Personal security system for use with a self-service terminal

Abstract

 A portable device is provided which enables a customer at an automated teller machine (ATM) to avoid being victimized after the customer has inserted a user's identifying card into the ATM. The device comprises an activatable transmitter which, when activated, triggers a sensing device at the ATM. Preferably, the transmitter includes an infrared emitter which emits an infrared signal when the transmitter is activated. The switch can be activated only when a user's identifying card containing encoded customer information is inserted into the ATM.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to personal security at a self-service terminal, and is particularly directed to a personal security system for use with a self-service terminal such as an automated teller machine (ATM).

[0002] A customer at a typical ATM initially inserts a user's identifying card into a card entry slot of a card reader. After the card reader receives the user's identifying card, the customer enters a personal identification number (PIN) to validate the card. After the user's identifying card is validated, the customer can perform many banking functions including deposits, cash withdrawals, and transfers of funds without the presence of a bank employee. Since the customer has access to cash withdrawals from the ATM and/or may have cash in hand while carrying out a financial transaction at the ATM, the customer needs to be alertly watchful of the area surrounding the ATM to avoid being victimized.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a user of a self service terminal with an increased level of personal security while carrying out a transaction at the terminal.

[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a personal security system for use at an automated teller machine (ATM), comprising:

a sensing device associated with the ATM; and

an activatable, portable device which, when activated by the customer, co-operates with the sensing device to trigger at least one alarming event to occur.

[0005] In a preferred embodiment, a user's identifying card must be inserted into the ATM before the sensing device is able to co-operate with the portable device to trigger an alarming event to occur. The portable device preferably is adapted to be hand-held.

[0006] In accordance another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of activating a personal security system at an automatic teller machine ATM, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a signal from a remote device on perception of a threatening situation;

detecting the signal in a sensing device associated with the ATM; and

triggering at least one alarming event to occur in response to detection of the signal.

[0007] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automated teller machine (ATM) embodying a personal security system in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a block representation ofthe ATM and personal security system of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of certain components of the personal security system of Fig. 2.

[0008] The present invention is directed to a personal security system for use with a self-service terminal. The particular construction and use of the self-service terminal may vary. By way of example, a self-service terminal in the form of an automated teller machine (ATM) 10, which embodies a personal security system in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated in Fig. 1.

[0009] The ATM 10 comprises a user interface in the form of a front panel 12. The front panel 12 includes a card reader 14, a key pad 16, a cash dispenser 18, a CRT display 20, and a receipt printer 22. The card reader 14 has a card slot through which a customer 24 can insert a user's identifying card 26 at the commencement of a transaction to be conducted by the customer 24. The cash dispenser 18 has a cash slot through which cash currency notes stored inside the ATM 10 can be delivered to the customer 24 during the transaction. The receipt printer 22 has a receipt slot through which a receipt of the transaction is delivered to the customer 24 at termination of the transaction.

[0010] When the customer 24 inserts the user's identifying card 26 into the card slot of the card reader 14, the card reader reads data contained on the card. The customer 24 is then prompted on the CRT display 20 to enter a personal identification number (PIN) via the key pad 16 After the correct PIN is entered, menus are displayed on the display 20 to enable the customer 24 to carry out the desired transaction. After the transaction is completed, the receipt printer 22 prints a receipt of the transaction and delivers the receipt through the slot of the receipt printer 22 to the customer 24.

[0011] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the ATM 10 further comprises a controller unit 30 which communicates with components of the front panel 12. The controller unit 30 includes a processor unit 32, and a memory unit 34 connected via bus line 36 to the processor 32. The processor 32 receives input signals on lines 42, 44 from the card reader 14 and the key pad 16, respectively, and provides output signals on lines 46, 48, 50 to the cash dispenser 18, the display 20, and the receipt printer 22, respectively, to control the amount of cash dispensed by the cash dispensed by the cash dispenser 18, the information displayed on the display 20, and the information printed by the receipt printer 22.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 2, the ATM 10 embodies a personal security system 56 (Fig. 2) in accordance with the present invention. The personal security system 56 comprises a multiple infrared signal sensor/decoder device 60 adjoining the front panel 12 of the ATM 10. Preferably, the sensor/decoder device 60 is mounted on the backside ofthe front panel 12 of the ATM 10, as shown in Fig. 1.

[0013] Referring to Fig. 3, the sensor/decoder device 60 includes an infrared phototransistor 62 for detecting the presence of an infrared signal. The sensor/decoder device 60 also includes a signal decoder chip 64 which receives an output signal on line 66 from the infrared phototransistor 62. The signal decoder chip 64 provides an output signal on line 68 in response to the phototransistor 62 detecting the presence of an infrared signal. The structure and operation of infrared phototransistor 62 and signal decoder chip 64 are known and, therefore, will not be described.

[0014] The personal security system 56 further comprises a portable device 70 as shown in Figs. 1-3. The portable device 70 may be carried in a pocket of the customer 24 as shown in Fig. 1. The device 70 includes a push-button type of switch 72 (Fig. 3) which is mounted inside a casing (not shown). The device 70 further includes a signal encoder chip 74 and an infrared emitter 76 which are also mounted inside the casing. The infrared emitter 76 is able to emit an infrared signal which is schematically illustrated as zigzag line 78 in Figs. 2 and 3. The signal encoder chip 74 is connected to the push-button switch 72 such that the signal encoder chip 74 generates output signal on line 75 when the switch 72 is pushed. The output signal on line 75 is used to trigger the infrared emitter 76 to emit the infrared signal represented as zigzag line 78 in Figs. 2 and 3. Accordingly, when the customer 24 is in the vicinity of the ATM 10, the customer 24 is able to press the push-button switch 72 to cause the infrared emitter 76 to emit the infrared signal 78.

[0015] After the customer 24 presses the push-button switch 72 and the infrared emitter 76 emits the infrared signal 78, the infrared phototransistor 62 receives the infrared signal 78 and provides the output signal on line 66 which, in turn, is received by the signal decoder chip 64. The signal decoder chip 64 then provides the output signal on line 68 which may be processed by the processor unit 32, as shown in Fig. 2, to trigger a local audio alarm device 80 (Fig. 1) and/or a remote audio alarm device (not shown).

[0016] The output signal on line 68 may also be used to activate a video camera 82 (Fig. 1) at the ATM 10 to capture activities occurring at the ATM. The output signal on line 68 may also be used to trigger certain mechanisms of the ATM 10. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, the card reader 14 may retain the user's identifying card 26. External security lighting 84 (Fig. 1) ) or a silent alarm linked to a police station may be turned on in response to the customer 24 activating the device 70. Also, the cash dispenser 18 may be triggered such that no further cash is able to be dispensed during the present transaction. If some cash has already been presented for picking up by the customer 24, a retraction mechanism (not shown) may be activated such that the presented cash would be retracted back into the ATM 10.

[0017] It should be apparent from the foregoing that the portable device 70 co-operates with the sensor/decoder device 60 located on the front panel 12 ofthe ATM 10 to provide the customer 24 with an increased measure of security while carrying out a financial transaction at the ATM. The portable device 70 provides the customer 24 with an effective way to avoid being victimized at the ATM 10 while the financial transaction is being carried out. For example, if the customer 24 perceives a possible mugging, the customer can respond effectively by pressing the push-button switch 72 on the portable device 70 to activate local and/or remote alarm devices 80, activate the video camera 82 at the ATM 10 to capture the incident on video media, retain the user's identifying card 26, deactivate the cash dispenser 18, and/or retract any cash which has already been presented but not yet picked up. These triggered alarming events are only representative examples and are not intended to be limiting in any way.

[0018] It is contemplated that the alarming events, such as those described hereinabove, can be triggered to occur only after the user's identifying card 26 has been inserted. Frivolous use of the portable device 70 is thereby avoided.

[0019] Although Fig. 1 illustrates an ATM of the outdoor-type, it is contemplated that an ATM of the indoor-type may also embody a personal security system in accordance with the present invention. In an alternative embodiment, an ultransonic transmitter and sensing device may be used. Moreover, although the preferred embodiment describes only a portable device which is adapted to be hand-held, it is envisaged that the portable device could be built into an article carried by the user such as for example a wrist watch.

Claims

1. A personal security system for use at an automated teller machine (ATM) (10), characterized by:

a sensing device (60) associated with the ATM (10); and

an activatable, portable device (70) which, when activated by the customer, co-operates with the sensing device (60) to trigger at least one alarming event to occur.

2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that portable device (70) includes an activatable switch (72) and a transmitter (76) which emits a signal (78) when the switch (72) is activated.

3. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that the transmitter (76) is an infrared transmitter and the sensing device (60) includes an infrared detector (62) which generates an output signal in response to detection of an infrared signal (78) emitted by the infrared transmitter (76) of the portable device (70).

4. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensing device (60) is adapted to co-operate with the portable device (70) on insertion of a user's identification card (26) into the ATM (10).

5. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the user's identification card (26) is retained within the ATM (10) on triggering of an alarming event.

6. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable device (70) is adapted to be hand-held.

7. A method of activating a personal security system at an automatic teller machine ATM, characterized by the steps of:

transmitting a signal (78) from a remote device (70) on perception of a threatening situation;

detecting the signal (78) in a sensing device (60) associated with the ATM (10); and

triggering at least one alarming event to occur in response to detection of the signal (78).

8. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of:

inserting a user identification card (26) into the ATM (10); and

validating the user identification card (26).

Drawing