ENTERTAINMENT KIOSK ERROR HANDLING AND TROUBLESHOOTING METHOD

• US 20120179939A1
• Filed: 01/12/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Collins, Donald A. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,612,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/57
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/209 Monitoring, auditing or diagnose of functioning of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

An entertainment kiosk error handling and troubleshooting method which facilitates correct of errors from a remote computer. An example method includes operating a camera for capturing images within the entertainment kiosk by a processor within the entertainment kiosk, detecting an error by the processor, associating recently captured images with the error, and sending an alert to a remote computer by the processor.

Claims

1. A method of handling errors in an entertainment kiosk comprising:

operating a camera for capturing images within the entertainment kiosk by a processor within the entertainment kiosk;

detecting an error by the processor;

associating recently captured images with the error; and

sending an alert to a remote computer by the processor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a log file containing information about the error by the processor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera is aimed in a generally downward looking direction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein operating step comprises capturing images of moving parts within the entertainment kiosk.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the moving parts comprise a robot.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein operating step comprises capturing images of diagnostic lights within the entertainment kiosk.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the error comprises a disk jammed in a disk delivery system within the entertainment kiosk.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing captured images.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

ceasing capturing of images by the processor; and

continuing capturing of images by the processor following correction of the error.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising overwriting the previously captured images with later captured images.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising accepting connection of a remote computer to the entertainment kiosk via a network for allowing a remote troubleshooter using the remote computer to view the previously captured images and the log file.

12. An entertainment kiosk comprising:

a camera for capturing images within the entertainment kiosk; and

a processor for detecting an operating error in the entertainment kiosk, for associating recently captured images with the error, and for sending an alert to a remote computer.

13. The kiosk of claim 12, further comprising a troubleshooting data store, wherein the processor is also for storing the images in the troubleshooting data store.

14. The kiosk of claim 13, wherein the processor is also for ceasing capturing of images, and continuing capturing of images following correction of the error.

15. The kiosk of claim 14, wherein the processor is also for overwriting the previously captured images with later captured images.

16. The kiosk of claim 13, wherein the processor is also for creating a log file containing information about the error and for storing the log file in the troubleshooting data store.

17. The kiosk of claim 12, further comprising a disk delivery system, wherein the images include the disk delivery system.

18. The kiosk of claim 13, wherein the processor is also for accepting connection of a remote computer to the entertainment kiosk via a network for allowing a remote troubleshooter using the remote computer to view the previously captured images and the log file.

19. A method of troubleshooting an error in an entertainment kiosk comprising:

establishing a remote control connection with a processor within the entertainment kiosk via a network by a remote computer;

operating the entertainment kiosk via the processor by the remote computer to display images within the entertainment kiosk captured by a camera and stored by the processor following detection of the error by the processor;

wherein the images include information about operation of a delivery system for transporting storage devices containing entertainment media within the entertainment kiosk;

operating the entertainment kiosk via the processor by the remote computer to display information about the error stored by the processor; and

operating the entertainment kiosk via the processor by the remote computer to correct the error.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein error results in stoppage of the delivery system and the method further comprises restarting the delivery system following correction of the error.