Terminal

• US 20090033489A1
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: McNamara, Michael R., Black, Jonathan S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,019,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A terminal, such as an automated teller machine, comprises: a customer identification device; a sensor for detecting presence of a customer at the terminal; and a controller coupled to the customer identification device and the sensor. The controller is programmed to (i) track the customer'"'"'s location, (ii) create a session on identification of a customer, and (iii) close the created session when a customer absence criterion is fulfilled. The functions of the customer identification device and the sensor may be performed by a single unit. The customer absence criterion may comprise a time period during which the customer is not detected at the terminal.

Claims

1. A terminal comprising:

a customer identification device;

a sensor for detecting presence of a customer at the terminal; and

a controller coupled to the customer identification device and the sensor, and being programmed to

(i) track the customer'"'"'s location,

(ii) create a session on identification of a customer, and

(iii) close the created session when a customer absence criterion is fulfilled.

2. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the customer identification device comprises a media reader.

3. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the customer identification device and sensor are combined into an integral biometric sensor.

4. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the sensor for detecting the presence of a customer at the terminal comprises an imaging device.

5. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the customer absence criterion comprises a time period during which the customer is not detected at the terminal.

6. A terminal according to claim 5, the customer absence criterion further comprises a condition where one or more people are detected closer to the terminal than the customer.

7. A method of operating a terminal, the method comprising:

creating a session for a customer at the terminal;

sensing at least one characteristic of the customer;

creating a template for the customer using the sensed characteristic or characteristics to allow the terminal to discriminate between the customer and other people who may be in the vicinity of the terminal; and

closing the created session in the event that a customer absence criterion is fulfilled.

8. An assisted terminal system comprising a network of assisted terminals coupled to a supervisory terminal, where the supervisory terminal enables an operator to monitor customer activity at the assisted terminals, the method comprising:

(a) creating a session for a customer at one of the assisted terminals;

(b) entering session monitoring mode for that session, where session monitoring mode includes (i) sensing at least one characteristic of the customer, (ii) creating a template for the customer using the sensed characteristic or characteristics to allow the assisted terminal to discriminate between the customer and other people who may be in the vicinity of the assisted terminal, and (iii) closing the created session in the event that a customer absence criterion is fulfilled; and

(c) exiting session monitoring mode in the event that the customer requests via the assisted terminal assistance from an operator of the supervisory terminal.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the method comprises the further step of (d) authorizing the operator prior to allowing the operator to provide assistance to the customer at the assisted terminal.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the method comprises the further step of (e) re-entering session monitoring mode after the operator has completed providing assistance to the customer.

11. A terminal comprising:

a device for identifying and detecting continued presence of a customer;

a controller coupled to the device, and programmed to create a template associated with the customer using data captured by the device, thereby allowing the terminal to identify and track the customer;

the controller being operable to create a session on identification of a customer and to close the created session when a customer absence criterion is fulfilled.

12. A terminal according to claim 11, wherein the device comprises a facial tracking and recognition device that tracks a customer'"'"'s face during a transaction and identifies the customer based on characteristics of the customer'"'"'s face.