When you insert you credit or debit card in an ATM, you set off a chain of events, commands and procedures that take mere seconds to complete, and give you instant access to your own money. But whether you're withdrawing cash, checking your balance, or doing something a little different like topping up a pay-as-you-go mobile phone, the ATM has to work just has hard to ensure that you are given what you requested. But what exactly goes on inside the ATM while you wait patiently outside? Here is a very short explanation.

All ATMs work on the same basic principle and use similar software to give the consumer what they want, and for a number of ATMs, this software is made up of three different products: Platforms, Applications and Management Servers.

The Platform is part of a family that provides the foundations for developing custom applications for all types of ATMs, including kiosks and branch teller stations. This software provides a developer with everything they need to create applications for ATMs and kiosk systems.

The application software gives the ATM complete functionality and can also be modified and tailored for specific needs by banks. This means that it can enable banks to add extra features, services and enable customers to complete extra transactions for customers.

The Management Server is a remote management solution. It provides a very extensive range of ATM Management features in one place, which historically could only be provided by a number of separate systems, this enables it to provide secure management straight to every ATM or other kiosk in the network.

Another ATM management software that is less commonly used in the majority of ATMs is SafetyPIN software. As you might imagine, this software was created and installed to protect the user from fraud, and as such it is designed to alert the authorities, namely the police, of a forced cash withdrawal. The way this works is that a customer enters their PIN or Personal Identification Number in the wrong order, such as backwards when forced to do so. However, while this system dates back to 1986, when former US police officer proposed it in Congress, the system has not gathered a lot of support, and as such, it is only available on a handful of ATMs in a handful of places, contrary to popular belief, this software is not in place on ATMs around the world.

While there is a lot more to ATM software than meets the eye, it can be quite complicated to explain to people who are unfamiliar with technology, or someone who has never worked in software development. However, if you really want to know more about ATM software, then the internet is the best place to start, so type the phrase into a search engine to begin your search journey, and see what other information you can find out.

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/the-science-and-software-of-the-atm-5506402.html"

To the consumer, an automated teller machine is an essential part of daily life, as it provides them quick access to their cash, allows them check the balance of their bank account and even lets them pay certain bills. But behind the computer display and the keypad is a complex and interesting number of arrangements that communicate quickly and efficiently to afford you quick access to any service you ask. So how does one automated teller machine do all this?

For consumers, it takes seconds to withdraw money from their account, and Transportation and other transactions such as checks and balances in, out, may take even less time. But after they insert their card and their PIN or personal identification number, what happens behind the scenes, so to speak?

ATM means Automated Teller Machine, and in simple terms, it's an electronic replacement of a human teller in the bank, it was developed to saving time when receiving cash from a bank account, and are well-known all over the world, with ATMs to be discovered in some of the most unsuspecting places. An ATM operates by being attached to complicated interbank systems, the best known of these are Cirrus and Link. For a customer to be able to access their cash, the ATMs must receive authorization from the customer's financial institution before they give any cash.

ATM itself consists of several parts, some of which the client can use, such as the display, the card slot and the keypad. However, the components that the client doesn't see are the most essential, as they make sure that the ATM is operating properly. ATM management software is one of the most essential components of the ATM, as this type of software essentially keeps an eye on everything going on inside the ATM, such as receiving messages from the machine, messages that could indicate an issue, such as a fault or a glitch. These messages always make sure that there is very detailed information available about the ATM, so that any problems, such as low cash levels, a paper jam or any other issues can be treated quickly – meaning that if an ATM has to temporarily go out of service, it will be back up and running without too much stress for the consumer.

Some ATM management comes by means of web servers, and not just software. These servers eliminate the need for multiple and separate systems for individual ATMs. They provide additional security to every single ATM or kiosk from the same network.

While this is only presenting what goes on within an ATM and the many networks and other systems that allow it to work easily and effectively, from the screen, to the keypad, to the ATM management system, they are all cogs of a very well-known and important device.