Method and System for Auditing Cash Transactions

Abstract

A method and system for auditing cash transactions, comprising: obtaining a unique identifier of a banknote, storing the unique identifier against a user's user identification; and, when withdrawing banknotes as a payment method, checking the unique identifier against the user's identity identification, requiring authentication to allow the use of banknotes to complete payment, and in response to receiving successful authentication, sending an accept banknote message, and in response to failed authentication, sending a reject banknote message.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for auditing cash transactions and a cash transaction auditing system.

[0002] An expected advantage of the present invention is its applicability to auditing banknotes. Thus, when considering this specification, such applications should be kept in mind, particularly but not exclusively.

[0003] In this specification:

[0004] CPT is a cash processing terminal;

[0005] POS is a point of sale terminal;

[0006] The term "checking" should be understood broadly to include "look-up". Background Art

[0007] The inventors have noticed that tracking the flow of banknotes is similar to how a courier company tracks packages. Typically, users can track banknotes through a website registered by the user. However, in some countries, such as the United States, it is illegal to mark banknotes if they are intended to be made unfit for reissue.

[0008] The inventors have also noticed neutralization systems in electronic banknotes. When such systems detect an attempt to attack them, they mark stolen cash with a degradation agent to render valuable items unusable, thus preventing unauthorized access to their contents. For example, as a widely used reagent, ink is used to stain banknotes with a permanent dye to mark the banknotes conspicuously. Such neutralization systems aim to provide additional security in aspects such as cash transportation and consumer payments.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for verifying or auditing the legality of banknotes. Summary of the Invention

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for auditing cash transactions, which is executed on a cash auditing server of a cash transaction auditing system and includes the following steps:

[0011] Obtain the unique identifier(s) of one or more banknotes of a user;

[0012] Store the unique identifier(s) of the one or more banknotes in a repository connected to the cash auditing server in accordance with the user's user identity identifier.

[0013] When one or more banknotes are received at a cash processing terminal (CPT) as legal tender for payment, the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes is checked against the user identity identifier stored in the repository, authentication from the user is required to authorize the one or more banknotes for payment, in response to receiving successful authentication, an accept banknote message is sent to the receiving CPT, and in response to authentication failure, a reject banknote message is sent to the receiving CPT.

[0014] Requiring authentication from the user may include authenticating the user by any one or more of the following methods: personal identification number (PIN) and two-factor authentication method.

[0015] The receiving CPT may include a cashier's point-of-sale (POS) terminal of a vendor, for example, a mobile vendor POS terminal.

[0016] Checking the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes against the user identity identifier stored in the repository may include: the client-side cash verification software application installed on the vendor POS terminal electronically receives the unique identifier and sends the unique identifier to the server-side cash verification application installed on the cash verification server.

[0017] The client-side cash verification application may be integrated into the vendor POS terminal.

[0018] Obtaining the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes may include: when one or more banknotes are withdrawn at the dispensing CPT, obtaining the unique identifier. To this end, the method may include accessing the storage controller of the dispensing CPT.

[0019] Requiring authentication from the user may include: receiving authentication from a front-end user terminal installed with a user authentication application, the user authentication application communicating data with any one or more of the following: the server-side cash verification application installed on the cash verification server and the vendor POS terminal.

[0020] The front-end user terminal may include any one or more of the following devices: a mobile device, where the user authentication application includes, for example, a mobile device application for iOS TM or the Mac App Store TM ; a desktop computer, where the user authentication application includes any one or more of a desktop application and a browser-based application.

[0021] The method may include adding a flag of the acquired or authorized status to the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes. To this end, the acquired or authorized status may be updated by the user, the vendor, or the server-side cash verification application.

[0022] The unique identifier of the one or more banknotes may include, but is not limited to, a banknote serial number and a barcode.

[0023] The dispensing CPT can form part of a local dispensing CPT network, and the merchant POS can form part of a local merchant POS network.

[0024] The local dispensing CPT network can include a bank CPT cluster. Similarly, the local merchant POS network can include a cluster of merchant POS terminals.

[0025] The cash verification server can be located in a network remote from the local dispensing CPT network and the local merchant POS network. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cash verification server and the connected user resource library can be cloud-based.

[0026] Obtaining a unique identifier for one or more banknotes during extraction can include presenting options to the user to obtain one or more banknotes at the dispensing CPT.

[0027] The dispensing CPT can include, but is not limited to, an automated teller machine (ATM).

[0028] The method can include tracking one or more banknotes by the unique identifier.

[0029] Tracking one or more banknotes can include life cycle analysis, supply, and location intelligence of the one or more banknotes.

[0030] The method can include: when receiving authentication from the user, displaying a notification of the user identity and the status of one or more banknotes on the merchant POS.

[0031] The client-side cash verification application, the server-side cash verification application, and the user authentication application can communicate with each other through a peer-to-peer network.

[0032] It should be recognized that the method provides the ability to enable and disable banknotes to control their use as legal tender. Enabling and disabling banknotes can suspend the intrinsic value of the banknotes, thereby eliminating the anonymous use of cash.

[0033] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cash transaction verification system for performing the method of verifying cash transactions as described above. The system includes:

[0034] A cash verification server, connected to a resource library and having a server-side cash verification application installed thereon; and

[0035] A receiving cash processing terminal (CPT) having a client-side cash verification application installed thereon, the system being operable to:

[0036] Obtain the unique identifier of one or more banknotes of the user; store the unique identifier of one or more banknotes in the resource library against the user's identity identifier; when the receiving CPT receives one or more banknotes as legal tender for payment, check the unique identifier of one or more banknotes against the user identity identifier stored in the resource library, require authentication from the user to approve one or more banknotes for payment, in response to receiving successful authentication, send an accept banknote message to the receiving CPT, and in response to authentication failure, send a reject banknote message to the receiving CPT.

[0037] The present invention will be described by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] In the figure:

[0039] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a cash transaction audit system according to one aspect of the present invention is shown.

[0040] Figure 2 Exemplarily shown is a method for auditing cash transactions according to another aspect of the present invention, the method being implemented by Figure 1 the system shown.

[0041] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a cash transaction audit system according to still another aspect of the present invention is shown.

[0042] Figure 4 Exemplarily shown is a method for auditing cash transactions according to yet another aspect of the present invention, the method being implemented by Figure 3 the system shown. Detailed implementation

[0043] Refer to Figure 1 , reference numeral 200 generally indicates a cash transaction audit system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 200 includes a cash audit server 202 connected to a resource library in the form of a database 204, and a server-side cash audit software application 206 is installed on the cash audit server 202.

[0044] On one side, the cash audit server 202 communicates with a local dispensing cash processing terminal (CPT) network 208, and the local dispensing cash processing terminal (CPT) network 208 has dispensing CPTs in the form of ATMs 210.1, 210.2, and 210.3. There are 3 banknotes on the local dispensing CPT network 208 on its ATMs 210.1, 210.2, and 210.3, and the above 3 banknotes have unique identifiers 212.1, 212.2, and 212.3.

[0045] On the other side, the cash verification server 202 communicates with the local receiving CPT network 214. The local receiving CPT network 214 includes receiving CPTs in the form of vendor point-of-sale (POS) terminals 216.1 and 216.2. The client-side cash verification software application 218 is installed on the vendor POS terminals 216.1 and 216.2, and the client cash verification software application 218 is integrated into the POS terminals 216.1 and 216.2.

[0046] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cash transaction verification system 200 includes a front-end user terminal in the form of a mobile device 220 of a user 222, and a user authentication application 224 that communicates with the vendor POS terminals 216.1 and 216.2 and the cash verification server 202 is installed on the front-end user terminal.

[0047] Reference Figure 2 It will be more apparent that the cash transaction verification system 200 is operable to, when the user 222 withdraws banknotes, obtain the unique identifiers of the banknotes 212.1, 212.2, and 212.3 of the user 222, store the unique identifiers in the database 204 in accordance with the user identity identifier of the user 222, and when the above banknotes are used as legal tender for payment at the vendor POS terminals 216.1 and 216.2, check or look up the unique identifiers of the above banknotes in accordance with the user identity identifier stored in the database 204, request authentication for the issued banknotes for payment from the user 222, and in response to receiving successful authentication from the user 222, send an accept banknote message to the receiving CPT (i.e., the vendor POS terminals 216.1 and 216.2), and in response to authentication failure, send a reject banknote message to the receiving CPT (i.e., the vendor POS terminals 216.1 and 216.2).

[0048] Reference Figure 2 , reference numeral 300 generally indicates a method for verifying a cash transaction according to another embodiment of the present invention, and this method is executed by Figure 1 the cash transaction verification system 200.

[0049] In the first step 301, the user 222 withdraws 3 banknotes from an ATM 210.1 that forms part of the local dispensing cash processing terminal (CPT) network 208. When withdrawing banknotes, the system presents the option of obtaining the banknotes to the user.

[0050] Next, at step 302, when user 222 selects to obtain banknotes, the unique identifiers 212.1, 212.2, and 212.3 of the banknotes of user 222 are obtained, and the unique identifiers 212.1, 212.2, and 212.3 are stored in the database 204 connected to the cash verification server 202 in accordance with the user identity identifier of user 222. In the present embodiment of the present invention, the unique identifiers 212.1, 212.2, and 212.3 are the serial numbers of the banknotes.

[0051] At step 304, the banknotes with unique identifiers 212.1 and 212.2 are used as legal tender for paying for goods at the merchant POS terminal 216.2, and the banknote with unique identifier 212.3 is used as legal tender for paying for goods at the merchant POS terminal 216.1.

[0052] Next, at step 306, the unique identifiers 212.1, 212.2, and 212.3 are electronically received through the client-side cash verification software application 218 installed on the merchant POS terminals 216.1 and 216.2, the unique identifiers 212.1, 212.2, and 212.3 are checked against the user identity identifier stored in the database 204, and the unique identifiers 212.1, 212.2, and 212.3 are sent to the server-side cash verification application 206 installed on the cash verification server 202.

[0053] Next, at step 308, user 222 is required to authenticate the issuance of the banknotes with unique identifiers 212.1, 212.2, and 212.3. In one embodiment, the above authentication includes requiring user 222 to authenticate with a personal identification number (PIN), and in another embodiment, the authentication requires a two-factor authentication method. In yet another embodiment, the authentication required from user 222 includes receiving authentication from the front-end user terminal, which is a mobile device 220 installed with a user authentication application 224, and the user authentication application 224 communicates with the server-side cash verification application 206 installed on the cash verification server 202.

[0054] At step 310, when the authentication of the issuance of the banknotes with unique identifiers 212.1 and 212.2 is successful, the banknotes with unique identifiers 212.1 and 212.2 are marked as issued, and an accept banknote message is sent to the POS terminal 216.2 to accept the above banknotes as payment.

[0055] At step 312, in response to the failed authentication of the banknote with unique identifier 212.3, the acquisition status of the banknote with unique identifier 212.3 remains unchanged, and a reject banknote message is sent to the POS terminal 216.1 and the above banknote is rejected as payment.

[0056] Figure 3 In this context, reference numeral 7 generally indicates a cash transaction verification system according to yet another aspect of the present invention. The system 7 includes a cash verification server 70 and a server-side cash verification application 68 connected to a repository in the form of a database 72.

[0057] On one side, the cash verification server 70 communicates with a local dispensing CPT network 58 in data. The local dispensing CPT network 58 has dispensing CPTs in the form of ATMs 52.1, 52.2, and 52.3 and a dispensing memory controller 60.1. The local dispensing CPT network 58 has three banknotes of the user 50 at its ATMs 52.1, 52.2, and 52.3, and the banknotes have unique identifiers in the form of serial numbers 54.1, 54.2, and 54.3.

[0058] On the other side, the cash verification server 70 communicates with a local receiving CPT network 64 in data. The local receiving CPT network 64 includes receiving CPTs in the form of vendor POS terminals 62.1 and 62.2, and a receiving storage controller 60.2.

[0059] In this embodiment of the present invention, the cash transaction verification system 7 includes a front-end user terminal in the form of a mobile device 82, on which a client-side cash verification application in the form of a mobile device application 80 is installed. The mobile device application 80 is downloaded from the online store of the user 50. The cash transaction verification system 7 also includes a front-end terminal in the form of a desktop computer 86, which has a client-side cash verification application accessible through a browser-based application 84.

[0060] The system 7 is operable to: the serial numbers 54.1, 54.2, and 54.3; store the above serial numbers in the database 72 connected to the cash verification server 70 in accordance with the user name; and add a "acquired" or "issued" status to the serial numbers 54.1, 54.2, and 54.3; and when a banknote with any one or more of the above serial numbers is used as legal tender for payment at the receiving CPTs 62.1 or 62.2, obtain the serial number of the banknote that has become legal tender, check its "acquired" or "issued" status, and in response to the "acquired" status, send a "reject banknote" message to the receiving CPTs 62.1 or 62.2, and in response to the "issued" status, send an "accept banknote" message to the receiving CPTs 62.1 or 62.2.

[0061] Figure 4 In this context, reference numeral 9 generally indicates a method for verifying a cash transaction according to yet another aspect of the present invention, which is performed by Figure 3 the cash transaction verification system 7.

[0062] At the first step 120, the cash verification server 70 accesses the ATMs 52.1, 52.2, and 52.3 of the local dispensing CPT network 58 through the dispensing storage controller 60.1, and obtains unique identifiers in the form of the 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 obtained when the banknotes are withdrawn, and the dispensing CPTs (ATMs 52.1, 52.2, and 52.3) are electronically accessed via the dispensing storage controller 60.1 by the server-side cash verification application 68.

[0063] Next, at step 122, the serial numbers 54.1, 54.2, and 54.3 are stored in the database repository 72 connected to the server 70 against the user name 50.

[0064] At step 124, the server-side cash verification application 68 adds or appends a "acquired" status to each serial number, indicating that the banknotes have not been issued in the name of the user 50.

[0065] Next, at step 126, the user 50 withdraws the banknotes with the serial numbers 54.1, 54.2, and 54.3, and uses the banknotes as legal tender for payment at the receiving CPT in the form of the vendor POS terminal 62.1.

[0066] Now, at step 128, the user 50 communicates with the cash verification server 70 through the front-end terminal, which is in the form of a mobile device 82 installed with the client-side cash verification application 80, and at step 130 updates the status of the banknotes with the serial numbers 54.1, 54.2, and 54.3 from "acquired" to "issued".

[0067] Next, at step 132, the banknotes with the serial numbers 54.1 and 54.2 are presented or monetized for payment at the vendor POS terminal 62.1. At step 134, the vendor checks the "acquired" or "issued" status of the banknotes by electronically obtaining the serial numbers of the banknotes and sending the serial numbers 54.1 and 54.2 to the cash verification server 70 for verification against the status stored in the repository 72 connected to the server 70.

[0068] In this embodiment, at step 130, the banknotes with the serial numbers 54.1 and 54.2 have been "issued" in the name of the user 50. At step 136, the verification server 70 then sends an "accept banknote" message to the vendor POS terminal. It should be noted that the serial number 54.3 is presented for payment, and the server 70 will send a "reject banknote" to the POS terminal 62.1.

[0069] Advantageously, the methods and systems described above are aimed at eliminating the reward for an anticipated crime (i.e., stealing paper money) by frustrating theft and increasing the risk of arrest.

Claims

1. A method for auditing cash transactions, which is executed on a cash audit server of a cash transaction audit system, and includes the following steps: Obtain the unique identifier(s) of one or more banknotes of a user; Store the unique identifier(s) of the one or more banknotes in a repository connected to the cash audit server against the user identity identifier of the user; When a receiving cash processing terminal (CPT) receives one or more banknotes as legal tender for payment, check the unique identifier(s) of the one or more banknotes against the user identity identifier stored in the repository, request authentication from the user to approve the one or more banknotes for payment, in response to receiving successful authentication, send an accept banknote message to the receiving CPT, and in response to authentication failure, send a reject banknote message to the receiving CPT; The checking of the unique identifier(s) of the one or more banknotes against the user identity identifier stored in the repository includes: the client-side cash audit software application installed on the receiving CPT electronically receives the unique identifier and sends the unique identifier to the server-side cash audit application installed on the cash audit server; The requesting of authentication from the user includes performing user authentication at the receiving CPT.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The receiving CPT includes a vendor point-of-sale (POS) terminal.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein The requesting of authentication from the user includes: receiving authentication from a front-end user terminal installed with a user authentication application, and the user authentication application communicates with the server-side cash audit application installed on the cash audit server and the vendor POS terminal.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The front-end user terminal includes a mobile device, and the user authentication application is a mobile device application.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein The front-end user terminal includes a desktop computer, and the user authentication application is a desktop application.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The obtaining of the unique identifier(s) of one or more banknotes includes: obtaining the unique identifier at a dispensing CPT.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The client-side cash audit software application is integrated into the vendor POS terminal.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein The unique identifier(s) of the one or more banknotes includes a banknote serial number.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein The obtaining of the unique identifier(s) of the one or more banknotes at the time of extraction includes presenting options to the user to obtain one or more banknotes at the dispensing CPT.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein The method includes adding a flag of the obtained or approved status to the unique identifier(s) of the one or more banknotes.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein The requesting of authentication from the user includes authenticating the user with a personal identification number (PIN) or by a two-factor authentication method at the vendor POS terminal.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The dispensing CPT forms part of a local dispensing CPT network, and the vendor POS terminal forms part of a local vendor POS network.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The local dispensing CPT network includes a group of bank CPTs, and the local vendor POS network includes a group of vendor POS terminals.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein The cash audit server is remote from the local dispensing CPT network and the local vendor POS network.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein The dispensing CPT is an automated teller machine (ATM).

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The obtained or approved status is updated by the server-side cash audit application.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, The method includes tracking the one or more banknotes by means of the unique identifier.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein Tracking the one or more banknotes includes life cycle analysis, supply and location intelligence of the one or more banknotes.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein The method includes, upon receiving the authentication from the user, displaying a notification of the user identity identification and the status of the one or more banknotes on a vendor POS terminal.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein The client-side cash audit software application, the server-side cash audit application, and the user authentication application communicate via a peer-to-peer network.

21. A cash transaction audit system, comprising: A cash audit server, connected to a repository and having a server-side cash audit application installed thereon; And A receiving cash processing terminal (CPT) having a client-side cash audit application installed thereon, the system being operable to: Obtain a unique identifier of one or more banknotes of a user; store the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes in the repository against the user's user identity identification; when the receiving CPT receives the one or more banknotes as legal tender for payment, check the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes against the user identity identification stored in the repository, request authentication from the user to approve the one or more banknotes for payment, in response to receiving successful authentication, send an accept banknote message to the receiving CPT, and in response to authentication failure, send a reject banknote message to the receiving CPT; The receiving CPT is operable to receive the unique identifier of the one or more banknotes in the client-side cash audit application and send the unique identifier to the server-side cash audit application of the cash audit server to check the unique identifier against the user identity identification stored in the repository; The receiving CPT includes a vendor point of sale (POS) terminal.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein, The system includes a front-end user terminal having a user authentication application installed thereon, the user authentication application communicating with the server-side cash audit application and the vendor POS terminal.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein, The front-end user terminal includes a mobile device, wherein the user authentication application is a mobile device application.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein The front-end user terminal includes a desktop computer, wherein the user authentication application is a desktop application.

25. The system according to claim 23 or 24, wherein The system includes a dispensing CPT.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein Wherein the client-side cash audit software application forms an integral part with a vendor automated teller machine (ATM) terminal.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein The dispensing CPT forms part of a local dispensing CPT network, and the vendor POS terminal forms part of a local vendor POS network.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein The local dispensing CPT network includes a bank CPT group, and the local vendor POS network includes a vendor POS terminal group.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein The cash audit server is remote from the local dispensing CPT network and the local vendor POS network.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein, The dispensing CPT is an automated teller machine (ATM).

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein The client-side cash audit software application, the server-side cash audit application, and the user authentication application communicate via a peer-to-peer network.

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