Automated teller machine and voice prompt method thereof

• US 8,511,542 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2011
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futaihua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Futaihua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Pan, An-An
• Primary Examiner(s): St Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/285,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20130048713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/206 Software aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A voice prompt method includes obtaining an image of a user and storing the obtained image as a characteristic image when users successfully log onto an automated teller machine; taking photographs of the location surrounding the automated teller machine at predetermined time intervals to obtain real-time images; judging whether the person of the characteristic image is the same as the person in the real-time image; detecting whether the distance between the user and the automated teller machine is larger than a predetermined value if the person in the two images is judged to be the same; and generating a voice prompt to remind the user not to forget to remove his/her bank card if the distance between the user and the automated teller machine becomes larger than a predetermined value. An automated teller machine is also provided.

Claims

1. An automated teller machine capable of reminding users to remove a bank card after finishing a transaction, comprising:

a card reader for reading the account information stored on the bank cards after users successfully log onto the automated teller machine;

a voice prompt used for generating voice prompting;

a camera used for obtaining an image of a user and storing the obtained image as a characteristic image when the user successfully log onto the automated teller machine, the camera further used for taking photograph of the location surrounding the automated teller machine in a predetermined time interval to obtain real-time images;

a judging unit used for judging whether the person in the characteristic image is the same as the person in the real-time image and generates a determining signal if the person in the characteristic image is judged to be the same as the person in the real-time image;

a distance detecting unit responding to the determining signal and used for detecting whether the distance between the user and the automated teller machine is larger than a predetermined value, and further generating a detecting signal if the distance between the user and the automated teller machine is larger than a predetermined value; and

a controller responding to the detecting signal and used for controlling the voice prompt unit to generate voice prompt to remind users to remove a bank card.

2. The automated teller machine of claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying a transaction interface when users successfully log onto the automated teller machine.

3. The automated teller machine of claim 2, wherein the judging unit further generates a transaction-end signal if the person in the characteristic image is judged to be different from the person in the real-time image;

the controller responds to the transaction-end signal and controls the display to log off the transaction interface, and further controls the card reader to retain the bank card.

4. The automated teller machine of claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing the characteristic image and the predetermined value.

5. The automated teller machine of claim 1, wherein the controller further determines after a predetermined period of time if the bank card is partially ejected out of the card reader slot after the detecting signal has being received, and controls the card reader to retain the bank card if the bank card is determined to be still partially ejected out of the card reader.

6. The automated teller machine of claim 1, wherein the judging unit compares the facial feature identified in the characteristic image and the real-time images to determine whether the person in the characteristic image and the person in the real time are the same.

7. The automated teller machine of claim 1, wherein the distance detecting unit detects the distance between the user and the automated teller machine by using ultrasonic distance detecting technology, facial recognition technology, or infrared detecting technology.

8. A voice prompt method for reminding users to remove a bank card from an automated teller machine after finishing a transaction, the voice prompt method comprising:

reading the account information stored on the bank card after users successfully log onto the automated teller machine;

obtaining an image of a user and storing the obtained image as a characteristic image when the user successfully logs on to the automated teller machine;

taking photograph of the location surrounding the automated teller machine in a predetermined time interval to obtain real-time images;

judging whether the person in the characteristic image is the same as the person in the real-time images;

detecting whether the distance between the user and the automated teller machine is larger than a predetermined value if the person in the characteristic image is judged to be the same as the person in the real-time image; and

generating a voice prompt to prevent the user from forgetting to remove the bank card if the distance between the user and the automated teller machine is larger than a predetermined value.

9. The voice prompt method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the voice prompt method further comprises the step of displaying a transaction interface when users successfully log on the automated teller machine.

10. The voice prompt method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the voice prompt method further comprises the step of logging off the transaction interface and retaining the bank card if the person in the characteristic image is judged to be different from the person in the real-time images.

11. The voice prompt method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the voice prompt method further comprises the step of:

determining after a predetermined period of time if the bank card is partially ejected out of the card reader slot after the detecting signal has being received; and

retaining the bank card if the bank card is determined to be still partially ejected out of the automated teller machine.

12. The voice prompt method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the facial feature identified in the characteristic image and the real-time images is compared to determine whether the person in the characteristic image and the person in the real-time images are the same.

13. The voice prompt method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the distance between the user and the automated teller machine is obtained by using ultrasonic distance detecting technology, facial recognition technology, or infrared detecting technology.