Self-service terminals

• US 6,478,221 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2000
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Sommerville, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US09/636,834
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/379, 186/61, 705/17
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs

Abstract

A self-service terminal (SST) (10) is provided comprising a plurality of user interfacing elements (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) and a plurality of sound issuing arrangements (28, 30). The sound generated may be modulated to provide sound with an apparent source in the vicinity of a selected user interfacing element, so that a user'"'"'s attention may be directed to the appropriate element, and so the user may be guided through the steps of a transaction. The invention may be provided in conjunction with conventional visual attention-directing devices, such as LEDs (26).

Claims

1. A self-service terminal comprising:

a plurality of user interfacing elements; and

a sound generator in a fixed spatial relation to the terminal for producing sound having an apparent source near one or more of the user interfacing elements, the sound generator producing sound having one or more fixed actual sources, the sound generator being operative to control characteristics of the sound produced in order to change the apparent source of the sound so as to give the sound an apparent source near a particular user interfacing element in order to draw the user'"'"'s attention to that element when user attention to that element is needed, the proximity of the apparent location of the sound to the element tending to draw the user'"'"'s attention to the element.

2. A self-service terminal according to claim 1, wherein the sound generator includes a plurality of spaced sound issuing locations.

3. A self-service terminal according to claim 2, wherein the sound generator includes a processing unit for controlling the relative sound levels issued from each of the locations to selectively provide apparent sources of sound spaced from the locations.

4. A self-service terminal according to claim 3, wherein the sound generator includes means for modulating the relative sound levels issued from each of the locations over time to selectively provide moving apparent sources of sound.

5. A self-service terminal according to claim 1, wherein the generated sound is of a low intensity.

6. A self-service terminal according to claim 1, further comprising non-audible attention-directing means for directing a user'"'"'s attention to a selected one of the user interfacing elements.

7. An attention-directing unit for mounting on a self-service terminal (SST) having a plurality of user-interfacing elements, the attention-directing unit comprising:

a plurality of spaced sound issuing outputs arrayed in a fixed relationship to the SST; and

a processing unit for controlling the outputs to produce sound having characteristics chosen to provide an apparent sound source location on the SST, the sound source location serving to direct a user'"'"'s attention to a selected one of the user interfacing elements, the relation between the apparent location of the sound to a location of the element tending to draw the user'"'"'s attention to the element.

8. An attention-directing unit for mounting on a self-service terminal (SST) having a plurality of user-interfacing elements, the attention-directing unit comprising:

a plurality of spaced sound issuing outputs arrayed in a fixed relationship to the SST; and

a processing unit for controlling the outputs to produce sound having characteristics chosen to provide an apparent sound source location in the vicinity of a selected one of the user interfacing elements to direct a user'"'"'s attention to a selected one of the user interfacing elements, the proximity of the apparent location of the sound to the element tending to draw the user'"'"'s attention to the element.

9. A method of directing a user'"'"'s attention to one of a plurality of user interfacing elements of a self-service terminal, the method comprising:

selecting a user interfacing element to which a user'"'"'s attention should be drawn; and

generating sound emanating from the SST, the sound having characteristics chosen to give the sound an apparent source in the vicinity of the selected user interfacing element, the proximity of the apparent location of the sound to the element tending to draw the user'"'"'s attention to the element.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

modulating the generated sound such that the apparent source of the sound moves from the location of a previously selected user interfacing element to the location of a currently selected user interfacing element.

11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

generating additional non-audible attention-directing signals.

12. A method of operating a self-service terminal having a plurality of user interfacing elements, the method comprising the step of:

(a) selecting a user interfacing element to which a user'"'"'s attention should be drawn; and

(b) producing sound emanating from a plurality of spaced sound issuing locations arranged in a fixed relationship to the self-service terminal, the sound having characteristics chosen to give the sound an apparent location near a selected user interfacing element in order to direct a user'"'"'s attention to the selected user interfacing element, the proximity of the apparent location of the sound to the element tending to draw the user'"'"'s attention to the element.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein step (b) includes the step of:

(b-1) controlling the relative sound levels issued from each of the plurality of spaced sound issuing locations to selectively provide apparent sources of sound spaced from the locations.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein step (b) includes the step of:

(b-1) modulating the relative sound levels issued from each of the locations over time to selectively provide moving apparent sources of sound.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the generated sound is of a low intensity.

16. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

(c) directing a user'"'"'s attention to a selected one of the user interfacing elements by an additional means which does not involve the use of sound.

17. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

(c) visually directing a user'"'"'s attention to a selected one of the user interfacing elements.

18. A method of operating a self-service terminal having a plurality of user interfacing elements, the method comprising:

selecting a user interfacing element to which a user'"'"'s attention should be drawn; and

controlling a plurality of spaced sound issuing outputs arranged in a fixed relationship to the self-service terminal to produce sound having characteristics chosen to provide an apparent sound source location in the vicinity of a selected one of the user interfacing elements to direct the user'"'"'s attention to the selected one of the user interfacing elements, the proximity of the apparent location of the sound to the element tending to draw the user'"'"'s attention to the element.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

directing a user'"'"'s attention to a selected one of the user interfacing elements without use of sound.

20. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

visually directing a user'"'"'s attention to a selected one of the user interfacing elements.