Method for simulating operation of an automated banking machine system

• US 6,768,975 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stock, Timothy M., Symonds, Robert D., Singer, Irek, Gill, Robert Bradley, Shirah, Roy, St. George, Peter, Baghdadi, Gaby
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAIG, DWIN M
• Application Number:
  US09/411,013
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/382, 703/13, 902/38, 902/40, 702/183-189, 714/32, 714/739, 714/738, 714/740, 714/741, 714/749
• US Class Current: 703/13
• 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 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

Abstract

A method of testing operation of an automated banking machine system is provided. The method may comprise storing in a data store data representative of a simulated automated banking machine, at least one condition which occurs at the machine and at least one action to be carried out responsive to the condition. The method may further comprise inputting an input representing the condition at the machine and indicating through a display, responsive to the stored data, the at least one action being carried out responsive to simulating the condition at the machine. The method may also include carrying out the at least one action responsive to operation of the computer. The method may include simulating responsive to the input, that the machine has generated a message indicative of the condition. The method may include providing a further input which prevents performance of the carrying out step.

Claims

1. A method of testing operation of an automated banking machine system, comprising:

a) storing, in a data store in operative connection with a computer, stored data representative of a simulated automated banking machine, at least one condition which occurs at the machine and at least one action to be carried out responsive to the condition;

b) inputting through an input device in operative connection with the computer, at least one input representing the condition at the machine;

c) indicating through a display in operative connection with the computer, responsive to the stored data, the at least one action being carried out responsive to simulating the condition at the machine.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (c) the display includes a visual representation of the simulated automated banking machine.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (a) the stored data includes data representative of a plurality of conditions which occur at the machine, and data representative of a plurality of actions, wherein at least one action corresponds to each condition.

4. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

carrying out the at least one action responsive to operation of the computer.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the carrying out step includes sending a message.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (b) the condition includes a status of the simulated machine.

7. The method according to claim 1 and prior to step (c) further comprising:

simulating through operation of the computer responsive to the input in step (b), that the machine has generated a message indicative of the condition.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the message includes data indicative of a condition of at least one device in the machine.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the simulating step includes generating a phantom status message attributable to the machine.

10. The method according to claim 5 wherein the message sent in the carrying out step includes a message to an entity responsible for service activities.

11. The method according to claim 4 and prior to the carrying out step, further comprising:

providing a further input through an input device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the computer is operative responsive to the further input to prevent performance of the carrying out step.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (c) the display includes indicia representative of the condition.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (c) the display includes indicia representative of the action carried out.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein in step (c) the display further includes indicia representative of the action carried out.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein in step (a) the stored data includes a plurality of actions to be carried out responsive to the condition, and wherein in step (c) the display includes indicia representative of a plurality of actions being carried out.

16. The method according to claim 4 and further comprising:

storing in the data store responsive to operation of the computer a record including data representative of the condition and the carrying out of the action.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein in step (c) the computer is operative to cause the display to include indicia representative of the record.

18. The method according to claim 16 and further comprising:

providing a cancel input through an input device in operative connection with the computer;

including in the record through operation of the computer, data indicative that the record has been cancelled.

19. The method according to claim 5 and further comprising:

generating a response message in response to the message sent in the carrying out step.

20. The method according to claim 19 and further comprising:

providing a further input to an input device in operative connection with the computer, wherein in the generating step the response message is generated responsive to the further input.

21. The method according to claim 4 wherein the carrying out step includes producing through operation of the computer a message comparable to a message produced by a line driver.

22. The method according to claim 5 wherein in step (a) the stored data includes data representative of sending the message and sending a further message, and wherein the carrying out step further includes sending the further message.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein in step (c) the display includes indicia representative of sending the message and the further message.

24. The method according to claim 5 wherein in the carrying out step the message is sent through an electronic message link, and wherein in step (c) the display includes indicia indicative of the message having been sent.

25. The method according to claim 5 wherein in the carrying out step the message includes an e-mail, and wherein in step (c) the display includes indicia representative of the message having been sent.

26. A system comprising a computer in operative connection with a data store, at least one input device and a display, wherein the computer, input device and display are operated to carry out the method steps recited in claim 1.

27. A method of testing the operation of an automated banking machine system, comprising:

a) generating on a display responsive to operation of a computer, at least one window corresponding to a simulated automated banking machine;

b) inputting through an input device in operative connection with the computer, at least one input indicative of a condition at the machine;

c) generating a message with the computer responsive to the input in step (b), wherein the message is representative of the condition at the machine; and

d) indicating on the display, indicia representative of at least one action carried out responsive to operation of the computer responsive to generation of the message.

28. The method according to claim 27 further comprising before step (a):

storing in a data store in operative connection with the computer, stored data corresponding to at least one action to be taken by the computer in response to the generation of the message; and

subsequent to step (e) further comprising;

carrying out the at least one action through operation of the computer responsive to the message generated in step (c) and the stored data stored in the storing step.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein in the storing step the stored data includes data representative of a servicer to be notified responsive to generation of the message, and further comprising:

notifying the servicer through operation of the computer responsive to the stored data and the message generated in step (c).

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein in step (b) the inputs are representative of a fault condition at the machine.

31. The method according to claim 27, wherein in step (b) the input is representative of a condition of a device in the machine.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein in step (b) the input is representative of a condition of a printer in the banking machine.

33. The method according to claim 27 wherein in step (a) the window includes a visual representation of the simulated automated banking machine.

34. The method according to claim 27, wherein in step (c) the message generated is comparable to a message produced by a line driver.

35. The method according to claim 28, wherein in the storing step an action represented by the stored data includes sending an electronic message through an electronic message link, and wherein in the carrying out step the computer operates to cause the electronic message to be sent.

36. The method according to claim 35 wherein in step (d) the display includes indicia representative of the electronic message having been sent.

37. A method comprising:

a) storing in a data store in operative connection with a computer, stored data representative of at least one condition which occurs at a simulated automated banking machine and at least one action to be carried out responsive to the at least one condition;

b) receiving through an input device in operative connection with the computer, at least one input representing the at least one condition at the simulated automated banking machine; and

c) indicating through a display in operative connection with the computer, responsive to the stored data, the at least one action being carried out responsive to simulating the condition at the simulated automated banking machine.

38. Computer readable media bearing instructions which are operative to cause the computer to carry out the method steps recited in claim 37.

39. A method comprising:

a) generating on a display responsive to operation of a computer, indicia corresponding to a simulated automated banking machine;

b) receiving through an input device in operative connection with the computer, at least one input indicative of a condition at the simulated automated banking machine;

c) generating a message with the computer responsive to the input in step (b), wherein the message is representative of the condition at the simulated automated banking machine; and

d) indicating on the display, indicia representative of at least one action carried out responsive to operation of the computer responsive to generation of the message.

40. Computer readable media bearing instructions which are operative to cause the computer to carry out the method steps recited in claim 39.