Self-service device inventory information control
Apparatus and methods for servicing a self-service device (“SSD”) such as an ATM. The SSD may include a customer service module that may perform part of a transaction or provide a service in support of the transaction. For example, the customer service module may be a currency acceptor, a printer, EPROM or any other device or circuit that is present in the SSD. The SSD may include a component map that may be stored in machine readable memory. An element of the map may correspond to the component. The SSD may include a central processing unit that may revise the map based on input from a service technician or machine-generated information. The map may be used to track the presence of the component in the SSD.
1. A self-service device (“SSD”) comprising:
a customer service module for performing part of a transaction based on a customer account, the customer service module including a component;
a component map stored in machine readable memory, an element of the map corresponding to the component;
a component failure prediction module configured to:
log a warning message to a data file associated with the transaction, said warning message corresponding to a degraded performance of the component used in the transaction;
retrieve a threshold number of logged warning messages for the component, wherein the logging of said threshold number of said warning messages indicates a prediction of an imminent failure of the component;
if the threshold number of logged warning messages assigned to the component has been met, automatically initiate a self-healing process; and
log the results of the self-healing process in a central server;
a central processing unit processor configured to:
control the customer service module;
revise the map; and
based on the revising of the map, predict component failures; and
a communication module for exchanging transaction information with a financial institution server, the transaction information being based on the transaction.
2. The SSD of claim 1 further comprising:
a customer data entry module for exchange of the transaction information with a customer; and
a service data entry module for exchange of service information with a service technician.
3. The SSD of claim 2 wherein:
the service information includes replacement information; and
the central processing unit processor is further configured to revise the map based on the replacement information.
4. The SSD of claim 1 wherein:
the component is one of a plurality of components in the SSD; and
the element is one of a plurality of elements in the map, each element corresponding to one of the components.
5. The SSD of claim 4 wherein:
the customer service module includes sub-modules; and, in the map, the plurality of elements are logically organized into groups that correspond to the sub-modules.
6. The SSD of claim 1 further comprising a code reader that is configured to read an identifier from a replacement corresponding to the component.
7. The SSD of claim 6 wherein the central processing unit processor is further configured to revise the map to include the replacement.
8. The SSD of claim 6 wherein the code reader is a bar code reader that is in communication with the map for revision of the map to include the replacement.
9. The SSD of claim 6 wherein the code reader is an RFID reader that is in communication with the map for revision of the map to include the replacement.
10. The SSD of claim 6 wherein the central processing unit processor is further configured to transmit map information to a remote field service management device after the map is revised.
11. A method for tracking a self-service device (“SSD”) on-board hardware inventory, the method comprising:
displaying a representation of a digital component map on a service data exchange module;
predicting failure of a component, said predicting comprising:
logging a warning message to a data file associated with the transaction, said warning message corresponding to a degraded performance of the component used in the transaction;
retrieving a threshold number of logged warning messages for the component, wherein the logging of said threshold number of said warning messages indicates a prediction of an imminent failure of the component;
when the threshold number of logged warning messages assigned to the component has been met, automatically initiating a self-healing process; and
logging the results of the self-healing process in a central server;
receiving replacement information corresponding to a replacement part for the SSD, said replacement being a replacement for the component; and
revising the digital component map to include the replacement part.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the receiving comprises receiving a user selection of an element of the digital component map, the element corresponding to a component of the SSD.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the receiving comprises receiving a bar code symbol corresponding to:
an element of the digital map; and
the replacement part.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the receiving comprises receiving a radio frequency symbol corresponding to:
an element of the digital map; and
the replacement part.
15. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting map information to a remote field service management platform after the revising.