.2).
In
At a first step (120), the cash validation server (70) accesses the ATM's (52.1), (52.2) and (52.3) of the local dispensing CPT network (58) via the dispensing storage controller (60.1) and captures the unique identifiers in the form of banknote serial numbers (54.1), (54.2) and (54.3) of the user (50). In this embodiment, the serial numbers (54.1), (54.2) and (54.3) are captured upon withdrawal of the banknotes and the dispensing CPT's i.e. ATM's (52.1), (52.2) and (52.3) are accessed electronically via the dispensing storage controller (60.1) by the server-side cash validation application (68).
Next, at step (122), the serial numbers (54.1), (54.2) and (54.3) are stored against the username (50) in the database repository (72) connected to the server (70).
At step (124), the server-side cash validation application (68) adds or appends to each serial number a “captured” status meaning that the banknotes have not yet been released by the user (50).
Next, at step (126), the user (50) withdraws the banknotes having serial numbers (54.1), (54.2) and (54.3) with the aim of tendering the banknotes for payment at a receiving CPT in the form of the merchant POS terminal (62.1).
Now, at step (128), the user (50) communicates with the cash validation server (70) via the front-end terminal in the form of the mobile device (82) having installed thereon the client-side cash validation application (80) and updates the status of the banknotes having serial numbers (54.1) and (54.2) from “captured” to “released” at step (130).
Next, at step (132), the banknotes having serial numbers (54.1) and (54.2) are presented or tendered for payment at the merchant POS terminal (62.1). The merchant checks the “captured” or “released” status of the banknotes by electronically capturing their serial numbers and transmits the serial numbers (54.1) and (54.2) to the cash validation server (70) for verification against the statuses stored in the repository (72) connected to the server (70) at step (134).
In this embodiment, the banknotes having serial numbers (54.1) and (54.2) have been “released” by the user (50) at step (130) and the validation server (70) accordingly transmits an “accept banknote” message to the merchant POS terminal (62.1) at step (136). Should the note with serial number (54.3) have been presented for payment, the server (70) would have transmitted a “decline banknote” to the POS terminal (62.1).
Advantageously, a method and system as hereinbefore described is aimed at removing the anticipated reward of crime, i.e. the stealing of banknotes, by foiling the theft and increasing the risk of being caught.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018/07881 | Nov 2018 | ZA | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2019/060024 | 11/21/2019 | WO | 00 |
