Fault monitoring and notification system for automated banking machines

• US 7,401,264 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Singer, Irek, Stock, Timothy M., Gill, Robert Bradley, Shirah, Roy, St. George, Peter, Baghdadi, Gaby, Symonds, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr.; Robert W
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUYTON, PHILIP A
• Application Number:
  US11/409,338
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 714/47, 235/379, 235/385, 705/43, 902/38
• US Class Current: 714/47.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• 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 19/207 Surveillance 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A system operates to receive status messages from banking machines (12) operating in a network (14). The messages are received by an event management system (20) operating at least one computer (54). The computer is in operative connection with a data store (52). The data store includes information representative of the banking machines in the network, status messages generated by the banking machines and actions to be taken including entities to be notified of conditions which cause status messages to be sent by the various banking machines. The event management system receives the messages and places them in a uniform standard message format for further processing by the system. A device status processing program (36) in the computer resolves an action to be taken responsive to the status message. Responsive to the action resolved by the device status processing program the computer causes a notification message to be dispatched by a multimedia reporter to an entity who is to be notified of the condition at the banking machine which caused the status message. The computer also causes a trouble record to be created in the data store responsive to the status message from the banking machine. The multimedia reporter receives input messages from the entity and the computer causes information to be included in the trouble record responsive to the input messages. The system further provides report data to a user which enables the user to analyze the operation of the banking machines and service providing entities. The system further includes test capabilities for testing proper operation of the system.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

plurality of currency dispensing automated banking machines, wherein the machines are located at a plurality of geographically disposed locations, wherein each machine is operative to generate at least one message responsive to currency available for dispense from the respective machine being at a level;

at least one computer in operative communication with each of the plurality of machines, wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with at least one data store, wherein the at least one data store includes data corresponding to each of the plurality of machines and data corresponding to at least one action that is operative to result in currency being replenished in each respective machine;

wherein responsive to generation of at least one message by a first machine included in the plurality of machines, the at least one computer is operative to carry out at least one action that is operative to cause currency to be replenished in the first machine.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one interface device in operative connection with at least one computer, wherein the data corresponding to the at least one action stored in at least one data store includes for each machine a respective entity to be notified to replenish currency in the respective machine, and wherein at least one data store includes data corresponding to a first entity in association with the data corresponding to the first machine, wherein responsive to generation of at least one message by the first machine, the at least one computer is operative to notify the first entity through the at least one interface device.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the data corresponding to the at least one action stored in at least one data store includes for each entity, an initial communication medium to be used to notify the respective entity, wherein the at least one data store includes data corresponding to a first initial communications medium in association with the data corresponding to the first entity, and wherein responsive to generation of the at least one message by the first machine, the at least one computer is operative to send a notifying message to the first entity through the first initial communications medium.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one interface device is operative to receive inputs from entities located remotely from the at least one computer, and wherein in response to at least one input from the first entity received through the at least one interface device, the at least one computer is operative to store in the at least one data store, data indicating that the first entity has acknowledged that the first entity has been notified.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one interface device is operative to receive inputs from entities located remotely from the at least one computer, and wherein responsive to at least one input from the first entity received through the at least one interface device, the at least one computer is operative to store in the at least one data store, data indicating that the currency has been replenished in the first machine.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with at least one clock device, and wherein the at least one data store includes for each entity, data corresponding to a secondary communications medium to be used to notify the respective entity, and wherein the at least one data store includes data corresponding to a first secondary communications medium in association with the data corresponding to the first entity, and wherein the at least one interface device is operative to receive inputs from entities located remotely from the at least one computer, and wherein the at least one computer is operative to send a notifying message to the first entity through the first secondary communications medium if the at least one computer has not received at least one input from the first entity through the at least one interface device a time after sending the notification message to the first entity through the first communications medium.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the data corresponding to the at least one action stored in the at least one data store includes for each machine, data corresponding to a respective entity to be notified to replenish currency in the respective machine, and wherein the at least one data store includes data associating a first entity and the first machine, wherein responsive to generation of at least one message by the first machine, the at least one computer is operative to cause the first entity to be notified.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the data corresponding to the at least one action stored in at least one data store includes for each machine, data corresponding to a respective entity to be notified to replenish currency in the respective machine, and wherein the at least one data store includes data associating data corresponding to a first entity and the data corresponding to the first machine, wherein responsive to generation of at least one message by the first machine, the at least one computer is operative to cause a message to be sent to the first entity, and wherein the at least one computer is operative to determine if a reply responsive to the message has not been received from the first entity a time after notifying the first entity, and responsive to such determination the at least one computer is operative to cause a message to be sent to a second entity.

9. Apparatus comprising:

at least one computer in operative connection with at least one data store, wherein the at least one data store includes data corresponding to each of a plurality of cash dispensing automated banking machines, and for each banking machine, data corresponding to at least one action that is operative to result in currency being replenished in the respective banking machine, and wherein responsive to the at least one computer receiving at least one message indicating that a first banking machine included in the plurality of banking machines has a level of remaining currency in the first banking machine, the at least one computer is operative responsive to data stored in the at least one data store to carry out the at least one action that is operative to cause currency to be replenished in the first banking machine.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the data corresponding to the at least one action includes for each banking machine data corresponding to a respective entity to be notified to replenish currency in the respective banking machine, and wherein the at least one data store includes data associating a first entity and the first banking machine, wherein responsive to the at least one message the at least one computer is operative to cause the first entity to be notified.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 and further comprising at least one interface device in operative connection with the at least one computer, wherein the data corresponding to the at least one action includes for each banking machine, data corresponding to a respective entity to be notified to replenish currency in the respective banking machine, and wherein at least one data store includes data associating data corresponding to a first entity and data corresponding to the first banking machine, wherein responsive to generation of at least one message by the first banking machine, the at least one computer is operative to cause the first entity to be notified through operation of the at least one interface device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the data corresponding to the at least one action includes for each entity, data corresponding to an initial communications medium to be used to notify the respective entity, wherein the at least one data store includes data associating a first initial communications medium and the data corresponding to the first entity, and wherein responsive to generation of the at least one message by the first banking machine, the at least one computer is operative to cause a notifying message to be sent to the first entity through the first initial communications medium.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the at least one interface device is operative to receive inputs from entities located remotely from the at least one computer, and wherein in response to at least one input from the first entity received through operation of the at least one interface device, the at least one computer is operative to store in the at least one data store, data indicating that the first entity has acknowledged that the first entity has been notified.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the at least one interface device is operative to receive inputs from entities located remotely from the at least one computer, and wherein responsive to at least one input from the first entity received through operation of the at least one interface device, the at least one computer is operative to store in the at least one data store, data indicating that the currency has been replenished in the first banking machine.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with at least one clock device, and wherein the at least one data store includes for each entity, data corresponding to a secondary communications medium to be used to notify the respective entity, and wherein the at least one data store includes data corresponding to a first secondary communications medium in association with the data corresponding to the first entity, and wherein the at least one interface device is operative to receive inputs from entities located remotely from the at least one computer, and wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause a notification message to be sent to the first entity through the first secondary communications medium if at least one input from the first entity has not been received through operation of the at least one interface device a time after the notification message is sent to the first entity through the first communications medium.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the data corresponding to the at least one action includes for each banking machine, data corresponding to a respective entity to be notified to replenish currency in the respective banking machine, and wherein the at least one data store includes data correlating data corresponding to a first entity and the data corresponding to the first banking machine, wherein responsive to the at least one computer receiving the at least one message, the at least one computer is operative to cause a notification message to be sent to the first entity, and wherein responsive to a determination by the at least one computer that a reply responsive to the notification message has not been received from the first entity a time after the notification message is sent to the first entity, the at least one computer is operative to cause a notification message to be sent to a second entity.

17. A system comprising:

a plurality of automated transaction machines,

wherein the plurality of machines are located at a plurality of geographically disposed locations,

wherein each respective machine in the plurality of machines includes at least one currency dispenser,

wherein each respective machine in the plurality of machines is operative to generate at least one low currency signal responsive to a determination of at least one low currency level in the respective machine,

wherein the plurality of machines includes a first machine,

at least one data store,

wherein the at least one data store includes data corresponding to each of the plurality of machines,

wherein the at least one data store includes data correlating each respective machine with data corresponding to at least one respective entity to be notified to replenish currency in a respective machine,

wherein the at least one data store includes data correlating data corresponding to the first machine and data corresponding to at least a first entity to be notified to replenish currency in the first machine,

at least one computer,

wherein the at least one computer is in operative communication with each of the plurality of machines,

wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with the at least one data store,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause a first notification of the first machine needing currency replenishment to be sent to the first entity responsive to generation of at least one low currency signal by the first machine,

wherein responsive to receiving indication of first entity reply to the first notification within a predetermined time period following causing of the first notification to be sent to the first entity, the at least one computer is operative to store in the at least one data store, data indicating that the first entity has acknowledged the first notification,

wherein responsive to lack of receiving indication of first entity reply to the first notification within the predetermined time period, the at least one computer is operative to cause a second notification of the first machine needing currency replenishment to be sent to a second entity, wherein the second entity differs from the first entity.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein responsive to an absence of a received indication of first entity reply to the first notification within the predetermined time period, the at least one computer is operative to cause a further notification to be sent to the first entity prior to causing the second notification to be sent to a second entity.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the at least one data store includes data representative of respective communication mediums to be used in notifying respective entities, wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the first notification to be sent using a first type of communication medium, wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the further notification to be sent using a second type of communication medium, wherein the second type of communication medium differs from the first type of communication medium.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the at least one data store includes data correlating each respective entity with at least two communication mediums from the group including fax numbers, pager numbers, telephone numbers, and E-mail addresses.