Self-service terminal including wireless communication

ABSTRACT

A self-service terminal (or or comprises a plurality of intercommunicating modules (to , or to , or to ). Each module includes a transceiver for wireless communication with another module. In one embodiment, the wireless communication is directed between two modules so that only those two modules can participate in the communication. In another embodiment, the wireless communication may be implemented by a transceiver broadcasting information to all of the modules.

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an SST in the form of an ATM. ATM has a user interface comprising the following user interface elements: a monitor , an encrypting keypad , a card insertion slot , a receipt dispense slot , and a cash dispense slot . The user interface slots ,, are associated with corresponding intercommunicating modules, as shown in FIG. .

FIG. 2 shows a monitor module , an encrypting keypad module , a magnetic card reader/writer (MCRW) module , a receipt printer module , and a cash dispenser module . The MCRW module is aligned with the card insertion slot , the receipt printer module is aligned with the receipt dispense slot , and the cash dispenser module is aligned with the cash dispense slot .

FIG. 2 also shows an ATM controller module for controlling the operation of the various modules ( to ), a network connection module for communicating with a host device via a wide area network (not shown), and a power supply for supplying power to modules to via cables . The power supply is connected to a mains outlet (not shown). The power supply includes one or more transformers and voltage regulators to supply low and/or high voltage power to the various modules in the ATM .

Referring to FIG. 3, which shows the monitor module in more detail, module includes the monitor and a radio unit for wireless communication with the other modules to . The radio unit is a Bluetooth (trade mark) compliant transceiver, available from Ericsson.

Referring to FIG. 4, which shows the keypad module in more detail, module includes the encrypting keypad and a Bluetooth (trade mark) radio unit for wireless communication with the other modules and to .

Referring to FIG. 5, which shows the MCRW module in more detail, module includes a card reader/writer unit (suitable units are available from “Sankyo” (trade mark) 1-17-2, SHINBASHI, MINATO-KU, TOKYO, 1058633, Japan), a card unit controller for controlling the operation of the card reader/writer unit , and a Bluetooth (trade mark) radio unit for wireless communication with other modules. The controller also performs state of health functions for the card reader/writer unit .

Referring to FIG. 6, which shows the receipt printer module in more detail, module includes a thermal print engine for printing paper, a print engine controller for controlling the print engine and for providing state of health information relating to the print engine , and a Bluetooth (trade mark) radio unit for wireless communication with other modules.

Referring to FIG. 7, which shows the cash dispenser module in more detail, module includes a cash dispenser , a cash dispenser controller for controlling the cash dispenser and for providing state of health information for the cash dispenser, and a Bluetooth (trade mark) radio unit for wireless communication with other modules.

Referring to FIG. 8, which shows the ATM controller module in more detail, module includes a central processing unit and associated memory , a Bluetooth (trade mark) radio unit for wireless communication with other modules, a storage device such as a magnetic disk drive, and a graphics sub-system , all interconnected by one or more buses . The graphics sub-system includes a processor, memory, and firmware, for controlling the images and text displayed by the monitor .

Referring to FIG. 9, which shows the network connection module in more detail, module includes a network connection device , a Bluetooth (trade mark) radio unit for wireless communication with other modules, and a communication cable for communicating with a wide area network (not shown).

The Bluetooth radio units (, , , , , , and ) are very similar; the only difference being that each unit has an associated unique identifier. Each radio unit is pre-programmed with the identifier for the ATM controller's radio unit , and the controller's radio unit is pre-programmed with the identifier associated with the radio unit for each of the other modules in the ATM . This ensures that each module can communicate with the ATM controller and that the ATM controller can communicate with each of the other modules ( to , and ).

During operation of the ATM , various modules intercommunicate with the ATM controller module to provide the functions and services associated with that ATM . For example, when a magnetic stripe card is inserted into the MCRW module by a customer, the MCRW module reads the magnetic information from tracks in the magnetic stripe and uses the MCRW radio unit to transmit this information to the ATM controller's radio unit .

The graphics sub-system then prepares the content and layout of the next screen to be displayed by the monitor . The next screen includes text requesting the customer to insert his or her PIN using the keypad (FIG. ). The graphics sub-system then transmits this next screen information to the monitor module using the radio unit . The monitor module receives this information via its radio unit and updates its display accordingly.

When the customer enters his or her PIN into the keypad , the keypad module uses its radio unit to transmit the encrypted PIN to the ATM controller via the controller radio unit . The graphics sub-system then prepares the content and layout of the next screen to be displayed by the monitor . The next screen includes text requesting the customer to select a transaction. Thus, in a similar manner as for a conventional ATM, the monitor module , the ATM controller module , and the keypad module intercommunicate to allow a customer to enter his or her PIN and select a transaction.

If the customer requests withdrawal of cash, the ATM controller collates the encrypted PIN received from the keypad's radio unit , the magnetic stripe information previously transmitted by the MCRW module , and the amount of cash requested by the customer. The ATM controller then transmits this collated information to the network connection module via the respective radio units and .

On receiving this collated information, the network connection module transmits this collated information to a host system (not shown) for remote authorization. As is well known in the art, the remote host system verifies that the PIN is correct and that the customer has sufficient funds to cover the withdrawal request.

On receiving authorization from the remote host system, the network connection transmits this authorization to the ATM controller using radio unit , and the ATM controller instructs the cash dispenser (by wireless transmission using radio units and ) to dispense the requested cash.

It will be appreciated that if another module is to be added to the ATM , then that module only requires to receive a power connection via cable and to have a radio unit that is compatible with the radio units installed in the modules presently included in the ATM . This greatly simplifies adding or removing modules.

It will also be appreciated that standard encryption techniques, such as DES encryption, may be used to encrypt transmissions between modules to reduce the possibility of third parties being able to access valuable information by intercepting or monitoring the transmissions between modules.

Referring now to FIG. 10, which shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention, an ATM includes a monitor module , a keypad module , a MCRW module , a printer module , a cash dispenser module , an ATM controller module , a network connection module , and a power supply that supplies power to each of these modules to via cables .

Each of the monitor, keypad, printer, cash dispenser, and network connection modules has one switchable optical element ( to respectively) in the form of a rotatable prism for blocking or reflecting infra-red radiation; and the ATM controller module has two switchable optical elements ,. Each of the optical elements ( to ) is in optical communication with an infra-red transceiver for transmitting and receiving infrared radiation.

When the ATM controller is communicating with, for example, the monitor module , the ATM controller rotates one of its prisms so that the prism aligns with the rotatable prism associated with the monitor module. This provides an optical path between the two modules ,, as illustrated by broken line , thereby allowing infra-red communication between the modules.

When the ATM controller is communicating with, for example, the cash dispenser module , the ATM controller rotates the prism so that it cannot receive communications from any of modules to , and rotates prism so that it aligns with prism . This provides an optical path between the two modules , as illustrated by broken line , thereby allowing infra-red communication between the modules ,.

It will be appreciated that this embodiment has the advantage that modules can only communicate with each other if there is an optical path between the modules, and a module can switch off an optical path to stop communications to or from that module, thereby providing added security against unauthorized modules that may be present in the ATM.

Referring now to FIG. 11, which shows another embodiment of the present invention, an ATM comprises a monitor module , a keypad module , a MCRW module , a printer module , a cash dispenser module , an ATM controller module , a network connection module , and a power supply . The power supply performs two different functions: supplying power to each of the modules to , and conveying information between each of the modules to ; both of these functions are performed using power cables . That is, the power cables convey both power and information simultaneously.

Each module to includes a frequency sensitive directional coupler , as shown in FIG. . The coupler includes a high pass filter to filter out the power supply component, and a low pass filter to filter out the high frequency information component. The output of the low pass filter is conveyed to power the module; whereas, the output of the high pass filter is conveyed to a communications port in the module (not shown). Using a power cable to convey both power and information is a known technique, for example, Nortel's Digital Powerline Technology (trade mark) uses this technique. This enables modules to communicate using the power cables to carry information.

Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiments within the scope of the invention. For example, in embodiments similar to the first embodiment, the transceiver may be an IrDA transceiver, an IR transceiver, or any convenient transmitter/receiver unit. In other embodiments, the power supply and cables may be replaced by an active power plane that extends over a large portion of an internal wall of the ATM . In other embodiments, a communication absorbing shield may be used to reduce the magnitude of any signals that are transmitted outside the ATM. In embodiments similar to the second embodiment, any convenient switchable optical element may be used, such as a mirror. In other embodiments, the ATM may be a kiosk, an information terminal, or some other type of self-service terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specific description, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the front of an ATM according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the ATM of FIG. 1 showing various intercommunicating modules;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the monitor module of the ATM of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the keypad module of the ATM of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the motorized card reader module of the ATM of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the print module of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the cash dispenser module of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the ATM controller module of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the network connection module of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a part of each module used in the embodiment of FIG. .

CLAIMS

1. An automated teller machine (ATM) for executing ATM transactions, the ATM comprising: means defining an ATM housing; a cash dispenser module located within the ATM housing and including a wireless transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless signals; an ATM controller module located within the ATM housing and including a wireless transceiver for transmitting encrypted wireless signals to instruct the cash dispenser module to dispense cash; and a communication absorbing shield for reducing magnitude of encrypted wireless signals transmitted from inside the ATM housing to outside the ATM housing.

2. An ATM according to claim 1, wherein the communication absorbing shield is disposed on internal walls of the ATM housing.

3. An ATM according to claim 1, wherein each wireless transceiver includes means for broadcasting encrypted wireless signals to all other ATM modules within the ATM housing.

4. An ATM according to claim 3, wherein each wireless transceiver broadcasts encrypted wireless signals using a short range radio link.

5. An ATM according to claim 1, further comprising another ATM module selected from the group consisting of an ATM monitor module, an ATM keypad module, an ATM card reader module, an ATM receipt printer module, and an ATM network connection module.

6. An ATM according to claim 5, further comprising switching means for directing encrypted wireless signals between two ATM modules so that only the two ATM modules are parties to the communication.

7. A method of transmitting encrypted wireless signals within an automated teller machine (ATM) having an ATM controller module and a cash dispenser module, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting encrypted wireless signals from the ATM controller module to the cash dispenser module to instruct the cash dispenser module to dispense cash; and shielding an area external to the ATM from encrypted transmitted wireless signals by absorbing the transmitted encrypted wireless signals to reduce magnitude of the transmitted encrypted wireless signals.

COPYRIGHT

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