SELF-SERVICE TERMINAL

• US 20020065775A1
• Filed: 06/23/1999
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: MONAGHAN, ANDREW D.
• Application Number:
  US09/338,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065775A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs

Abstract

A system including a plurality of ATMs and a method of transferring information within that system are described. The ATMs are connected to a host computer by a bidirectional link, and the host computer is connected to a management center by a unidirectional link. Each ATM has a user interface for enabling a user to interact with the ATM, a network card for transferring information between the ATM and the host, and a processor for operating the user interface and the network card. Each ATM also has a pager unit, and the management center has a telephone for transmitting information to each pager unit via a cellular network pager provider. The system thereby provides two-way communication between the management center and the ATMs using wireless communication.

Claims

1. A self-service terminal (SST) comprising:

a user interface for enabling a user to interact with the SST;

communicating means for transferring information between the SST and a remote host computer;

a processor for operating the user interface and the communicating means; and

an information receiver in communication with the processor for receiving instructions via wireless communication and conveying these instructions to the processor.

2. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the information receiver includes a pager unit having a unique telephone number.

3. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the pager unit is connected to the processor via an interface in the processor.

4. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the information receiver has a response facility to enable it to transmit a response indicating that a message has been received by the information receiver.

5. A self-service terminal (SST) system comprising:

a plurality of SSTs;

a host computer coupled to each of the SSTs by a two-way communication link; and

a management center coupled to the host computer by a one-way communication link for allowing transfer of information from the host computer to the management center;

each SST having an information receiver for receiving instructions from the management center via wireless communication;

the management center having an information transmitter for selecting one of the SSTs and transmitting information thereto via wireless communication.

6. An SST system according to claim 5, wherein the information transmitter is a telephone.

7. An SST system according to claim 5, wherein the information receivers are pager units.

8. A method of transferring information from a management center having an information transmitter to a self-service terminal (SST) having an information receiver, the method comprising the step of transmitting information from the management center to the SST using wireless communication.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of acknowledging from the information receiver of the SST via wireless communication receipt of the information transmitted from the information transmitter of the management center.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of transmitting information includes the step of transmitting an instruction for commanding the SST to perform a predefined operation.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the predefined operation includes a reboot operation for resetting the SST.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the predefined operation includes a diagnostics operation for executing one or more pre-stored diagnostics programs and producing a status report.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the predefined operation includes a remove from service operation for a cash dispensing facility.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein the predefined operation includes a remove from service operation for a receipt printing facility.

15. A method according to claim 10, wherein the predefined operation includes a return to service operation for a cash dispensing facility.

16. A method according to claim 10, wherein the predefined operation includes a return to service operation for a receipt printing facility.