Cash dispensing automated banking machine diagnostic method
View Patent ↗An automated transaction machine including an extensions for financial services (XFS) layer is provided. An application interface portion of the XFS software layer is operative to communicate with an application software layer of the ATM which may include terminal applications. A hardware interface portion of the XFS software layer is operative to communicate with a hardware layer of the ATM which may include hardware devices of the ATM and associates service providers. A diagnostic application is operative to determine whether problems exists in the application software layer or the hardware layer of the ATM by causing a plurality of hardware devices to perform predefined operations using the XFS software layer and by monitoring the operations. The diagnostic application is operative to output a determination as to whether a problem with the ATM is associated with the components of the application or hardware layers of the ATM responsive to the success or failure of the operations.
1. A method of operating an automated teller machine (ATM) including a plurality of hardware devices, the hardware devices including a cash dispenser, at least one computer, at least one input device, at least one output device, an application software layer, an extensions for financial services (XFS) software layer, and a device driver software layer, the method comprising:
a) through operation of the at least one computer, receiving at least one input through the at least one input device;
b) through operation of the at least one computer, causing the ATM to operate responsive to the at least one input in (a), to carry out at least one test function with at least one of the plurality of hardware devices of the ATM through communication with the XFS software layer of the ATM;
c) through operation of the at least one computer, determining whether the at least one test function was carried out successfully;
d) through operation of the at least one computer, responsive to (c) providing at least one output through the at least one output device of the ATM, which at least one output is indicative of whether there is at least one problem with either the application software layer or at least one of the XFS layer, the device driver software layer and at least one of the hardware devices.
2. The method according to claim 1 :
wherein the XFS software layer includes an application interface portion and a hardware interface portion, wherein the application interface portion of the XFS software layer is operative to communicate with the application software layer of the ATM, and wherein the hardware interface portion of the XFS software layer is operative to communicate with the plurality of hardware devices of the ATM through communication with the device driver layer;
wherein in (b) the at least one test function includes performing a plurality of functions with a plurality of hardware devices of the ATM,
wherein in (c) the at least one test function is determined to be carried out successfully in (b) when all of the functions of the hardware devices are performed successfully;
wherein in (d) when the at least one test function is determined to be carried out successfully in (c), the at least one output is indicative of at least one problem with the application software layer.
3. The method according to claim 1 :
wherein the XFS software layer includes an application interface portion and a hardware interface portion, wherein the application interface portion of the XFS software layer is operative to communicate with the application software layer of the ATM, and wherein the hardware interface portion of the XFS software layer is operative to communicate with the plurality of hardware devices of the ATM through communication with the device driver layer;
wherein in (b) the at least one test function includes performing a plurality of functions with a plurality of hardware devices of the ATM,
wherein in (c) the at least one test function is determined not to be carried out successfully in (b) when at least one of the functions of the hardware devices are performed unsuccessfully;
wherein in (d) when the at least one test function is not determined to be carried out successfully in (c), the at least one output is indicative of at least one problem with at least one of the XFS layer, the device driver layer, and at least one of the hardware devices.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in (b) the at least one test function includes operating the cash dispenser.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the application software layer of the ATM includes a user interface application operative in the at least one computer of the ATM, wherein the user interface application is adapted to communicate with the XFS software layer to enable a customer to perform a financial transaction through operation of at least one of the plurality of hardware devices of the ATM, wherein the device driver layer includes a plurality of service provider software components operative in the at least one computer, wherein the XFS software layer is operative to communicate with the plurality of service provider software components to control the plurality of hardware devices, and wherein in (b) the at least one test function is carried out responsive to communication between the XFS software layer and at least one of the service provider software components.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the application software layer of the ATM includes a diagnostic application operative in the at least one computer of the ATM, wherein in (b) the diagnostic application causes the at least one computer to cause the ATM to carry out the at least one test function, and wherein in (d) the diagnostic application causes the at least one computer to provide the at least one output through the output device.
7. Computer readable media bearing computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one computer in an automated teller machine (ATM) including a plurality of hardware devices, the hardware devices including a cash dispenser, to cause the ATM to carry out a method comprising:
a) responsive to at least one input received through an input device of the ATM, carrying out at least one test function with at least one hardware device of the ATM responsive to operation of the at least one computer, wherein the at least one computer includes an application software layer, a device driver software layer, and an extensions for financial services (XFS) software layer, and wherein carrying out the at least one test function includes communicating with the XFS software layer of the ATM;
b) determining responsive to operation of the at least one computer, whether the at least one test function was carried out successfully; and
c) responsive to the determination in (b) providing at least one output through at least one output device of the ATM responsive to operation of the at least one computer, wherein at least one output is indicative of whether there is at least one problem with either the application software layer or at least one of the XFS software layer, the device driver layer, and at least one of the hardware devices.
8. The computer readable media according to claim 7 , wherein the instructions include a diagnostic software application, wherein in (a) the diagnostic software application is operative to cause the at least one computer to communicate with the XFS software layer, wherein such communication causes the at least one test function to be carried out by the ATM.
9. The computer readable media according to claim 7 , wherein the device driver layer includes a plurality of device driver software components operative to communicate with the plurality of hardware devices in the ATM, wherein in (a) carrying out the at least one test function includes attempting to cause the at least one hardware device to operate through communication between the XFS software layer and at least one of the device driver software components.
10. The computer readable media according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one device driver software component includes a service provider software component, wherein in (a) carrying out the at least one test function includes attempting to cause the at least one hardware device to operate through communication between the XFS software layer and the service provider software component.
11. The computer readable media according to claim 7 , wherein in (a) the at least one test function includes operating the cash dispenser.
12. The computer readable media according to claim 11 , wherein in (b) the at least one test function is determined to be carried out successfully, and wherein in (c), responsive to the determination in (b), the at least one output is indicative of at least one problem with the application software layer.
13. The computer readable media according to claim 11 , wherein in (b) the at least one test function is determined not to be carried out successfully, and wherein in (c), responsive to the determination in (b), the at least one output is indicative of at least one problem with the at least one of the XFS software layer, device driver layer, and at least one of the hardware devices.
14. A method of operating an automated teller machine (ATM) including a plurality of hardware devices, the plurality of hardware devices including a cash dispenser, at least one computer, at least one input device, at least one output device, an application software, a device driver software, and an extensions for financial services (XFS) software, the method comprising:
a) providing through operation of the at least one input device, at least one input, wherein responsive to the at least one input, the at least one computer:
i) causes the ATM to carry out at least one test function with at least one hardware device through communication with the XFS software of the ATM;
ii) determines whether the at least one test function was carried out successfully; and
iii) causes responsive to the determination in (a)(ii), at least one output through the at least one output device of the ATM, which at least one output is indicative of whether there is at least one problem with either the application software or at least one of the XFS software, the device driver software, and at least one of the hardware devices;
b) responsive to the at least one output in (a)(iii), modifying the application software or at least one of the XFS software, the device driver software, and at least of the hardware devices to correct the at least one problem with the ATM.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein responsive to the at least one output in (a)(iii) indicating at least one problem with the application software, wherein (b) includes modifying the application software.
16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein in (a) the at least one input further causes the at least one computer to cause at least one further output through the at least one output device which prompts a user to provide at least one further input through the at least one input device, which at least one further input confirms whether the at least one test function carried out in (a) (i) was carried out successfully or unsuccessfully, further comprising:
c) providing through operation of the at least one input device, the at least one further input.
17. An article including computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one computer in an automated teller machine (ATM) to cause the ATM to carry out a method, wherein the ATM includes a plurality of devices, wherein the devices include a cash dispenser, at least one input device, and at least one display device, wherein the at least one computer includes at least one extensions for financial service (XFS) software component, at least one device driver software component, and at least one application software component, wherein the at least one application software component causes at least one of the devices to operate through communication with the at least one XFS software component, the method comprising:
a) through operation of the at least one computer, receiving at least one input through the at least one input device of the ATM;
b) through operation of the at least one computer responsive to the at least one input in (a), communicating with the at least one XFS software component to attempt to cause the at least one device to carry out at least one test function;
c) through operation of the at least one computer, determining that the at least one test function was not carried out successfully by the at least one device;
d) through operation of the at least one computer responsive to the determination in (c), causing the at least one display device to provide at least one output wherein the at least one output visually indicates that there is at least one problem: with at least one of the at least one XFS software component, the at least one device driver software component, and the at least one device; and not with the at least one application software component.
18. The article according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one device driver software component includes a service provider software component, wherein in (b) at least one XFS software component communicates with the service provider software component to attempt to cause the with at least one device to carry out the at least one test function.
19. The article according to claim 18 , wherein in (d) the at least one device includes the cash dispenser.
20. An article including computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one computer in an automated teller machine (ATM) to cause the ATM to carry out a method, wherein the ATM includes a plurality of devices, wherein the devices include a cash dispenser, at least one input device, and at least one display device, wherein the at least one computer includes at least one extensions for financial service (XFS) software component, at least one device driver software component, and at least one application software component, wherein the at least one application software component causes at least one of the devices to operate through communication with the at least one XFS software component, the method comprising:
a) through operation of the at least one computer, receiving at least one input through the at least one input device of the ATM;
b) through operation of the at least one computer responsive to the at least one input in (a), communicating with the at least one XFS software component to attempt to cause the at least one device to carry out at least one test function;
c) through operation of the at least one computer, determining that the at least one test function was carried out successfully by the at least one device;
d) through operation of the at least one computer responsive to the determination in (c), causing the at least one display device to provide at least one output, wherein the at least one output visually indicates that there is at least one problem: with the at least one application software component; and not with at least one of the at least one XFS software component, the at least one device driver software component, and the at least one device.
21. The article according to claim 20 , wherein the at least one device driver software component includes a service provider software component, wherein in (b) service provider software component communicates with the at least one device responsive to the at least one XFS software component to cause the at least one device to carry out the at least one test function.
22. The article according to claim 21 , wherein in (d) the at least one device includes the cash dispenser.