Self-service terminal

• US 20030116621A1
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Duncan, Ross W.
• Application Number:
  US10/294,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20030116621A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/206 Software aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A self-service terminal (10) is described. The terminal, which may be an ATM, comprises a plurality of modules (14 to 34), and has a control application for controlling the operation of the terminal. The control application comprises a plurality of module driver agents (70), a plurality of module function request agents (72) for requesting functions provided by a module (14 to 34), and a logic engine (66). An interface (76) is provided between the driver agents (70) and the function request agents (72), so that a module driver agent (70) is operable to co-operate with an associated function request agent (72) to provide module functions for the logic engine (66).

Claims

1. A self-service terminal comprising:

a plurality of modules; and

a control application comprising a plurality of independent module control agents, and a logic engine;

each module control agent including means for requesting and managing functions provided by an associated module, so that the logic engine can execute a transaction by issuing successive requests to module control agents.

2. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein each module control agent comprises a module driver agent and a module function request agent.

3. A self-service terminal comprising:

a plurality of modules;

a control application comprising a plurality of module driver agents, a plurality of module function request agents for requesting functions provided by a module, and a logic engine; and

an interface between the driver agents and the function request agents, so that a module driver agent is operable to co-operate with an associated function request agent to provide module functions for the logic engine.

4. A terminal according to claim 3, further comprising health agents cooperating with driver agents and function request agents.

5. A terminal according to claim 3, wherein the logic engine is implemented by an agent having access to a set of rules.

6. A terminal according to claim 3, wherein the interface between the driver agents and the function request agents is implemented by a broker agent.

7. A terminal according to claim 6, wherein the driver agents are organised in a community of agents that register their functions with the broker agent.

8. A terminal according to claim 3, further comprising a gatekeeper driver agent for monitoring any user accessible communications port.

9. An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising:

a plurality of modules; and

a control application comprising a plurality of independent module control agents, and a logic engine;

each module control agent including means for requesting and managing functions provided by an associated module, so that the logic engine can execute a transaction by issuing successive requests to module control agents.

10. An ATM according to claim 9, wherein each module control agent comprises a module driver agent and a module function request agent.

11. An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising:

a plurality of modules;

a control application comprising a plurality of module driver agents, a plurality of module function request agents for requesting functions provided by a module, and a logic engine; and

an interface between the driver agents and the function request agents, so that a module driver agent is operable to co-operate with an associated function request agent to provide module functions for the logic engine.

12. An ATM according to claim 11, further comprising health agents co-operating with driver agents and function request agents.

13. An ATM according to claim 11, wherein the logic engine is implemented by an agent having access to a set of rules.

14. An ATM according to claim 11, wherein the interface between the driver agents and the function request agents is implemented by a broker agent.

15. An ATM according to claim 14, wherein the driver agents are organised in a community of agents that register their functions with the broker agent.

16. An ATM according to claim 11, further comprising a gatekeeper driver agent for monitoring any user accessible communications port.

17. A method of operating a self-service terminal having a plurality of modules, and having a control application, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of module driver agents, each module driver agent being operable to instruct a module to perform one or more functions;

providing a plurality of module function request agents for requesting functions provided by a module;

providing a logic engine; and

teaming a driver agent with a function request agent via an interface to provide module functions for the logic engine.