Cash dispensing automated banking machine diagnostic method

• US 7,334,723 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Griswold, Glenda, Shepley, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien Minh
• Application Number:
  US11/504,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20060273160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382, 235/375, 235/491, 705/42, 705/43, 705/67, 902/30, 902/22, 902/38
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/206 Software 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

Abstract

An automated banking machine (10) includes a lockable first fascia portion (20) which when unlocked enables access to a chest lock input device (104), inputs to which enable opening a chest door (18) of the machine. Opening the first fascia portion also enables access to an actuator (116) which enables moving a second fascia portion (22) for conducting service activities. A controller (72) in the machine selectively illuminates light emitting devices (118, 126) for purposes of facilitating user operation of the machine. Sensing devices (128) adjacent a card reader slot (28) on the machine enables the controller to detect the presence of unauthorized card reading devices. Servicing the machine is facilitated through use of a portable diagnostic article (98) which enables the controller to access diagnostic data stored in memory and which provides data indicative of the significance of the diagnostic data.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including;

a housing;

at least one currency dispenser operatively supported by the housing;

at least one input device operatively supported by the housing, wherein the at least one input device includes at least one of a card reader and a keypad;

at least one output device operatively supported by the housing, wherein the at least one output device includes a display;

at least one interface device operatively supported by the housing;

at least one processor in the housing;

at least one software component including instructions that are executed by the at least one processor;

at least one data store in the housing and in operative connection with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one data store includes data corresponding to at least one condition, wherein the at least one condition corresponds to at least one condition of at least one of;

the at least one currency dispenser, the at least one input device, the at least one output device, and the at least one software component;

wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the at least one currency dispenser, the at least one input device, the at least one output device, and the at least one interface device;

wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the automated banking machine to communicate first data corresponding to the at least one condition through the at least one interface device to at least one remote computer disposed away from the automated banking machine, and to receive from the remote computer through the at least one interface device, second data corresponding to at least one remedial action, wherein the at least one remedial action corresponds to the at least one condition.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one condition corresponds to at least one of performance, a malfunction, a near malfunction, and an operational trend associated with the at least one currency dispenser.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to the second data to cause the at least one currency dispenser to carry out at least one diagnostic test through operation of the at least one currency dispenser.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to the second data to cause indicia to be output through the at least one display, wherein the indicia corresponds to at least one corrective action for the at least one condition.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to the received data, to cause the automated banking machine to take at least one corrective action, wherein the at least one corrective action is operative to at least partially correct the at least one condition.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the at least one condition corresponds to the at least one software component, and wherein the received data includes at least one code change to the at least one software component.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the at least one code change to be made to the at least one software component.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one code change includes at least one of a software correction, a software update, and a software upgrade to the at least one software component.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one processor is operative to assess a charge responsive to the second data being received by the automated banking machine.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one condition corresponds to the at least one software component, and wherein the second data includes at least one code change applicable to the at least one software component.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least one code change includes at least one of a correction, an update and an upgrade to the at least one software component.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least one code change includes at least one complete software component.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the at least one code change to be stored in the at least one data store.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the first data communicated from the automated banking machine to the remote computer, further includes data that is usable to identify the automated banking machine.

15. A method comprising:

a) operating at least one automated banking machine to carry out cash dispensing transactions;

b) operating at least one processor in the automated banking machine to store in at least one data store in the automated banking machine, data corresponding to at least one condition, wherein the at least one condition corresponds to at least one condition of at least one of;

at least one input device of the automated banking machine, at least one output device of the automated banking machine, at least one currency dispenser of the automated banking machine, and at least one software component that includes instructions that are executed by the at least one processor of the automated banking machine;

c) operating the at least one processor of the automated banking machine to cause the automated banking machine to send data corresponding to the at least one condition from the automated banking machine to the at least one remote computer;

d) operating the at least one processor of the automated banking machine to receive data from the at least one remote computer, wherein the received data corresponds to at least one remedial action, wherein the at least one remedial action at least partially remedies the at least one condition.

16. The method according to claim 15 and further comprising:

e) responsive to the data received in (d), operating the at least one processor to cause at least one display of the automated banking machine to output indicia corresponding to the at least one remedial action.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the at least one condition corresponds to at least one of performance, a malfunction, a near malfunction, and an operational trend in operation of the at least one currency dispenser, and wherein in (e) the indicia corresponds to a service activity that can be carried out to service the at least one currency dispenser.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein the data received in (d) includes at least one diagnostic software application.

19. The method according to claim 16 wherein the data received in (d) includes at least one code change to the at least one software component, and further comprising:

f) operating the at least one processor to cause the at least one code change to be stored in at least one data store of the automated banking machine.

20. A method comprising:

a) operating at least one processor in a cash dispensing automated banking machine, to store in at least one data store in the automated banking machine, data corresponding to at least one condition of at least one software component that operates in the at least one processor of the automated banking machine;

b) operating the at least one processor of the automated banking machine to cause the automated banking machine to send data corresponding to the at least one condition, to at least one computer remote from the automated banking machine;

c) subsequent to (b), operating the at least one processor of the automated banking machine to receive from the at least one computer remote from the automated banking machine, received data, wherein the received data includes at least one code change to the at least one software component.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein in (c) the at least one code change includes at least one of diagnostic software code, a software fix, a software upgrade and a new software component.