Method and system for automated teller machine remote diagnostics and configuration

• US 20080121692A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Shepherd, Bruce, MacPhail, Stephen Neil
• Granted Patent: US 7,677,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/206 Software aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network

Abstract

Methods, systems, and software are disclosed for configuring an ATM. The ATM receives one or more configuration messages in an XML-based format. The ATM interprets the one or more configuration messages. The ATM restricts one or more ATM operations based on at least a portion of the one or more configuration messages.

Claims

1. A method for configuring an automated teller machine (ATM), wherein the ATM comprises one or more hardware modules and one or more software modules, the method comprising:

outputting one or more state messages, wherein the one or more state messages are indicative of a functional status of the ATM;

receiving one or more configuration messages, wherein;

the one or more configuration messages are based, at least in part, on the one or more state messages; and

the one or more configuration messages include instructions for performing one or more diagnostic routines;

interpreting the one or more configuration messages;

performing one or more of the one or more diagnostic routines; and

wherein the one or more configuration messages are in an XML-based format.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting a set of actions supported by the ATM, wherein;

the one or more configuration messages are further based, at least in part, on the set of actions supported by the ATM; and

the instructions for performing the one or more diagnostic routines are limited by the set of actions supported by the ATM.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

altering one or more operations of the ATM based, at least in part, on the one or more configuration messages.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein altering the one or more operations of the ATM, based, at least in part, on the one or more configuration messages, comprises:

disallowing one or more types of transactions by users at the ATM; and

altering a display screen at the ATM.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting one or more status messages after performing one or more of the one or more diagnostic routines, wherein;

the one or more status messages are indicative of one or more outcomes from performing the one or more of the one or more diagnostic routines;

receiving zero or more further configuration messages;

interpreting the zero or more further configuration messages; and

wherein the zero or more further configuration messages are based, at least in part, on the one or more status messages.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein interpreting the one or more configuration messages comprises:

executing a first set of the one or more diagnostic routines; and

determining if a further set of the one or more diagnostic routines should be executed, based, at least in part, on one or more outcomes of the first set of the one or more diagnostic routines, and if so;

executing the further set of the one or more diagnostic routines.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more hardware modules include one or more of a bill dispenser and an input hopper;

one or more of the one or more state messages are associated with the one or more of the bill dispenser and the input hopper and are further indicative of a jam; and

one or more of the one or more diagnostic routines are directed to the one or more of the bill dispenser and the input hopper.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to output the one or more state messages.

9. A system for configuring an automated teller machine (ATM), the system comprising:

an ATM that includes one or more hardware modules and one or more software modules;

a communication link coupled to the ATM;

a computer coupled to the communication link; and

wherein the ATM is configured to;

output one or more state messages, wherein the one or more state messages are indicative of a functional status of the ATM;

receive and interpret one or more configuration messages, wherein;

the one or more configuration messages are based, at least in part, on the one or more state messages; and

the one or more configuration messages include instructions for performing one or more diagnostic routines;

perform one or more of the one or more diagnostic routines; and

receive the one or more configuration messages in an XML-based format.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the computer requests a set of actions;

the ATM outputs a set of actions supported by the ATM, wherein;

the one or more configuration messages are further based, at least in part, on the set of actions supported by the ATM; and

the instructions for performing the one or more diagnostic routines are limited by the set of actions supported by the ATM.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the one or more hardware modules includes one or more of a bill dispenser and an input hopper;

one or more of the one or more state messages are associated with the one or more of the bill dispenser and the input hopper and are further indicative of a jam; and

one or more of the instructions for performing the one or more diagnostic routines are directed to the one or more of the bill dispenser and the input hopper.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the ATM is further configured to:

alter one or more operations of the ATM based, at least in part, on the one or more configuration messages.

13. The system of claim 11, where when altering one of the one or more operations of the ATM, based, at least in part, on the one or more configuration messages, the ATM is further configured to:

disallow one or more types of transactions by users; and

alter a display screen at the ATM.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the ATM is further configured to:

output one or more status messages after performing one or more of the one or more diagnostic routines;

wherein the one or more status messages are indicative of one or more outcomes from the performance of the one or more diagnostic routines.

receive zero or more further configuration messages;

interpret zero or more further configuration messages; and

wherein the zero or more further configuration messages are based, at least in part, on the one or more status messages.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the computer is configured to send a request for one or more state messages to the ATM; and

the ATM is configured to receive the request for the one or more state messages.

16. Computer software, stored on a tangible storage medium, for operating an automated teller machine (ATM) comprising one or more processors, one or more hardware modules, and one or more software modules, the software comprising executable instructions that cause at least one of the one or more processors to:

output one or more state messages, wherein the one or more state messages are indicative of a functional status of the ATM;

receive one or more configuration messages, wherein;

the one or more configuration messages are based, at least in part, on the one or more state messages; and

the one or more configuration messages include instructions for performing one or more diagnostic routines;

the one or more configuration messages are in an XML-based format;

interpret the one or more configuration messages; and

perform one or more of the one or more diagnostic routines.

17. The software of claim 16, further comprising executable instructions that cause the at least one of the one or more processors to:

output a set of actions supported by the ATM, wherein;

the one or more configuration messages are further based, at least in part, on the set of actions supported by the ATM; and

the instructions for performing the one or more diagnostic routines are limited by the set of actions supported by the ATM.

18. The software of claim 16, further comprising executable instructions that cause the at least one of the one or more processors to alter one or more operations of the ATM based, at least in part, on the one or more configuration messages.

19. The software of claim 18, wherein the executable instructions that cause the at least one of the one or more processors to alter the one or more operations of the ATM based, at least in part, on the one or more configuration messages, further cause the one or more processors to:

disallow one or more types of transactions by users at the ATM; and

alter a display screen at the ATM.

20. The software of claim 16, further comprising executable instructions that cause the at least one of the one or more processors to:

output one or more status messages after performing one or more of the one or more diagnostic routines, wherein;

the one or more status messages are indicative of one or more outcomes from performing the one or more diagnostic routines;

output zero or more further configuration messages, wherein the zero or more further configuration messages are based, at least in part, on the one or more status messages; and

interpret the zero or more further configuration messages.

21. The software of claim 20, further comprising executable instructions that cause the at least one of the one or more processors to:

execute a first set of the one or more diagnostic routines; and

determine if a further set of the one or more diagnostic routines should be executed, based, at least in part, on one or more outcomes of the first set of the one or more diagnostic routines, and if so;

execute the further set of the one or more diagnostic routines.

22. The software of claim 16, wherein:

the one or more hardware modules includes one or more of a bill dispenser and an input hopper;

one or more of the one or more state messages associated with the one or more of the bill dispenser and the input hopper are indicative of a jam; and

one or more of the instructions for performing the one or more diagnostic routines are directed to the one or more of the bill dispenser and the input hopper.

23. The software of claim 16, further comprising executable instructions that cause the at least one of the one or more processors to:

receive a request to output the one or more state messages.