AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE CAMERA THAT PRODUCES IMAGE DATA TO DETECT MANIPULATION ATTEMPTS

• US 20120038775A1
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf Systems GmbH (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Priesterjahn, Steffen, Le, Dinh-Khoi, Nolte, Michael, Drichel, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 9,159,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/150
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

An automated teller machine is proposed having at least one camera to detect manipulation attempts that captures images of one or more elements arranged in the control panel, such as a keypad, cash-dispensing drawer, card entry slot and generates image data from a plurality of individual image recordings (F1, F2, F3).The at least one camera is connected to a data processing unit that preprocesses the image data generated (individual image data) into a resulting image (R). The preprocessed image data of the resulting image (R) can be computed, for example, by exposure blending from the individual images (F1, F2, F3) and represent a very good data base for data evaluation to detect manipulation.

Claims

1. An automated teller machine that has elements provided in a control panel of the automated teller machine that are made available to users of the automated teller machine, where at least one camera is provided for surveillance of the automated teller machine, comprising wherein to detect manipulation attempts on the automated teller machine the at least one camera captures images of one or more of the elements provided in the control panel and generates image data from several individual image recordings and in that the camera is connected to a data processing unit that preprocesses the image data generated into a resulting image that serves for the detection of manipulation attempts.

2. The automated teller machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one camera generates the image data for the individual image recordings depending on predefined criteria, specifically at predefined time intervals and/or under different lighting conditions or ambient brightness.

3. The automated teller machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one camera generates the image data for the individual image recordings depending on events, specifically on events captured by said camera or by another camera.

4. The automated teller machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one camera, generates the image data from the individual image recordings, depending on predefined camera settings, specifically on predefined exposure times and/or image rates.

5. The automated teller machine according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit combines the image data generated from the individual image recordings into the resulting image using image data processing, specifically average creation, median creation and/or exposure blending.

6. The automated teller machine according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit combines the image data generated from the individual image recordings into the resulting image using image data processing, specifically segmenting and/or edge detection.

7. The automated teller machine according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit segments the individual image recordings into sub-regions assigned to at least one imaged element and processes the image data by segment.

8. The automated teller machine according to claim 7, wherein the data processing unit compiles the resulting image from the sub-regions of different individual image recordings.

9. The automated teller machine according to claim 7, wherein the data processing unit processes the image data from the sub-regions using various data processing methods and/or using different variations of image data processing.

10. The automated teller machine according to claim 7, wherein the sub-regions include at least a close-up or inner region, and a surrounding or outer region of the imaged element.

11. The automated teller machine according to claim 10, wherein one of the sub-regions comprises a transition region between the inner region and the outer region of the element.

12. The automated teller machine according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit evaluates the preprocessed image data of the resulting image to detect manipulation attempts using image processing.

13. The automated teller machine according to claim 12, wherein the data processing unit has a first stage receiving the preprocessed image data of the resulting image for image processing, specifically shadow removal, edge detection, vectorizing and/or segmenting.

14. The automated teller machine according to claim 13, wherein the data processing unit has a second stage downstream from the first stage for feature extraction, specifically using blob analysis, edge position and/or color distribution.

15. The automated teller machine according to claim 14, wherein the data processing unit has a third stage downstream from the second stage for classification.

16. The automated teller machine according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit is integrated into the automated teller machine.

17. The automated teller machine according to claim 1, wherein the automated teller machine has at least one additional camera that is mounted at or in the automated teller machine in the proximity of the control panel and captures images of at least one of the elements.

18. The automated teller machine according to claim 17, wherein the data processing unit preprocesses the image data generated by the two or more cameras into a resulting image.

19. The automated teller machine according to claim 1, wherein the elements provided in the control panel and imaged by the at least one camera comprise a cash dispensing drawer, a keypad, an installation panel, a card entry slot and/or a monitor.

20. The automated teller machine according to claim 9, wherein the data processing unit, if it detects a manipulation attempt at the imaged elements by evaluating the image data from the resulting image, triggers an alarm, disables the automated teller machine and/or starts the supplementary camera.

21. The automated teller machine according to claim 9, wherein the particular camera and/or the data processing unit is deactivated during operation and/or maintenance of the automated teller machine.

22. The automated teller machine according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit generates the multiple individual image recordings as a function of at least one predefined function that specifies different exposure times for the individual image recordings.

23. The automated teller machine according to claim 22, wherein the at least one predefined function corresponds to at least one ramp function that specifies increasing or decreasing exposure times for a series of individual image recordings.

24. The automated teller machine according to claim 22, wherein one of the predefined functions specifies for a series of individual image recordings different exposure times within a first lower range of values if a brightness value and/or contrast value of at least one of the individual image recordings exceeds a predefined threshold.

25. The automated teller machine according to claim 22, wherein one of the predefined functions specifies for a series of individual image recordings different exposure times within a second upper range of values if a brightness value and/or contrast value of at least one of the individual image recordings falls below a predefined threshold.

26. The automated teller machine according to claim 22, wherein the exposure times are dependent on various/different parameters, specifically on the location of the automated teller machine and/or on the type and/or installation location of the camera.

27. The automated teller machine according to claim 22, wherein individual image recordings are dependent on lighting conditions.