Cash dispensing automated banking machine diagnostic method
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine ( 10 ) includes a lockable first fascia portion ( 20 ) which when unlocked enables access to a chest lock input device ( 104 ), inputs to which enable opening a chest door ( 18 ) of the machine. Opening the first fascia portion also enables access to an actuator ( 116 ) which enables moving a second fascia portion ( 22 ) for conducting service activities. A controller ( 72 ) in the machine selectively illuminates light emitting devices ( 118, 126 ) for purposes of facilitating user operation of the machine. Sensing devices ( 128 ) adjacent a card reader slot ( 28 ) on the machine enables the controller to detect the presence of unauthorized card reading devices. Servicing the machine is facilitated through use of a portable diagnostic article ( 98 ) which enables the controller to access diagnostic data stored in memory and which provides data indicative of the significance of the diagnostic data.
1. An article including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions are operative to cause at least one processor in an automated banking machine to cause the machine to carry out a method comprising:
a) operating the automated banking machine to carry out cash dispensing transactions, responsive to operation of the at least one processor, wherein the automated banking machine includes a card reader operative to read data included on user cards;
b) storing in at least one data store in the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, data corresponding to at least one machine condition, wherein the at least one machine condition corresponds to at least one condition of at least one of: at least one input device of the automated banking machine, at least one currency dispenser of the automated banking machine, and at least one software component that includes instructions that are executed by the at least one processor of the automated banking machine;
c) operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to cause the automated banking machine to send data corresponding to the at least one machine condition from the automated banking machine to at least one remote computer;
d) operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to receive data with the automated banking machine from the at least one remote computer, wherein the received data corresponds to at least one remedial action, wherein the at least one remedial action at least partially remedies the at least one machine condition.
2. The article according to claim 1 and wherein the method further comprises:
e) responsive to the data received in (d), operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to cause at least one display of the automated banking machine to output indicia corresponding to the at least one remedial action.
3. The article according to claim 2
wherein the at least one machine condition corresponds to at least one condition of the at least one currency dispenser,
wherein the at least one condition of the at least one currency dispenser corresponds to at least one of: a performance, a malfunction, a near malfunction, and an operational trend in operation of the at least one currency dispenser, and
wherein in (e) the indicia corresponds to a service activity that can be carried out to service the at least one currency dispenser.
4. The article according to claim 2 wherein the data received in (d) includes at least one diagnostic software application.
5. The article according to claim 4 and further comprising:
f) operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor responsive to the at least one diagnostic software application, to carry out at least one diagnostic test, including operation of at least one component of the currency dispenser.
6. The article according to claim 1 wherein the data received in (d) includes at least one code change to the at least one software component, and wherein the method further comprises:
e) operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to cause the at least one code change to be stored in at least one data store of the automated banking machine.
7. The article according to claim 6 wherein the at least one code change stored in (e) comprises at least one of a software correction, a software update and a software upgrade.
8. The article according to claim 6 wherein the at least one code change stored in (e) includes at least one complete software component.
9. The article according to claim 6 wherein the method further comprises:
(f) prior to (d) operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to cause data usable to identify the automated banking machine to be sent from the automated banking machine to the at least one remote computer.
10. The article according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine comprises an ATM, wherein (a)-(d) include operation of the ATM.
11. The article according to claim 1
wherein the at least one machine condition corresponds to at least one condition of the at least one input device,
wherein the at least one condition of the at least one input device corresponds to at least one of: a performance, a malfunction, a near malfunction, and an operational trend in operation of the at least one input device,
wherein (d) includes receiving data that corresponds to at least one remedial action that can be carried out in servicing the at least one input device.
12. An article including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions are operative to cause at least one processor in an automated banking machine that includes a card reader that is operative to read data included on user cards, to cause the machine to carry out a method comprising:
a) operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to store in at least one data store in the automated banking machine data corresponding to at least one condition of at least one software component that operates in the at least one processor of the automated banking machine;
b) operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to send data corresponding to the at least one condition, to at least one computer remote from the automated banking machine;
c) subsequent to (b), operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to receive data from the at least one computer remote from the automated banking machine, wherein the received data includes at least one code change to the at least one software component.
13. The article according to claim 12 wherein in (c) the at least one code change includes at least one of diagnostic software code, a software fix, a software upgrade and a complete software component.
14. The article according to claim 12 wherein the automated banking machine comprises an ATM, wherein the ATM includes at least one currency dispenser, wherein (a)-(c) include operation of the ATM.
15. An article including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions are operative to cause at least one processor in an automated banking machine to cause the machine to carry out a method comprising:
a) operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor to, carry out cash dispensing transactions, wherein the automated banking machine includes a card reader operative to read data included on user cards;
b) operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor to store in at least one data store in the automated banking machine, data corresponding to at least one machine condition, wherein the at least one machine condition corresponds to at least one condition of at least one of: at least one input device of the automated banking machine, at least one currency dispenser of the automated banking machine, and at least one software component that includes instructions that are executed by the at least one processor of the automated banking machine;
c) operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to generate a first encrypted message corresponding to the at least one machine condition;
d) operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to cause the automated banking machine to send the first encrypted message from the automated banking machine to at least one remote computer;
e) operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to receive a second encrypted message from the at least one remote computer, wherein the second encrypted message corresponds to at least one remedial action, wherein the at least one remedial action at least partially remedies the at least one machine condition; and
f) operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to decrypt the second encrypted message.
16. The article according to claim 15 and wherein the method further comprises:
g) responsive to the second encrypted message received in (e), operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to cause at least one display of the automated banking machine to output indicia corresponding to the at least one remedial action.
17. The article according to claim 16
wherein the at least one machine condition corresponds to at least one condition of the at least one currency dispenser,
wherein the at least one condition of the at least one currency dispenser corresponds to at least one of: a performance, a malfunction, a near malfunction, and an operational trend in operation of the at least one currency dispenser, and
wherein in (g) the indicia corresponds to a service activity that can be carried out to service the at least one currency dispenser.
18. The article according to claim 17 wherein the message decrypted in (f) comprises authentication data, and wherein the method further comprises:
h) subsequent to (f), operating the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, to authenticate the message decrypted in (f) using the authentication data.
19. The article according to claim 17
wherein in (c) the message is encrypted with a block cipher,
wherein in (f) the message is decrypted with a block cipher, and
wherein in (h) the authentication is performed with a hash function.
20. The article according to claim 15 wherein the automated banking machine comprises an ATM, wherein (a)-(f) include operation of the ATM.