Automated Teller Machine Load Balancing

• US 20110191243A1
• Filed: 02/04/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Allen, Morgan S.
• Application Number:
  US12/700,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20110191243A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]

Abstract

A system and method of balancing load between one or more ATMs is provided. In some examples, a notification of a service issue may be received from a first ATM. A determination may be made as to whether ATMs within a predefined geographic distance of the first ATM may have sufficient capacity to support additional transactions due to the first ATM being out of service. If the additional ATMs do have sufficient capacity, a service call to address the service issue at the first ATM may be postponed, for instance, until a more convenient time, a regular business day, etc. If the additional ATMs in the area do not have sufficient capacity, a service call may be placed to address the service issue at the first ATM as soon as possible.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an indication of a service issue at a first ATM;

determining if a time to service the first ATM is greater than a predetermined threshold;

responsive to determining that the time to service the first ATM is greater than the predetermined threshold, determining whether at least a second ATM within a predetermined geographic distance from the first ATM has sufficient capacity; and

responsive to determining that the at least second ATM has sufficient capacity, delaying service of the first ATM.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined geographic distance is a predetermined number of city blocks between the first ATM and the at least second ATM.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined geographic distance is a predetermined number of yards between the first ATM and the at least second ATM.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a day of a week for on which the service issue occurred;

and

responsive to determining that the day of the week is a non-business day, delaying service of the first ATM until a next business day.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sufficient capacity of the at least second ATM includes capacity above a predetermined threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined threshold is a minimum number of bills of a denomination.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving a notification of low funds at a first ATM;

determining whether a replenishment is scheduled within a predetermined time period;

responsive to determining that the replenishment is not schedule within the predetermined time period, determining whether sufficient capacity is available at least a second ATM within a predefined geographic distance of the first ATM;

responsive to determining that sufficient capacity is available at the at least second ATM, awaiting the scheduled replenishment.

8. The method of claim 7, further including:

responsive to determining that the replenishment is scheduled within the predetermined time period, initiating a cash recycler mode at the first ATM and awaiting the scheduled replenishment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein cash recycler mode enables the first ATM to function as a cash recycler.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein bills deposited into the first ATM may be withdrawn when the first ATM is in cash recycler mode.

11. The method of claim 7, further including:

responsive to determining that sufficient capacity is not available at the at least second ATM, initiating a service call.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein initiating the service call including requesting a replenishment of funds.

13. The method of claim 7, further including:

responsive to determining that sufficient capacity is available at the at least second ATM, providing a notification of a location of the at least second ATM.

14. The method of claim 7, further including:

responsive to determining that the scheduled replenishment is not within the predetermined time, determining whether a day on which the low funds notification was received is a business day.

15. The method of claim 14, further including:

responsive to determining that the day of the week is a business day, initiating a service call.

16. One or more computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to:

receive an indication of a service issue at a first ATM;

determine if a time to service the first ATM is greater than a predetermined threshold;

responsive to determining that the time to service the first ATM is greater than the predetermined threshold, determine whether at least a second ATM within a predetermined geographic distance from the first ATM has sufficient capacity; and

responsive to determining that the at least second ATM has sufficient capacity, delay service of the first ATM.

17. The one or more computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the predetermined geographic distance is a predetermined number of city blocks between the first ATM and the at least second ATM.

18. The one or more computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the predetermined geographic distance is a predetermined number of yards between the first ATM and the at least second ATM.

19. The one or more computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to:

determine a day of a week for on which the service issue occurred; and

responsive to determining that the day of the week is a non-business day, delay service of the first ATM until a next business day.

20. The one or more computer readable media of claim 16, wherein sufficient capacity of the at least second ATM includes capacity above a predetermined threshold.

21. The one or more computer readable media of claim 20, wherein the predetermined threshold is a minimum number of bills of a denomination.