ATM/POS based electronic mail system

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic mail system that is accessible by a user thereof, said electronic mail system comprising:

a. An Automated Teller Machine or Point of Sale ("ATM/POS") system that includes a plurality of terminals through which the user may request access to said electronic mail system and at which the user may receive a message that has been stored or generate a message for storage in said electronic mail system, said ATM/POS system also including an ATM/POS institution processor which is remote from the plurality of terminals that intercommunicates with the plurality of terminals through an ATM/POS data communication network that is also included in said ATM/POS system; and

b. a store and forward message switch which is remote from the plurality of terminals for storing the message and for transmitting the stored message to one of the plurality of terminals of said ATM/POS system upon receiving authorization to do so.

2. The electronic mail system of claim 1 wherein said store and forward message switch also records charges for the user's usage of said electronic mail system.

3. The electronic mail system of claim 1 wherein said store and forward message switch also receives a message from one of the plurality of terminals of said ATM/POS system and stores the received message upon being authorized to do so.

4. The electronic mail system of claim 3 wherein said store and forward message switch also records charges for the user's usage of said electronic mail system.

5. The electronic mail system of claim 3 wherein said store and forward message switch also receives a message for storage from or transmits the received message to a station that communicates with said store and forward message switch over a, message entry data communication network.

6. The electronic mail system of claim 5 wherein said store and forward message switch also transmits the received message to a pager communication service through a modem that communicates with said store and forward message switch over the message entry data communication network through at least one of a hard wired and wireless connection.

7. The electronic mail system of claim 5 wherein said store and forward message switch also transmits the received message to a facsimile transmission machine through a modem that communicates with said Store and forward message switch over the message entry data communication network through at least one of a hard wired and wireless connection.

8. The electronic mail system of claim 3 wherein said store and forward message switch also transmits the received message to a pager communication service through at least one of a hard wired and wireless modem that communicates with said store and forward message switch over a message entry data communication network.

9. The electronic mail system of claim 3 wherein said store and forward message switch also transmits the received message to a facsimile transmission machine through at least one of a hard wired and wireless modem that communicates with said store and forward message switch over a message entry data communication network.

10. The electronic mail system of claim 3 wherein authorization for said store and forward message switch to transmit the stored message to or to receive the received message from one of the plurality of terminals of said ATM/POS system requires that a debit or credit card be inserted in said one terminal after which a personal identification number must be entered into said one terminal.

11. The electronic mail system of claim 3 wherein a menu is provided at one of the plurality of terminals of said ATM/POS system that permits selection either of message transmission from said store and forward message switch to said one terminal, or of message reception by said store and forward message switch from said one terminal.

12. The electronic mail system of claim 11 wherein the menu provided at said one terminal of said ATM/POS system permits selection of the message for transmission from said store and forward message switch to said one terminal from among several messages stored for the user on said store and forward message switch.

13. The electronic mail system of claim 11 wherein authorization for said store and forward message switch to transmit the stored message to or to receive the received message from one of the plurality of terminals of said ATM/POS system requires that a debit or credit card be inserted into said one terminal after which a personal identification number must be entered into said one terminal.

14. The electronic mail system of claim 13 wherein the debit or credit card inserted into one of the plurality of terminals includes a memory and/or a computer, and stored within the card is a special menu that can be read into said one terminal for display thereon.

15. The electronic mail system of claim 13 wherein the debit or credit card inserted into one of the plurality of terminals includes a memory and/or a computer, and stored within the card is a special message that can be read into said one terminal for display thereon.

16. The electronic mail system of claim 13 wherein the debit or credit card inserted into one of the plurality of terminals includes a memory and/or a computer, and stored within the card is a directory of individuals to whom the user sends messages.

17. The electronic mail system of claim 13 wherein the debit or credit card inserted into one of the plurality of terminals includes a memory and/or a computer, and the message transmitted from said store and forward message switch to said one terminal is stored within the card.

18. The electronic mail system of claim 11 wherein one of the plurality of terminals includes a pen pad upon which the user may write the message prior to the message's transmission to the store and forward message switch.

19. The electronic mail system of claim 11 wherein one of the plurality terminals includes an optical character recognition subsystem for at least one of scanning the message that is received by the store and forward message switch and scanning a financial instrument used for a coded message or financial transaction.

20. The electronic mail system of claim 11 further comprising a user's financial institution processor distinct from the ATM/POS institution processor, said user's financial institution processor receiving requests from said ATM/POS system that the user be allowed to access said electronic mail system and authorizing such access by properly qualified users, said store and forward message switch transmitting the stored message to one of the plurality of terminals of said ATM/POS system upon receiving authorization from said user's financial institution processor.

21. The electronic mail system of claim 20 wherein said user's financial institution processor also records charges for the user's usage of said electronic mail system.

22. The electronic mail system of claim 20 further comprising a clearing house data communication network that interconnects said ATM/POS system and said user's financial institution with a clearing house network processor, the clearing house network processor accepting the user's request to access said electronic mail system from said ATM/POS system and transmitting such request to said user's financial institution.

23. The electronic mail system of claim 22 wherein said clearing house network processor also performs a message service control function that tracks the status of and steps required to retrieve the stored message from said store and forward message switch.

24. A method for exchanging electronic mail messages with a plurality of accessible terminals included in an ATM/POS system that also includes an ATM/POS institution processor remote from the plurality of terminals, the method comprising the steps of:

a. storing a message for a user on a store and forward message switch remote from the plurality of terminals;

b. authorizing transmission of the stored message from the store and forward message switch to one of the plurality of terminals of the ATM/POS system in response to the user's entry of a request therefore into said one terminal of the ATM/POS system.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of recording charges for a user's exchanging of electronic mail messages.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of receiving a message from the user at one of the plurality of terminals of the ATM/POS system and storing the received message on the store and forward message switch upon receiving authorization to do so.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of recording charges for a user's exchanging of electronic mail messages.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of receiving a message for storage on the store and forward message switch from a station that communicates with the store and forward message switch over a message entry data communication network.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of transmitting a message from the store and forward message switch to a station that communicates with the store and forward message switch over a message entry data communication network.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of transmitting a message from the store and forward message switch to a pager communication service through at least one of a hard wired and wireless modem that communicates with the store and forward message switch over a message entry data communication network.

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of transmitting a message from the store and forward message switch to a facsimile transmission machine through at least one of a hard wired and wireless modem that communicates with the store and forward message switch over a message entry data communication network.

32. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of transmitting a message from the store and forward message switch to a pager communication service through at least one of a hard wired and wireless modem that communicates with the store and forward message switch over a message entry data communication network.

33. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of transmitting a message from the store and forward message switch to a facsimile transmission machine through at least one of a hard wired and wireless modem that communicates with the store and forward message switch over a message entry data communication network.

34. The method of claim 26 wherein authorization for the user to exchange electronic mail messages further comprises the steps of:

c. inserting a debit or credit card into said one terminal of the ATM/POS system; and

d. entering a personal identification number into said one terminal.

35. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of providing a menu at one of the plurality of terminals of the ATM/POS system from which the user may select either message transmission from the store and forward message switch to said one terminal, or of message reception by the store and forward message switch from said one terminal.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of providing a menu at one of the plurality of terminals of the ATM/POS system that permits the user to select the message for transmission from said store and forward message switch to said one terminal from among several messages stored for the user on said store and forward message switch.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein authorization for the user to exchange electronic mail messages further comprises the steps of:

c. inserting a debit or credit card into said one terminal of the ATM/POS system; and

d. entering a personal identification number into said one terminal.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of displaying upon one of the plurality of terminals of the ATM/POS system a special menu read into said one terminal from a memory and/or a computer included in the debit or credit card inserted into said one terminal.

39. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of displaying upon the terminal of the ATM/POS system a special message read into said one terminal.

40. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of displaying upon said one terminal of the ATM/POS system a directory of individuals to whom the user sends messages that is read into the terminal from a memory and/or a computer included in the debit or credit card inserted into said one terminal.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the debit or credit card inserted into said one terminal includes a memory and/or a computer, the method further comprising the step of storing the message transmitted from the store and forward message switch into the debit or credit card.

42. The method of claim 35 wherein the user enters the message received by the store and forward message from the user at one of the plurality of terminals of the ATM/POS system by writing the message upon a pen pad prior to the message's transmission to the store and forward message switch.

43. The method of claim 35 wherein the user enters the message received by the store and forward message switch from the user at one of the plurality of terminals of the ATM/POS system by optically scanning the message prior to the message's transmission to the store and forward message switch.

44. The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of obtaining authorization for the user to exchange electronic mail messages with the store and forward message switch from a user's financial institution processor that is distinct from the ATM/POS institution processor.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of the user's financial institution processor recording at least one of charges for a user's exchanging of electronic mail messages and charges for associated billing of a related transaction enabled by the message service.

46. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of transmitting communications between the ATM/POS system and the user's financial institution processor through a clearing house data communication network and a clearing house network processor.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of the clearing house network processor performing the status of and steps required to retrieve the stored message from the store and forward message switch.

48. The electronic mail system of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of terminals includes an optical character recognition subsystem for scanning the message that is received by the store and forward message switch.

49. The electronic mail system of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of terminals includes a magnetic ink character recognition subsystem for scanning the message that is received by the store and forward message switch.

50. The electronic mail system of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of terminals includes a bar code recognition subsystem for scanning the message that is received by the store and forward message switch.

51. The electronic mail system of claim 3 wherein the message is at least one of expanded, translated, encrypted and decrypted during processing.

52. The electronic mail system of claim 3 wherein said store and forward message switch also receives a message from a computerized database system and stores the received message upon being authorized to do so.

53. The electronic mail system of claim 3 wherein said store and forward message switch also receives a message from a computerized digital database system through one of the plurality of terminals and stores the received message upon being authorized to do so.

54. The electronic mail system of claim 52 wherein said computerized database system includes at least one of a database providing news message information, a database providing stock message information, a database providing commodities message information, and a database providing brokerage message information.

55. The electronic mail system of claim 3 including a translation processor for translating the message during processing.

56. The electronic mail system of claim 3 including an expansion processor for expanding the message during processing.

57. The electronic mail system of claim 3 including an encryption processor for encrypting the message during processing.

58. The electronic mail system of claim 3 including a decryption processor for decrypting the message during processing.

59. The electronic mail system of claim 55 wherein said translation processor translates the message from one language to another during processing.

60. The electronic mail system of claim 1 wherein said store and forward message switch receives a message which includes instructions for at least one of paying a bill of the user's and completing a financial transaction.

61. The electronic mail system of claim 1 including an error checking processor which checks the content of said message and compares said message to predetermined parameters to check for errors in said message.

62. The electronic mail system of claim 61 wherein said error checking processor receives a set of predetermined parameters and logically compares said parameters to said message to determine if said message meets said predetermined parameters and should be sent.

63. The electronic mail system of claim 1 including a message generator which generates said message and initiates the transmission of said message at a user determined time.

64. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of scanning said message that is received by said store and forward message switch into said terminal.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein the step of scanning said message includes scanning said message by an optical character recognition system.

66. The method of claim 64 wherein the step of scanning said message includes scanning said message by a magnetic ink character recognition system.

67. The method of claim 64 wherein the step of scanning said message includes scanning said message by a bar code recognition system.

68. The method of claim 26 including the step of at least one of expanding, translating, encrypting or decrypting said message during processing.

69. The method of claim 26 including the step of receiving a message from a computerized database system and storing said received message on said store and forward message upon being authorized to do so.

70. The method of claim 26 including the step of receiving a message from a computerized digital database system through one of the plurality of terminals and storing said received message on said store and forward message switch upon being authorized to do so.

71. The method of claim 69 wherein said step of receiving a message from a computerized database system includes receiving said message from a digital database providing at least one of weather message information, news message information, stock message information, commodities message information, brokerage message information and general information on various topics.

72. The method of claim 26 including the step of translating said message during processing.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the step of translating said message includes translating said message from one language to another language during processing.

74. The method of claim 26 including the step of expanding said message during processing.

75. The method of claim 26 including the step of encrypting said message during processing.

76. The method of claim 26 including the step of decrypting said message during processing.

77. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of storing a message includes storing a message on said store and forward message switch which includes instructions for at least one of paying a bill of the user's and completing a financial transaction.

78. The method of claim 24 including the step of checking the content of said message and comparing said message to predetermined parameters to check said message for errors.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein the step of checking the content of said message includes comparing said message to a set of predetermined parameters to determine if said message meets said predetermined parameters and should be processed further.

80. The method of claim 24 including the step of generating a message and initiating the transmission of said message at a predetermined time.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to computer data systems for storing and forwarding messages, including text and financial information, and, more particularly to an adaptation of existing worldwide Automated Teller Machine ("ATM") and Point of Sale ("POS") systems that permits users of such systems to receive and send electronic mail and other information.

BACKGROUND ART

Over the years, many different types of electronic message transmission devices have been developed. For transmitting spoken messages, one of the oldest, most widely used and convenient of these devices is the telephone. However, until quite recently, the telephone provided only live, real-time communication. Recently, "voice mail" services have become available that permit callers to leave spoken messages for later retrieval and reproduction to their intended recipients. While convenient, the cost of transmitting voice messages over the public or private phone system is relatively high in comparison with the cost of transmitting messages using surplus capacity that is available in communication systems that have been installed and are maintained in continuous operation for entirely different purposes.

Another recently developed message transmission technology is one with the ability to transmit text messages for later retrieval and reproduction by their intended recipient. Such systems are known as electronic mail and utilize an underlying technology known as a "Store And Forward Message Switch". However, most current electronic mail systems are both expensive and must be accessed using special purpose terminals. Presently, there exists no widely available means by which the public or private can conveniently and inexpensively access electronic mail communication.

Yet other recently developed communication systems are the many independently operated ATM systems and POS systems. One of the characteristics of the various ATM and POS systems is their interconnection by many clearing house or regional, national or international EFT networks. These clearing house networks pass transactions back and forth between terminals on one ATM or POS system and another ATM or POS system on which the user's account identification records reside.

It appears desirable to link parts of existing communication systems to provide readily accessible public or private electronic mail communication that frees users from the need to use a special purpose terminal. Such a combined system facilitates sending and receiving electronic mail and also provides much greater functionality to the existing voice and data communication systems.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a convenient means by which the public can readily avail themselves of electronic mail services.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an economical system for public or private access to electronic mail services.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a secure system for public or private access to electronic mail services.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable system for public or private access to electronic mail services.

Briefly, the present invention provides an electronic mail system by which users can easily authorize, generate and capture messages and responses. This includes new financial transactions based on data sent to the terminal user included within the message transactions sent to the terminal user to provide a method for payment of bills using electronic mail and/or other functions available on or through EFT networks. The system uses a debit card, a credit card or other machine readable personal identification card in conjunction with an authorized personal identification number ("PIN") or other valid password security identification to regulate access to the electronic mail service. The system of the present invention employs unique peripherals in conjunction with pans of existing communications networks and devices to provide simple text communications to remote locations. It provides this service by means of a structured link between a store and forward message switch and other already installed communication systems. The system of the present invention advantageously uses the existing networks of ATM and POS terminals together with the national or regional clearing house networks or communications processors that interconnect the various ATM and POS systems to provide wide public or private access to electronic mail services.

To access this electronic mail service, a user enters their debit, credit, or identification card into either an ATM or POS terminal. That terminal in conjunction with a local processor acquires the user's identity, the user's security information, and the user's desire to retrieve or enter messages. The local ATM or POS processor then passes this information through a processor for the ATM or POS institution to the information processor at the user's financial institution. It is also possible, based on the current state of the art of ATM and POS network systems, that the approval process may take place during an alternate account transaction processing step. This is described in more detail below. Upon receipt of this information, the processor for the user's financial institution confirms the user's identity and authorizes the user to access the electronic mail service. Such identification and authorization procedures are a routine operation on ATM and POS networks.

After a user's access to the electronic mail system has been approved by their financial institution, a clearing house processor for the ATM and/or POS networks permits the user to access its electronic mail message service control function. This message service control function differentiates among the various transactions (message or financial) involved in electronic mail communication that are in addition to the financial transactions normally exchanged over the ATM or POS network. The message service control function performed by the clearing house processor also tracks the status and steps required to complete electronic mail transmission.

The message service control function on the clearing house processor passes user entered electronic mail control information to a special purpose store and forward message switch for retrieving the user's messages and/or permitting the user to originate or transmit messages to other users. The store and forward message switch then returns messages and/or verification of status of messages for other users back through the message service control function of the clearing house processor for transmission back to the user at the ATM or POS terminal. The clearing house processor also separately passes accounting information to the user's financial institution for recording usage of the electronic mail services.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification which, in association with the attached drawing figures and claims, describe the invention. The figures are annotated with consistent reference numerals throughout.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an entire system for providing an electronic mail service in accordance with the present invention including its ATM/POS subsystem, the ATM/POS institution processor, a user's financial institution processor, the clearing house processor, and the store and forward message switch;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting the functional elements included in a terminal of the ATM/POS subsystem illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a combined block diagram and flow chart depicting the processor for the ATM or POS institution illustrated in FIG. 1 together with the functions performed by that processor in support of the electronic mail service, in particular the ATM or POS terminal management functions;

FIG. 4 is a combined block diagram and flow chart depicting the store and forward message switch illustrated in FIG. 1 together with the functions performed by the switch in providing electronic mail services;

FIG. 5 is a combined block diagram and flow chart depicting the clearing house processor illustrated in FIG. 1 together with the functions performed by that processor in providing electronic mail services including the message service control function;

FIG. 6 is a combined block diagram and flow chart depicting the user's financial institution processor system illustrated in FIG. 1 together with the functions performed by that processor in providing electronic mail services;

FIG. 7 is a combined block diagram and flow chart depicting magnetic ink character recognition ("MICR") subsystem and bar code reading subsystem input devices which may be used to input data into the ATM/POS subsystem;

FIG. 8 is a combined block diagram and flow chart depicting an integrated circuit card reader/writer subsystem input device for inputting data into or receiving and storing data obtained from the ATM/POS subsystem;

FIG. 9 is a combined block diagram and flow chart depicting a subsystem which expands and translates messages for transmission into the ATM/POS subsystem; and

FIG. 10 is a combined block diagram and flow chart depicting a subsystem which generates messages at predetermined times for transmission into the ATM/POS subsystem.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts a public or privately accessible electronic mail system in accordance with the present invention identified by the general reference character 10. The electronic mail system 10 illustrates a generic Automated Teller Machine or Point of Sale ("ATM/POS") system within the dashed line 12. The generic ATM/POS system 12 includes an ATM/POS subsystem enclosed within the dashed line 14, an ATM data communication network 16, and an ATM institution processor 18.

The ATM/POS subsystem 14 depicted in FIG. 1 illustrates different techniques routinely employed for connecting various types of ATM terminals 22 and 24 and ATM/POS terminals 26 and 28 to the ATM data communication network 16. In the ATM/POS subsystem 14 depicted in FIG. 1 each of the ATM terminals 22 and 24 include their own microprocessor as depicted in FIG. 2. Consequently, because the terminals 22 and 24 include their own microprocessor, each terminal 22 or 24 is individually capable of communicating directly with the ATM data communication network 16. Alternatively, ATM/POS terminals 26 and 28 illustrate a different technique in which the terminals 26 and 28 are connected to a shared processor 32 through which they communicate with the ATM data communication network 16. The ATM/POS subsystem 14 illustrated in FIG. 1 also depicts a POS terminal 34 that communicates with a POS institution processor 36 via a POS data communication network 38.

Because of the similarities among different ATM systems and POS systems when they are incorporated into the electronic mail system 10, for purposes of this disclosure it is possible to illustrate both of these different types of systems by means of a single generic ATM/POS system 12. If the generic ATM/POS system 12 of FIG. 1 were particularized to only an ATM system, then it would omit the POS terminal 34, the POS processor 36, and the POS data communication network 38, while the ATM/POS terminals 26 and 28 would communicate via the shared processor 32 only with the ATM data communication network 16. The ATM/POS system 12 enclosed within its dashed line, when so particularized to only an ATM system, allows a user to perform financial transactions with only the institution(s) whose records reside on the ATM institution processor 18.

Alternatively, if the generic ATM/POS system 12 of FIG. 1 were particularized to only a POS system, then it would omit the ATM terminals 22 and 24, the ATM data communication network 16, and the ATM institution processor 18, while the ATM/POS terminals 26 and 28 would communicate via the shared processor 32 only with the POS data communication network 38. The ATM/POS system 12 enclosed within its dashed line, when so particularized to an POS system, allows a user to make transactions with only the merchant(s) whose records reside on the POS institution processor 36.

In the illustration of FIG. 1, the shared processor 32 communicates only with the ATM data communication network 16 if the ATM/POS system 12 is particularized to an ATM system. Alternatively, if the ATM/POS system 12 is particularized to a POS system the shared processor 32 communicates only with the POS data communication network 38. The illustration in FIG. 1 of the shared processor 32 as being connected both to the ATM data communication network 16 and to the POS data communication network 38 presently does not exist in any known system. The shared processor 32 is so illustrated in the generic ATM/POS system 12 of FIG. 1 solely for pedagogical reasons to simplify FIG. 1 and to permit it to illustrate the characteristics common to both ATM and POS systems that are relevant to the present invention.

The electronic mail system 10 of the present invention envisions a plurality of independently operated ATM/POS systems 12 all intercommunicating simultaneously to provide the entire electronic mail service available to users. A clearing house data communication network 42 interconnects the plurality of ATM institution processors 18 and the plurality of POS institution processors 36 included in the electronic mail system 10 to a clearing house network processor 44. By transferring information among different ATM institution processors 18 operated by various financial institutions and among different POS institution processor 36 operated by various merchants, the clearing house data communication network 42 and the clearing house network processor 44 allow users to perform interinstitution transactions such as between one of the ATM/POS systems 12 and a processor 46 operated by a user's financial institution.

With the electronic mail system 10 as thus far described, a user begins to receive or transmit electronic mail using the ATM/POS system 12, the clearing house data communication network 42, the clearing house network processor 44, and the user's financial institution processor 46 by inserting a debit or credit card 48 into one of the terminals 22, 24, 26, 28 or 34 operated by one of the plurality of ATM/POS systems 12 included in the electronic mail system 10. Upon insertion of the card 48, the terminal 22, 24, 26, 28 or 36, in conjunction with the local microprocessor, acquires the user's identity and the user's security information. After the user enters a personal identification number ("PIN") or other security password or code, the terminal 22, 24, 26 28 or 34 communicates through its own ATM data communication network 16 and ATM institution processor 18 (or through its own POS data communication network 38 and POS institution processor 36), and the clearing house data communication network 42 with the clearing house network processor 44. The clearing house network processor 44 then interacts with the user's financial institution processor 46 through the clearing house data communication network 42 to access the user's account records, to obtain authorization for the user to access the electronic mail function of the electronic mail system 10, and to acquire appropriate information for charging such use to the user. As mentioned above, this approval process may take place during an alternate processing step and is described in fur*her detail below. In authorizing usage of the electronic mail system 10, the user's financial institution processor 46 returns a message identification ("I.D.") for the user to the clearing house network processor 44.

Having received the user's message I.D. the clearing house network processor 44 then activates its message service control function to access, via the clearing house data communication network 42, information stored for the user on a store and forward message switch 52. Via the clearing house data communication network 42 and the ATM/POS system 12, the store and forward message switch 52 then sends a group of messages (one transaction) back to the terminal 22, 24, 26, 28 or 34 at which the user entered his request. After completing this transaction, the store and forward message switch 52 updates a status code for the messages delivered to indicate that they have been sent and are awaiting further instructions from the user as to final disposition.

By interacting with the terminal 22, 24, 26, 28 or 34 through a keyboard and/or function keys illustrated in FIG. 2, a user directs the ATM/POS subsystem 14 to display the retrieved messages on a display screen, also illustrated in FIG. 2. Using the keyboard and/or function keys of the terminal 22, 24, 26, 28 or 34, the user may request that the terminal 22, 24, 26, 28, or 34 print a copy of a retrieved message on paper 54.

The user may respond to or originate messages for storage on the store and forward message switch 52 using the terminal 22, 24, 26, 28 or 34 in the same manner as requesting access to stored messages. The electronic mail system 10 authorizes a user to respond to or originate messages in the same way as described above for retrieving messages. The user may aim originate various financial transactions using either visible or encoded data within the message received to authorize bill payment, stock purchase and/or other transactions made possible by having the information from other sources delivered to the terminal with the message. If the ATM/POS subsystem 14 possesses the ability to retain the user's identity and security code information, it is unnecessary for the user to reinsert the debit or credit card 48 and to reenter the security code. A response or a message to be stored on the store and forward message switch 52 may be entered at the terminal 22, 24, 26, 28 or 34 in a variety of different ways. For example, using an ATM/POS subsystem of the type depicted in FIG. 2, the user could respond to or enter a message using either a keyboard or a "pen pad." Alternatively, the terminal 22, 24, 26, 28 or 34 may include an optical character recognition unit (not illustrated in FIG. 2.) to scan a written message 56. A response or new message entered by the user at the terminal 22, 24, 26, 28 or 34 passes through the clearing house network processor 44 to the user's financial institution processor 46 which must authorize the response or message's storage on the store and forward message switch 52.

When the store and forward message switch 52 receives a response or a message, it validates the basics of the message, and if they are acceptable, stores the response or message for retransmission. Furthermore, the store and forward message switch 52 provides an acknowledgement to the terminal 22, 24, 26, 28 or 34 that the response or message has been stored. If the store and forward message switch 52 determines that a response or a message is unacceptable, in the same way it transmits a rejection message back to the terminal 22, 24, 26, 28 or 34 together with an explanation of the problem.

In addition to the preceding way in which various parts of the electronic mail system 10 of the present invention intercommunicate as described above, the present invention also envisions pathways, other than the clearing house data communication network 42 and the clearing house network processor 44, by which ATM/POS systems 12 may communicate with the user's financial institution processor 46 and the store and forward message switch 52. For example, if the electronic mail system 10 implements the message service control function somewhere other than on the clearing house network processor 44,