Cash dispensing automated banking machine diagnostic system and method
View Patent ↗A cash dispensing automated banking machine ( 10 ) operative responsive to user cards and methods of operating the machine to conduct diagnostic tests is provided. The automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and the machine carries out transaction functions for consumers including dispensing cash. Responsive to a diagnostic article a servicer interface may selectively output textual indicia included in service manuals. Servicers may also selectively conduct diagnostic activities at a servicer interface and a consumer interface on the machine.
1. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine including:
at least one housing bounding an interior area;
at least one service door,
wherein the at least one service door is movably mounted in operatively supported connection with the at least one housing,
wherein movement of the at least one service door is operative to control access to the interior area from a first side of the at least one housing;
a servicer interface,
wherein the servicer interface is in operatively supported connection with the at least one housing,
wherein the servicer interface includes at least one servicer input device and at least one servicer output device,
wherein the servicer interface is accessible by servicers positioned on the first side of the at least one housing;
a consumer interface,
wherein the consumer interface includes a card reader operative to read data on user cards that corresponds to financial accounts,
wherein the consumer interface is in operatively supported connection with the at least one housing,
wherein the consumer interface is operative by consumers to conduct transactions in which consumers receive cash from the automated banking machine,
wherein the consumer interface includes at least one consumer input device and at least one consumer output device, and
wherein the consumer interface is accessible by consumers positioned on a second side of the at least one housing opposed of the first side;
at least one cash dispenser,
wherein the at least one cash dispenser is in operatively supported connection with the at least one housing,
wherein the at least one cash dispenser is operative to dispense cash stored in at least one interior area of the housing through at least one opening accessible by consumers positioned on the second side of the at least one housing;
at least one processor associated with the machine,
wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the servicer interface and the consumer interface;
wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to
at least one transfer control input through the at least one servicer input device, and
at least one servicer identifying input through the at least one servicer input device,
to thereafter cause at least one diagnostic operation of the machine to be made, further responsive at least in part to input of the at least one servicer identifying input through the at least one consumer input device.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one consumer input device comprises a keypad, and wherein the at least one diagnostic operation comprises at least one test of the keypad.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one consumer input device includes the card reader, and wherein the at least one diagnostic operation includes at least one test of the card reader.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one consumer input device includes a bar code scanner, and wherein the at least one diagnostic operation includes at least one test of the bar code scanner.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one diagnostic operation includes at least one test of the at least one cash dispenser.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the at least one cash dispenser includes a coin dispenser, and wherein the at least one test includes operation of the at least one coin dispenser.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one servicer input device includes a device operative to accept at least one of alphabetical and numerical characters, and wherein the at least one servicer identifying input comprises a servicer selected personal identification number (PIN) comprising at least one of alphabetical and numeric characters, wherein the servicer selected PIN is selected through input to the at least one servicer input device.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein subsequent to the at least one diagnostic operation, the at least one processor is operative to no longer make the at least one diagnostic operation executable responsive to the servicer selected PIN.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to at least one retake control input through the servicer input device, subsequent to input of the transfer control input, to cause the at least one diagnostic operation to no longer be executable responsive to input of the servicer selected PIN through the at least one consumer input device.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one servicer output device comprises a servicer display, and wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause at least one output through the servicer display indicative that at least one diagnostic operation is subject to being carried out through the consumer interface.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the at least one diagnostic operation to be executed responsive at least in part to at least one first input to the at least one consumer input device subsequent to input of the servicer selected PIN through the consumer interface.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the at least one consumer output device comprises a consumer display, and wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to the at least one transfer control input to cause the consumer display to provide at least one output indicative that the automated banking machine is not operational by consumers.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one servicer input device includes a servicer biometric reader, and wherein the at least one consumer input device comprises a consumer biometric reader, and wherein the at least one identifying input comprises a biometric input.
14. A method comprising:
(a) providing at least one take control input through at least one servicer input device of a servicer interface accessible on a first side of a cash dispensing automated banking machine;
(b) providing at least one identifying input selected at the time of such input, through the at least one servicer input device of the automated banking machine;
(c) subsequent to (b), providing the at least one identifying input through at least one consumer input device of a consumer interface disposed on a second side of the automated banking machine opposed of the first side,
wherein the consumer interface is operable by consumers to receive cash from the automated banking machine, and
wherein providing the at least one identifying input subsequent to (b) causes the automated banking machine to be in a condition to execute at least one diagnostic operation through operation of at least one device of the automated banking machine;
(d) subsequent to (c), providing at least one first input through the at least one consumer input device of the consumer interface,
wherein the automated banking machine carries out at least one diagnostic operation responsive to the at least one first input.
15. The method according to claim 14 wherein in (b) and (c) the at least one identifying input comprises a personal identification number (PIN).
16. The method according to claim 15 and further comprising:
(d) between (b) and (c), walking from a first area adjacent the first side of the automated banking machine to a second area adjacent the second side of the automated banking machine, wherein the second side is opposed of the first side.
17. The method according to claim 16 wherein in (d) the at least one diagnostic operation includes at least one diagnostic test of at least one of a keypad of the automated banking machine, a cash dispenser of the automated banking machine, a card reader of the automated banking machine, a check acceptor of the automated banking machine, and a bar code reader of the automated banking machine.
18. The method according to claim 17 and further comprising:
(e) subsequent to (d), providing at least one second input through the at least one consumer input device, wherein subsequent to the at least one second input the automated banking machine is no longer operative to execute the at least one diagnostic operation responsive to input of the PIN through the at least one consumer input device.
19. A method comprising:
(a) operating an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser to receive at least one first input through a servicer interface disposed on a first side of the automated banking machine,
wherein the at least one first input includes at least one identifying input;
(b) subsequent to (a), operating the automated banking machine to receive the at least one identifying input through a consumer interface of the automated banking machine,
wherein the consumer interface is disposed on the machine from the servicer interface, and
wherein the consumer interface is operated by consumers to receive cash from the automated banking machine;
(c) responsive at least in part to receiving the at least one identifying input in (b), causing the automated banking machine to be in a condition
in which the automated banking machine is operative to execute at least one diagnostic operation responsive at least in part to receiving at least one servicer input through the consumer interface.
20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the consumer interface of the automated banking machine includes a consumer display, and further comprising:
(d) responsive to (a), causing at least one output through the consumer display indicative that the automated banking machine is not operative to conduct consumer transactions.
21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the servicer interface of the automated banking machine includes a servicer display, and further comprising:
(e) responsive to (a), causing at least one output through the servicer display indicative that the automated banking machine is subject to operation by a servicer through the consumer interface.
22. The method according to claim 21 and further comprising:
(f) subsequent to (a), receiving at least one second input to the servicer interface, wherein responsive to receiving the at least one second input, the automated banking machine is no longer in the condition.
23. The method according to claim 19 and further comprising:
(d) subsequent to (c), receiving the at least one servicer input through the consumer interface;
(e) carrying out at least one diagnostic test of at least one device in the automated banking machine through operation of the automated banking machine responsive at least in part to receiving the at least one input in (d).
24. The method according to claim 23 where in (e) the at least one diagnostic test includes operation of at least one of a keypad, a card reader, a cash dispenser, a check acceptor, and a bar code reader.
25. The method according to claim 23 and further comprising:
(f) subsequent to (d), receiving at least one further input through the consumer interface, wherein responsive to the at least one further input the automated banking machine is no longer operative to carry out the at least one diagnostic test responsive to inputs through the consumer interface.
26. The method according to claim 19 wherein the at least one identifying input comprises a servicer-selected temporary identifier comprising at least one of alphabetical characters and numeric characters, and further comprising:
(d) selecting the temporary identifier;
wherein a same temporary identifier selected in (d) is received in both (a) and (b).
27. At least one article bearing computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one processor associated with a cash dispensing automated banking machine to carry out a method comprising:
(a) operating an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser to receive at least one first input through a servicer interface disposed on a first side of the automated banking machine,
wherein the at least one first input includes at least one identifying input;
(b) subsequent to (a), operating the automated banking machine to receive the at least one identifying input through a consumer interface of the automated banking machine,
wherein the consumer interface is disposed on the machine from the servicer interface, and wherein the consumer interface is operated by consumers to receive cash from the automated banking machine;
(c) responsive at least in part to receiving the at least one identifying input in (b), causing the automated banking machine to be in a condition in which the automated banking machine is operative to execute at least one diagnostic operation responsive at least in part to receiving at least one servicer input through the consumer interface.