Self-service terminal

• US 20050205675A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Atleos Corp.
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Savage, John G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,451,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/436
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A self-service terminal (10) comprising a plurality of components associated with a valuable media, such as a card reader (28) or cash dispenser (30). Each component includes or is associated with one or more sensors for detecting potentially fraudulent activity and a component agent (34) for generating a warning signal in the event that such activity is detected. Also provided is a higher level agent (38) that is operable to receive warning signals from the component agents (34), and use the received signals to identify potentially fraudulent activity. By providing a hierarchy of fraud detection agents (34,38), the likelihood of a fraud being successfully detected is improved.

Claims

1. A self-service terminal comprising:

a plurality of components, each being associated with one or more detectors for detecting one or more pre-determined conditions of the component;

a plurality of means for providing a condition signal in response to the one or more detectors detecting the one or more pre-determined conditions, each of these being associated with one of the plurality of components; and

means for receiving condition signals and using the condition signals to provide an indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

2. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for providing a condition signal comprises a component level software agent.

3. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for receiving condition signals and using the condition signals comprises a software agent.

4. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 2, wherein each software agent is associated with a store or database that includes an indication of the likelihood of fraudulent activity based on one or more detected conditions.

5. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein one or more additional levels of software agents are provided, each agent in each level being operable to use information from a plurality of lower level agents to refine and improve fraud detection.

6. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein each software agent is associated with a store or database that includes an indication of the likelihood of fraudulent activity based on one or more detected conditions.

7. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein one or more additional levels of software agents are provided, each agent in each level being operable to use information from a plurality of lower level agents to refine and improve fraud detection.

8. A self-service terminal comprising:

a plurality of components, each being associated with a number of detectors for detecting one or more pre-determined conditions of the component;

a plurality of component level software agents, each associated with one of the components and being operable to generate a condition signal in response to the detectors detecting one of the pre-determined conditions; and

one or more higher level software agents operable to receive condition signals from the component level software agents and use the condition signals to provide an indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

9. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein a hierarchy of higher-level agents is provided, each level in the hierarchy comprising one or more additional agents operable to use information from the lower level agents to provide an improved assessment of the likelihood of fraud.

10. An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising:

a plurality of components, each being associated with at least one detector for detecting at least one pre-determined condition of the component;

means for providing a number of condition signals in response to the at least one detector detecting the at least one pre-determined condition, each condition signal being associated with one of the plurality of components; and

means for receiving condition signals and using the condition signals to provide an indication of potentially fraudulent activity.

11. An ATM as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means for providing a number condition signals comprises a number of component level software agents.

12. An ATM as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means for receiving condition signals and using the condition signals comprises a software agent.

13. An ATM as claimed in claim 11, wherein each software agent is associated with a store or database that includes an indication of the likelihood of fraudulent activity based on the at least one detected condition.

14. An ATM as claimed in claim 12, wherein one or more additional levels of software agents are provided, each agent in each level being operable to use information from a plurality of lower level agents to refine and improve fraud detection.

15. An ATM as claimed in claim 12, wherein each software agent is associated with a store or database that includes an indication of the likelihood of fraudulent activity based on the at least one detected condition.

16. An ATM as claimed in claim 15, wherein one or more additional levels of software agents are provided, each agent in each level being operable to use information from a plurality of lower level agents to refine and improve fraud detection.