Automated banking machine system and method
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine is operatively controlled from a front consumer user station and a rear maintenance user station. The machine is operative to output a consumer user interface through a front display device. The consumer user interface includes interactive options for performing transactions with the machine including dispensing cash with a cash dispenser. The machine is further operative to output a maintenance user interface, through a rear display device. 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 that spans both the front display device and rear display device, such that a first portion of the desktop is output by the first display device and a second portion of the desktop is output by the second display device.
1. A cash dispensing automated banking machine comprising:
a housing;
a computer mounted in the housing;
a cash dispenser and a card reader in operative connection with the computer;
a consumer user station, wherein the consumer user station includes a first display device and at least one first input device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the consumer user station is in operatively supported connection with a front side of the housing;
a maintenance user station, wherein the maintenance user station includes a second display device and at least one second input device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the maintenance user station is in operatively supported connection with a rear side of the housing, wherein the rear side is generally opposed of the front side;
wherein the computer is operative to cause output of a common desktop environment that spans the first and the second display devices, wherein the desktop environment includes a first portion that is output through the first display device and a second portion that is output through the second display device;
wherein the computer is operative to cause an output of a first user interface operable by a consumer in carrying out transaction functions with the automated banking machine in the first portion of the desktop environment output through the first display device, and wherein the computer is operative to cause an output of a second user interface operable by a servicer in carrying out maintenance functions with the automated banking machine in the second portion of the desktop environment output through the second display device.
2. The machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first software application operative in the computer, wherein the computer is operative responsive to the first application to cause the first user interface to be produced in the first portion of the desktop environment, wherein the first user interface is operative to cause the computer to cause the cash dispenser to dispense cash responsive to at least one input received through operation of the at least one first input device; and
a second software application operative in the computer, wherein the computer is operative responsive to the second software application to cause the second user interface to be produced in the second portion of the desktop environment, wherein the second user interface is operative to cause the computer to cause the cash dispenser to carry out a maintenance operation responsive to at least one input received through operation of the at least one second input device.
3. The machine according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one second input device includes a pointer device and wherein the computer is operative to cause a pointer indicia output that corresponds to the pointer device to be produced in the desktop environment.
4. The machine according to claim 3 wherein the computer is operative to prevent the pointer indicia output from moving from the second portion to the first portion of the desktop environment.
5. The machine according to claim 4 , wherein the pointer device comprises a mouse, and further comprising a hook application and an operating system component operative in the computer; wherein the hook application is operative to process at least one mouse message corresponding to at least one input through the mouse prior to the operating system component processing the mouse message, and wherein the hook application is operative to selectively cause the mouse message to be suppressed and prevent the pointer indicia output from being included in the first portion of the desktop environment.
6. The machine according to claim 5 wherein the pointer indicia output is movable in the desktop environment responsive to the mouse, and wherein the hook application is operative to prevent the pointer indicia output from moving into the first portion of the desktop environment.
7. The machine according to claim 2 , wherein the computer is operatively programmed to automatically return focus to the second software application in response to the first software application attempting to take focus from the second software application.
8. The machine according to claim 2 , wherein when the first portion of the desktop environment being output through the first display device includes a nonpalettized resolution, the computer is operative to convert each pixel associated with the first user interface to a pixel color selected from a palette of pixel colors.
9. The machine according to claim 2 , further comprising a third software application operative in the computer, wherein the third software application is operative to cause a generally blank screen to be output through the first display device, responsive to the first software application terminating prematurely.
10. The machine according to claim 9 , wherein the blank screen generally corresponds in size to the first portion of the desktop environment being output through the first display device.
11. The machine according to claim 2 , further comprising a third software application operative in the computer, wherein the third software application is operative to receive screen data from either the first software application or the second software application, and wherein the third software application is operative to cause the computer to output a user interface through the first display device that corresponds to the screen data.
12. The machine according to claim 11 , wherein when the first software application is shut down in a first manner, the first software application is operative to send the third software application screen data which causes output of a message through the first display device that indicates that the machine is out-of-service.
13. The machine according to claim 11 , wherein when the second software application is operative to cause the machine to perform a maintenance related task, the second software application is operative to send the third software application screen data which causes output of a message through the first display device that indicates that the machine is out-of-service.
14. The machine according to claim 2 , wherein the first application is operative to cause output of the first user interface responsive to receipt by the machine of at least one escape code sequence from a remote host system.
15. The machine according to claim 2 , wherein the first application is operative to cause output of the first user interface responsive to instructions included in at least one HTML document.
16. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first input device includes a touch screen, wherein the at least one second input device includes a pointing device, wherein the computer is operative to cause a pointer indicia output to be produced in the desktop environment, which pointer indicia output moves in the first portion of the desktop environment responsive to operation of the pointing device, wherein the computer is operative to prevent the pointer indicia output from moving from the second portion to the first portion of the desktop environment.