Cash dispensing automated banking machine diagnostic system and method

• US 7,445,144 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Griswold, Glenda, Shepley, Steven, Newman, Joseph P., Mercina, Paul, Barnett, Robert W., Moauro, Christyan, Billett, Nick, Blackford, Damon J., Meek, James, Schlabach, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US11/135,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20050263584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 235379-381, 705/43
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/206 Software aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

An automated banking machine (10) includes a cash dispenser (54). 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. A portable article of computer readable and writable media (314) is also operative to cause the computer to gather data concerning the banking machine and record it on the media through a drive (312). The data gathered is then analyzed by a separate analysis computer (324).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) operatively connecting removable computer readable media and a media reading and writing device in an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser and at least one computer;

b) operating the at least one computer responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media to gather data associated with the machine;

c) writing indicia corresponding to the data on the computer readable media through operation of the reading and writing device.

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

d) subsequent to (c), operatively disconnecting the computer readable media from the reading and writing device;

e) subsequent to (d), operatively connecting the computer readable media with an analysis computer separate from the automated banking machine;

f) analyzing at least a portion of the data through operation of the analysis computer.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein (b) includes creating a processing thread in the at least one computer responsive to the instructions on the computer readable media, and creating at least one temporary file through operation of the at least one computer, and wherein in (b) the data gathered includes data associated with configurable features of the banking machine, and data associated with operation of a least one transaction function device, and wherein the data gathered is stored in the at least one temporary file;

and wherein (f) includes analyzing at least a portion of the data to identify errors in configurable features of the banking machine and analyzing at least a portion of the data to identify faults in the operation of the machine, and analyzing at least a portion of the data to predict at least one future need to service the banking machine;

and further comprising;

g) during at least a portion of (b), providing at least one visual output through at least one visual output device of the banking machine, indicating gathering of data;

h) securing data through operation of the at least one computer, wherein indicia written in (c) comprises secured data;

i) wherein the reading and writing device comprises a drive, and subsequent to (c) and prior to (d), operating the at least one computer responsive to the instructions included on the computer readable media to cause the computer readable media to be ejected from the drive;

j) deleting the at least one temporary file through operation of the at least one computer responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media;

k) terminating the at least one processing thread responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media;

l) subsequent to (f), providing at least one output corresponding to at least one result of the analysis in (f) through at least one output device in operative connection with the analysis computer;

m) conducting at least one service procedure on the banking machine, responsive to the at least one output provided in (l).

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (b) the data gathered includes data associated with configurable features of the banking machine.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (b) the data gathered includes data associated with at least one transaction function device in the machine.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein in (b) the data associated with the at least one transaction function device includes data corresponding to at least one operational characteristic of the at least one device.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein in (b) the data corresponding to the at least one operational characteristic relates to a plurality of prior operations of the at least one device.

8. The method according to claim 5 wherein in (b) the data is associated with the cash dispenser.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein in (b) the data is stored in a device- resident data store in supporting connection with the cash dispenser, and the data is gathered from the device-resident data store.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the banking machine includes at least one visual output device, and further comprising:

d) during at least a portion of (b), providing through the at least one visual output device, at least one output indicative of gathering of data.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein in (d) the at least one output is indicative of progress in gathering the data in (2).

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

d) securing data through operation of the at least one computer, wherein the indicia written in (c) comprises secured data.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein (d) includes password protecting data, wherein (c) includes writing indicia corresponding to password-protected data.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein the media reading and writing device comprises a drive, and further comprising:

d) subsequent to (c), ejecting the computer readable media from the drive.

15. A method comprising:

a) operatively connecting removable computer readable media and a media reading and writing device in an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and at least one computer;

b) operating the at least one computer responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media to rather data associated wit the machine;

c) encrypting data gathered in (b) through operation of the at least one computer;

d) writing indicia corresponding to the encrypted data on the computer readable media trough operation of the reading and writing device.

16. A meted comprising:

a) operatively connecting removable computer readable media and a media reading and writing device in an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and at least one computer, wherein the media reading and writing device comprises a drive;

b) operating the at least one computer responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media to gather data associated wit the machine;

c) writing indicia corresponding to the data on the computer readable media through operation of the reading and writing device;

d) operating the at least one computer responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media to cause the drive to eject the computer readable media from the drive.

17. A method comprising:

a) operatively connecting removable computer readable media and a media reading and writing device in an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and at least one computer;

b) operating the at least one computer responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media to gather data associated with the machine and to create at least one temporary file wherein at least a portion of the data gathered is stored in the temporary file;

c) writing indicia corresponding to the data on the computer readable media through operation of the reading and writing device.

18. The method according to claim 17 and further comprising:

d) subsequent to (c), deleting the at least one temporary file.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein in (d) the at least one temporary file is deleted responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media.

20. A method comprising:

a) operatively connecting removable computer readable media and a media reading and writing device in an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and at least one computer;

b) operating the at least one computer responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media to create at least one processing thread and to gather data associated with the machine responsive to execution by the at least one computer of the at least one thread;

c) writing indicia corresponding to the data on the computer readable media through operation of the reading and writing device.

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

d) subsequent to (c), terminating the at least one processing thread.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein in (d) the termination of the processing thread is carried out responsive to the instructions included on the computer readable media.

23. A method comprising:

a) operatively connecting removable computer readable media and a media reading and writing device in an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and at least one computer;

b) operating the at least one computer responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media to gather data associated with the machine;

c) writing indicia corresponding to the data on the computer readable media through operation of the reading and writing device;

d) operatively disconnecting the computer readable media from the reading and writing device;

e) operatively connecting the computer readable media and an analysis computer separate from the automated banking machine;

f) analyzing at least a portion of the data through operation of the analysis computer to identify errors in settings of configurable features of the banking machine.

24. A method comprising:

a) operatively connecting removable computer readable media and a media reading and writing device in an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and at least one computer;

b) operating the at least one computer responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media to gather data associated with the machine;

c) writing indicia corresponding to the data on the computer readable media through operation of the reading and writing device;

d) operatively disconnecting the computer readable media from the reading and writing device;

e) operatively connecting the computer readable media and an analysis computer separate from the automated banking machine;

f) analyzing at least a portion of the data through operation of the analysis computer to identify faults with at least one device in the machine.

25. A method comprising:

a) operatively connecting removable computer readable media and a media reading and writing device in an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and at least one computer;

b) operating the at least one computer responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media to gather data associated with the machine;

c) writing indicia corresponding to the data on the computer readable media through operation of the reading and writing device;

d) operatively disconnecting the computer readable media and the reading and writing device;

e) operatively connecting the computer readable media and an analysis computer separate from the automated banking machine;

f) analyzing at least a portion of the data through operation of the analysis computer to predict at least one future need to service the banking machine.

26. A method comprising:

a) operatively connecting removable computer readable media and a media reading and writing device in an automated banking machine, wherein die automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and at least one computer;

b) operating the at least one computer responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media to gather data associated with the machine;

c) writing indicia corresponding to the data on the computer readable media through operation of the reading and writing device;

d) operatively disconnecting the computer readable media and the reading and writing device;

e) operatively connecting the computer readable media and an analysis computer analyzing at least a portion of the automated banking machine;

f) analyzing at least a portion of the data through operation of the analysis computer;

g) providing at least one output corresponding to at least one result of the analysis conducted in (f), through at least one output device in operative connection with the analysis computer.

27. The method according to claim 26 and further comprising:

h) conducting at least one service procedure on the banking machine responsive to the at least one output provided in (g).

28. A method comprising;

a) operatively connecting a computer readable media with a reading and writing device in an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser;

b) operating at least one computer in the automated banking machine to gather data associated with the automated banking machine;

c) writing indicia corresponding to the data gathered in (b) to the computer readable media through operation of the reading and writing device;

d) operatively connecting the computer readable media bearing the indicia corresponding to the data gathered in (b), and an analysis computer separate from the automated banking machine;

e) analyzing at least a portion of the data through operation of the analysis computer to determine at least one condition associated with the automated banking machine.

29. A method comprising:

a) operatively connecting computer readable media bearing indicia corresponding to data associated with an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser, and an analysis computer separate from the automated banking machine;

b) analyzing at least a portion of the data through operation of the analysis computer to determine at least one condition associated with the automated banking machine; and

c) providing at least one output through at least one output device in operative connection with the analysis computer, wherein the at least one output corresponds to at least one condition determined in (b).

30. The method according to claims 29 and further comprising:

(d) conducting at least one service activity on the automated banking machine responsive to the at least one output in (c).

31. The method according to claim 29 wherein in (b) the analysis comprises analyzing at least a portion of the data to identify errors in setting configurable features of the banking machine.

32. The method according to claim 29 wherein in (b) the analysis comprises analyzing at least a portion of the data to identify faults with devices in the machine.

33. The method according to claim 29 wherein in (b) the analysis comprises analyzing at least a portion of the data to predict at least one future need to service the banking machine.

34. The method according to claim 29 wherein in (a) the computer readable media comprises portable media, and wherein the analysis computer is located remotely from the banking machine.

35. The method according to claim 34 and prior to (a), further comprising:

d) operatively connecting the computer-readable media with a reading and writing device in the automated banking machine;

e) operating at least one computer in the automated banking machine to gather the data associated with the machine;

f) writing the indicia corresponding to the data gathered in (e) to the computer readable media through operation of the reading and writing device

36. The method according to claim 35 wherein in (e) the at least one computer in the banking machine gathers the data responsive to instructions included on the computer readable media.

37. The method according to claim 36 wherein in (e) the data gathered includes data associated with operation of the cash dispenser.