A bill processing apparatus which is capable of reliably supplying information on a bill to the bill housing body side. The paper sheet processing apparatus has a bill housing part (100) being capable of housing a bill inserted from a bill insertion slot, and also a reader/writer (142) which wirelessly transmits information on the bill inserted from the bill insertion slot. The bill housing part (100) has a coil antenna (104c) which wirelessly receives the information transmitted from the reader/writer (142), and a storage part (104b) which stores the information on the bill received from the coil antenna (104c).

A method performed by an automated transaction machine (ATM) can include maintaining, with the ATM, a count of disbursement commands received by the ATM that require the ATM to dispense a stack size of currency greater than or equal to a first predetermined amount. The method can also include comparing, with the ATM, the count to a second predetermined amount. The method can also include aborting, by the ATM, a first disbursement command that requires a stack size of currency to be dispensed by the ATM that is greater than or equal to the first predetermined amount in response to said comparing when the count is greater than or equal to the second predetermined amount.

A method performed by an automated transaction machine (ATM) can include maintaining, with the ATM, a count of disbursement commands received by the ATM that require the ATM to dispense a stack size of currency greater than or equal to a first predetermined amount. The method can also include comparing, with the ATM, the count to a second predetermined amount. The method can also include aborting, by the ATM, a first disbursement command that requires a stack size of currency to be dispensed by the ATM that is greater than or equal to the first predetermined amount in response to said comparing when the count is greater than or equal to the second predetermined amount.

A modular valuable media recycling device is presented. The valuable media recycling device includes a media infeed module, a validator module, an escrow module, a plurality of media feeder/stacking modules, and a plurality of cassette modules. When a module handles a valuable media item along a media transport path, the module's identifier and security information are passed as a message to a next module that is to handle the media item in a processing path for the media item. Each module independently validates the authenticity of the message received from a previous module. The number of media feeder/stacking modules and cassette modules are scalable based on the transaction terminal that the modular valuable media recycling device is integrated into.

A modular valuable media recycling device is presented. The valuable media recycling device includes a media infeed module, a validator module, an escrow module, a plurality of media feeder/stacking modules, and a plurality of cassette modules. When a module handles a valuable media item along a media transport path, the module's identifier and security information are passed as a message to a next module that is to handle the media item in a processing path for the media item. Each module independently validates the authenticity of the message received from a previous module. The number of media feeder/stacking modules and cassette modules are scalable based on the transaction terminal that the modular valuable media recycling device is integrated into.

A system for performing secure maintenance on automated machines may include a maintenance management apparatus and an automated machine. The maintenance management apparatus is configured for scheduling the maintenance appointment for the automated machine, in response to scheduling the maintenance appointment and creating and communicating a maintenance security code to the automated machine. The automated machine is configured for receiving a request from a maintenance provider to initiate the maintenance appointment, validating the maintenance provider using the maintenance security code and providing access to a secure item storage unit, determining that the maintenance provider has completed the maintenance appointment, and communicating information associated with the maintenance appointment to the maintenance management apparatus and/or a computing device of the maintenance provider.

When a checkout apparatus 10 serving as a money handling apparatus detects that change is left behind after dispensing of the change in a settlement mode, the checkout apparatus 10 shifts from a settlement mode to a left money retaining mode. Upon receiving money in the left money retaining mode, the checkout apparatus 10 stores information on the amount of the money, date and time of the reception, etc., in a memory, thereby managing the left money separately from proceeds from sales. Since the same money handling unit as that for the settlement is used for storage and feeding of the left money, miniaturization and cost reduction of the apparatus is realized. Since money equivalent to the left money can be dispensed as in the settlement, a complicated operation, such as opening a housing of the checkout apparatus 10, is not necessary when responding to a request for a refund of the left money.

When a checkout apparatus 10 serving as a money handling apparatus detects that change is left behind after dispensing of the change in a settlement mode, the checkout apparatus 10 shifts from a settlement mode to a left money retaining mode. Upon receiving money in the left money retaining mode, the checkout apparatus 10 stores information on the amount of the money, date and time of the reception, etc., in a memory, thereby managing the left money separately from proceeds from sales. Since the same money handling unit as that for the settlement is used for storage and feeding of the left money, miniaturization and cost reduction of the apparatus is realized. Since money equivalent to the left money can be dispensed as in the settlement, a complicated operation, such as opening a housing of the checkout apparatus 10, is not necessary when responding to a request for a refund of the left money.

Provided in the present invention is a banknote management method. The method comprises: acquiring, identifying, and processing banknote features by a banknote information processing apparatus, so as to obtain banknote feature information; transmitting the banknote feature information, service information, and information about the banknote information processing apparatus together to a main control server; and the main control server processing the received information and classifying banknotes. Also provided is a banknote management system for the banknote management method. The method of the present invention can enhance robustness of identification while maintaining an operation speed, thus ensuring accuracy and practicability in actual applications.

A method for setting discrimination criterion information pieces for one or more additional denominations in a coin discrimination apparatus is provided, which eliminates the task of visiting the installation location of an existing coin discrimination apparatus to exchange this apparatus for a new one including discrimination criterion information pieces for one or more additional denominations and the task of setting discrimination criterion information pieces for the one or more additional denominations manually in the apparatus. A target denomination is designated from current denominations whose discrimination criterion information pieces are stored in a coin discrimination apparatus. Then, discrimination criterion information pieces for an additional denomination are calculated based on discrimination criterion information pieces for the target denomination, target denomination standard information pieces corresponding to the discrimination criterion information pieces for the target denomination, and additional denomination standard information pieces corresponding to the discrimination criterion information pieces for the additional denomination.