Cash dispensing automated banking machine diagnostic system and method
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser. A lockable first fascia portion when unlocked enables access to a chest lock input device, inputs to which enable opening a chest door of the machine. Opening the first fascia portion also enables access to an actuator which enables moving a second fascia portion for conducting service activities. At least one computer in the machine selectively illuminates light emitting devices for purposes of facilitating user operation of the machine. Servicing the machine is facilitated through use of a portable diagnostic article which enables the controller to access diagnostic data stored in memory and which provides data indicative of the significance of the diagnostic data. A portable article of computer readable and writable media is also operative to cause the computer to gather data concerning the banking machine and record it on the media through a drive. The data gathered is then analyzed by a separate analysis computer.
1. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine including a plurality of transaction function devices, at least one of the transaction function devices including a cash dispenser, at least one computer in operative connection with a plurality of the transaction function devices, and at least one data store in operative connection with the at least one computer;
at least one analysis computer in operative connection with at least one analysis output device;
wherein the at least one data store includes data associated with the automated banking machine, wherein the data includes configurable settings of configurable features of the automated banking machine;
wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the data to be gathered and to output from the automated banking machine, indicia corresponding to the data in machine readable form;
wherein the at least one analysis computer is operative responsive to the indicia to produce at least one result corresponding to at least one error in configurable settings of configurable features of the automated banking machine, and to output result indicia corresponding to the at least one result through the at least one analysis output device.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising:
a computer media write device in operative connection with the at least one computer, wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the indicia to be recorded through operation of the media write device.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising:
removable computer media operatively releasibly engaged with the media write device, wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the indicia to be recorded on the removable computer readable media.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising:
a read and write device in operative connection with the at least one computer, and removable computer readable media in operative connection with the read and write device, and wherein the removable media includes instructions, and wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the data to be gathered responsive to the instructions.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the instructions are operative to cause the at least one computer to cause the indicia to be recorded on the removable media.
6. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine including a plurality of transaction function devices, at least one of the transaction function devices including a cash dispenser, at least one computer in operative connection with a plurality of the transaction function devices, and at least one data store in operative connection wit the at least one computer;
a read and write device in operative connection with the at least one computer, and removable computer readable media in operative connection with the read and write device, and wherein the removable media includes instructions,
wherein the at least one data store includes data associated with the automated banking machine, wherein the data includes at least one selected from a group including configurable settings of the banking machine, operational characteristics of at least one of the transaction function devices in a plurality of operations, and data predictive of at least one future need to service at least one transaction function device;
wherein responsive to the instructions included on the removable media, the at least one computer is operative to cause the data to be gathered and to record indicia corresponding to the data in machine readable form on the removable media.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the instructions are operative to cause at least one temporary file to be established in the at least one data store, and to cause gathered data to be stored in the at least one temporary file.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the instructions are further operative to cause the at least one computer to cause the at least one temporary file to be deleted after indicia is output.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the instructions are operative to cause at least one processing thread to be created in the at least one computer, and wherein the at least one processing thread is operative to cause the at least one temporary file to be established.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the instructions are operative to cause the at least one computer to delete the temporary file and terminate the at least one processing thread.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the banking machine further comprises a visual output device, and wherein the instructions are operative to cause the visual output device to provide at least one output indicative of gathering the data.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the at least one output is indicative of progress in gathering the data.
13. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the instructions are operative to cause the at least one computer to secure the data, wherein the indicia corresponds to secured data.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the indicia comprises password-protected data.
15. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the indicia comprises encrypted data.
16. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the read and write device comprises a drive, and wherein the instructions axe operative to cause the at least one computer to cause the removable computer readable media to be ejected from the drive.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 and further comprising an analysis computer separate from the at least one computer in the banking machine, wherein the analysis computer is in operative connection with at least one analysis media reading device, and wherein the analysis computer is operative to cause the analysis media reading device to read the indicia on the removable computer readable media and to analyze the data corresponding to the indicia.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17 and further comprising at least one analysis output device in operative connection with the analysis computer, wherein through analyzing the data the analysis computer is operative to produce at least one result, and wherein the analysis computer is operative to cause result indicia corresponding to the at least one result to be output through the analysis output device.
19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the analysis computer is operative to produce at least one result corresponding to errors in setting of configurable features of the banking machine.
20. mc apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the analysis computer is operative to produce at least one result corresponding to faults in operation of at least one transaction function device.
21. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein, the analysis computer is operative to produce at least one result predicting a future need to service the banking machine.
22. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the data is predictive of a future need to service at least one transaction function device in the banking machine, and further comprising at least one analysis computer in operative connection with at least one analysis output device, wherein the at least one analysis computer is operative responsive to the indicia to produce at least one result predicting a future need to service at least one transaction function device in the banking machine, and to output result indicia corresponding to the at least one result through the at least one analysis output device.
23. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the data is representative of configurable features in the banking machine, and further comprising at least one analysis computer in operative connection with at least one analysis output device, wherein the at least one analysis computer is operative responsive to the indicia to produce at least one result corresponding to at least one error in settings of configurable features of the banking machine, and to output result indicia corresponding to the at least one result through the at least one analysis output device.
24. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the data is representative of operational characteristics of at least one of the transaction function devices, and further comprising at least one analysis computer in operative connection with at least one analysis output device, wherein the at least one analysis computer is operative responsive to the indicia to produce at least one result corresponding to a fault in at least one of the transaction function devices, and to output result indicia corresponding to the at least one result through the at least one analysis output device.
25. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the at least one transaction function device comprises the cash dispenser, and wherein the at least one result is indicative of a fault with the cash dispenser.
26. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the data representative of operational characteristics is stored in a data store on the cash dispenser.
27. The apparatus according to claim 6 and further comprising at least one analysis computer separate from the at least one computer in the banking machine, wherein the analysis computer is in operative connection with at least one analysis media reading device, and wherein the analysis computer is operative to cause the analysis media reading device to read the indicia on the removable computer readable media, and to analyze the data corresponding to the indicia to determine at least one selected from a group including errors in setting configurable features of the banking machine, faults with at least one transaction function device, and a prediction of a future need to service at least one transaction function device.
28. The apparatus according to claim 6 and further comprising a visual output device on the banking machine and in operative connection with the at least one computer, and wherein the instructions are operative to cause the visual output device to provide an output indicating that the data is being gathered.