Self-service terminal including wireless communication

• US 6,823,172 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Forrest, Simon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHARMA, SUJATHA R
• Application Number:
  US09/703,273
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41, 455/66, 455/402, 455/106, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/66.1, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 455/90.3
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A self-service terminal (10 or 200 or 300) comprises a plurality of intercommunicating modules (114 to 126, or 214 to 226, or 314 to 326). Each module includes a transceiver for wireless communication with another module. In one embodiment, the wireless communication is directed between two modules so that only those two modules can participate in the communication. In another embodiment, the wireless communication may be implemented by a transceiver broadcasting information to all of the modules.

Claims

1. An automated teller machine (ATM) for executing ATM transactions, the ATM comprising:

means defining an ATM housing;

a cash dispenser module located within the ATM housing and including a wireless transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless signals;

an ATM controller module located within the ATM housing and including a wireless transceiver for transmitting encrypted wireless signals to instruct the cash dispenser module to dispense cash; and

a communication absorbing shield for reducing magnitude of encrypted wireless signals transmitted from inside the ATM housing to outside the ATM housing.

2. An ATM according to claim 1, wherein the communication absorbing shield is disposed on internal walls of the ATM housing.

3. An ATM according to claim 1, wherein each wireless transceiver includes means for broadcasting encrypted wireless signals to all other ATM modules within the ATM housing.

4. An ATM according to claim 3, wherein each wireless transceiver broadcasts encrypted wireless signals using a short range radio link.

5. An ATM according to claim 1, further comprising another ATM module selected from the group consisting of an ATM monitor module, an ATM keypad module, an ATM card reader module, an ATM receipt printer module, and an ATM network connection module.

6. An ATM according to claim 5, further comprising switching means for directing encrypted wireless signals between two ATM modules so that only the two ATM modules are parties to the communication.

7. A method of transmitting encrypted wireless signals within an automated teller machine (ATM) having an ATM controller module and a cash dispenser module, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting encrypted wireless signals from the ATM controller module to the cash dispenser module to instruct the cash dispenser module to dispense cash; and

shielding an area external to the ATM from encrypted transmitted wireless signals by absorbing the transmitted encrypted wireless signals to reduce magnitude of the transmitted encrypted wireless signals.