Method and apparatus for initiating corrective action for an electronic terminal

• US 8,245,076 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Malone, David Eric, McGovern, Kevin T., Schindel, William G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert, Ella
• Application Number:
  US12/342,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20100162030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/43, 714/3, 714/2, 714/100, 714/736, 235/375, 235379-382, 371/4, 371/30, 709/223, 709/224, 717/102, 370/244, 370/253, 370/395
• US Class Current: 714/2
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/206 Software aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A method and device are provided for initiating corrective actions for a terminal, such as an ATM. A method of initiating corrective actions for a terminal comprises, monitoring a fault status of a first component, detecting a fault status of the first component with a first trigger plug-in, activating a first action plug-in based upon the detected fault status of the first component, and recycling the first component.

Claims

1. A method of operating a terminal comprising:

generating a first hardware component trigger status in response to receipt of a fault condition of a first hardware component by a processor of the terminal;

recognizing the first hardware component trigger status by the processor;

issuing a first hardware action plug-in invocation based upon the recognized first hardware component trigger status by the processor;

recycling the first hardware component in response to the first hardware action plug-in invocation by the processor;

generating a first software component trigger status in response to receipt of a fault condition of a first software component by the processor;

recognizing the first software component trigger status by the processor;

issuing a first software action plug-in invocation based upon the recognized first software component trigger status by the processor; and

rebooting the first software component in response to the first software action plug-in invocation by the processor including determining that the terminal is being used by a customer, and delaying recycling of the first hardware component until the terminal is no longer being used by the customer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein recycling the first software component comprises:

determining the number of recycle events for the first software component within a predetermined period of time; and

comparing the determined number of recycle events to a predetermined threshold.

3. The terminal of claim 1, wherein controlling the rebooting of the first software component comprises:

rebooting the first software component;

determining that the rebooted first software component is operational; and

generating a first software component operational status in response to the operational determination.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

generating a second hardware component trigger status in response to a detected fault condition of a second hardware component;

recognizing the second hardware component trigger status;

issuing a second hardware action plug-in invocation based upon the recognized second hardware component trigger status; and

recycling the second hardware component in response to the second hardware action plug-in invocation.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

generating a second software component trigger status in response to a detected fault condition of a second software component;

recognizing the second software component trigger status;

issuing a second software action plug-in invocation based upon the recognized second software component trigger status; and

rebooting the second software component in response to the second software action plug-in invocation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein rebooting the first software component comprises:

rebooting an operating system of the terminal by the processor.

7. An operating terminal comprising:

a first hardware component;

a first software component;

a memory;

a processor configured to

generate a first hardware component trigger status in response to receipt of a fault condition of the first hardware component;

recognize the first hardware component trigger status;

issue a first hardware action plug-in invocation based upon the recognized first hardware component trigger status;

recycle the first hardware component in response to the first hardware action plug-in invocation;

generate a first software component trigger status in response to receipt of a fault condition of the first software component;

recognize the first software component trigger status;

issue a first software action plug-in invocation based upon the recognized first software component trigger status; and

reboot the first software component in response to the first software action plug-in invocation, including determine that the terminal is being used by a customer, and delay recycling of the first hardware component until the terminal is no longer being used by the customer.