Self-service terminal

• US 20020139842A1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Swaine, Stephen W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,100,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/011 Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs

Abstract

A self-service terminal (10) having a user interface (14) for interacting with a user (12) is described. The terminal (10) includes sensing means (18, 20, or 22) for sensing physiological data associated with a user, analyzing means (74) for analyzing the physiological data to deduce the user'"'"'s emotional state, and control means (72) responsive to the analyzing means (74) for adapting the terminal'"'"'s interaction with the user in response to the user'"'"'s emotional state. A method of operating a self-service terminal is also described.

Claims

1. A self-service terminal having a user interface for interacting with a user, the self-service terminal comprising:

sensing means for sensing physiological data associated with a user;

analyzing means for analyzing the physiological data to deduce a user'"'"'s emotional state; and

control means responsive to the analyzing means for adapting the terminal'"'"'s interaction with a user in response to the user'"'"'s emotional state.

2. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means includes a contact device.

3. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means includes a number of touch-sensitive sensors for determining at least one type of physiological data.

4. A terminal according to claim 3, wherein types of physiological data include skin temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, and skin conductivity.

5. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means includes a non-contact device.

6. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means includes a voice monitoring system for detecting changes in a user'"'"'s voice.

7. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means includes a facial recognition system for detecting changes in a user'"'"'s facial appearance during a transaction.

8. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means includes a human iris camera for imaging a user'"'"'s iris and for detecting changes within the iris.

9. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means includes a gesture recognition system.

10. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing means includes an algorithm for deducing a user'"'"'s emotional state from physiological measurements taken from the user.

11. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control means includes a control application executing on the terminal.

13. An ATM according to claim 12, wherein the sensing means includes a contact device.

14. An ATM according to claim 12, wherein the sensing means includes a number of touch-sensitive sensors for determining a number of types of physiological data associated with an ATM customer.

15. An ATM according to claim 14, wherein types of physiological data include skin temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, and skin conductivity.

16. An ATM according to claim 12, wherein the sensing means includes a noncontact device.

17. An ATM according to claim 12, wherein the sensing means includes a voice monitoring system for detecting changes in an ATM customer'"'"'s voice.

18. An ATM according to claim 12, wherein the sensing means includes a facial recognition system for detecting changes in an ATM customer'"'"'s facial appearance during an ATM transaction.

19. An ATM according to claim 12, wherein the sensing means includes a human iris camera for imaging an ATM customer'"'"'s iris and for detecting changes within the iris.

20. An ATM according to claim 12, wherein the sensing means includes a gesture recognition system.

21. An ATM according to claim 12, wherein the deducing means includes an algorithm for deducing an ATM customer'"'"'s emotional state based upon sensed physiological data associated with the ATM customer.

22. An ATM according to claim 12, wherein the adapting means includes a control application executing on the ATM.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of sensing physiological data includes the step of sensing at least one of skin temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, and skin conductivity.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of sensing physiological data includes the step of detecting changes in a user'"'"'s voice.

26. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of sensing physiological data includes the step of detecting changes in a user'"'"'s facial appearance during a transaction.

27. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of sensing physiological data includes the steps of imaging a user'"'"'s iris and detecting changes within the iris.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the step of sensing physiological data includes the step of sensing at least one of skin temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, and skin conductivity.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein the step of sensing physiological data includes the step of detecting changes in an ATM customer'"'"'s voice.

31. A method according to claim 28, wherein the step of sensing physiological data includes the step of detecting changes in an ATM customer'"'"'s facial appearance during a transaction carried out at the ATM.

32. A method according to claim 28, wherein the step of sensing physiological data includes the steps of imaging an ATM customer'"'"'s iris and detecting changes within the iris.

12. An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising:

an ATM interface for interacting with an ATM customer;

sensing means for sensing physiological data associated with an ATM customer;

means for deducing an emotional state of an ATM customer based upon physiological data associated with the ATM customer; and

means for adapting the ATM interface to interact with an ATM customer based upon an emotional state of the ATM customer.

23. A method of operating a self-service terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing physiological data associated with a user of the terminal;

analyzing the physiological data to deduce the user'"'"'s emotional state; and

adapting the terminal'"'"'s interaction with the user in response to the user'"'"'s emotional state.

28. A method of operating an automated teller machine (ATM), the method comprising the steps of:

sensing physiological data associated with an ATM customer carrying out an ATM transaction at the ATM;

analyzing the physiological data to deduce an emotional state of an ATM customer; and

adapting an ATM customer interface to interact with the ATM customer based upon an emotional state of the ATM customer.