Geo-spatial-awareness-based monitoring, notification and maintenance for self service terminals

• US 9,342,963 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: McGraw, William H. IV, Fitzgerald, Richard L., Bryant, Matthew K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milef, Elda
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREGG, MARY M
• Application Number:
  US13/086,526
• Time in Patent Office: 1,860 Days
• Field of Search: 705/43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/047 using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/00 Complete banking systems; Coded card-freed arrangements adapted for dispensing or receiving monies or the like and posting such transactions to existing accounts, e.g. automatic teller machines data processing equipment for bank accounting G06Q40/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for implementing a self-service terminal (“SST”) monitoring, notification and maintenance system. Embodiments of the proposed invention may simplify a task of locating an operational SST having a specific operational status and/or capability within a geographic area. Embodiments may automatically determine and monitor an operational status and/or capabilities of a SST. The operational status may include an operational status indicative of a SST that need servicing or repair. A location of a device used to submit a request for SST information may be automatically determined. Location, operational status and directions on how to locate a specific SST within a distance of the determined location may be transmitted in response to a request for SST information. The operational status of multiple SSTs within a geographic area may be monitored.

Claims

1. An automated teller machine (“

ATM”

) comprising a computer system that performs a method for monitoring an operational status of each ATM on a network of ATMs wherein each of the ATMs on the network is associated with a discrete geographic location, the operational status comprising;

functioning capabilities of each ATM on the network; and

malfunctioning capabilities of each ATM on the network;

the method comprising;

auto-detecting a location of a technician within a pre-determined distance of a first malfunctioning ATM on the network;

identifying a second malfunctioning ATM that is within a pre-determined distance of the first malfunctioning ATM;

prioritizing a severity of one or more malfunctioning capabilities of each malfunctioning ATM;

based on the prioritizing, assigning a value to each malfunctioning ATM, the value corresponding to an order in which each malfunctioning ATM is to be serviced by the technician;

configuring each malfunctioning ATM to;

activate a first communication link and establish communication with one or more other ATMs on the network;

transmit over the first communication link the one or more malfunctioning capabilities of each malfunctioning ATM to the one or more other ATMs on the network;

using the first communication link, request that the one or more other ATMs on the network communicate to each malfunctioning ATM whether the one or more other ATMs are operational with respect to the one or more malfunctioning capabilities of each malfunctioning ATM;

receive a response from the one or more other ATMs on the network that are operational with respect to the one or more malfunctioning capabilities of each malfunctioning ATM;

in response to receiving responses from the one or more other ATMs, display on each malfunctioning ATM during a standby state of each malfunctioning ATM;

a location of the one or more other ATMs that are within a pre-determined distance of the malfunctioning ATM and that are operational with respect to the one or more malfunctioning capabilities; and

an estimated wait-time for using the one or more ATMs that are operational with respect to the one or more malfunctioning capabilities;

activating a second communication link configured to dispatch the technician to each malfunctioning ATM based on the value assigned to each malfunctioning ATM;

wherein, when a customer attempts to access the first malfunctioning ATM or the second malfunctioning ATM, the method further comprises;

transmitting a notification to a mobile device of the customer showing the location of and directions to the one or more other ATMs that are within the pre-determined distance of the malfunctioning ATM and that are operational with respect to the one or more malfunctioning capabilities; and

when a printer is operational at the first malfunctioning ATM or at the second malfunctioning ATM, printing a receipt showing the location of and directions to the one or more other ATMs that are within the pre-determined distance of the malfunctioning ATM and that are operational with respect to the one or more malfunctioning capabilities.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising machine executable instructions for, in response to auto-detecting the presence of the technician, identifying an operational ATM in need of predictive maintenance.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising machine executable instructions for calculating directions from the first malfunctioning ATM to the second malfunctioning ATM.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising machine executable instructions for:

monitoring a change in the location of the technician; and

recalculating directions to the second malfunctioning ATM based on the change.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the operational status of each ATM on the network comprises an operational status of:

an ATM cash dispenser;

an ATM cash acceptor;

an ATM statement printer;

an ATM to scan checks; and

an ATM to print images of scanned checks.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the auto-detecting the location of the technician comprises tracking GPS coordinates of a device associated with the technician.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the machine executable instructions comprise machine executable instructions for:

monitoring imposition of a fee to use each ATM on the network; and

in response to a detection of the one or more malfunctioning capabilities, configuring each malfunctioning ATM to display the fee for using one or more operational ATMs that are within a pre-determined distance of the malfunctioning ATM.

8. An automated teller machine (“

ATM”

) that performs a computer implemented method for remotely accessing an operational status of a plurality of other ATMs on a network, the method comprising using a computer system of the ATM;

monitoring an operational status of the plurality of other ATMs;

receiving a request for ATM information from a device associated with a technician;

in response to receiving the request, determining a geographic location of the device used to transmit the request for ATM information;

identifying a malfunctioning ATM associated with a malfunctioning capability within a pre-determined distance of the geographic location;

directing the technician to the malfunctioning ATM;

identifying an operational ATM in need of preventive maintenance within a pre-determined distance of the malfunctioning ATM;

before the technician arrives at the malfunctioning ATM, configuring the malfunctioning ATM to;

activate a communication link and establish communication with at least one other ATM on the network;

broadcast, over the communication link the malfunctioning capability to the at least one other ATM on the network;

use the communication link to request that the at least one other ATM on the network communicate to the malfunctioning ATM whether the at least one other ATM is operational with respect to the malfunctioning capability;

receive a response from the at least one other ATM on the network that it is operational with respect to the malfunctioning capability;

in response to receiving the response from the at least one other ATM, display, during a standby state, directions to the at least one other ATM that is operational with respect to the malfunctioning capability; and

directing the technician to the operational ATM in need of preventive maintenance after receiving confirmation that the malfunctioning capability of the malfunctioning ATM has been repaired;

wherein, when a customer attempts to access the malfunctioning ATM, the malfunctioning ATM is further configured to;

transmit a notification to a mobile device of the customer, the notification showing the location of the at least one other ATM that is within a pre-determined distance of the mobile device and that is operational with respect to the malfunctioning capability; and

when a printer of the malfunctioning ATM is operational, printing a receipt showing the location of the at least one other ATM that is within the pre-determined distance of the customer'"'"'s mobile device and that is operational with respect to the malfunctioning capability.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the further comprises configuring the malfunctioning ATM to display an estimated wait time to use the at least one other ATM.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the method further comprises configuring the malfunctioning ATM to display a fee to use at least one of a plurality of capabilities of the at least one other ATM.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein, in the method, each of a plurality of ATM capabilities associated with the at least one other ATM is functional.