Time analysis at a banking system controlled by data bearing records

• US 8,714,444 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gromley, Neil, Cairns, Dustin, Lawver, Mike, Reese, Rodney J., Harroff, B. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): TARDIF, DAVID P
• Application Number:
  US12/460,642
• Time in Patent Office: 1,750 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3272 using an audio code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors

Abstract

A banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records utilizes a telephone system in acquiring, communicating, and/or processing time analysis data related to the duration of financial transaction activity in a drive-through lane of a bank facility. Vehicle sensors sense arrival and departure of vehicles in the drive-through lane. The system can calculate and store time data corresponding to each vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of acquiring metrics at a facility adapted to accomplish transactions,

wherein the facility includes:

a telephone system,

wherein the telephone system is operative to use dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signals,

at least one drive-through lane,

at least one transaction device operative to exchange items with persons in vehicles in the at least one drive-through lane,

at least one vehicle sensor operative to sense a vehicle at at least one position in the at least one drive-through lane,

at least one telephone switching interface device in operative connection with the at least one vehicle sensor and the telephone system,

wherein the at least one telephone switching interface device is operative to produce telephony communication signals that correspond to DTMF signals,

at least one processor in operative connection with at least one data store and in operative connection with the at least one telephone switching interface device,

wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine at least one characteristic associated with the vehicle at the at least one position,

wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause a determined characteristic to be stored in the at least one data store,

the method comprising;

(a) operating the at least one vehicle sensor to sense a vehicle at a position in the at least one drive-through lane;

(b) subsequent to step (a), operating the at least one vehicle sensor to communicate at least one signal associated with the vehicle sensed in step (a) to the at least one telephone switching interface device;

(c) subsequent to step (b), operating the at least one telephone switching interface device to communicate at least one telephony communication signal associated with the vehicle sensed in step (a) to the telephone system,

wherein the at least one telephony communication signal corresponds to at least one DTMF signal;

(d) subsequent to step (c), operating the telephone system to communicate at least one signal associated with the vehicle sensed in step (a) to the at least one processor;

(e) subsequent to step (d), determining at least one characteristic associated with the vehicle sensed in step (a) responsive to operation of the at least one processor; and

(f) subsequent to step (e), storing in the at least one data store, responsive to operation of the at least one processor, the at least one characteristic determined in step (e).

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the facility comprises a bank facility, wherein in step (a) includes operating at least one vehicle sensor to sense a vehicle at a position in a drive-through lane of the bank facility.

3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

(g) sensing, with the at least one vehicle sensor, an arrival of the vehicle at an initial position at an entrance to the at least one drive-through lane;

(h) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the arrival of the vehicle at the initial position at the entrance to the at least one drive-through lane, to the at least one telephone switching interface;

(i) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the arrival of the vehicle at the initial position at the entrance to the at least one drive-through lane, to the telephone system;

(j) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the arrival of the vehicle at the initial position at the entrance to the at least one drive-through lane, to the at least one processor;

(k) determining responsive to operation of the at least one processor, at least one time value corresponding to the arrival of the vehicle at the initial position at the entrance to the at least one drive-through lane; and

(l) storing, in the at least one data store, through operation of the at least one processor, data corresponding to the at least one time value, wherein the at least one time value corresponds to the arrival of the vehicle at the initial position at the entrance to the at least one drive-through lane.

4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

(g) sensing, with the at least one vehicle sensor, an arrival of the vehicle at a position in the at least one drive-through lane adjacent the transaction device;

(h) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the arrival of the vehicle at the position in the at least one drive-through lane adjacent the transaction device, to the at least one telephone switching interface;

(i) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the arrival of the vehicle at the position in the at least one drive-through lane adjacent the transaction device, to the telephone system;

(j) communicating at least one signal-corresponding to the arrival of the vehicle at the position in the at least one drive-through lane adjacent the transaction device, to the at least one processor;

(k) determining at least one time value corresponding to the arrival of the vehicle at the position in the at least one through lane adjacent the transaction device; and

(l) storing, in the at least one data store, through operation of the at least one processor, the at least one time value corresponding to the arrival of the vehicle at the position in the at least one drive-through lane adjacent the transaction device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the facility further includes

at least one transaction initiation device operative to alert a service provider within the facility,

at least one transaction initiation sensor operative to sense a transaction initiation,

wherein the at least one telephone switching interface device is in operative connection with the at least one transaction initiation sensor, and

wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine at least one transaction initiation time value corresponding to a transaction initiation sensing by the at least one transaction initiation sensor,

wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the at least one transaction initiation time value to be stored in the at least one data store,

wherein the method further comprises:

(g) sensing, through operation of the at least one transaction initiation sensor, a transaction initiation;

(h) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the transaction initiation, to the at least one telephone switching interface;

(i) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the transaction initiation, to the telephone system;

(j) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the transaction initiation, to the at least one processor;

(k) determining through operation of the at least one processor at least one transaction initiation time value corresponding to the transaction initiation; and

(l) storing, in the at least one data store, through operation of the at least one processor, the at least one transaction initiation time value.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the facility further includes at least one transaction sensor operative to sense an item exchange,

wherein the at least one telephone switching interface device is in operative connection with the at least one transaction sensor, and

wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine at least one item exchange time value corresponding to an exchange of an item,

wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the at least one item exchange time value to be stored in the at least one data store,

wherein the method further comprises:

(g) sensing, through operation of the at least one transaction sensor, an item exchange;

(h) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the item exchange, to the at least one telephone switching interface;

(i) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the item exchange, from the at least one telephone switching interface to the telephone system;

(j) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the item exchange, to the at least one processor;

(k) determining through operation of the at least one processor at least one item exchange time value corresponding to the item exchange; and

(l) storing, in the at least one data store, through operation of the at least one processor, the at least one item exchange time value.

7. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

(g) sensing, with the at least one vehicle sensor, a departure of the vehicle from a position in the at least one drive-through lane adjacent the transaction device;

(h) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the departure, to the at least one telephone switching interface;

(i) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the departure, from the at least one telephone switching interface to the telephone system;

(j) communicating at least one signal. corresponding to the departure, to the at least one processor;

(k) determining through operation of the at least one processor at least one departure time value corresponding to the departure; and

(l) storing, in the at least one data store, through operation of the at least one processor, the at least one departure time value.

8. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

(g) sensing, with the at least one vehicle sensor, an arrival of the vehicle at a position at an exit from the at least one drive-through lane;

(h) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the arrival, to the at least one telephone switching interface;

(i) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the arrival, to the telephone system;

(j) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the arrival, to the at least one processor;

(k) determining through operation of the at least one processor at least one arrival time value corresponding to the arrival; and

(l) storing, in the at least one data store, through operation of the at least one processor, the at least one arrival time value.

9. The method of claim 1

wherein step (a) includes operating the at least one vehicle sensor to sense arrival of a vehicle in a drive-through lane,

wherein step (e) includes determining through operation of the at least one processor, at least one arrival time value corresponding to the arrival sensed in step (a),

wherein step (f) includes storing in the at least one data store, responsive to operation of the at least one processor, the at-least one arrival, time value determined in step (e),

and further comprising:

(g) operating the at least one vehicle sensor to sense a departure of the vehicle from the position in the at least one drive-through lane;

(h) subsequent to step (g), operating the at least one vehicle sensor to communicate at least one signal corresponding to the departure sensed in step (g) to the at least one telephone switching interface device;

(i) subsequent to step (h), operating the at least one telephone switching interface device to communicate at least one communication signal corresponding to the departure sensed in step (g) to the telephone system;

(j) subsequent to step (i), operating the telephone system to communicate at least one signal corresponding to the departure sensed in step (g) to the at least one processor;

(k) subsequent to step (j) determining at least one departure time value corresponding to the departure sensed in step (g) responsive to operation of the at least one processor; and

(l) subsequent to step (k), storing in the at least one data store, responsive to operation of the at least one processor, the at least one departure time value determined in step (k).

10. The method of claim 1

wherein the at least one telephone switching interface device is operative to generate DTMF signals,

wherein the at least one telephone switching interface device comprises a Private Branch eXchange (PBX) interface device or a Private Automated Branch Exchange (PABX) interface device,

wherein step (c) includes operating the at least one telephone switching interface device to communicate to the telephone system. at least one DTMF signal that corresponds to the vehicle sensed in step (a).

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the facility comprises a pharmacy facility, wherein in step (a) includes operating at least one vehicle sensor to sense a vehicle at a position in a drive-through lane of the pharmacy facility.

12. A method of improving the operation of a facility adapted to accomplish transactions,

the facility including:

a telephone system,

wherein the telephone system is operative to use dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF1 signals,

at least one drive-through lane,

at least one transaction initiation device operative to alert a service provider within the facility,

at least one transaction device usable in exchanging items with persons in vehicles in the at least one drive-through lane,

at least one sensor operative to sense an occurrence of at least one event related to a person in a vehicle at a drive-through lane of the facility,

at least one telephone exchange switching interface device in operative connection with the at least one sensor and the telephone system,

wherein the at least one telephone exchange is operative to provide telephony signals that correspond to DTMF signals,

at least one processor

in operative connection with

at least one data store and

the at least one telephone exchange, and

operative to

determine at least one characteristic associated with to the at least one event, and

cause the at least one characteristic to be stored in the at least one data store,

the method comprising;

(a) sensing, with the at least one sensor, the occurrence of the at least one event related to a person in a vehicle at a drive-through lane of the facility;

(b) communicating at least one signal associated with the at least one event to the at least one telephone exchange, responsive to the sensing in step (a);

(c) receiving with the at least one telephone exchange, at least one signal communicated in step (b);

(d) operating the at least one telephone exchange to communicate at least one telephony signal associated with the at least one event to the telephone system;

responsive to step (c),

wherein the at least one telephony signal corresponds to at least one DTMF signal;

(e) operating the at least one processor to receive at least one signal associated with the at least one event, responsive to step (d);

(f) determining responsive to operation of the at least one processor, at least one characteristic associated with the at least one event, responsive to step (e); and

(g) storing in the at least one data store, responsive to operation of the at least one processor, the at least one characteristic determined in step (f).

13. The method of claim 12 and further comprising:

(h) modeling using discrete event simulation software, the operation of the facility; and

(i) responsive to step (g), altering the operation of the facility, whereby the operation of the facility is improved.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein in step (a) the facility includes a pharmacy.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein in step (a) the facility comprises a bank.

16. The method according to claim 12 wherein in step (e) the telephone system includes the at least one processor.

19. The method of claim 12

wherein the at least one telephone exchange is operative to generate DTMF signals,

wherein the at least one telephone, exchange comprises a Private Branch eXchange (PBX) or a Private Automated Branch Exchange (PABX),

wherein step (d) includes operating the at least one telephone exchange to communicate to the telephone system, at least one DTMF signal that corresponds to the at least one event.

17. A method of improving the operation of a facility adapted to accomplish transactions,

the facility including:

a telephone system,

at least one drive-through lane,

at least one transaction initiation device operative to alert a service provider within the facility,

at least one transaction device usable in exchanging items with persons in vehicles in the at least one drive-through lane,

at least one sensor operative to sense an occurrence of at least one event related to a person in a vehicle at a drive-through lane of the facility,

at least one telephone switching interface device in operative connection with the at least one sensor and the telephone system,

at least one processor

in operative connection with

at least one data store and

the at least one telephone switching interface device, and

operative to determine at least one characteristic corresponding to the at least one event, and cause the at least one characteristic to be stored in the at least one data store,

the method comprising;

(a) sensing, with the at least one sensor, the occurrence of the at least one event related to a person in a vehicle at a drive-through lane of the facility;

(b) communicating at least one signal corresponding to the at least one event to the at least one telephone switching interface device, responsive to sensing in step (a);

(c) receiving with the at least one telephone switching interface device, at least one signal communicated in step (b);

(d) operating the at least one telephone switching interface device to communicate at least one dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal corresponding to the at least one event to the telephone system, responsive to step (c);

(e) operating the at least one processor to receive at least one signal corresponding to the at least one event, responsive to step (d);

(f) determining responsive to operation of the at least one processor, at least one characteristic corresponding to the at least one event, responsive to step (e); and

(g) storing in the at least one data store, responsive to operation of the at least one processor, the at least one characteristic determined in step (f).

18. A method of acquiring metrics at a facility adapted to accomplish transactions,

wherein the facility includes:

a telephone system,

at least one drive-through lane,

at least one transaction device operative to exchange items with persons in vehicles in the at least one drive-through lane,

at least one vehicle sensor operative to sense a vehicle at at least one position in the at least one drive-through lane,

at least one telephone switching interface device in operative connection with the at least one vehicle sensor and the telephone system,

wherein the at least one telephone switching interface device is operative to generate at least one dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal,

at least one processor in operative connection with at least one data store and in. operative connection with the at least one telephone switching interface device,

wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine at least one characteristic corresponding to the vehicle at the at least one position,

wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause a determined characteristic to be stored in the at least one data store,

the method comprising;

(a) operating the at least one vehicle sensor to sense a vehicle at a position in the at least one drive-through lane;

(b) subsequent to step (a), operating the at least one vehicle sensor to communicate at least one signal corresponding to the vehicle sensed in step (a) to the at least one telephone switching interface device;

(c) subsequent to step (b), operating the at least one telephone switching interface device to communicate at least one DTMF signal corresponding to the vehicle sensed in step (a) to the telephone system;

(d) subsequent to step (c), operating the telephone system to communicate at least one signal corresponding to the vehicle sensed in step (a) to the at least one processor;

(e) subsequent to step (d), determining at least one characteristic corresponding to the vehicle sensed in step (a) responsive to operation of the at least one processor; and

(f) subsequent to step (e), storing in the at least one data store, responsive to operation of the at least one processor, the at least one characteristic determined in step (e).