Self-service terminal

• US 6,840,441 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2001
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Atleos Corp.
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Savage, John G., Grossi, Mark M., Monaghan, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, STEVE S
• Application Number:
  US09/951,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20020036231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/375, 235/383, 705/14, 345/867
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]

Abstract

A self-service terminal (14) having a port (78) for transferring data is described. The terminal (14) includes a program (94) for informing a user about one or more electronic collectables (100) that a user can request, and for transferring a requested electronic collectable (100) to the user. The electronic collectables (100) typically comprise an image (104), an associated description (106) of the image, and file format information (102). A portable device (24) for accessing such a terminal (14) is also described. The device (24) comprises a program (50) for receiving a transferred electronic collectable (100) and for presenting at least part of the transferred electronic collectable so that a user of the device (24) can view an image and text portion of an electronic collectable (100) downloaded from the terminal (14).

Claims

1. A method of operating a Self-Service Terminal, SST, comprising:

a) maintaining access to image-data representing visual images of subjects which include people or objects;

b) maintaining data representing a background A and a background B;

c) selecting image-data, and delivering the selected image-data to customers, wherein

i) first data represents a first subject within a background A;

ii) second data represents a second subject within said background A;

iii) third data represents a third subject within a background B; and

iv) fourth data represents a fourth subject within said background B.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the process of delivering the first and second data is limited to a selected time period surrounding a predetermined public event.

3. Method according to claim 1, and further comprising:

d) placing a limit on the number of times the first and second data are delivered.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein said limit is imposed for a time period, and then said limit is modified.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the SST comprises an Automated Teller Machine, ATM.

6. Method according to claim 1, and further comprising:

d) when image-data is delivered, delivering additional data representing text which describes attributes of the subject represented by the image-data.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein software, hardware, or both, prevent delivery of image-data to predetermined customers.

8. Method according to claim 1, and further comprising:

d) maintaining a list of conditions under which image-data is delivered, wherein different conditions apply delivery of the first data, compared with the third data.

9. Method according to claim 2, wherein the first and second data are available for delivery throughout said selected time period.