Self service terminal

• US 20040118911A1
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Black, Jonathan S., Smith, Martin R., Strachan, Neil A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,357,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• 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) that is adapted to: receive a text message, in particular an SMS message, from a mobile telecommunications device (36); interpret the received text message, and provide information or a service in response to the received text message. Preferably, the information is printed out and the print out is provided to the customer.

Claims

1. A self-service terminal comprising:

means for receiving a text message from a mobile telecommunications device;

means for interpreting the received text message; and

means for providing information or a service in response to the received text message.

2. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for recording details of mobile telecommunications devices that have been used to access information or services.

3. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 2, wherein the recording means includes means for recording telephone numbers of mobile telecommunications devices.

4. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for sending a message to a mobile telecommunications device in response to the text message received therefrom.

5. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a printer for printing out information provided.

6. A self-service terminal comprising:

means for receiving an audio message from a mobile telecommunications device;

means for interpreting the received audio message; and

means for providing information or a service in response to the received audio message.

7. A self service terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein the interpreting means includes speech recognition software for interpreting the audio message received from the mobile telecommunications device.

8. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for recording details of mobile telecommunications devices that have been used to access information or services.

9. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the recording means includes means for recording telephone numbers of mobile telecommunications devices.

10. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for sending a message to a mobile telecommunications device in response to the audio message received therefrom.

11. A self-service terminal as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a printer for printing out information provided.

12. A method comprising:

receiving at a self-service terminal a text or audio message from a mobile telecommunications device;

interpreting the received text or audio message; and

providing information or a service in response to the received text or audio message.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising identifying information requested on the basis of a keyword included in the text or audio message.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising recording details of mobile telecommunications devices that have been used to access information or services.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising using details of a mobile telecommunications device to invoice a self-service customer.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising sending a text message from the self-service terminal to the mobile telecommunications device.

17. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising printing out the information provided and dispensing the printed information to a self-service customer.

18. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising receiving information for providing to a self-service customer from a remote location.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the information from the remote location is received via a WAP communication channel.

20. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the self-service terminal comprises an automated teller machine (ATM).

21. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the self-service terminal comprises a point of sale (POS) terminal.

22. A program storage medium readable by a computer having a memory, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for operating a self-service terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

interpreting a text or audio message received from a mobile device; and

providing information or a service in response to the received text or audio message.

23. A program storage medium as claimed in claim 22, wherein the method further comprises the step of identifying information requested on the basis of a keyword included in the text or audio message.

24. A program storage medium as claimed in claim 22, wherein the method further comprises the step of printing out the information provided.