ATM Controller Architecture Review

1.2 ATM Controller Architecture Review

As the technology changes attains to its peak, the human needs also been increased to a more modernized level. Here we take up with a concept of ATM controller design. In general the ATM means Automated Teller Machine which makes us to leads the life much faster. We look into the technical aspect of ATM as our review. The basic architecture of ATM is described as follows:

Figure 1.1 Basic Architecture of ATM

1.2.1 History

The ATM was invented by Scot John Shepherd-Barron. The world's first ATM was installed in a branch of Barclays in the northern London borough of Enfield, Middlesex, in 1967. Inspiration had struck Mr. Shepherd-Barron, now 82, while he was in the bath. A mechanical cash dispenser

In olden days ATMs are manufactured mainly by using microprocessor or microcontroller. Due to heavier demands and the falling price of computer like architectures, ATMs have moved away from custom architectures using microcontroller and / or integrated circuits to adopting hardware architecture that is very similar to a personal computer. Although it is a cheaper to use commercial hardware, it does not mean that ATMs are free from some sort of problems exhibited by the personal

Typical platforms used in ATMs include Microsoft operating systems, Sun Microsystems, Solaris, Java, Linux and UNIX may also be used in these environments. In the current scenario Linux is also playing a leading role in the ATM market place. Most of the companies are trying to use Linux operating in there ATMs. Most ATMs are connected to interbank networks, enabling people to withdraw and deposit money from machines not belonging to the bank where they have their account. This is a convenience; especially for people who are traveling it is possible to make withdrawals in places where one's bank has no branches, and even to withdraw local currency in a foreign country ATMs mainly consists of a special type of secure cryptoprocessor, which is a dedicated microprocessor mainly used for extracting the information from the card used by the customer. The security of ATM transactions relies mostly on the integrity of the secure crypto processor. Many ATMs usually print each transaction in a printout form that is rolled into a roll of paper stored inside the ATMs, which allows both the users of the ATMs and the financial institutions to keep records, in case there is a dispute. In some cases, transactions are posted directly to an electronic journal to reduce the need for paper