Automated banking machine that allows servicer to use customer display to view images from a camera located inside the machine

• US 7,789,299 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2007
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tula, Pedro, Ramachandran, Natarajan, Mercina, Paul, Booth, James, Hill, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Savusdiphol; Paultep
• Application Number:
  US11/715,011
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

An automatic banking machine includes a card reader for reading user cards, and a cash dispenser. A movable camera is positionable within the ATM housing. The automated banking machine carries out transactions related to user accounts based on information read from cards. Service personnel are enabled to direct the camera toward regions of machine components while conducting service activities that are not directly visible by a servicer. A camera assembly includes a microphone to sense sounds associated with machine components during test operations. The generated data may be used by an on-site servicer, or sent to an entity at a remote location. The visual images may be used to enhance diagnostic and servicing capabilities.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a cash dispensing automated banking machine including;

a housing;

a card reader operative to read cards including indicia usable to identify at least one financial account, wherein the card reader is in operatively supported connection with the housing;

a visual display in operatively supported connection with the housing;

at least one serviceable component within the housing, wherein the at least one serviceable component is mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing, wherein the at least one serviceable component includes a region;

at least one controller within the housing, wherein the at least one controller is in operative connection with the card reader, the visual display and the at least one serviceable component, wherein the at least one controller is operative to control operation of the at least one serviceable component;

a first image capture device in operative connection with the at least one controller, wherein the first image capture device is selectively movable, wherein the first image capture device is adapted to be directed toward and away from the region, wherein when the first image capture device is directed toward the region, the image capture device is operative to cause image data to be generated, wherein the image data corresponds to a visual image of the region;

wherein the controller is operative to selectively cause the visual image to be output through the visual display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the region is generally visually obscured from direct visual observation from outside the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a communications device in operative connection with the at least one controller, wherein the communications device is operative to send data corresponding to the image data from the machine to at least one remote computer.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a microphone, wherein the microphone is movably mounted in operatively supported connection with the first image capture device, wherein the microphone is operative to sense sonic diagnostic information related to the at least one serviceable component.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

at least one data store in operative connection with the at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller is operative to cause diagnostic data concerning the at least one serviceable component to be stored in the at least one data store; and

a diagnostic article, wherein when the diagnostic article is placed in operative connection with the at least one controller, the diagnostic article is operative to cause the at least one controller to enable access to the diagnostic data stored in the at least one data store.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the automated banking machine further includes:

a diagnostic article reading device in operative connection with the at least one controller, wherein the reading device is operative to receive data from the diagnostic article when the diagnostic article is placed in operative engagement with the diagnostic article reading device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the microphone is in operative connection with the at least one controller, and wherein the at least one controller is operative responsive to the sonic diagnostic information to produce sonic data, and wherein the at least one controller is operative to cause data corresponding to the sonic data and the image data to be communicated from the automated banking machine to at least one remote computer.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the at least one serviceable component includes at least one of a cash dispenser, a cash acceptor, the card reader, a receipt printer, an output device, a depository mechanism, a transaction function device, and a currency stacker.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 and further comprising a flexible cable, wherein the flexible cable operatively connects the first image capture device and the at least one controller, and wherein the flexible cable has a length sufficient to enable movement of the first image capture device to a plurality of locations, wherein the locations include locations within and locations outside the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the automated banking machine further includes:

a radiation source mounted in operative connection with the housing, wherein the radiation source is operative to selectively direct radiation into the region.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the radiation source is in operative connection with the first image capture device.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the radiation source is operative to emit non-visible light.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the radiation source includes an infrared light emitting diode (LED).

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the automated banking machine further includes:

a second image capture device mounted in fixed relation relative to the housing, wherein the second image capture device is operative to selectively generate further image data wherein the further image data corresponds to a further visual image of a further region, wherein the further region is at least one of within and outside the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

a further visual display in operatively supported connection with the housing, wherein the further display is operative to provide outputs to users of the machine conducting cash dispensing transactions.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the visual display is movably mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a computer remote from the automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine communicates data corresponding to the image data to the computer.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 and further comprising a further visual display adjacent to and in operative connection with the computer, wherein an output visual image corresponding to the image data is output through the further visual display.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first image capture device is in operative connection with the at least one controller through a USB connection.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image capture device is operative to cause thermal image data to be generated, wherein the controller is operative to cause the thermal image data to be output through the visual display.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the thermal image data includes at least one thermal image, wherein the controller is operative to cause the at least one thermal image to be output through the visual display.

22. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including;

a display;

a card reader;

a cash dispenser;

at least one camera connection port adapted to receive signals from a movable camera, wherein the signals correspond to a visual image of a region inside the machine;

at least one controller;

wherein the at least one controller is operative to both

cause image data corresponding to the received signals to be output through the display, and

cause the image data corresponding to the received signals to be sent from the machine to at least one remote computer.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 and further comprising:

a movable camera in operative connection with the at least one camera connection port.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the movable camera is positionable to produce signals corresponding to a visual image of at least one of the card reader and the cash dispenser, and wherein the at least one controller is operative to cause the visual image to be output through the display.

25. The apparatus of claim 22

wherein the image capture device is operative to cause at least one thermal image to be generated,

wherein the controller is operative to cause the at least one thermal image to at least one of:

be sent to the at least one remote computer, and

be output through the display.

26. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including;

at least one interface bus,

a machine display device in operative connection with the at least one interface bus,

a movable camera in operative connection with the at least one interface bus,

wherein the camera is operative to capture at least one visual image of an inner area of the machine,

wherein the machine display device is operative to receive the at least one visual image from the camera through the at least one interface bus.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser in operative connection with the at least one interface bus.