Detection method and apparatus for a user device or automatic teller bank machine

• US 4,420,751 A
• Filed: 10/29/1981
• Issued: 12/13/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Hale, William J., Paganini, Bruno J.
• Primary Examiner(s): YUSKO, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US06/316,378
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.33, 235/375-382, 367/94-96, 367/ 129, 367/136, 343/5 PD, 343/112 D, 343/113 DE, 343/12 R
• US Class Current: 705/43
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/14 wherein a voltage or current pulse is initiated and terminated in accordance respectively with the pulse transmission and echo reception
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1627 using Doppler shift detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2491 Intrusion detection systems, i.e. where the body of an intruder causes the interference with the electromagnetic field

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting (ultrasonically or eletromagnetically) events of the presence and movement of a user within a defined user area, and a user operating zone within the user area, associated with a user device, such as an automatic teller bank machine, and for providing output signals indicative of those events. Transducer transceiver means is utilized with ranging circuit means and distance measuring circuit means. A computer means coupled to the distance measuring circuit means is also utilized to provide the output signals which may be used to control the operation of the user device and effect any corrective measures deemed desirable during its operation.

Claims

1. A detector apparatus for providing control signals for controlling operation of an automatic teller machine comprising:

determining means for determining whether or not a user is present within a defined user area associated with said machine and a user operating zone within said user area, said determining means comprising distance measurement means for providing distance indicating electrical signals indicative of the instantaneous distance of said user from said machine, and a computer means coupled to said distance measurement means for receipt of said distance indicating electrical signals to provide said control signals in response thereto.

2. The detector apparatus of claim 1 wherein said distance measurement means comprises transducer transceiver means for transmitting radiated energy into said defined user area and for receiving reflected radiated energy when reflected from said user, ranging circuit means coupled to said transducer transceiver means responsive to said reflected radiated energy to provide presence indicating electrical signals indicative of the presence of said user within said user area and said user operating zone, and distance measurement circuit means coupled to said ranging circuit means for providing said distance including electrical signals.

3. A detector apparatus for an automatic teller machine for providing output signals indicative of a user'"'"'s presence both within a defined user area associated with said machine and a user operating zone within said user area, the user'"'"'s continued presence within said user area and said user operating zone, the user'"'"'s movement within said user area towards or away from said machine, and the user'"'"'s departure from either said user area or said user operating zone, comprising:

transducer transceiver means for transmitting radiated energy into said user area and for receiving reflected radiated energy when reflected from a user in said user area;

ranging circuit means coupled to said transducer transceiver means responsive to said reflected radiated energy to provide first electrical signals indicative of the presence of said user in said user area;

distance measuring circuit means coupled to said ranging circuit means responsive to said first electrical signals to provide second electrical signals indicative of the instantaneous distance of said user within said user area from said machine; and

a computer means couupled for receipt of said second electrical signals from said distance measuring circuit means operative to provide said output signals.

4. The detector apparatus of claim 3 wherein said radiated energy and said reflected radiated energy are in the ultrasonic range.

5. The detector apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first electrical signals comprise a plurality of pairs of electrical signals, one electrical signal of each of said pairs indicating the time of starting of said transmitting radiated energy into said defined area, and the other electrical signal of each of said pairs indicating the time of said reception of said reflected radiated energy.

6. The detector apparatus of claim 5 wherein said distance measuring circuit means includes selection means for successively selecting pairs of said first electrical signals, and timing means for controlling said selection means.

7. A detector apparatus for an automatic teller machine for providing output signals indicative of a user'"'"'s presence within a defined user area associated with said machine and a user operating zone within said user area, the user'"'"'s continued presence within said user area and said operating zone, the user'"'"'s movement within said user area towards or away from said machine, and the user'"'"'s departure from either said user area or said operating zone, comprising:

a pair of transducer transceiver means for transmitting radiated energy into said user area and for receiving reflected radiated energy when reflected from a user in said user area;

first ranging circuit means coupled to one of said transducer transceiver means;

second ranging circuit means coupled to the other of said transducer transceiver means;

each of said first and second ranging circuit means being responsive to said reflected radiated energy to provide first electrical signals indicative of the presence of said user in said user area;

distance measuring circuit means coupled to each of said first and second ranging circuit means responsive to said first electrical signals to provide second electrical signals indicative of the instantaneous distance of said user within said user area from said machine; and

computer means coupled for receipt of said second electrical signals from said distance measuring circuit means operative to provide said output signals.

8. The detector apparatus of claim 7 wherein said radiated energy and said reflected radiated energy are in the ultrasonic range.

9. The detector apparatus of claim 7 wherein said distance measuring circuit means includes selection means for successively selecting desired said first electrical signals, and timing means for controlling said selection means.

10. A method of controlling operation of an automatic teller machine comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not a user is present in a defined user area associated with said machine and a user operating zone within said user area by obtaining a distance measurement of said user from said machine as a result of transmitting radiated energy into said user area and receiving reflected radiated energy as reflected from said user, and controlling said operation in response to said determination.

11. An automatic bank teller machine comprising:

determining means for determining whether or not a machine user is present within a defined user area associated with said machine and a user operating zone within said user area, said determining means comprising distance measurement means for providing distance indicating electrical signals indicative of the instantaneous distance of said machine user from said machine, and a computer means coupled to said distance measurement means for receipt of said distance indicating electrical signals to provide control signals in response thereto; and

corrective action means controlled by said determining means to cause said machine to recover from an unfinished transaction resulting from the premature departure of a user from the defined user area.

12. An automatic bank teller machine comprising:

determining means for determining whether or not a machine user is present within a defined user area associated with said machine and a user operating zone within said user area, said determining means comprising distance measurement means for providing distance indicating electrical signals indicative of the instantaneous distance of said machine user from said machine, and a computer means coupled to said distance measurement means for receipt of said distance indicating electrical signals to provide control signals in response thereto; and

bank card reading and retention means capable of receiving a bank card from a user in connection with the performance of a transaction by said machine, and further capable of performing a card retention operation under control of said determining means if the user leaves the user area without reclaiming the bank card.

13. An automatic bank teller machine comprising:

determining means for determining whether or not a machine user is present within a defined user area associated with said machine and a user operating zone within said user area, said determining means comprising distance measurement means for providing distance indicating electrical signals indicative of the instantaneous distance of said machine user from said machine, and a computer means coupled to said distance measurement means for receipt of said distance indicating electrical signals to provide control signals in response thereto; and

currency dispensing means capable of dispensing currency to a pre-release position in said machine and subsequently releasing said currency to the user, said currency dispensing means being controllable by said determining means to abort the subsequent release of currency from said pre-release position to cause said machine to recover from an unfinished transaction resulting from the premature departure of a user from the defined user area.

14. A method of detecting events of presence of a user within a defined user area associated with an automatic teller machine and a user operating zone within said user area, the user'"'"'s continued presence within said user area and said operating zone, the user'"'"'s movement within said user area towards or away from said machine, and the user'"'"'s departure from either said user area or said operating zone, comprising the steps of:

transmitting radiated energy into said user area;

receiving reflected radiated energy when reflected from a user in said user area;

developing first electrical signals indicative of the presence of said user in said user area in response to said reflected radiated energy;

developing second electrical signals indicative of the instantaneous distance of said user within said user area from said machine in response to said first electrical signals; and

developing output signals indicative of said events in response to said second electrical signals.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of developing said second electrical signals includes the steps of:

continuously selecting each successively occurring pair of said first electrical signals; and

continuously applying said selected pairs of said first electrical signals to distance measuring circuit means.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein all of the steps thereof are performed continuously such that said user'"'"'s presence and movement in said user area and said user operating zone are constantly detected.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the steps of transmitting radiated energy into said user area and receiving reflected radiated energy when reflected from a user in said user area are performed by a pair of transducer receiver means, the step of developing said first electrical signals is performed by a ranging circuit means coupled to each of said transducer receiver means, the step of developing said second electrical signals is performed by distance measuring circuit means, and the step of developing said output signals is performed by computer means.

17. A method of detecting events of presence of a user within a defined user area associated with a user device and a user operating zone within said user area, the user'"'"'s continued presence within said user area and said operating zone, the user'"'"'s movement within said user area towards or away from said user device, and the user'"'"'s departure from either said user area or said operating zone, comprising the steps of:

transmitting radiated energy into said user area;

receiving reflected radiated energy when reflected from a user in said user area;

developing first electrical signals indicative of the presence of said user in said user area in response to said reflected radiated energy;

developing second electrical signals indicative of the instantaneous distance of said user within said user area from said user device in response to said first electrical signals;

developing output signals indicative of said events in response to said second electrical signals; and

performing a corrective recovery action in response to the development of said output signals which indicate premature departure of the user from the user area.

19. The method of detecting events of presence of a user within a defined user area associated with an automatic teller machine and a user operating zone within said user area, the user'"'"'s continued presence within said user area and said operating zone, the user'"'"'s movement within said user area towards or away from said machine, and the user'"'"'s departure from either said user area or said user operating zone, comprising the steps of:

transmitting radiated energy into said user area by a pair of transducer transceiver means;

receiving by each of said pair of transducer transceiver means reflected radiated energy when reflected from a user in said user area;

developing by a pair of ranging circuit means a plurality of pairs of successively occurring first electrical signals, one electrical signal of each of said pairs indicating the time of starting of said transmitting radiated energy of said transmitting step, and the other electrical signal of each of said pairs indicating the time of reception of said reflected radiated energy of said receiving step;

developing second electrical signals indicative of the instantaneous distance of said user within said user area from said machine in response to said plurality of pairs of first electrical signals; and

developing output signals indicative of said events in response to said second electrical signals.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of developing said second electrical signals includes the steps of:

continuously selecting each said pair of successively occurring first electrical signals provided by each of said ranging circuit means; and

continuously applying said selected pairs of said first electrical signals to time to distance conversion means.