Cash dispensing automated banking machine diagnostic system

• US 20040153409A1
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Griswold, Glenda, Shepley, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,494,047 B2
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/203 Dispensing operations within ATMs dispensing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/209 Monitoring, auditing or diagnose of functioning of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/21 Retaining of the payment card by ATMs

Abstract

An automated banking machine (10) includes a lockable first fascia portion (20) which when unlocked enables access to a chest lock input device (104), inputs to which enable opening a chest door (18) of the machine. Opening the first fascia portion also enables access to an actuator (116) which enables moving a second fascia portion (22) for conducting service activities. A controller (72) in the machine selectively illuminates light emitting devices (118, 126) for purposes of facilitating user operation of the machine. Sensing devices (128) adjacent a card reader slot (28) on the machine enables the controller to detect the presence of unauthorized card reading devices. Servicing the machine is facilitated through use of a portable diagnostic article (98) which enables the controller to access diagnostic data stored in memory and which provides data indicative of the significance of the diagnostic data.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including;

a housing;

at least one controller in the housing, and at least one data store in operative connection with the at least one controller;

a plurality of transaction function devices in the housing and in operative connection with the at least one controller;

at least one output device in supporting connection with the housing and in operative connection with the at least one controller;

at least one diagnostic article reading device in supporting connection with the housing and in operative connection with the at least one controller;

wherein responsive to a condition of at least one of the transaction function devices, the at least one controller is operative to cause diagnostic data to be stored in the at least one data store, and wherein responsive to an authorized portable diagnostic article being operatively connected with the diagnostic article reading device of the machine, the at least one controller is operative to enable indicia corresponding to the diagnostic data and significance of the diagnostic data to operation of the machine, to be output through the output device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of transaction function devices include a currency sheet dispensing device.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the indicia corresponding to significance of the diagnostic data is obtained from the diagnostic article responsive to operation of the at least one controller.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising at least one input device in operative connection with the at least one controller, wherein responsive to operative connection of the diagnostic article with the diagnostic reading device and at least one input to the at least one input device, the at least one controller is operative to cause at least one of the transaction function devices to perform a diagnostic test operation.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the diagnostic article is operative to enable the at least one controller to output indicia through the output device, wherein the indicia is indicative of significance of at least one result of the diagnostic test operation.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the at least one controller is operative to obtain data indicative of significance of the at least one result from the diagnostic article.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one controller is operative to load browser software from the diagnostic article and to operate the browser software.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the indicia indicative of significance is output through the output device responsive to operation of the browser software by the at least one controller.

9. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one controller is operative to enable output of the indicia responsive to receiving at least one secret code from the diagnostic article.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one controller is operative to compare data resolved by the at least one controller responsive to the at least one secret code, with verification data, and to produce at least one comparison result, and wherein the controller is operative to enable output of the indicia responsive to the at least one comparison result.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least one controller includes a calendar function, and wherein the verification data is produced by the controller responsive to a current date provided by the calendar function.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least one controller is in operative connection with an input device, and wherein the verification data includes at least one input provided through the input device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at least one controller includes a calendar function, and wherein the verification data includes a current date provided by the calendar function.

14. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the controller is operative to receive service manual data from the diagnostic article and to cause the at least one output device to output indicia corresponding to the service manual data, wherein the service manual data includes data corresponding to significance of the diagnostic data.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the at least one controller is operative responsive to the diagnostic data and the service manual data to cause the at least one output device to output indicia corresponding to a diagnostic test.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the at least one controller is in operative connection with an input device, and wherein the at least one controller is operative responsive to at least one input to the input device to cause the at least one controller to operate at least one transaction function device to carry out at least a portion of the diagnostic test.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the at least one controller is operative to output through the at least one output device, indicia corresponding to a result of at least a portion of the diagnostic test.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the at least one controller is operative responsive to the result and the service manual data to cause to be output through the at least one output device, indicia corresponding to a remedial action.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14 and further comprising browser software operated in the at least one controller, and wherein the indicia corresponding to the service manual data is output responsive to operation of the browser software.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the at least one controller is operative to load the browser software from the diagnostic article.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the at least one controller is operative to no longer run the browser software responsive to the diagnostic article being operatively disconnected from the at least one controller.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the browser software is operative to interpret non-standard embedded instructions in the service manual data.

23. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the service manual data is in protected form, and the at least one controller is operative to interpret the service manual data and to output the indicia corresponding to the service manual data.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the service manual data is encrypted.

25. The apparatus according to claim 9 and further comprising a diagnostic article, and wherein the diagnostic article comprises computer readable media.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the diagnostic article comprises service manual data, and wherein the at least one controller is operative to cause the at least one output device to output indicia corresponding to the service manual data.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26 and further comprising a computer device separate from the banking machine apparatus, and wherein the computer device is operative to output indicia corresponding to the service manual data responsive to at least one secret code on the computer readable media.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the computer device is operative to compare data resolved by the computer device responsive to comparing the at least one secret code to verification data, to produce at least one comparison result, and wherein the computer device is operative to enable output of the indicia responsive to the at least one comparison result.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the at least one computer device includes a calendar function, and wherein the verification data includes a current date provided by the calendar function.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the computer device is in operative connection with an input device, and wherein the verification data includes at least one input provided through the input device.

31. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the computer readable media includes browser software, and wherein the computer device is operative to load the browser software from the computer readable media.

32. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the browser software is operative to interpret non-standard embedded instructions in the service manual data.

33. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the computer readable media includes diagnostic instructions that are operative to cause the at least one controller to interact with at least one of the transaction function devices when the computer readable media is in operative connection with the article reading device of the automated banking machine, and wherein the diagnostic instructions are not operative in the computer device.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the computer readable media comprises a CD.