Automated banking machine that employs a virtual person for assisting customers

• US 9,098,961 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Block, James, Graef, H Thomas, Magee, Paul D, Nelson, Donald S Jr., Meek, James, McIntyre, Daniel S, DePietro, Mark, Ramachandran, Natarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ellis, Suezu
• Application Number:
  US13/714,617
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/382, 705/43, 705/39, 382115-118, 382/124, 194/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/206 Software aspects at ATMs

Abstract

In an example embodiment, an automated banking machine that includes a computer, a camera, a display and an audio output device and is operative to cause visual outputs through the display and audio outputs through the audio output device, which correspond to a simulated person. The camera is in operative connection with the computer, and provides camera data to the computer. The computer is responsive at least in part to the camera data to cause eyes of the output simulated person to be directed toward the eyes of the machine user.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine that operates responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records to cause financial transfers,

wherein the machine includes;

at least one reader, wherein the at least one reader is operable to read data usable to identify at least one of a financial account and a machine user,

wherein the at least one reader is selected from a group consisting of

a magnetic strip card reader, and

an optical reader that includes at least one camera, and

a radio frequency (RF) signal card reader,

at least one transaction function device, wherein the at least one transaction function device is operative to at least one of dispense and receive sheets,

at least one computer associated with the machine, wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with the at least one reader and the at least one transaction function device,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause

card data to be read through operation of at least one of the at least one reader,

a determination to be made that the card data corresponds to a financial account on which a transaction is authorized to be conducted through operation of the machine,

responsive at least in part to the determination, a financial transfer at least one of to and from the financial account;

wherein the machine further includes a display and an audio output device,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause visual outputs through the display and audio outputs through the audio output device, which correspond to at least one simulated person,

wherein the at least one camera is in operative connection with the at least one computer, and wherein the at least one camera is operative to provide camera data,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to receive at least one user transaction input to the machine responsive at least in part to camera data indicating a location on the display looked at by a machine user'"'"'s eyes,

wherein the at least one computer is operative responsive at least in part to the camera data to cause eyes of the output simulated person to be directed toward the eyes of the machine user.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1

wherein the at least one transaction function device includes at least one of a check acceptor, a cash dispenser and a cash acceptor.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2

wherein the optical reader is configured to read an identification card including a user picture.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2

wherein the optical reader includes a bar code reader.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4

wherein the bar code reader is configured to read bar code data output through a changeable display on a mobile wireless device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4

wherein the bar code reader is configured to read at least one of a two dimensional bar code and a QR code.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2

wherein the RF signal card reader is configured to receive data transmitted by cards that provide output RF signals.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2

wherein the RF signal card reader is configured to receive data transmitted from a mobile wireless device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8

wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the financial transfer responsive at least in part to at least one user transaction input, wherein the at least one user transaction input is received through operation of the RF signal card reader from a mobile wireless device.

10. The apparatus according to claim 2

wherein the RF signal card reader is operative to communicate transaction data from the machine to a mobile wireless device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10

wherein the transaction data includes at least one of

a record concerning the financial transfer,

a receipt corresponding to the financial transfer,

banking machine identifying data,

a form, and

a check image.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1

wherein the machine further includes an audio input device,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause two-way video and audio communication with a remote service provider station through the machine.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1

wherein the machine further includes an audio input device, audio output device,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to provide two-way video and audio communication with a remote service provider station through the machine.