Fault monitoring and notification system for automated banking machines

• US 5,984,178 A
• Filed: 03/07/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Singer, Irek, Stock, Timothy M., Gill, Robert Bradley, Shirah, Roy, St. George, Peter, Baghdadi, Gaby, Symonds, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US08/813,511
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/376, 902/21, 902/25, 902/26, 902/27, 340/825.16, 340/825.33, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• 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 19/21 Retaining of the payment card by ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A system operates to receive status messages from banking machines (12) operating in a network (14). The messages are received by an event management system (20) operating at least one computer (54). The computer is in operative connection with a data store (52). The data store includes information representative of the banking machines in the network, status messages generated by the banking machines and actions to be taken including entities to be notified of conditions which cause status messages to be sent by the various banking machines. The event management system receives the messages and places them in a uniform standard message format for further processing by the system. A device status processing program (36) in the computer resolves an action to be taken responsive to the status message. Responsive to the action resolved by the device status processing program the computer causes a notification message to be dispatched by a multimedia reporter to an entity who is to be notified of the condition at the banking machine which caused the status message. The computer also causes a trouble record to be created in the data store responsive to the status message from the banking machine. The multimedia reporter receives input messages from the entity and the computer causes information to be included in the trouble record responsive to the input messages. The system further provides report data to a user which enables the user to analyze the operation of the banking machines and service providing entities. The system further includes test capabilities for testing proper operation of the system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one automated banking machine, wherein the banking machine is operative to generate a plurality of device status messages, wherein each device status message is generated responsive to existence of a corresponding one of a plurality of conditions which occur at the banking machine;

a computer, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the banking machine and a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of the plurality of status messages and a plurality of servicers, the data representative of each of the status messages being associated with at least one of the plurality of servicers, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of a status message at the machine to resolve data representative of the at least one servicer associated with the data representative of the status message in the data store;

an interface device in operative connection with the computer wherein the interface device includes a message dispatching portion, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the resolved servicer data to cause the interface device to dispatch a message to the at least one servicer.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said data store further includes data representative of a corrective action, wherein said corrective action data is stored in correlated relation with said status message data.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said computer is operative responsive to generation of said status message to cause said interface device to deliver a corrective action message corresponding to said corrective action data to the servicer.

4. The system according to claim 2 wherein said interface device includes a message receiving portion, wherein said message receiving portion is operative to receive an input message from the servicer, and wherein said computer is operative responsive to receipt of said input message to cause said message dispatching portion to dispatch a corrective action message corresponding to the corrective action data to the servicer.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said data store includes, stored therein in correlated relation with the status message data, data representative of a device type in said banking machine, the condition of which said device type is operative to cause the status message to be generated.

6. A system comprising:

at least one automated banking machine, wherein the banking machine is operative to generate at least one device status message responsive to a condition at the banking machine;

a computer, wherein the computer is in operative connection with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of the status message and a servicer to be notified when the status message is generated, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the banking machine and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the generation of the status message to resolve the data representative of the servicer from the data store and to cause a trouble record to be generated and stored in the data store;

an interface device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the interface device includes a message dispatching portion and a message receiving portion, wherein the computer is operative responsive to the resolved servicer data to cause the interface device to dispatch a message to the servicer, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the servicer inputting servicer information to the message receiving portion, to include data representative of the servicer input information in the trouble record.

7. The system according to claim 6 and further comprising a display in operative connection with the computer, and wherein said display is operative to display indicia corresponding to said trouble record.

8. The system according to claim 6 wherein a fault in said banking machine causes the status message to be generated, and wherein said servicer information is indicative of correcting the fault in said banking machine, and wherein said computer is in operative connection with a clock device, wherein said clock device includes a current time, and wherein said computer is operative to cause to be included in the trouble record data representative of a first time when said status message is generated and a second time when said servicer information is received, whereby said trouble record indicates an elapsed time required to correct the fault.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said computer is further operative to calculate a value indicative of an elapsed time to correct the fault.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said computer is operative to cause to be included in said data store a trouble record responsive to each generation of the status message, and wherein said computer is operative to calculate a second value representative of an average time to correct the fault which causes the status message to be generated.

11. The system according to claim 6 wherein a fault in said banking machine causes said status message to be generated, and wherein said servicer information is indicative of correcting the fault in said banking machine, and wherein said computer is operative to cause said trouble record to include data representative of an open status prior to receipt of said servicer information, and wherein said computer is operative responsive to receipt of said servicer information to cause to be included in said trouble record data representative of said trouble record having a closed status.

12. The system according to claim 6 wherein said servicer information is indicative of the servicer arriving at a site of said banking machine generating said status message, and wherein said computer is in operative connection with a clock device, wherein said clock device includes a current time, and wherein said computer is operative to cause to be included in the trouble record data representative of a first time when said status message is generated and a second time when said servicer information is received, whereby said trouble record indicates an elapsed time required for said servicer to respond.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein said computer is operative to calculate a value indicative of an elapsed time for the servicer to arrive at the site of the banking machine causing the status message to be generated.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein said computer is operative to cause to be included in said data store a trouble record responsive to each generation of the status message, and wherein said computer is operative to calculate a second value representative of an average time for the servicer to arrive at the banking machine causing said status message to be generated.

15. A system comprising:

at least one automated banking machine, wherein the banking machine is operative to generate at least one device status message responsive to a condition at the banking machine;

a computer, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the banking machine and with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of the banking machine, the status message, at least one action to be taken and a servicer to be notified when the status message is generated, wherein the action data is stored in correlated relation with the data representative of the banking machine and the status message, and wherein the servicer data is stored in correlated relation with the action data, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the generation of the status message to resolve the data representative of the servicer from the data store;

an interface device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the interface device includes a message dispatching portion, wherein the computer is operative responsive to the resolved servicer data to cause the interface device to dispatch a message to the servicer.

16. A system comprising:

at least one automated banking machine, wherein the banking machine is operative to generate at least one status message responsive to a condition at the banking machine;

a computer, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the banking machine and with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of the status message, and a first servicer and a second servicer to be notified responsive to generation of the status message; and

an interface device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the interface device includes a message dispatching portion;

a clock device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the clock device is operative to provide data representative of a current time, and wherein the data store includes data representative of a first time and a second time, and wherein the first time data is stored in correlated relation with the data representative of the first servicer and wherein the second time data is stored in correlated relation with the data representative of the second servicer, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the status message and the current time to cause the interface device to dispatch a message to either the first servicer or the second servicer.

17. A system comprising:

at least one automated banking machine, wherein the banking machine is operative to generate a first status message and a second status message, wherein the banking machine is operative to generate the first status message and the second status message responsive to at least one condition at the banking machine;

a computer, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the banking machine, a clock device, an interface device and a data store, wherein the data store includes first message data representative of the first status message and second message data representative of the second status message, wherein the first message data and the second message data are stored in correlated relation, and time data representative of an elapsed time, wherein the time data is stored in correlated relation with the first and second message data, and data representative of a servicer, and wherein the computer is operative to cause a message to be sent to the servicer through the interface responsive to the generation of the first and second status messages within the elapsed time.

18. A system comprising:

at least one automated banking machine, wherein the banking machine is operative to generate at least one status message responsive to a condition at the banking machine;

a computer, wherein the computer is in operative connection with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of the status message and a servicer to be notified when the status message is generated, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the banking machine and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the generation of the status message to resolve the data representative of the servicer from the data store;

an interface in operative connection with the computer, wherein the interface includes a message dispatching portion that is selectively operative to send a message through a first medium or a second medium, and wherein the interface includes a message receiving portion operative to receive an input message;

a clock device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the data store further includes data representative of an elapsed time, wherein the elapsed time data is stored in correlated relation with the status message data, and wherein the data representative of the servicer is stored in correlated relation in the data store with data representative of the first message medium and the second message medium, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the resolved servicer data to cause a message to the servicer to be dispatched by the interface through the first message medium, and wherein the computer is further operative responsive to the passage of the elapsed time with the in the not receiving the input message from the servicer, to cause the message to the servicer to be dispatched through the second message medium.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said first and second message mediums include two of either telephone, fax, pager, E-mail or electronic message link.

20. A system comprising:

at least one automated banking machine, wherein the banking machine is operative to generate at least one status message responsive to a condition at the banking machine;

a computer, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the banking machine, an input device and a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of the status message and a servicer to be notified responsive to generation of the status message, wherein the computer is operative responsive to the generation of the status message to resolve the data representative of the servicer from the data store, and wherein the data store further includes data representative of a phantom banking machine, a phantom status message and a servicer to be notified responsive to generation of the phantom status message;

an interface device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the interface device includes a message dispatching portion, wherein the computer is operative responsive to the resolved servicer data to cause the interface device to dispatch a message to the servicer; and

wherein the input device is operative to input a test input to the computer, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the test input to generate the phantom status message.

21. The system according to claim 20 wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of said phantom status message to cause a phantom trouble record to be generated and stored in the data store, and wherein said computer is in operative connection with a display, and wherein said display is operative to display indicia representative of the phantom trouble record, wherein said indicia includes indicia representative of the message to the servicer having been dispatched.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein said input device is further operative to input a cancel input to the computer, wherein said computer is operative responsive to said cancel input to cause data representative of such cancellation to be included in the phantom trouble record.

23. A system comprising:

at least one automated banking machine, wherein the banking machine is operative to generate at least one status message responsive to a condition at the banking machine;

a computer wherein the computer is in operative connection with the banking machine and a data store;

an interface device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the interface device includes a message dispatching portion and a message receiving portion;

wherein the data store includes data representative of the status message and a servicer to be notified responsive to generation of the status message, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of the status message by the banking machine to resolve the data representative of the servicer and to cause a message to be dispatched to the servicer through the message dispatching portion, and to cause a trouble record to be generated and stored in the data store, and wherein the computer is operative to cause to be included in the trouble record data representative of an open status, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the servicer inputting information to the message receiving portion indicative of correcting the condition at the banking machine to cause to be included in the trouble record data representative of the trouble record having a closed status; and

wherein the computer is operative responsive to receipt of an administrative request at the message receiving portion to cause the message dispatching portion to dispatch an administrative message, wherein the administrative message includes data representative of a trouble record having the open status.

24. The system according to claim 23 wherein said system includes a plurality of banking machines, wherein said data store includes a second plurality of trouble records, each corresponding to generation of a status message at a banking machine, and wherein said administrative message includes data derived from trouble records having said open status at the time of the administrative request.

25. A system comprising:

at least one automated banking machine, wherein the banking machine is operative to generate a plurality of device status messages, each of the status messages corresponding to a condition, and wherein the status messages are generated responsive to conditions of at least two device types in the machine;

a computer, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the banking machine and with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of the status message, a device type associated with the status message, and a servicer to be notified when the status message is generated, wherein the computer is operative responsive to the generation of the status message to resolve the data representative of the servicer from the data store and to cause a trouble record to be included in the data store, wherein the trouble record includes data representative of the status message causing the trouble record to be included in the data store;

an interface device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the interface device includes a message dispatching portion, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the resolved servicer data to cause the interface device to dispatch a message to the servicer, and wherein the computer is operative to calculate a value indicative of a quantity of trouble records in the data store corresponding to conditions of at least one of the device types.

26. A system comprising:

at least one automated banking machine, wherein the banking machine is operative to generate at least one device status message responsive to a condition at the banking machine;

a host wherein the host is in operative connection with the banking machine, wherein the host controls an operation of the banking machine, and wherein the host receives the status message from the banking machine;

a computer, wherein the computer is in operative connection with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of the status message and a servicer to be notified when the status message is generated, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the host, and wherein the host is operative to transmit a host message including message indicia representative of the status message to the computer, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the host message to resolve the data representative of the servicer from the data store;

an interface device in operative connection with the computer wherein the interface device includes a message dispatching portion, wherein the computer is operative responsive to the resolved servicer data to cause the interface device to dispatch a message to the servicer.

27. The system according to claim 26 wherein said host message comprises first indicia representative of a terminal identity, wherein said terminal identity is indicative of the banking machine from which the host received the status message.

28. The system according to claim 26 wherein said host message further comprises second indicia representative of a host identity, wherein said host identity is indicative of the host sending the message to the computer.

29. The system according to claim 26 wherein said host message further comprises third indicia representative of a time identity, wherein said time identity is indicative of a time said host sends the host message to the computer.

30. The system according to claim 26 wherein the host message to the computer further comprises device indicia representative of a device in said banking machine, wherein the condition of said device causes said status message to be generated.

31. The system according to claim 26 wherein said host message to the computer further comprises further indicia representative of:

the banking machine generating the status message, the host sending the status message to the computer;

a device in said banking machine the condition of which causes the status message to be generated;

a time when each such host message is sent to the computer; and

a message length indicative of a length of indicia comprising the status message.

32. The system according to claim 26 wherein the host message comprises further indicia representative of the following:

a terminal ID corresponding to the banking machine sending the status message;

a host ID corresponding to the host sending the message to the computer;

a date corresponding to the date that the status message is generated;

a time corresponding to the time a status message is generated;

a status length corresponding to a length of a message portion, said message portion including data representative of a device in said machine and a condition of said device.

33. A system for notifying an entity of a condition at a banking machine, comprising:

a plurality of banking machines, wherein each banking machine is operative to generate an identification signal representative of its identity, and a plurality of condition signals, wherein each condition signal is indicative of existence of a corresponding one of a plurality of conditions which occur at the machine;

a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines and with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of a plurality of entities, the identities of banking machines, the conditions at each machine with which each said entity is associated and a manner of contacting each said entity;

a communication device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of a condition signal and an identification signal at a banking machine to resolve responsive to the data included in the data store, data representative of at least one entity associated with a condition corresponding to the condition signal at a machine corresponding to the identification signal, and the manner of contacting the entity, and wherein the computer is operative to cause the communication device to generate an outgoing message to the entity in the manner resolved by the computer.

34. The system according to claim 33 wherein said data store further includes data representative of a physical location of each of said machines, and wherein said outgoing message includes data corresponding to said physical location data.

35. The system according to claim 33 wherein said computer is in operative connection with a clock device and wherein said data store further includes data representative of a sequence comprising a plurality of actions to be taken responsive to generation of said condition signal, wherein generation of said outgoing message is one of said actions in the sequence.

36. The system according to claim 33 wherein said data store further includes data representative of corrective actions, wherein said corrective actions are stored in correlated relation with data representative of condition signals, and wherein said computer is operative responsive to generation of the condition signal to resolve data representative of the corrective action stored in correlated relation with the condition signal, and wherein said computer is operative to include data representative of said corrective action in said outgoing message.

37. The system according to claim 36 wherein said outgoing message includes a fax message to the entity.

38. A system for notifying an entity of a condition at a banking machine, comprising:

a plurality of banking machines, wherein each machine is operative to generate an identification signal representative of its identity, and a plurality of condition signals, wherein each condition signal is indicative of existence of a condition at the machine;

a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines and with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of at least one entity, an identity of at least one banking machine with which the entity is associated and a manner of contacting the entity;

a communication device in operative connection with the computer;

wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of a condition signal and an identification signal at a banking machine to resolve data representative of an entity associated with the machine and a manner of contacting the entity, and wherein the computer is operative to cause the communication device to generate an outgoing message to the entity in the manner resolved by the computer, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of the condition signal to cause a condition record to be stored in the data store, and wherein the communication device is operative to receive a response message from the entity, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to receipt of the response message by the communication device to cause data representative of having received the response message to be included in the condition record.

39. The system according to claim 38 wherein said communication device is operative to receive a third plurality of response messages, wherein a first response message is indicative of acknowledgement of the entity message, and wherein a second response message is indicative of correction of the condition causing said fault condition signal to be generated.

40. The system according to claim 38 wherein said data store includes data representative of an action to be taken responsive to generation of said condition signal at a time subsequent to generation of a prior condition signal, and wherein said computer is operative to cause a record of the generation of the prior condition signal to be stored in the data store, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of said condition signal to check the record in the data store for generation of said prior condition signal and to execute said action in response thereto.

41. A system for notifying an entity of a condition at a banking machine, comprising:

a plurality of banking machines, wherein each machine is operative to generate an identification signal representative of its identity, and a plurality of condition signals, wherein each condition signal is indicative of existence of a condition at the machine;

a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines and with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of at least one entity, an identity of at least one banking machine with which the entity is associated and a manner of contacting the entity;

a communication device in operative connection with the computer;

wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of a condition signal and an identification signal at a banking machine to resolve data representative of an entity associated with the machine and a manner of contacting the entity, and wherein the computer is operative to cause the communication device to generate an outgoing message to the entity in the manner resolved by the computer, and wherein the communication device is further operative to receive a response message from the entity, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to receipt of the response message to cause a detail message to be generated to the entity, the detail message including data representative of the condition and the identity of the machine having such condition.

42. The system according to claim 41 wherein the outgoing message is directed to a pager.

43. A system for notifying an entity of a condition at a banking machine, comprising:

a plurality of banking machines, wherein each machine is operative to generate an identification signal representative of its identity, and a plurality of condition signals, wherein each condition signal is indicative of existence of a condition at the machine;

a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines and with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of at least two entities, wherein the data representative of a first entity is stored in correlated relation with data representative of a first time period, and wherein data representative of a second entity is stored in correlated relation with data representative of a second time period, and wherein the data representative of the two entities is associated with data representative of one of the banking machines;

a communication device in operative connection with the computer;

a clock device, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the clock device, wherein the clock device provides a current time;

wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of a condition signal and the identification signal at the one banking machine to cause the communication device to send an outgoing message to one of the two entities responsive to the current time and the stored time period data.

44. The system according to claim 43 wherein said time period data includes data representative of working hours at a facility where said one banking machine is located.

45. The system according to claim 43 wherein said time period data includes data representative of holidays at the facility where said one banking machine is located.

46. A system for notifying an entity of a condition at a banking machine, comprising:

a plurality of banking machines, wherein each machine is operative to generate an identification signal representative of its identity, and a plurality of condition signals, wherein each condition signal is indicative of existence of a condition at the machine;

a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines and with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of at least one entity, the identities of banking machines with which the entity is associated and a manner of contacting the entity;

a communication device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of a condition signal and an identification signal at a banking machine to resolve data representative of the entity associated with the machine, and the manner of contacting the entity, and wherein the computer is operative to cause the communication device to generate an outgoing message to the entity in the manner resolved by the computer;

a clock device in operative connection with the computer, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of the condition signal to cause a condition record to be stored in the data store, wherein the condition record includes data representative of the machine, the condition and a time of the condition;

an input device, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the input device, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the input device to generate report data responsive to data in the condition records.

47. The system according to claim 46 wherein said condition records includes data representative of servicers associated with each machine having the condition, and wherein said computer is operative responsive to said input device to generate report data indicative of a servicer associated with said machines generating the condition.

48. The system according to claim 46 wherein said communication device is operative to receive a response message from said entity indicative of acknowledgement of an outgoing message to said entity, and wherein said computer is operative to cause to be included in the condition record data representative of a response time, wherein said response time is indicative of a time after the dispatch of the outgoing message the response message is received, and wherein said computer is operative responsive to the input device to generate report data indicative of an average time to receive a response message after an outgoing message is dispatched.

49. The system according to claim 46 wherein said communication device is operative to receive a closure message indicative of correction of the condition associated with the outgoing message, and wherein said computer is operative to cause data representative of a correction time to be included in the condition record, wherein said correction time is indicative of a time after generation of a condition signal correction of the condition which caused said signal to be generated occurred, and wherein said report data includes data representative of an average time between generation of the condition signal and receipt of the closure message indicative of correction of the condition.

50. The system according to claim 46 wherein said data store further includes data representative of whether each condition signal corresponds to a condition placing the machine in an inoperative or degraded condition, and wherein said report data includes data representative of a first time a machine was in a degraded condition and a second time said machine was in an inoperative condition.

51. A system comprising:

a plurality of banking machines, wherein each machine is operative to generate an identification signal representative of its identity, and a plurality of condition signals, wherein each condition signal is indicative of existence of a condition at the machine and wherein a plurality of the condition signals are indicative of fault conditions at the machine;

a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines;

a data store in operative connection with the computer, wherein the data store includes data representative of the identities of the banking machines and fault conditions associated with corresponding condition signals;

a clock device in operative connection with the computer;

an input device in operative connection with the computer;

wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of the condition signals to cause data representative of a condition record to be stored in the data store, wherein the condition record includes data representative of the machine, the condition and a time of the condition, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the input device to generate report data responsive to data in the condition records, wherein the report data includes data representative of a frequency of a fault condition.

52. The system according to claim 51 wherein said report data includes data representative of most frequent fault conditions.

53. The system according to claim 52 wherein said report data includes data representative of most frequent fault conditions generated by one of said plurality of machines.

54. A system comprising:

a plurality of banking machines wherein each machine is operative to generate an identification signal representative of its identity, and a plurality of condition signals, wherein each condition signal is representative of a condition at the machine;

a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines;

a data store in operative connection with the computer;

a clock device in operative connection with the computer;

an input device in operative connection with the computer;

wherein the data store includes data representative of at least one entity, the identity of at least one banking machine with which the entity is associated, a manner of contacting the entity, and a sequence comprising a plurality of actions to be taken responsive to generation of a condition signal, wherein generation of an outgoing message to an entity is one of the actions in the sequence; and

wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of a condition signal and an identification signal at a banking machine to resolve data representative of an entity associated with the machine and a manner of contacting the entity, and the computer is operative to cause the communication device to generate an outgoing message to the entity in the manner resolved by the computer, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the input device to generate report data including times that actions in a sequence corresponding to the condition signal will be taken.

55. A system for notifying an entity of a condition at a banking machine, comprising:

a plurality of banking machines, wherein each machine is operative to generate an identification signal representative of its identity, and a plurality of condition signals, wherein each condition signal is indicative of existence of a condition at the machine, and wherein the condition signals have formats, and wherein a first set of the machines generate condition signals in a first format and wherein a second set of the machines generate condition signals in a second format;

a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines and with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of at least one entity, the identities of banking machines with which the entity is associated, a manner of contacting the entity, the first and second formats, and the identities of machines generating signals in the first format and the identities of machines generating signals in the second format;

a communication device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of a condition signal and an identification signal at a banking machine and the stored identity and format data corresponding to the machine generating the condition signal, to resolve data representative of an entity associated with the machine and a manner of contacting the entity, and wherein the computer is operative to cause the communication device to generate an outgoing message to the entity in the resolved manner.

56. The system according to claim 55 wherein said computer is operative responsive to generation of the condition signal by a machine to generate an internal systems message corresponding to the machine generated message, wherein said internal message is in an internal message format, said internal message format differing from the format of the message generated by the banking machine.

57. The system according to claim 55 wherein said data store further includes data representative of a location of data indicative of a message type within messages having said first format, and data representative of a transformation of a third plurality of fields comprising a message having said message type in the first format to produce an internal format message corresponding to said type message in the first format.

58. The system according to claim 57 wherein said data store further includes data representative of an address for a software process operating on said computer, and further data representative of the software process that processes said internal format message, and wherein said computer is operative to send said internal format message to said software process responsive to the address.

59. The system according to claim 58 and further comprising a second computer in operative connection with the first computer, and wherein said software process operates on one of either said first computer, or said second computer, and wherein said first computer includes a software send message function, wherein said software send message function is operative to send said internal format message to said software process, and wherein said software send message function is operative to determine if said software process is operative on said first computer or said second computer and to send said internal format message in a first manner when said software process is operative on said first computer and in a second manner when said software process is operative on said second computer.

60. A system comprising:

a plurality of banking machines, wherein each machine is operative to generate an identification signal representative of its identity, and a plurality of condition signals, wherein each condition signal is indicative of existence of a condition at the machine;

a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines and with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of at least one entity, an identity of at least one banking machine with which the entity is associated and a manner of contacting the entity;

a communication device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of a condition signal and an identification signal at a banking machine to resolve data representative of an entity associated with the machine and a manner of contacting the entity, and wherein the computer is operative to cause the communication device to generate an outgoing message to the entity in the manner resolved by the computer; and

an input device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the input device is operative to input test signals corresponding to an identification signal and a condition signal, wherein the identification and condition signals correspond to a banking machine, whereby the test signals are operative to test operation of the system.

61. A system comprising:

a plurality of banking machines, wherein each machine is operative to generate an identification signal representative of its identity and a plurality of condition signals, wherein each condition signal is indicative of existence of a condition at the machine;

a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines;

a data store in operative connection with the computer;

a communication device in operative connection with the computer;

an input device in operative connection with the computer;

wherein the data store includes data representative of at least one entity, an identity of at least one banking machine with which the entity is associated and a manner of contacting the entity, and wherein the data store further includes data representative of a phantom banking machine;

wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of a condition signal and an identification signal at the banking machine to resolve data representative of an entity associated with the machine and a manner of contacting the entity, wherein the computer is operative to cause the communication device to forward an outgoing message to the entity in the manner resolved by the computer, and wherein the input device is operative to input test data corresponding to the phantom banking machine, and a condition signal, whereby the test signals are operative to test the system.

62. A system for notifying an entity of a condition at a banking machine, comprising:

a plurality of banking machines, wherein each machine is operative to generate an identification signal representative of its identity, and a plurality of condition signals, wherein each condition signal is indicative of existence of a condition at the machine;

a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines and with a data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of a plurality of entities, wherein the entity data for each said entity is stored in correlation with identity data corresponding to machines for which said entity has responsibility, and a plurality of presentation formats for an outgoing message, wherein the presentation format data is stored in correlation with the entity data;

a communication device in operative connection with the computer, wherein when a condition signals is generated ba machine the computer is operative to cause the communication device to generate an outgoing message to the entity having responsibility for the machine in the presentation format corresponding to the entity.

63. The system according to claim 62 wherein said communication device generates a voice message and wherein said presentation formats include voice files.

64. A system for notifying an entity of a condition at a banking machine, comprising:

a plurality of banking machines, wherein each machine is operative to generate an identification signal representative of its identity, and a plurality of condition signals, wherein each condition signal is indicative of existence of a condition at the machine;

a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines and with a data store, wherein said data store includes data representative of a plurality of entities, wherein the entity data for each entity is stored in correlated relation with identity data corresponding to machines for which the entity has responsibility, and a manner of contacting at least one of such entities;

a communication device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of a condition signal and an identification signal at a banking machine to resolve data representative of an entity having responsibility for the machine, and a manner of contacting the entity, and wherein the computer is operative to cause the communication device to generate an outgoing message to the entity in the manner resolved by the computer, and wherein the communication device is operative to receive an inquiry message, wherein the inquiry message includes data indicative of one entity, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the inquiry message to cause the communication device to generate an administrative message indicative of conditions of banking machines for which said one entity is responsible.

65. A system for notifying an entity of a condition at a banking machine, comprising:

a plurality of banking machines, wherein each machine is operative to generate an identification signal representative of its identity and a plurality of condition signals, wherein each condition signal is indicative of existence of a condition at the machine;

a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines and with a data store, wherein said data store includes data representative of whether each condition corresponding to each of the plurality of condition signals is operative to place the machine in an inoperative or degraded condition, at least one entity, the identities of banking machines with which the entity is associated, and a manner of contacting the entity;

a communication device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the computer is operative responsive to generation of a condition signal and an identification signal at a banking machine to resolve data representative of an entity associated with the machine, and the manner of contacting the entity, and wherein said computer is operative to cause the communication device to dispatch an outgoing message to the entity responsive to whether a condition signal generated at a machine corresponds to an inoperative condition.

66. A system comprising:

a first plurality of banking machines, wherein each of said banking machines is capable of generating a second plurality of fault messages, each fault message being generated by a banking machine responsive to the existence of a fault condition at the banking machine;

a computer, wherein said computer is in operative connection with said first plurality of banking machines and with a data store, and wherein said data store includes data stored in correlated relation representative of;

each of said first plurality of machines;

each of said second plurality of fault messages; and

a third plurality of action steps, wherein each action step corresponds to at least one fault message and at least one machine, and wherein said computer is operative responsive to generation of a first fault message at a first machine to execute the corresponding action steps in accordance with the data stored in the data store.

67. A method of operating a system comprising a plurality of banking machines, wherein each of the banking machines generates at least one fault message responsive to a fault condition occuring at the machine, a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines, and a data store in operative connection with the computer, comprising the steps of:

storing in the data store data representative of the identity of each of said machines;

storing in the data store data representative of the fault conditions associated with the fault condition messages generated by said machines;

storing in the data store data representative of at least one action to be carried out by the computer responsive to an occurrence of a fault condition at a machine;

carrying out the action with the computer responsive to generation of the fault message corresponding to the occurrence of the fault condition at the machine.

68. The method according to claim 67 wherein the system further comprises a communication device in operative connection with the computer, and further comprising the steps of:

storing entity data in the data store, wherein the entity data corresponds to an entity to be contacted responsive to the occurrence of the fault condition at the banking machine; and

wherein said carrying out step includes sending a message to the entity through the communication device.

69. The method according to claim 68 and further comprising the steps of:

receiving a response message from the entity through the communication device; and

operating the computer to cause a record including data representative of the response message, to be included in the data store.

70. Computer readable media, wherein said media is operative to cause a computer to carry out the method steps recited in claim 67.

71. A system comprising:

at least one automated banking machine, wherein the banking machine is operative to generate at least one device status message responsive to a condition at the banking machine;

a computer, wherein the computer is in operative connection with a data store and an interface device including a message dispatching portion, wherein the data store includes data representative of the status message and a servicer to be notified when the status message is generated, wherein the computer is in operative connection with the banking machine, and wherein the computer is operative responsive to the generation of the status message to resolve the data representative of the servicer from the data store and to send an internal message to the interface device, wherein the interface device is operative to cause the dispatch of a message to the servicer through the message dispatching portion responsive to the internal message, wherein the internal message includes data representative of;

an internal message type;

a date;

a time;

an identity of the ATM generating the device status message;

a fault type causing the device status message to be generated;

a device in the ATM having the fault type; and

an action to be taken, wherein the action includes the dispatch of the message to the servicer.

72. A method of operating a system comprising at least one banking machine, wherein the banking machine generates at least one fault message responsive to a fault condition occurring at the machine, a computer in operative connection with the machine, a clock device in operative connection with the computer wherein the clock device is operative to provide a current time, and a data store in operative connection with the computer, comprising in any order the steps of:

a) storing in the data store, data representative of a fault condition associated with a fault message generated by the banking machine;

b) storing in the data store, data representative of a first entity and a second entity to be contacted responsive to occurrence of the fault condition at the banking machine;

c) storing in the data store, data representative of at least one time period during which the second entity is to be notified of an occurrence of the fault condition at the banking machine;

and thereafter further comprising the steps of;

d) determining with the computer, if the current time when the fault condition occurs is within the time period; and

e) operating the computer to cause a message to be sent to one of either the first entity or the second entity, wherein a message is sent to the second entity if the current time when the fault condition occurs is within the time period.

73. A method of operating a system comprising at least one banking machine, wherein the banking machine generates at least one fault message responsive to a fault condition occurring at the machine, at least one computer in operative connection with the machine, a clock device in operative connection with the computer, and at least one data store in operative connection with the computer, comprising in any order the steps of:

a) storing in a data store, data representative of a fault condition associated with a fault message generated by the banking machine;

b) storing in a data store, data representative of a first message medium and a second message medium by which to send a message to an entity;

c) storing in a data store, data representative of an elapsed time;

and thereafter further comprising the steps of;

d) responsive to occurrence of the fault condition at the banking machine, sending the message through the first message medium to the entity, responsive to operation of the computer;

e) determining through operation of the computer responsive to the clock device, that the elapsed time has passed since the message was dispatched to the entity through the first message medium, without receipt of an input message from the entity; and

f) responsive to the determination in step (e), sending the message through the second message medium to the entity, responsive to operation of the computer.

74. A method of operating a system comprising a plurality of banking machines, wherein each of the banking machines generates at least one fault message responsive to a fault condition occurring at the machine, a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines, and a data store in operative connection with the computer, comprising in any order the steps of:

a) storing in the data store, data representative of an identity of each of the banking machines;

b) storing in the data store, data representative of the fault conditions associated with the fault messages generated by the banking machines;

c) storing in the data store, data representative of at least one entity to be contacted responsive to occurrence of a fault condition at a banking machine;

and thereafter further comprising the steps of;

d) responsive to occurrence of the fault condition at the banking machine, sending through a communication device responsive to operation of the computer, an outgoing message to the entity;

e) receiving a response message from the entity through a communication device in operative connection with the computer; and

f) sending a detail message through a communication device responsive to receipt of the response message in step (e), wherein the detail message is sent responsive to the operation of the computer and includes data representative of the fault condition and the identity of the machine at which the fault condition occurred.

75. A method of operating a system comprising a plurality of banking machines, wherein each of the banking machines generates at least one fault message responsive to a fault condition occurring at the machine, a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines, and a data store in operative connection with the computer, comprising in any order the steps of:

a) storing in the data store, data representative of an identity of each of a plurality of banking machines;

b) storing in the data store, data representative of the fault conditions associated with the fault messages generated by the banking machines;

c) storing in the data store, data representative of at least one action to be carried out responsive to an occurrence of a fault condition at a machine;

and thereafter further comprising the steps of;

d) inputting test signals with an input device in operative connection with the computer, the test signals including signals corresponding to the fault condition and the identity of the machine; and

e) carrying out the action responsive to the input test signals responsive to operation of the computer, whereby the system is tested.

76. A method comprising:

a) generating fault messages with a plurality of banking machines, responsive to occurrences of faults at the banking machines;

b) responsive to generation of a fault message corresponding to a fault and responsive to operation of a computer, dispatching a message to a servicer, generating a trouble record and storing in a data store data representative of the trouble record and that the trouble record has an open status;

c) responsive to receiving input information from the servicer indicative of correcting a fault, and responsive to operation of the computer, including in the trouble record corresponding to the fault, data representative of the trouble record having a closed status; and

d) responsive to receipt of an administrative request, and responsive to operation of the computer, generating an administrative message including data corresponding to trouble records having the open status.

77. A method of operating a system comprising a plurality of banking machines, wherein each of the banking machines generates at least one fault message responsive to a fault condition occurring at the machine, a computer in operative connection with each of the banking machines, and a data store in operative connection with the computer, comprising the steps of:

a) storing in the data store, data representative of the identity of each of the banking machines;

b) storing in the data store, data representative of the fault conditions associated with the fault messages generated by the banking machines;

c) storing in the data store, data representative of actions to be carried out responsive to occurrences of fault conditions at the banking machines;

d) carrying out the actions responsive to the occurrences of the fault conditions at the machines and responsive to operation of the computer, wherein the actions include storing data in the data store representative of occurrences of the fault conditions; and

e) generating report data responsive to operation of the computer and responsive to at least one input to an input device, wherein the report data includes data representative of a frequency of at least one fault condition.