Cash dispensing automated banking machine maintenance system and method
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine ( 10 ) is operatively controlled from a front consumer user station ( 12 ) and a rear maintenance user station ( 14 ). The machine is operative to output a consumer user interface ( 28 ) through a front display device ( 16, 80 ). The consumer user interface includes interactive options for performing transactions with the machine including dispensing cash with a cash dispenser ( 32 ). The machine is further operative to output a maintenance user interface ( 30 ), through a rear display device ( 18, 82 ). The maintenance user interface includes options for configuring, troubleshooting, servicing and maintaining the machine. The operating system of the machine is operative to generate a desktop environment ( 84 ) that spans both the front display device and rear display device, such that a first portion ( 86 ) of the desktop is output by the first display device and a second portion ( 88 ) of the desktop is output by the second display device.
1. Apparatus comprising:
a cash dispensing automated transaction machine (ATM) including:
at least one computer, a cash dispenser in operative connection with the at least one computer, a maintenance user station, wherein the maintenance user station includes a maintenance display device and at least one maintenance input device, wherein the at least one maintenance input device includes at least one pointing device;
a consumer user station, wherein the consumer user station includes a consumer display device and at least one consumer input device, wherein the at least one consumer input device includes a keypad;
at least one markup language document;
at least one maintenance software component operative in the at least one computer, wherein the at least one maintenance software component operating in the at least one computer is operative responsive to the at least one markup language document to cause the maintenance display device to output a first maintenance user interface capable of being directed through operation of the at least one pointing device to cause at least one device in the ATM to operate, wherein the at least one maintenance software component operating in the at least one computer is operative responsive to the same at least one markup language document to cause the consumer display device to output a second maintenance user interface capable of being directed through operation of the keypad to cause the same at least one device in the ATM to operate.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one maintenance software component includes at least one event processor software component operative in the at least one computer to cause the at least one device in the ATM to operate, wherein the at least one markup language document includes at least one command instruction which associates an instruction to generate a visual user interface control with the at least one event processor software component, wherein the at least one maintenance software component operating in the at least one computer is operative responsive to the at least one command instruction to cause the maintenance display device to output a first visual user interface control in the first maintenance user interface which is accessible through operation of the at least one pointing device, wherein the at least one maintenance software component operating in the at least one computer is operative responsive to the same at least one command instruction to cause the consumer display device to output a second visual user interface control in the second maintenance user interface which is accessible though operation of the keypad, wherein the at least one computer is operative to invoke the at least one event processor software component responsive to the same at least one command instruction and at least one input from either the at least one pointing device directed to the first visual user interface control or the keypad directed to the second visual user interface control.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one computer is operative responsive to the event processor software component to cause the at least one device to perform at least one maintenance related function.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one device includes the cash dispenser.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause an operating system desktop environment to be generated, wherein the desktop environment spans both the consumer display device and the maintenance display device.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one computer is operative responsive to the at least one maintenance software component to cause the first maintenance user interface to be produced in a first portion of the desktop environment that is being output through the maintenance display device, and to cause the second maintenance user interface to be produced in a second portion of the desktop environment that is being output through the consumer display device.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pointing includes at least one of a track ball, mouse, and touch screen.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one maintenance input device does not include a keypad, wherein the at least one consumer input device does not include a pointing device.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one device in the ATM includes the cash dispenser.
10. A method of operating an automated transaction machine (ATM) including: at least one computer; a cash dispenser in operative connection with the at least one computer; a maintenance user station including a maintenance display device and at least one maintenance input device; a consumer user station including a consumer display device and at least one consumer input device; at least one markup language document; and at least one maintenance software component operative in the at least one computer, wherein the at least one maintenance input device includes a pointing device, wherein the at least one consumer input device includes a keypad, the method comprising:
a) through operation of the at least one maintenance software component operating in the at least one computer responsive to the at least one markup language document, causing the maintenance display device to output a first maintenance user interface capable of being directed through operation of the at least one pointing device to cause at least one device in the ATM to operate; and
b) through operation of the at least one maintenance software component operating in the at least one computer responsive to the same at least one markup language document, causing the consumer display device to output a second maintenance user interface capable of being directed through operation of the keypad to cause the same at least one device in the ATM to operate.
11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
c) receiving through operation of the at least one pointing device at least one first input directed to causing the first maintenance user interface to cause the at least one device in the ATM to operate;
d) responsive to (c) through operation of the at least one maintenance software component causing the at least one device in the ATM to operate;
e) receiving through operation of the keypad at least one second input directed to causing the second maintenance user interface to cause the at least one device in the ATM to operate;
f) responsive to (e) through operation of the at least one maintenance software component causing the at least one device in the ATM to operate.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one maintenance software component includes at least one event processor software component operative in the at least one computer to cause the at least one device in the ATM to operate, wherein the at least one markup language document includes at least one command instruction which associates an instruction to generate a visual user interface control with the at least one event processor software component, wherein (a) includes the at least one maintenance software component responsive to the at least one command instruction causing the maintenance display device to output a first visual user interface control in the first maintenance user interface which is accessible through operation of the at least one pointing device, wherein (b) includes the at least one maintenance software component responsive to the same at least one command instruction causing the consumer display device to output a second visual user interface control in the second maintenance user interface which is accessible though operation of the keypad, wherein in (c) the at least one first input accesses the first visual user interface control, wherein (d) includes the at least one maintenance software component causing the at least one computer to invoke the at least one event processor software component responsive to the at least one first input and the at least one command instruction, wherein in (e) the at least one second input accesses the second visual user interface control, wherein (f) includes the at least one maintenance software component causing the at least one computer to invoke the at least one event processor software component responsive to the at lest one second input and the same at least one command instruction.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein (d) and (f) include operating the at least one device of the ATM to perform at least one maintenance related function.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one device includes the cash dispenser.
15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein in (c) the at least one maintenance input device does not include a keypad, wherein in (e) the at least one consumer input device does not include a pointing device.
16. The method according to claim 11 , wherein in (d) and (f) the at least one device in the ATM includes the cash dispenser.
17. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
c) prior to (a) and (b) through operation of the at least one computer, generating an operating system desktop environment which spans both the consumer display device and the maintenance display device.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein (a) includes at least one maintenance software component causing the first maintenance user interface to be outputted in a first portion of the desktop environment that is being output through the maintenance display device, wherein (b) includes the at least one maintenance software component causing the second maintenance user interface to be outputted in a second portion of the desktop environment that is being output through the consumer display device.
19. The method according to claim 11 , wherein in (c) the at least one pointing device includes at least one of a track ball, mouse, and touch screen.
20. Computer readable media bearing computer executable instructions which are operative to cause the at least one computer included in the ATM to cause the ATM to carry out the method steps recited in claim 10 .