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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a banking system including a plurality of
transaction function devices accommodated in a single console-type unit
and, more particularly, to a banking system which comprises a common
housing accommodating a plurality of transaction devices having at least
one common operative portion, that is, a common operative device, means
for presetting a pattern of transaction modes representing a combination
of available transactions which is dictated by the status of the
transaction devices, means connected with the means for presetting the
pattern of transactions for generating a first predetermined pattern of
signal, means for entering a customer selected transaction into the
apparatus, means connected with the means for entering for generating a
second predetermined signal pattern, means for checking for the presence
or absence of a predetermined relation between the first and second
predetermined signal patterns and for judging therefrom whether a customer
selected transaction is available and means for executing a customer
selected transaction which has been judged to be available by the judging
means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Modern banking systems each include, among other things, a cash dispenser
capable of dispensing cash to customers, an automatic money exchanger
capable of issuing customer-selected kinds of bank notes in exchange for
the corresponding amount tendered and an automatic deposit machine capable
of depositing money in the customer's account. It is well known that
banking systems have contributed considerably to improved efficiency and
expanded services in banks and other institutions. However, the
installation of a large number of banking machines, each performing one of
several available services, not only is costly but also requires a large
floor space. To avoid this disadvantage, an attempt has been made to
combine a plurality of transaction devices in a single unit with a common
device performing functions common to the transaction devices. Such an
arrangement obviously reduces machine costs and installation space. By way
of illustration, it is then possible to utilize a mechanism for cash
dispensing in common with that of an automatic money exchanger; a bank
note checker in common with the corresponding mechanism of an automatic
banknote exchanger and an automatic depositor; or a certain portion of a
bankbook printer in common with the corresponding portion of an automatic
cash disperser or/and an automatic depositor, thus making a single
transaction unit discharge a plurality of transactions. While it is likely
to be less costly to use an integrated banking system like the one briefly
described above for a plurality of transactions, e.g. cash dispensing,
cash exchanging and depositing, than to use a plurality of independent
transaction machines, such a multiple-function machine has the
disadvantage that a purely local malfunction in the system could result in
a complete shutdown of the entire service package.
Another disadvantage of such a multiple-function banking system is that all
transactions are offered or withdrawn as a package. Thus, it is impossible
to offer one or several transactions only, with the other transactions
being shut down, in accordance with a definite time schedule which, in
fact, is a feature of modern banking. Thus, for example, it may be
convenient to offer a deposit transaction after regular work hours for the
employees of the bank. Or it may be desirable that the deposit transaction
be available from 9:00 a.m. to 15:00 p.m. with all the other transactions
being available from 9:00 a.m. through 17:00 p.m.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a packaged
banking system wherein a pattern of transactions selected from a plurality
of available transactions may be pre-selected.
It is another object of this invention to provide a packaged banking system
including means for judging whether the transaction selected by a customer
is among the transactions so pre-set, for example by a bank employee, and
allowing the customer-selected transaction to proceed when the particular
transaction is among the pre-set transactions.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a packaged banking
system such that, should any particular transaction be made unavailable by
a machine malfunction or other event, it is still capable of executing
transactions other than the transaction or transactions which are
unavailable.
It is another yet object of this invention to provide a packaged banking
system capable of carrying out each transaction according to a
predetermined banking service time schedule.
It is still another object to provide a method of carrying out a plurality
of transactions which comprises the steps of predeterming an available
transaction or set of transactions and judging whether the transaction
selected by a customer is available or not.
According to one aspect of this invention, a banking system has a single
console-type unit accommodating a plurality of transaction function
devices with at least one common functional device, said system comprising
means for pre-setting a pattern of transactions representing a combination
of transactions processable according to a status of said transaction
devices, means operatively associated with said means for presetting said
pattern of transactions and adapted to generate a first predetermined
signal pattern, means for entering a customer selected transaction into
said apparatus, means for generating a second predetermined signal
pattern, means for checking for the presence or absence of a predetermined
relation between said first and second predetermined signal patterns and
for judging whether said customer selected transaction is available and
means for executing a customer selected transaction which has been judged
to be available by said judging means.
Other objects as well as the numerous advantages of the banking system
according to this invention will become apparent from the following
detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing a free-standing banking apparatus
embodying the principles of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a banking system according to this invention;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main controller used in the banking
apparatus of this invention;
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing a logic format for an accumulator
used in the banking apparatus of this invention;
FIG. 5 is a detailed flow diagram of a banking system embodying the
principles of this invention;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a main controller employed in another
embodiment of this invention; and
FIG. 7 is a partial flow diagram of the banking system of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring, now, to FIG. 1, there is shown a multiple-function banking
apparatus embodying the principles of this invention. This
multiple-function banking system is designed, for example, to function as
an automatic over-the-counter service package which includes a plurality
of transactions. Thus, the system includes such transactions as cash
dispensing, cash exchanging, depositing, balance reference and bankbook
entry. The front panel of the banking apparatus 10 is provided with a gate
11 which accepts a magnetic card carrying such data as the personal code
of a person who is eligible for transactions, an inlet 12 for inserting a
bank note, an outlet 13 for issuing a receipt in the case of a transaction
without a bankbook, and a rotatable how-to-use instruction display 28
which displays the method of operating the apparatus for each transaction
mode of the banking system.
The operation panel of the banking apparatus 10 is provided with a display
14 which displays key-entered numerical information, a transaction
selection button keyboard 15a by which the customer may select the
transaction he wants to do with the bank from among a plurality of, five
in the illustrated embodiment, transaction modes, a confirmation button
15b, a ten-key keyboard 16 (marked 0 to 9) for entering the customer's
select number and requested withdrawl amount, a gate 17 for the insertion
of a bankbook in the cash dispensing, deposit or entry mode, a
confirmation window 18a for confirming the number of e.g. ten-dollar bills
ready to be dispensed, another confirmation window 18b for confirming the
number of, e.g. fifty-dollar bills, an outlet 19a for dispensing the
ten-dollar bills delivered to a window 18a to the customer on depression
of button 15b, and an outlet 19b for similarly dispensing the fifty-dollar
bills.
Disposed inside the card gate 11 is a card detecting switch 32 (FIG. 3)
which detects the card inserted into the apparatus 10. Preferably, there
is arranged in a bankbook gate 17 a shutter device adapted to selectively
open and allow the bankbook to enter only when a personal card has been
inserted and the bankbook entry mode has been selected by the customer.
There also is disposed, either inside or on the backside of apparatus 10,
an operation mode pre-setting switch 25 in which the pattern of available
transactions is set according to either the status of the transaction
devices and/or a predetermined banking time schedule. Before proceeding to
a more detailed description of the banking system according to the
invention, each transaction mode thereof will be briefly explained.
(1) CASH WITHDRAWAL MODE
The cash withdrawal mode involves the following sequence of events. First,
the customer inserts a magnetic card including data such as his personal
code and secret number into the gate 11. He then inserts his bankbook into
the gate 17 if he wants to have a withdrawal amount entered into the
bankbook. Then, he selects the cash withdrawal mode by means of selection
button keyboard 15a. The customer enters his secret number identifying his
authority to use the card and the amount he wants to withdraw on the
ten-key keyboard 16. If the key-entered secret number corresponds to his
individualized secret number read from the card and the amount he wants to
withdraw is not in excess of the outstanding balance in his account, bank
notes in a value equivalent to the amount he wants to withdraw are
conveyed to the confirmation window 18a and/or 18b. The customer checks to
see that the bank notes appearing in the window 18a and/or 18b are in
agreement with those he requested and, if the result of this inspection is
affirmative, he depresses the confirmation button 15b. In response to this
depression of button 15b, the inserted card is returned to the customer
through the card gate 11, the requested bank notes are dispensed through
the ten-dollar bill outlet 19a and/or fifty-dollar bill outlet 19b and the
bankbook, if it has been entered, is returned to the customer through the
bankbook gate 17.
(2) DEPOSIT MODE
The deposit mode involves the following sequence of events. The customer
inserts his card into the card gate 11 and selects the deposit mode on the
transaction selection button keyboard 15a. In response to the depression
of the correct button, the shutter disposed in the throat of the bankbook
gate 17 opens to admit the bankbook. The customer then inserts bank notes
in the value which he wants to deposit into the banknote inlet 12,
whereupon the value of the banknotes is displayed on the display 14. He
then enters his secret number by means of keyboard 16, if necessary. The
amount is entered into the bankbook only when the secret number agrees
with the number read from the card. The bankbook and the card are then
returned to the customer.
(3) EXCHANGE MODE
The exchange mode involves the following sequence of events. The customer
inserts his card into the gate 11 and, then, selects the exchange mode on
the transaction selection button keyboard 15a. He then inserts a bank note
to be exchanged, for example a fifty-dollar-bill, into the banknote inlet
12. Thereupon, the value is displayed on the display 14 and the small
changes (five ten-dollar bills) are conveyed to the confirmation window
18a. The customer inspects the ten-dollar bills and, if the value
represented by these bills is equal to that of the bank note tendered in
exchange, he depresses a confirmation button 15b, whereupon the ten-dollar
bills are dispensed from dispenser outlet 19a.
(4) BALANCE REFERENCE MODE
The balance reference mode involves the following sequence of events. The
customer inserts his magnetic card into the card gate 11 and selects the
balance reference transaction mode by means of button 15a. Then, if the
customer desires to check the balance, he enters his secret number on the
ten-key board 16. When the secret number magnetically recorded on the card
agrees with the key-input number, the balance of his deposit account is
displayed on the display 14. It may also be so arranged that a slip
imprinted with the balance is issued through a receipt issue outlet 13
when the balance is displayed. The card is returned to the customer.
(5) ENTRY MODE
The entry mode involves the following sequence of events. The customer
selects the entry mode on the transaction selection button keyboard 15. Of
course, he must insert his card into the gate 11 beforehand. As the button
15 is depressed, the shutter adjacent the backnote gate 17 opens, thus
activating the acceptance of the bankbook. When the bankbook has thus been
accepted, the information on any past transactions made without entries in
the bankbook, such as automatic transfer transactions, is printed and the
updated bankbook is then returned to the customer.
The five transaction modes briefly described above are merely illustrative
of the variety of banking services which may be rendered by the apparatus
and method of this invention and should not be construed as meaning that
the invention is limited to those particular transaction modes.
Referring, now, to FIG. 2, there is shown a block diagram of one embodiment
of this invention. In association with a main controller segment 20, there
are provided a magnetic card reader 21 which is disposed behind the card
gate 11 and adapted to read the magnetically recorded information, i.e.
the secret number or personal code, from the magnetic card, a slip issue
device 22 which records each mode of transaction and details of the
transaction such as the requested amount of withdrawal or the depositing
amount for posting in the bank's reference and evidence files, an
imprinter 23 adapted to prepare and issue to the customer a receipt or
evidence slip relevant to the transaction, a bank note dispenser 24 which
dispenses bank notes equivalent to the withdrawal amount or exchanged
amount into the confirmation window 18a or 18b, an operation mode
pre-setting switch 25 which is adapted to change the processable pattern
of transactions according to the status of the banking apparatus, a bank
note checker 26 which verifies the kind of the bank note (for example,
ten-dollar bill or fifty-dollar bill) inserted from the inlet 12, a
bankbook printer 27 which prints deposit amounts on the deposit mode or
make entries updating the bankbook on the entry mode, a rotatable
how-to-use display device 28 disposed on the front panel of the apparatus
10 and adapted to display a how-to-use instruction for each transaction
mode, and a customer operating panel 29 which includes a transaction
selection keyboard 15a, the confirmation button 15b and the ten-key
keyboard 16. The main controller 20 transmits transaction processing data
to a control center through a line controller 30 and a
modulator-demodulator 31 and receives input data (for example, the
information not recorded yet in the bankbook) from the center through the
modulator-demodulator 31 and the line controller 30.
FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of the main controller 20. The main
controller 20 comprises a micro-processor 201 which performs various
operations and control processes, a read-only memory PROM 202 which is
pre-loaded with the program of this embodiment which is hereinafter
described in detailed with reference to the flow diagram of FIG. 5, a
random-access memory RAM 203 which records and reads transaction process
data, an encoder 204 which encodes a output from the operation mode
pre-setting switch 25 and provides the micro-processor with the encoded
signal, an encoder 205 which encodes an output designating a selected
transaction mode from the transaction selection button 15a and provides
the micro-processor 201 with the encoded selected transaction mode output
signal, a decoder 206 which drives a display 33, a data bus 207 which
transmits transaction data to the micro-processor 201 or distributes
micro-processor output data to various parts of the apparatus, a control
bus 208 which transmits a control signal for reading and recording
functions and an address bus 209 which provides the read-only memory 202
and random access memory 203 with address data and controls a read-out
gate of each switch. The data bus 207 and the control bus 208 are
connected with the card detecting switch 32 for detecting the card
inserted into the gate 11 and the card reader 21, respectively. To the
decoder 206 is applied the information on the transaction mode selected by
means of the selection button 15a, and a signal for actuating an
available-transaction indicating lamp 33 corresponding to the particular
transaction is supplied to the display. The micro-processor 201 includes
an arithmetic logic unit ALU which performs operations in accordance with
the program data stored in the read-only memory 202, an accumulator A
which temporally stores certain data, a flag Z which memorizes the fact
that the result of an operation by said accumulator A is zero, and a flag
C which memorizes the occurrence of a carry-up in accumulator A.
Now, some operable transaction modes in the event of a local malfunction of
the system will be explained. Let it now be assumed that a bank note
dispenser 24 has failed and ceased to issue bank notes (i.e. a jam). Then,
the cash withdrawal and exchange modes will become unoperable. In the
event of a failure of a bank note checker 26 for verifying the kind of an
inserted bank note due to a jam or a severed belt, for instance, both the
exchange and the deposit modes will become unoperable. If a bankbook
printer 27 fails, the cash withdrawal, deposit and entry modes will all
become inoperative.
In accordance with this invention, a bank employee may pre-set the
available transaction modes according to the customer service schedule of
the bank, i.e. the transaction modes available to the customer during a
certain calendar time of the day. This pre-setting may be conveniently
performed by operating the pre-setting switch 25 manually. As an
alternative, an automatic detector for detecting a system failure, i.e. a
failure of a certain transaction function, may be built into, or
associated with, said pre-setting switch so that the system may remain
operable with regard to the remainder of the functions, i.e. all the
transaction modes offered except the mode or modes affected by such a
failure as described above. The principle will now be explained which is
involved in the detection of operable transaction modes in the event of a
failure.
FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of an exemplary set of information
stored in the accumulator A. In this example, accumulator A has 8 bits,
namely X1 through X8. The memory of the available transaction modes set by
pre-setting switch 25 and the logic state as designated by transaction
selection button 15 are shown in tandem for each of understanding. The
first bit (X1) of accumulator A stores a logic signal specifying the
presence or absence of a withdrawal mode input as selected by the
pre-setting switch 25 or selected by the transaction selection switch 15a;
the second bit (X2) similarly stores a logic signal specifying the
depository mode; the third bit (X3) stores a logic signal specifying the
exchange mode, the fourth bit (X4) stores a logic signal specifying the
balance reference mode; and the fifth bit (X5) stores a logic signal
specifying the bankbook entry mode. Thus, each bit specifies a transaction
mode by memorizing a logic "1", and also specifies, by memorizing a logic
"0", that the particular mode is not pre-set or is not selected.
Now, as the pre-setting switch 25 is actuated to set a pattern indicating
that the entire system 10 is valid or normal, an encoder 204 generates a
coded signal "11111000" and lets the accumulator A store the information
that all the modes are valid and available to the customer. FIG. 4(a)
shows the logic state of the accumulator A which has memorized this coded
signal representing the availability of all the modes. If the bank note
checker 26 has failed, the encoder 204 generates a coded signal "10011000"
meaning that the cash withdrawal, balance reference and bankbook entry
modes are still available to the customer and lets the accumulator store
that information. FIG. 4(b) shows the logic state of accumulator A in this
situation. If the transaction mode pre-setting switch 25 is actuated to
set a failure of the bank note dispenser, the encoder 204 generates a
coded signal "01011000" designating that the deposit, balance reference
and entry modes are available to the customer and lets the accumulator A
store the information. The logic state of accumulator A in this situation
is schematically shown in FIG. 4(c).
On the other hand, if the customer actuates the selection button 15a to
designate the kind of transaction he desires to consummate with the bank,
the encoder 205 generates a coded signal including a logic of "1" in the
digit corresponding to the transaction he is requesting and lets the
accumulator A store the information temporally. The logic states of
accumulator A for the modes that may be designated by the transaction
selection button 15a are shown in FIG. 4(d) through (h).
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the functioning of an embodiment of
this invention. Referring, now, to FIGS. 1 through 5, the operation of
judging whether any of the multiple functions of the banking apparatus 10
is operable or not is illustrated. If a certain mechanical failure has
developed in the banking apparatus, the bank employee in charge of the
apparatus may manually set the operable modes by means of the pre-setting
switch 25. As previously discussed, a self-check, self-correction function
may be built into the banking apparatus. In the former case, the system 10
warns the employee that something is wrong with the machine. The employee
checks the machine and sets the modes which are still operable. For
example, if the bank note checker 26 fails to function properly, the cash
withdrawal mode, balance reference mode and entry mode are still
available, although the deposit and exchange modes are not utilizable. The
employee thereupon operates the pre-setting switch 25 to set a first
pattern as shown in FIG. 4(b). Similarly, when the bank note dispenser 24
has failed, the deposit, balance reference and entry modes are still
available, although the cash withdrawal and exchange modes are not
available to the customer. Therefore, the employee actuates the
pre-setting switch 25 to select a second pattern, whereupon the coded
signal shown in FIG. 4(c) is read into the accumulator A. He then
depresses an initiator button (not shown) to allow the following operation
to start from step 100 as illustrated in FIG. 5.
In step 101, the available-mode information encoded by the encoder 204 in
accordance with a pattern set by the pre-setting switch 25 is stored into
the accumulator A of the micro processor 201 through the data buss 207.
Namely, when the entire system 10 is in a normal condition, a logic "1"
may be stored in the first bit through the fifth bit (X1 through X5), and
the logic status stored in the accumulator A forms the pattern shown in
FIG. 4(a). When the bank note checker 26 has failed, the coded signal as
shown in FIG. 4(b) is stored into the accumulator A. When the bank note
dispenser 24 has failed, the coded signal as shown in FIG. 4(c) is stored
into the accumulator A.
In step 102, the available-mode information stored in accumulator A is
memorized in a first memory area (a) of the random-access memory 203 via
the data bus 207. Then, in step 103, as a card detecting switch 32 detects
the insertion of a magnetic card, the logic "1" is memorized in the eighth
bit (X8) of accumulator A through the data bus 207. In step 104, an
inquiry is made as to whether a logic "1" has been stored in the eighth
bit (X8) of accumulator A. If no card has been inserted, the eighth bit
(X8) of accumulator A does not carry the logic "1" and the sequence,
therefore, returns to step 101. If, on the other hand, the card has been
inserted, the logic "1" is stored in the eighth bit (X8) of accumulator A.
Therefore, the sequence proceeds to step 105. In step 105, magnetically
recorded data are read from the card inserted from the card gate 11 and
transmitted to the magnetic card reader 21, the data including the account
number and secret number of the customer. This card information is applied
to a second memory area (b) of said random-access memory 203 through data
bus 207.
In step 106, the available-mode information stored in the first memory area
(a) of random-access memory 203 is read and stored by accumulator A via
data bus 207. In step 107, the available-mode information stored in the
accumulator A is fed to the decoder 206 via data bus 207. The decoded
signal is supplied to available-mode lamps 33, whereupon the lamps light
up. For example, in the first transaction pattern mentioned above, i.e.
the case in which the bank note checker 26 has failed, the lamps
displaying the cash withdrawal, balance reference and entry modes are lit
up. In step 108, the customer viewing the display illuminations 33
designates the desired transaction mode by operating the selection button
15a if the particular mode is available. In step 109, a signal
representing the mode so selected by depression of the button 15a is fed
to the encoder 205. The encoder 205 converts the mode-designating signal
to a coded signal specifying the mode of transaction so designated. The
coded signal is then transmitted to the accumulator A in micro-processor
201 through data bus 207. Thus, when the cash withdrawal mode has been
designated by button 15a, the logic "1" is stored in the first bit (X1) of
accumulator A; when the depository mode has been designated, the logic "1"
is stored in the second bit (X2); when the exchange mode has been
designated, the logic "1" is stored in the third bit (X3); when the
balance reference mode has been selected by button 15a, the logic "1" is
stored in the fourth bit (X4); or when the designated mode is bankbook
entry, the logic "1" is stored in the fifth bit (X5).
In step 110, the memory bits representing the available modes stored in
said first memory area (a) of random-access memory 203 are ANDed with the
corresponding memory bits specifying the designated modes in the
accumulator A. Thus, the results of these logic operations are fed back
again to the accumulator A. If the logic "1" has been memorized in said
first memory area (a) of random-access memory 203 in the bit corresponding
to the bit of accumulator A where the logic "1" has been stored, the
designated transaction mode is judged to be available to the customer. For
this purpose, the sequence proceeds to the next step 111.
In step 111, the arithmetic logic unit ALU inquires if the flag Z is "0".
If the flag Z is "0", it shows that the customer has not designated any
available transaction mode yet via the selection button 15a. Therefore, in
step 112 the logic "1" is stored in the eighth bit of accumulator A by
direct instruction and, in step 113, this data in the accumulator is fed
to the magnetic card reader as a card return instruction signal. In step
114, the magnetic card reader reads this signal and returns the card to
the customer. The sequence now returns to step 101. Incidentally, the YES
response to the enquiry in step 111 may be directly applied to step 114,
bypassing steps 112 and 113. If the flag Z is judged to carry the logic
"1" in step 111, it shows that the customer has selected one of the
available transaction modes on the selection keyboard (button 15a). Thus,
this transaction is processed in the following manner.
In step 115, the data in accumulator A is shifted by one bit. Then, in step
116, enquiry is made if the flag C specifying a carry-up of accumulator A
is "1" or not. In other words, enquiry is made as to whether the logic "1"
has been stored in the first bit of accumulator A. If a logic "1" has been
stored in the first bit of accumulator A and the response to the enquiry
in step 116 is affirmative, i.e. there has been a carry-up, the cash
withdrawal transaction designated by the customer is executed in step 117.
The function of the cash withdrawal mode has been described hereinbefore.
If, in step 116, the flag C does not carry the logic "1" specifying a
carry-up, the data stored in the accumulator A is further shifted to the
left by one bit in step 118. Then, in step 119, enquiry is made as to if
the flag C is "1". Thus, in step 119, enquiry is made if the logic "1" has
been stored in the second bit (X2) of accumulator A, and if the response
is affirmative, it is fed to step 120 so that the deposit mode is
executed. If no logic "1" exists in flag C in step 119, the data stored in
the accumulator A is shifted to the left by one bit after another to
enquire if there has been a carry-up until, finally, the selected
transaction is executed. After any of such transactions has been
completed, the sequence returns to step 101.
In another embodiment of this invention, there may be provided an
additional step between step 101 and each of steps 117, 129, 120, 123, 126
and 114, such additional steps enquiring if there is any transaction
rendered unavailable by either a malfunction or an instruction from a
control center, and according to the response to each such enquiry, the
transaction mode pre-setting switch 25 is actuated.
Thus, in the several embodiments described hereinbefore, if a malfunction
or abnormal event takes place in any part of the multiple-transaction
apparatus, the unaffected transaction modes still viable can be
selectively offered to the customer. Thus, a local malfunction does not
necessitate a shut-down of the entire apparatus, thus contributing to an
improved banking efficiency. Moreover, if the transaction requested by the
customer is not among the pre-set modes, the transaction is automatically
declined by the system, with the result that erratic or unnecessary
operations may be avoided. Of course, it may also be so arranged that, in
the event of such a malfunction, one of the intact transaction modes will
be available to the customer.
In still another embodiment of this invention, the customer who has found a
transaction unavailable may select other transaction modes. In this
connection, it is preferable that he be allowed to repeat his designation
several times.
While in the above embodiments, the available modes are pre-set in the
event of a malfunction, it is of course possible that unavailable
transaction modes are selectively pre-set.
While the embodiments generally shown in FIGS. 2 through 5 have been
explained mainly in connection with the case in which the pre-setting
switch 25 is activated by or in response to a local malfunction of the
system, the pre-setting of available transaction modes may be performed in
accordance with a predetermined or routine banking time schedule. Thus,
the switch 25 may be activated either manually by a bank employee or
automatically by an instruction signal from a control center. FIGS. 6 and
7 show such an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 6 there is shown a
block diagram of a main controller in the particular embodiment. The main
controller comprises a clock device 25a for generating a clock signal
representing a current time in lieu of the pre-setting switch 25 shown in
FIG. 3 and a micro-processor 201a in lieu of the micro-processor 201 shown
in FIG. 3. The micro-processlor 201a comprises a register X storing a
standard time, an accumulator A, an arithmetic logic unit ALU, a flag Z
which stores the information that the result of an operation by
accumulator A is zero, a flag C which stores a carry-up in accumulator A
and a flag S which stores a logic "1" when the result of operation is
minus. The main controller further comprises PROM 202, RAM 203, encoders
204 and 205 and busses 207, 208 and 209 which correspond to the parts
designated by like numerals in FIG. 3. The operation sequence of this
embodiment will be described by reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 5. In a
typical situation, an initiator button, not shown, is depressed by a bank
employee at 9 o'clock in the morning. In step 151, the current time from
clock 25 is temporally stored in the accumulator A through data bus 206.
In step 152, a standard time is stored in register X, for example by a
direct instruction from outside of the system. The standard time may
represent a closing calendar time (15:00) for the full-mode service (9:00
to 15:00) or 17:00 for service modes other than the deposit mode (i.e.
9:00 to 17:00). This standard time information is permanently stored in
the register X.
In step 153, the standard time is subtracted from the current time stored
in the accumulator A and the result of this operation updates the storage
of the accumulator A. In this step, if the current time (T) is prior to
the standard time (15:00), namely 9<T<15, and the updated storage of the
accumulator A is minus, the ALU allows the flag S to store a logic "1".
In step 154, ALU enquires if the flag S carries a logic "1" and, if it
does, it means that the current time has not reached the standard time as
yet. Then, in step 155, a coded signal "11111000" representing the
availability of all the transaction modes is temporally stored in the
accumulator A by a direct instruction. If, on the other hand, the flag S
does not carry a logic "1", the current time is past the standard time
(15<T<17) and, therefore, the deposit mode is shut down in accordance with
the banking schedule. In step 156, a coded signal "10111000" representing
the availability of all the modes but the deposit mode is temporally
stored in the accumulator. From step 155 or 156, the sequence proceeds to
the step 102 shown in FIG. 5 and all the subsequent operations are similar
to those hereinbefore described by reference to FIG. 5.
It should be understood that while, in the embodiments described
hereinbefore, a micro-processor is used in combination with soft ware, the
corresponding functions and processes may be performed by means of
hardware circuitry. It should also be understood that the above
description is merely illustrative of this invention and that many changes
and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the scope of the appended claims. Thus, for example, the
apparatus according to this invention may be further provided with means
whereby the pattern of transactions representing a combination of modes
processable by the machine prevails over the pattern of transactions
manually pre-set by the bank employee when the two patterns happen to be
not in agreement.
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