Automated teller machine

• US 7,575,166 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Atleos Corp.
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: McNamara, Michael R
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai; Thien T
• Application Number:
  US11/288,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20060131408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/440, 235/381, 235/454, 235/451, 235/492, 235/494, 235/379, 705/43, 705/75, 705/39, 340/10.34, 194/206, 194/207, 194/302, 194/217
• US Class Current: 235/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs

Abstract

A Self Service Terminal (SST) has a fascia and a plurality of sensors, each sensor being arranged to detect a signal from a user token when said token is brought into proximity of said sensor. Each sensor is associated with a specific SST service, the SST being arranged to provide the associated service when said token in brought into the proximity of one or more of said sensors.

Claims

1. An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising:

a first device in the form of a cash dispenser and associated with providing a first ATM service in the form of dispensing cash to an ATM customer;

a second device associated with providing a second ATM service to an ATM customer;

a fascia having a first predetermined area and a second predetermined area which is different from the first predetermined area;

a first proximity sensor associated with the first device and disposed at the first predetermined area of the fascia and for (i) receiving a first input signal from a user token when the user token is brought into proximity of the first proximity sensor and (ii) providing a first output signal in response to receiving the first input signal from the user token;

a second proximity sensor associated with the second device and disposed at the second predetermined area of the fascia and for (i) receiving a second input signal from a user token when the user token is brought into proximity of the second proximity sensor and (ii) providing a second output signal in response to receiving the second input signal from the user token; and

a controller for (i) monitoring the first and second output signals from the first and second proximity sensors, (ii) executing a first transaction application program to provide a first control signal to control the cash dispenser to dispense cash to an ATM customer in direct response to the first output signal being received from the first proximity sensor and (iii) executing a second transaction application program which is different from the first transaction application program to provide a second control signal to control the second device to provide the second ATM service to an ATM customer in direct response to the second output signal being received from the second proximity sensor.

2. An ATM according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined area of the fascia comprises an area portion in which a cash dispenser slot is located.

3. An ATM according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second proximity sensors comprises a non-contact type of sensor.

4. An ATM according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second proximity sensors comprises a contact type of sensor.

5. An ATM according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second proximity sensors comprises a short distance radio frequency (RF) type of sensor.

6. An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising:

a fascia having a first predetermined area and a second predetermined area which is different from the first predetermined area;

a first icon located within the first predetermined area of the fascia and associated with a first ATM service;

a second icon different from the first icon and located within the second predetermined area of the fascia and associated with a second ATM service in the form of a dispensing cash to an ATM customer;

a first proximity sensor associated with the first icon and located within the first predetermined area of the fascia and for (i) receiving a first input signal from a user token when the user token is brought into proximity of the first proximity sensor and (ii) providing a first output signal in response to receiving the first input signal from the user token;

a second proximity sensor associated with the second icon and located within the second predetermined area of the fascia and for (i) receiving a second input signal from a user token when the user token is brought into proximity of the second proximity sensor and (ii) providing a second output signal in response to receiving the second input signal from the user token; and

a controller for (i) monitoring the first and second output signals from the first and second proximity sensors, (ii) executing a first transaction application program to provide a first control signal to control a device to provide the first ATM service to an ATM customer in response to The first output signal being received from the first proximity sensor and (iii) executing a second transaction application program to provide a second control signal to control a cash dispenser to dispense cash to an ATM customer in direct response to the second output signal being received from the second proximity sensor.

7. An ATM according to claim 6, wherein (i) the first icon comprises a check book icon which is associated with a service of issuing a new check book to an ATM customer and (ii) the first predetermined area of the fascia comprises an area portion in which a check book delivery slot is located.

8. An ATM according to claim 6, wherein (i) the first icon comprises a statement icon which is associated with a service of issuing an account statement to an ATM customer and (ii) the first predetermined area of the fascia comprises an area portion in which a statement delivery slot is located.

9. An ATM according to claim 6, wherein (i) the first icon comprises a bill payment icon which is associated with a service of an ATM customer paying a bill and (ii) the first predetermined area of the fascia comprises an area portion in which a bill payment slot is located.

10. An ATM according to claim 6, wherein (i) the first icon comprises a phone icon which is associated with a service of crediting an ATM customer'"'"'s phone card and (ii) the first predetermined area of the fascia comprises an area portion in which a phone card slot is located.

11. An ATM according to claim 6, wherein each of the first and second proximity sensors comprises a non-contact type of sensor.

12. An ATM according to claim 6, wherein each of the first and second proximity sensors comprises a contact type of sensor.

13. An ATM according to claim 6, wherein each of the first and second proximity sensors comprises a short distance radio frequency (RF) type of sensor.