Apparatus and method for indicating the status of transaction function devices in an automated banking machine

• US 20060143120A1
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Published: 06/29/2006
• 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, Blackson, Dale, Smith, Mark D., Cichon, Bob A., Moales, Mark A., Covert, Mark S., Church, James, Joyce, Shawn D., Moore, Phillip S., Swingler, Steven C., Lepper, Bradrick Q., El-Kaissi, Omar, Lemley, Robert J., Chen, Lilei, Califf, Michael E. Jr., Usner, Robert E., Griswold, Glenda K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,251,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network

Abstract

An automated banking machine includes a plurality of transaction function devices, including a cash dispenser. The machine can generate an HTTP record including indicia representative of an operational status of at least one transaction function device. The machine includes a server. The HTTP record can be accessed through the server by a computer external of the machine. The indicia can be generated responsive to a malfunction of a transaction function device. The indicia can be representative of the malfunction.

Claims

1. At least one article including computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one computer to carry out a method comprising:

(a) producing through operation of at least one computer in an automated transaction machine, at least one markup language document including indicia corresponding to status of at least one transaction function device of the automated transaction machine; and

(b) operating the at least one computer of the automated transaction machine to enable a device outside the automated transaction machine to access the at least one markup language document.

2. The at least one article according to claim 1 wherein the at least one markup language document comprises at least one HTML document, wherein step (b) includes enabling access to the at least one HTML document.

3. The at least one article according to claim 1 wherein the status is representative of a fault which has occurred in the at least one transaction function device, and wherein step (b) includes enabling access to at least one markup language document having indicia corresponding to a status representative of the fault.

4. The at least one article according to claim 1 wherein the automated transaction machine includes a plurality of transaction function devices, and wherein step (b) includes enabling access to at least one markup language document having indicia corresponding to a status of each of a plurality of the transaction function devices.

5. The at least one article according to claim 1 wherein the automated transaction machine comprises an automated teller machine (ATM) including a currency dispenser, and wherein step (b) includes enabling access to at least one document having indicia corresponding to status of at least one transaction function device of the ATM.

6. The at least one article according to claim 1 and further comprising:

(c) accessing the at least one markup language document with a portable terminal including a browser.

7. At least one article including computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one computer to carry out a method comprising:

(a) operating a transaction function device in an automated transaction machine, the transaction function device having an associated status; and

(b) generating at least one markup language document including instructions corresponding to the status of the transaction function device.

8. The at least one article according to claim 7 wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to cause the at least one computer to further carry out:

(c) enabling a terminal including a browser, to access the at least one markup language document.

9. The at least one article according to claim 8 wherein the terminal comprises a portable terminal adjacent to the automated transaction machine, wherein step (c) includes enabling the portable terminal to access the at least one markup language document.

10. The at least one article according to claim 8 wherein the terminal is remotely located from the automated transaction machine, wherein step (c) includes enabling the remotely located terminal to access the at least one markup language document.

11. The at least one article according to claim 7, wherein step (b) includes generating at least one first markup language document including first instructions, and wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to cause the at least one computer to further carry out:

(c) receiving with the automated transaction machine, at least one second markup language document including second instructions; and

(d) operating the transaction function device responsive to the second instructions.

12. The at least one article according to claim 7 wherein the at least one markup language document comprises at least one HTML document, wherein step (b) includes generating the at least one HTML document.

13. At least one article including computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one computer to carry out a method comprising:

(a) generating through operation of at least one computer in an automated transaction machine, at least one HTTP record including indicia representative of an operative status of at least one transaction function device of the automated transaction machine; and

(b) operating the at least one computer of the automated transaction machine, to enable a device outside the machine to access the at least one HTTP record.

14. The at least one article according to claim 13 wherein the at least one HTTP record comprises at least one HTML document, wherein step (a) includes generating the at least one HTML document, and wherein step (b) includes enabling access to the at least one HTML document.

15. The at least one article according to claim 13 wherein step (a) includes generating at least one HTTP record comprising a data object.

16. The at least one article according to claim 15 wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to cause the at least one computer to further carry out:

(c) transferring the data object from the automated transaction machine to a terminal computer outside the automated transaction machine via a communications connection operatively connecting the machine and the terminal computer.

17. At least one article including computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one computer to carry out a method comprising:

(a) including in at least one HTTP record, indicia representative of a malfunction of at least one transaction function device of a cash dispensing automated transaction machine, responsive to an occurrence of the malfunction; and

(b) delivering the at least one HTTP record from the automated transaction machine through a communications connection.

18. The at least one article according to claim 17 wherein the automated transaction machine comprises an automated teller machine (ATM) including at least one cash dispensing device, and wherein the computer executable instructions are operative to cause the at least one computer to further carry out:

(c) operating the cash dispensing device to dispense at least one currency note from the ATM.

19. At least one article including computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one computer to carry out a method comprising:

(a) operating a plurality of transaction function devices in an automated transaction machine, wherein the machine is operative to dispense at least one note;

(b) responsive to a malfunction of at least one of the transaction function devices, including indicia in at least one HTTP record representative of the malfunction; and

(c) delivering the at least one HTTP record from the automated transaction machine through a communications connection.

20. At least one article including computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one computer to carry out a method comprising:

(a) communicating with a server of an automated transaction machine having a plurality of transaction function devices; and

(b) responsive to step (a), accessing through operation of the server at least one HTTP record including indicia representative of an operational status of at least one of the plurality of transaction function devices.