Automated banking machine system and monitoring method

• US 7,946,476 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securitas Electronic Security, Inc. (Securitas AB)
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Grimm, Jacqueline, Jones, Mike, Davisson, Dane, Enright, Jeffery M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, TUYEN KIM
• Application Number:
  US11/825,616
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 705 39- 45
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A cash dispensing automated banking machine actuated by user cards is in operative connection with a system usable to capture images related to activity that is conducted at or adjacent to the machine. The automated banking machine is positioned at a banking facility including a vault and an entrance. A plurality of cameras are positioned at the facility. Images captured may be analyzed at the bank facility or the remote monitoring center. The monitoring center may operate to assure that employees of the bank facility or others can safely access and/or leave the bank facility.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) operating at least one processor to cause a monitoring facility to receive responsive at least in part to at least one input provided through at least one input device by a remotely located person,

identifying data, and

data corresponding to a destination;

(b) operating the at least one processor to determine responsive at least in part to data stored in at least one data store, that the identifying data corresponds to an authorized user;

(c) operating the at least one processor to cause the monitoring facility to receive location data corresponding to locations of a location indicating device maintainable in proximity to the user as the user moves;

(d) operating the at least one processor responsive at least in part to the location data, to cause outputs to be provided through at least one visual display at the monitoring facility, wherein the outputs include at least one visual indication corresponding to the locations;

(e) determining that movement of the location indicating device is not consistent with the user moving toward the destination; and

(f) operating the at least one processor to cause responsive at least in part to the determination in (e) and data stored in the at least one data store, at least one action.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (f) the at least one action includes sending a query message to the user, and monitoring for a response to the query message from the user for a time period.

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

(g) responsive at least in part to not receiving a response to the query message within the time period, sending a notification message to an entity other than the user, wherein the entity is determined through operation of the at least one processor responsive at least in part to data stored in the at least one data store.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein (f) includes sending a notification message to an entity other than the user responsive at least in part to data stored in the at least one data store.

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

(g) determining that the user is currently located at a first facility remote from the monitoring facility, wherein the first facility includes at least one first camera, wherein the at least one first camera is in operative connection with the monitoring facility;

(h) responsive at least in part to the determination in (g), operating the at least one processor to cause at least one output through the at least one visual display that shows the user at the first facility.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein in (h) the at least one output through the at least one visual display includes a visual image of the user leaving the first facility.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine a destination as being a second facility remote from the monitoring facility, and further comprising:

(i) determining that the user is in proximity to the second facility, wherein the second facility includes at least one camera in operative connection with the monitoring facility;

(j) responsive at least in part to (i), operating the at least one processor to cause at least one output through at least one visual display that shows a visual image of the user at the second facility.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein in (j) the at least one output includes a visual image of the user arriving at the second facility.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (a) the at least one input device includes a portable phone, and wherein the portable phone includes the location indicating device.

10. The method according to claim 9 and further comprising:

(g) subsequent to (d), operating the at least one processor to cease causing outputs to be provided through the at least one visual display, responsive at least in part to at least one further input provided by the user through the portable phone.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (e) the destination comprises a bank facility, wherein the bank facility includes an entrance area, and further comprising

(g) operating the at least one processor to cause the at least one visual display to provide at least one visual output that shows the user in the entrance area.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (e) the destination comprises a bank facility, wherein the bank facility includes an automated banking machine and a vault, and wherein the bank facility includes at least one camera, wherein the at least one camera has a field of view that includes an area adjacent at least one of the automated banking machine and the vault, and further comprising

(g) operating the at least one processor to cause the at least one visual display to provide at least one visual output that shows the user in an area adjacent at least one of the automated banking machine and the vault.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the destination comprises a building facility, and further comprising:

(g) subsequent to (d), operating the at least one processor to cease causing outputs to be provided through the at least one visual display, responsive at least in part to at least one further input provided by the user through at least one facility input device at the building facility.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (e) the determining is responsive at least in part to the at least one visual indication.

15. A method comprising:

(a) operating at least one processor to cause a monitoring facility to receive responsive at least in part to at least one input provided through at least one input device by a remotely located person,

identifying data, and

data corresponding to a destination;

(b) operating the at least one processor to determine responsive at least in part to data stored in at least one data store, that the identifying data corresponds to an authorized user;

(c) operating the at least one processor to cause the monitoring facility to receive location data corresponding to locations of a location indicating device maintainable in proximity to the user as the user moves;

(d) operating the at least one processor responsive at least in part to the location data, to cause outputs to be provided through at least one visual display at the monitoring facility, wherein the outputs include at least one visual indication corresponding to the locations;

(e) determining that the location indicating device is located adjacent a building facility, wherein the building facility includes at least one camera in operative connection with the monitoring facility; and

(f) responsive at least in part to the determination in (e), operating the at least one processor to cause at least one visual output to be provided through the at least one visual display of the user at the building facility.

16. The method according to claim 15

wherein the at least one camera has a field of view inside the building facility and a field of view outside the building facility,

wherein (f) includes providing

at least one visual output including an image of the user inside the building facility and

at least one visual output including an image of the user outside the building facility.

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

(g) subsequent to (d), operating the at least one processor to cease causing outputs to be provided through the at least one visual display responsive at least in part to at least one further input provided by the user through at least one facility input device at the building facility.

18. The method according to claim 15 wherein in (a) the at least one input device includes a portable phone, and wherein the portable phone includes the location indicating device, and further comprising:

(g) subsequent to (d), operating the at least one processor to cease causing outputs to be provided through the at least one visual display, responsive at least in part to at least one further input provided by the user through the portable phone.

19. The method according to claim 15 wherein in (e) the determining is responsive at least in part to the at least one visual indication.

20. A method comprising:

(a) obtaining information at a monitoring facility associated with a monitoring service, responsive at least in part to at least one input provided to a mobile phone by a person, wherein the information includes

identifying data, and

data corresponding to a destination;

(b) determining that the identifying data corresponds to an authorized user of the monitoring service;

(c) receiving in real time at the monitoring facility, location data corresponding to different locations of the mobile phone during movement of the mobile phone;

(d) displaying at the monitoring facility responsive at least in part to the location data received in (c), visual indications corresponding to the different locations, wherein current location of the authorized user is determinable based at least in part on current location of the mobile phone;

(e) determining responsive at least in part to the visual indications displayed, if movement of the mobile phone is consistent with travel toward the destination; and

(f) responsive at least in part to the determination in (e), causing at least one action,

wherein responsive at least in part to a negative determination in (e), the at least one action includes sending at least one message to the mobile phone,

wherein responsive at least in part to a positive determination in (e), the at least one action includes determining if further movement of the mobile phone is consistent with travel toward the destination.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the monitoring service comprises a delivery monitoring service, wherein (e) includes determining whether travel movement of a courier is consistent with travel movement toward a particular delivery destination.