Automated financial transaction apparatus with interface that adjusts to the user

• US 7,644,039 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Therrien, Alex, Schlegelmilch, Richard F., Stephan, Paul H., Delaney, Daniel J., Magee, Paul, Ganger, Gary A., Barker, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell; James P
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREENE, DANIEL LAWSON
• Application Number:
  US09/778,604
• Time in Patent Office: 3,254 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 186/36, 186/136, 705/14, 705/43, 705/44, 705/40, 345/173, 345/156, 345/170, 345/788, 345/967, 348/14.09, 348/14.11
• US Class Current: 705/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs

Abstract

An automated financial transaction apparatus (10) includes a touch screen interface (14) and a plurality of transaction function devices (22, 34, 36, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58) which operate to carry out financial transactions for users. A reading device (18, 78) senses characteristic features of users who operate the machine. Data stored in at least one data store associated with at least one computer (62, 118, 120) includes data representative of the characteristic features associated with a plurality of users and for each user, at least one interface parameter. The apparatus operates so that when the characteristic feature associated with a particular user is sensed by the reading device, the display screen and other input and output devices are changed in position or operation to accommodate the stature, disabilities, desires or other special requirements of the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) storing in at least one data store in operative connection with at least one computer, data corresponding to a plurality of users, wherein the data associates each respective one of the plurality of users with at least one characteristic feature and at least one interface parameter;

b) sensing with a reading device in operative connection with an automated financial transaction apparatus, at least one characteristic feature of a user adjacent to the automated financial transaction apparatus;

c) determining from the at least one data store through operation of the at least one computer responsive to the at least one characteristic feature sensed in step (b), the at least one interface parameter associated with the user in the at least one data store;

d) moving through operation of the at least one computer, a display screen of the automated financial transaction apparatus with a moving device responsive to the at least one interface parameter determined in step (c).

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (d) the display screen is moved to change a height of the display screen.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (d) the display screen is moved to change a tilt angle of the display screen.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (d) the display screen is moved to change both a height and a tilt angle of the display screen.

5. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

e) providing responsive to operation of the at least one computer, at least one output through the display screen responsive to the at least one interface parameter determined in step (c).

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein in step (e) the at least one output includes text material, and wherein size of the text material included in the at least one output is determined responsive to the at least one interface parameter.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein in step (e) the at least one output includes an icon, and wherein size of the icon included in the at least one output is determined responsive to the at least one interface parameter determined in step (c).

8. The method according to claim 5 wherein in step (e) the at least one output includes text material, and wherein language of the text material is determined responsive to the at least one interface parameter determined in step (c).

9. The method according to claim 5 wherein in step (e) the at least one output includes at least one numeral, and wherein size of the at least one numeral is determined responsive to the at least one interface parameter determined in step (c).

10. The method according to claim 5 wherein in step (e) the at least one output includes at least two colors, and wherein at least one of the colors is determined responsive to the at least one interface parameter determined in step (c).

11. The method according to claim 5 wherein in step (e) a sequence comprising a plurality of outputs is presented, and wherein the sequence is determined responsive to the at least one interface parameter determined in step (c).

12. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

e) controlling at least one audio output device in operative connection with the apparatus, responsive to the at least one interface parameter determined in step (c).

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein in step (e) the volume of the at least one audio output device is controlled responsive to the at least one interface parameter determined in step (c).

14. The method according to claim 12 and prior to step (e) further comprising the step of:

f) connecting a portable audio output device associated with the user to a connector in operative connection with the apparatus.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein step (e) includes making a handset accessible to the user.

16. The method according to claim 12 wherein step (e) includes generating white noise through the at least one audio output device.

17. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

e) controlling at least one audio input device in operative connection with the apparatus, responsive to the at least one interface parameter determined in step (c).

18. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

e) activating input capability of at least one tactile input device in operative connection with the apparatus, responsive to the at least one interface parameter determined in step (c).

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the at least one transaction function device is operative to dispense cash, wherein in step (e) the at least one tactile input device includes a keypad, wherein inputs to the keypad are operative to control at least one transaction function device in operative connection with the at least one computer.

20. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

e) rendering the display screen inoperative to show transaction information responsive to the at least one interface parameter determined in step (c).

21. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (a) the at least one characteristic feature for each user corresponds to an appearance feature.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein in step (a) the appearance feature includes at least one feature of facial appearance.

23. The method according to claim 21 wherein in step (a) the appearance feature includes eye appearance.

24. The method according to claim 21 wherein in step (a) the appearance feature includes at least a portion of at least one fingerprint.

25. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (a) at least one characteristic feature for each user corresponds to both an appearance feature and a voice feature.

26. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (a) the at least one characteristic feature for each user corresponds to data included on an article carryable by the user.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein in step (a) the data corresponds to an account number associated with the user.

28. The method according to claim 1 wherein in step (a) at least one characteristic feature of each user corresponds to a voice feature of the user.

29. The method according to claim 1 wherein the automated financial transaction apparatus comprises an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser device, and further comprising

(e) reading first data from a data bearing record provided by the user;

(f) operating the at least one computer to cause the first data read in step (e) to be compared with authorized user data stored in the at least one data store;

(g) reading second data provided by the user;

(h) operating the at least one computer to cause the second data read in step (g) to be compared with authorized user data stored in the at least one data store; and

(i) responsive to a positive comparisons in both step (f) and step (h), determining that the machine user is an authorized user of the machine, wherein an authorized user is permitted use the machine to reallocate money among various financial accounts.

30. An apparatus comprising:

at least one data store,

wherein the at least one data has stored therein, data corresponding to a plurality of users, wherein the data associates each respective one of the plurality of users with at least one characteristic feature and at least one interface parameter,

a reading device in operative connection with an automated financial transaction apparatus including a display screen,

wherein the reading device is operative to sense at least one characteristic feature of a user adjacent to the automated financial transaction apparatus,

at least one computer,

wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with the at least one data store,

wherein the at least one computer, responsive to the at least one characteristic feature of a user sensed by the reading device, is operative to determine from the at least one data store, the at least one interface parameter associated with the user in the at least one data store, and

wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the display screen to be moved with a moving device responsive to the at least one interface parameter determined from the at least one data store.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the moving device enables changing the height and tilt angle of the display screen, and wherein the height and tilt angle are changed through operation of the at least one computer in accordance with the at least one interface parameter associated with the user.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising a tactile input device and a transaction function device including at least one of a cash dispenser and a cash acceptor, and wherein the at least one computer is operative in accordance with the at least one interface parameter associated with the user to enable the transaction function device to operate responsive to at least one input to the tactile input device.

33. The apparatus according to claim 30 and further comprising an audio input device and a transaction function device, wherein the transaction function device includes at least one of a cash dispenser and a cash acceptor, and wherein the at least one computer is operative in accordance with the at least one interface parameter associated with the user to cause the transaction function device to operate responsive to at least one input to the audio input device.

34. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the reading device includes an imaging device, wherein the characteristic feature sensed by the reading device includes an appearance feature of a user of the automated financial transaction apparatus.

35. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the automated financial transaction apparatus comprises an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser device,

wherein the reading device is operative to read first data from a data bearing record provided by the user,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause read first data to be compared with authorized user data stored in the at least one data store,

wherein the reading device is operative to read second data provided by the user,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause read second data to be compared with authorized user data stored in the at least one data store,

wherein responsive to both a positive comparison of the read first data with authorized user data and a positive comparison of the read second data with authorized user data, the at least one computer is operative to determine that the machine user is an authorized user of the machine, wherein an authorized user is permitted use the machine to reallocate money among various financial accounts.

36. An automated financial transaction apparatus comprising:

a reading device operative to sense at least one characteristic feature associated with each of a plurality of users;

a movably mounted display screen;

a movement mechanism in operative connection with the display screen;

a computer in operative connection with a data store, the computer also in operative connection with the reading device and the movement mechanism, wherein the data store includes data corresponding to a plurality of characteristic features, wherein at least one of the characteristic features corresponds to at least one of the plurality of users, and for each one of the characteristic features at least one associated interface parameter, wherein the interface parameter corresponds to a position of the display screen;

wherein the computer is operative responsive to the reading device sensing a first characteristic feature corresponding to one of the plurality of users, to cause the movement mechanism to move the display screen to a position corresponding to an interface parameter associated in the data store with the first characteristic feature.

37. An automated financial transaction apparatus comprising:

a data receiving device operative to receive data indicative of at least one characteristic feature corresponding to a user;

a display screen device;

at least one actuator selectively operable to physically move the display screen device;

at least one computer in operative connection with the at least one actuator and at least one data store, wherein the data store includes data representative of a plurality of characteristic features, and for each characteristic feature, a corresponding user and at least one interface parameter,

wherein the at least one computer is operative responsive to the data receiving device receiving data indicative of at least one first user characteristic feature, to

determine first user data corresponding to a first user,

determine at least one first user interface parameter corresponding to the first user data, and

cause the at least one actuator to either operate or not operate to physically move the display screen device based on the at least one first user interface parameter.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the at least one actuator is operative to change an angle of view of the display screen device.

39. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the at least one first user characteristic feature comprises a biometric input.

40. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the at least one first user characteristic feature comprises a wireless signal from a portable device.

41. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the at least one actuator is operative to change vertical height of the display screen device.

42. An automated financial transaction apparatus comprising:

a display screen device,

at least one computer,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to permit an authorized user to carry out a transaction,

wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause to be determined for each respective one of a plurality of authorized users, at least one respective interface parameter correlated in at least one data store with the respective authorized user,

wherein for each respective authorized user, the correlated at least one respective interface parameter includes a respective display screen device position, and

wherein for each respective authorized user the at least one computer is operative to cause the display screen device to be physically moved to the respective display screen device position correlated with that respective authorized user in the at least one data store.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42 and further comprising at least one actuator operable to physically move the display screen device, and wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the at least one actuator to physically move the display screen device.