Method of developing automated banking machine instructions

• US 20050216888A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Drummond, Jay Paul, Dongara, Aravind, Bodapatla, Randhika, Gilger, Mikal R., Blakeslee, Todd, Church, James R., Cichon, Bob A., Weis, David, Moales, Mark A., Myana, Jagadesh
• Granted Patent: US 7,870,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/113
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• 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 19/206 Software aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A method for visual programming an automated transaction machine (12). The method includes the creation of terminal directors (225) that generally correspond to transactions performed by the automated transaction machine. The terminal directors are programmed by visually creating associations (238) between a plurality of ATM objects (230, 232) in a work space (224). Exemplary ATM objects include an authorization object (260), a back stage control object (262), a card reader object (264), a customer profile object (266), a depositor object (268), a dispenser object (270), keypad object (272), a logic object (274), a OCS object (276), a presenter object (278), a PIN entry object (280), a printer object (282), a sync object (284), and a transaction data object (286). A portion of the exemplary ATM objects are operative to interface with a device interface layer (728) for communicating with physical hardware devices (724, 726).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) outputting a first icon and a second icon on a display device of a computer system wherein the first icon corresponds to a visual representation of a first ATM software object, wherein the second icon corresponds to a visual representation of a second ATM software object, wherein the first ATM software object is adapted to be executed by at least one computer in a cash dispensing automated teller machine (ATM) to cause at least one first ATM operation to be performed, wherein the second ATM software object is adapted to be executed by the at least one computer in an ATM to cause at least one second ATM operation to be performed, and

(b) subsequent to step (a), operating the computer system to visually link on the display device the first icon and a second icon, wherein such operation causes at least one association between the first ATM software object and the second ATM software object, wherein the at least one association produces computer executable instructions adapted to cause at least one transaction function of an ATM, wherein the instructions include the first ATM software object and the second ATM software object, and wherein the at least one transaction function includes dispensing cash.

40. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising

(c) distributing the computer executable instructions produced in step (b) to an ATM, wherein the ATM includes a cash dispenser.

41. The method according to claim 40 wherein step (c) includes programming the ATM with the instructions.

42. The method according to claim 40 wherein step (c) includes storing the computer executable instructions produced in step (b) in memory in a data store at the ATM.

43. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising

(c) operating at least one computer in an ATM to execute the instructions produced in step (b), wherein the ATM includes a cash dispenser, wherein the ATM dispenses cash responsive to the instructions.

44. Computer readable media operative to cause at least one computer to carry out the method steps recited in claim 1.

45. Computer readable media bearing computer executable instructions generated through the method recited in claim 1.

2-39. -39. (canceled)

46. A method comprising:

(a) generating computer executable instructions including at least two ATM software objects, wherein the instructions are adapted to be executed by at least one computer associated with a cash dispensing automated teller machine (ATM) to cause at least one ATM function to be performed, wherein the generating includes operating a computer system including a visual programming environment to visually connect on a display screen at least two icons, each icon representing one of the at least two ATM software objects, wherein the icons and connections are visually output on the same display screen; and

(b) storing the instructions generated in step (a).

47. The method according to claim 46 wherein in step (a) each ATM software object is adapted to cause at least one respective ATM operation to be performed.

48. The method according to claim 46 wherein at least one ATM software object in the instructions comprises a cash dispenser object, and wherein the cash dispenser object includes functionality for controlling a cash dispenser, and further comprising

(c) executing the instructions generated in step (a) in an ATM in carrying out a cash dispensing operation.

49. The method according to claim 46 wherein in step (a) displayed icons are connected together to form a programming logic pathway.

50. The method according to claim 49 wherein in step (a) connecting the icons includes providing a visually displayed line between first and second icons.

51. The method according to claim 50 wherein in step (a) providing the line links an event of a first ATM software object to a function of a second ATM software object.

52. The method according to claim 49 wherein step (a) includes visually linking a displayed first ATM software object to a displayed second ATM software object and visually linking the displayed second ATM software object to a displayed third ATM software object.

53. Computer readable media operative to cause at least one computer to carry out the method recited in claim 46.

54. Computer readable media bearing computer executable instructions generated through the method recited in claim 46.

55. A method comprising:

(a) generating computer executable instructions dictating an operational sequence of cash dispensing automated teller machine (ATM) functions, wherein a plurality of ATM operations are represented in the instructions as ATM software objects, wherein the ATM software objects are each operative to respectively cause at least one ATM operation to be performed, wherein the generating includes;

(a1) visually representing a plurality of ATM software objects as icons visually displayed on a display screen;

(a2) subsequent to (a1), generating visual lines on the display screen extending between displayed icons, wherein the lines dictate the sequence of the ATM operations.

56. The method according to claim 55 further comprising:

(b) storing the instructions in a memory associated with an ATM including a cash dispenser, and wherein the instructions are operative to cause the ATM to operate the cash dispenser in performing a cash dispensing transaction.

57. Computer readable media operative to cause at least one computer to carry out the method recited in claim 55.

58. Computer readable media bearing computer executable instructions generated through the method recited in claim 55.