Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Banking systems
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-23
2001-03-13
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Banking systems
C235S381000, C705S043000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199754
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a self-service terminal (SST) such as an automated teller machine (ATM). It is known to provide an ATM having a number of functions such as cash dispense, cash deposit, cheque deposit, account inquiry, receipt print, and statement print which are available to a user on demand. Other types of SST which do not have a cash dispense facility may have facilities to allow inquiries about sporting or cultural events and to supply tickets for such events, or to allow inquiries about loans or insurance or financial services.
If a user makes a lengthy inquiry or initiates a series of financial transactions, other potential users may be discouraged and decide not to wait, so that business may be lost. To overcome this problem, some ATMs are programmed so that at predictable busy periods they operate, for example, only to dispense cash, and will not accept deposits. However the ATM must be pre-programmed to change its operation at certain times of day and on certain days of the week, and at best the time change will be an educated guess. Further, the time changes may need frequent revalidation and updating to maintain efficiency.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,328 a queue-sensing arrangement is disclosed which may be used in a bank lobby to gather data on the queue length of customers waiting to be served, and therefore to gather data on teller availability, teller efficiency, and on the volume of business transactions. The data can be used to plan staffing levels or to anticipate peak customer demand. Such an arrangement is known as customer activity analysis, (CAA) and the camera and processing software used in such an arrangement is known as a human-form recognition engine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to apply the known principle of customer activity analysis in combination with a self-service terminal.
According to the invention a responsive self-service terminal system characterized by a self-service terminal arranged to provide a plurality of services, a human-form recognition means arranged to sense a number of persons beside the terminal, and control means to vary the services provided by the terminal in accordance with the sensed number.
Also according to the invention a method of controlling a self-service terminal which provides a plurality of services characterized by sensing the number of persons adjacent the terminal and varying the services provided in accordance with the sensed number.
Further according to the invention a method of controlling a system comprising a plurality of self-service terminals each providing a plurality of services, characterized by sensing the number of persons adjacent the terminals and varying the services provided so that at least one terminal provides a service which differs from the services provided by the other terminal.
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Conte Francis L.
Frech Karl D.
Fureman Jared J.
NCR Corporation
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