Module

• US 20020060808A1
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Published: 05/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Nielsen, Paul, Henderson, Jim, Smith, Martin R., Walter, Mel, Rossmann, Wolf D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,233,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

A module (38), a terminal (12) including the module, and a system (10) including the terminal (12), are described. The module may be a printer module (38) comprising a print engine (60), a microcontroller (62), and a wireless receiver (66), such as a wireless modem, so that the module (38) is operable to receive data from a remote server (18) and to print the received data. The module (38) also includes a coupler (70 or 270) for directing data received from the wireless modem (66) to the microcontroller (62) and for directing data from the terminal (12) to the microcontroller (62). A method of printing tickets at a terminal (12) and a method of retro-fitting a self-service terminal (12) are also described.

Claims

1. A printer module comprising:

a print engine;

a wireless receiver for receiving data from a remote source; and

a microcontroller for controlling the print engine to print data associated with the remote source.

2. A module according to claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a wireless transceiver including means for confirming printing to the remote source.

3. A module according to claim 1, further comprising a coupler for directing data received from the wireless receiver to the microcontroller.

4. A module according to claim 3, wherein the coupler includes (i) means connectable to a fixed channel, and (ii) means for directing data received from the wireless receiver and/or from the fixed channel to the microcontroller.

5. A module according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller includes means for storing a number of templates, each template representing a predefined image, to avoid having to receive an image each time a ticket is to be printed.

6. A module according to claim 1, further comprising means for powering the wireless receiver.

7. A terminal comprising:

a controller; and

a printer module in communication with the controller, the printer module including (i) a wireless receiver, (ii) means for printing data received from the controller, and (iii) means for printing data received from a remote source via the wireless receiver.

8. A system for printing tickets at a terminal, the system comprising:

a terminal including a printer module having a wireless receiver; and

a server for establishing a connection with the printer module via the wireless receiver and for transmitting data for printing by the printer module.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the terminal comprises a point of sale terminal.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein the terminal comprises a self-service terminal.

11. A method of printing tickets at a terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing a remote server using a wireless transceiver;

providing the remote server with the identity of a terminal having a printer module including a wireless receiver; and

requesting the remote server to print a ticket at the identified terminal by wireless transmission of data to the wireless receiver in the printer module.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the item dispensing module comprises a printer module which is modifiable by adding a wireless receiver thereto to enable the printer module to receive and print data from a remote source.

17. An ATM according to claim 16, wherein the wireless receiver comprises a wireless transceiver including means for confirming printing to the remote source.

18. An ATM according to claim 16, wherein the means coupled to the wireless receiver includes a print engine and a controller for controlling the print engine to print the received data onto the document.

19. An ATM according to claim 18, wherein the means coupled to the wireless receiver includes a coupler for directing data received from the wireless receiver to the controller.

20. An ATM according to claim 19, wherein the coupler includes (i) means connectable to a fixed channel, and (ii) means for directing data received from the wireless receiver and/or from the fixed channel to the controller.

21. An ATM according to claim 18, wherein the controller includes means for storing a number of templates, each template representing a predefined image, to avoid having to receive an image each time a document is to be printed.

12. A method of retro-fitting a self-service terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a self-service terminal having an item dispensing module; and

modifying the item dispensing module by adding wireless receiver capability.

14. A method of fulfilling pre-arranged transactions at a self-service terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving by wireless communication from a remote location a request to fulfil a pre-arranged transaction;

preparing a dispensable item for fulfilling the request; and

dispensing the item to a user to fulfil the request.

15. An item dispensing module comprising:

a dispensing engine;

a wireless receiver for receiving instructions from a remote source; and

a microcontroller for controlling the dispensing engine to dispense items according to the received instructions.

16. An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising:

a printer module including (i) a wireless receiver for receiving data from a remote source, and (ii) means coupled to the wireless receiver and for printing the received data onto a document; and

a dispenser module for dispensing the printed document.