Abstract:
Apparatus for improving the accessibility of a self-service terminal (SST) ( 50 ) comprises a sensor ( 52 ) for detecting the height of a user and a drive arrangement ( 84, 88 ) for moving a section of the terminal fascia incorporating a user-interfacing element such as a monitor ( 58 ) or keypad ( 62 ). The drive arrangement adjusts the position and orientation of the user-interfacing element to an optimum location relative to the detected height of the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to self-service terminals (SSTs), and in particular to methods and apparatus for automatically adjusting the position of user-interfacing elements of SSTs. 
     SSTs, such as automated teller machines (ATMs), are commonly and increasingly used to carry out many everyday transactions which do not require human supervision. In the case of ATMs, this is frequently the withdrawal of cash from a bank account. 
     To withdraw money from an account using a conventional ATM, the user is first required to insert a card into a card reader slot on the ATM fascia, the card serving as an identification token. The user must then confirm their identity, for example, by entering a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the card, but known only to the user. The PIN is entered on a keypad incorporated in the ATM. 
     The user will then proceed through a series of question and answer steps to obtain the desired service, typically in the format of reading instructions on a menu of choices displayed on a monitor incorporated in the ATM, and making selections by pressing keys arranged alongside the monitor. 
     Finally, the user may retrieve their cash from a dispensing slot provided in the ATM fascia, as well as a receipt, if desired, to provide a hard copy record of the transaction. 
     Clearly there is a requirement for ATMs, and other SSTs, to be of such a configuration as to be readily accessible to the user. To this end, ATMs are typically configured so as to be accessible by a user of average height, as determined by the Gaussian distribution of the height range of individuals. However, many individuals are not of average height, and those people who lie at the extreme ends of the Gaussian distribution, and hence diverge markedly from the average—for example, very tall individuals, very short individuals, or users in wheelchairs—may experience discomfort and difficulty in making use of a standard ATM, or may even be unable to use the machine at all. 
     In addition, there are a growing number of ‘drive-up’ SSTs, intended to allow users to make use of SSTs while seated in their vehicles. As motor vehicles are not of a uniform height or configuration, varying between sports cars and trucks and utility vehicles, access problems may be experienced by users of such drive-up SSTs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is among the objects of embodiments of the present invention to provide SSTs which are more easily accessible to users of different statures. 
     It is a further objective of embodiments of the present invention to provide drive-up SSTs which are more readily accessible to users seated in different vehicles. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for improving the accessibility of a self-service terminal (SST) having at least one user-interfacing element, the method comprising the steps of: sensing the position of a user with respect to the SST; and adjusting the position or orientation of at least one user-interfacing element of the SST with reference to the sensed position of the user such that the element is more readily accessible to the user. 
     According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for improving the accessibility of a self-service terminal (SST) including at least one user-interfacing element, the apparatus comprising a sensor for detecting the position of a user, and means for adjusting the position of a user-interfacing element of the SST with reference to the sensed position of the user to render the element more accessible to the user. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a self-service terminal (SST) including a sensor for detecting the position of a user, at least one user-interfacing element for permitting the SST to interact with the user, and means for adjusting the position of the user-interfacing element with reference to the sensed position of the user such that the element is more readily accessible to the user. 
     These aspects of the present invention provide SSTs which are more easily accessible to a range of users, and facilitate provision of SSTs which are easily accessible to users of widely differing statures or users whose positioning relative to an SST differs markedly from the norm, for example a drive-up ATM user in a sports car or a high ground clearance 4×4 vehicle. 
     Preferably, the sensor comprises a camera mounted on or adjacent the SST. Conveniently, the sensor comprises an infra-red detecting camera; this enables the body heat of a user to be detected over the background, and the user&#39;s location determined by, for example, detecting the uppermost part of a user which is at or close to normal body temperature, and taking this location to be that of the user&#39;s head. Of course those of skill in the art will recognise that other forms of sensor may be employed to identify the location of the user relative to the SST, such as sensors which detect signals issuing from an emitter mounted on or adjacent the SST and reflected by the user. 
     Preferably, the means for adjusting the position of an element of the SST is capable of adjusting the position in one or more axes, and most preferably in a plurality of axes. For example, vertical translational movement may be used to bring a keypad to a convenient height for a user of the stature detected by the sensor, and rotational movement around a vertical axis may be used to orient a display screen so that it is more easily visible to a user who is detected at a position not directly in front of the SST, such as a user of a drive-up ATM that has stopped short of the ATM. If desired, translational and rotational movement may be provided in combination for a single element. 
     Preferably, the means for adjusting the position of an element of the SST comprises at least one drive motor, and most preferably a plurality of drive motors, to facilitate adjustment of the position of the element in a plurality of axes. 
     Preferably, the SST is provided with a plurality of user-interfacing elements, and two or more of said elements are adjustable. 
     Most preferably, a plurality of user-interfacing elements are adjustable independently. For example, if the SST is an ATM, independent adjustments may be made to the monitor, the keypad, and the card reader slot. Alternatively, a plurality of elements may be moved together, for example a section of fascia incorporating a plurality of user-interfacing elements may be adjustable. 
     Preferably, the adjustable element is mounted and positioned relative to the non-moving parts of the SST, and in particular adjacent areas of an SST fascia, such that the surfaces at the interface between the element and fascia remain in close proximity, that is, there are no gaps in the fascia of the SST whereby an unauthorized individual may gain access to the SST. Preferably also, a weather seal is provided at the interface, to prevent ingress of dust, moisture and the like to the interior of the SST. Conveniently, this is achieved by providing a resilient seal at the interface between the moving and non-moving elements of the SST. 
     Preferably, the adjusting means comprises at least one radial collar on which the adjustable element is mounted, the collar being located in a window in the fascia of the SST. Most preferably, the radial collar is in the form of a section of a curved surface, typically a cylinder or a sphere, depending on the desired degree of freedom of movement of the element. Such a radial collar provides a simple means whereby the orientation of an element may be adjusted. 
     Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a processing unit for determining the optimum position for each adjustable element of the SST based on the height or position of the user as determined by the sensor and instructs the adjusting means to adjust the element to an optimum position for the sensed height or position of the user. The optimum position for the element may be determined from a predefined list of possible positions or may be calculated for each user by means of appropriate algorithms; for example, having determined the location of the user&#39;s head relative to the sensor, the processing unit may determine the location of the user&#39;s head relative to each of the adjustable elements, and then instruct the adjustment of the orientation of each element so that the orientation of each element is optimal with respect to the user. Similarly, the position and orientation of elements such as keypads may be adjusted with respect to the sensed or estimated positions of a user&#39;s hands. 
     According to a still further aspect of the invention, there is provided a self-service terminal (SST) including a sensor unit for detecting the position of a user, at least one user interface element for permitting the SST to interact with the user, and at least one drive unit is for adjusting the position of said at least one user interface element with reference to the position of the user as detected by the sensor unit to render the element more readily accessible to the user. 
     In other aspects of the invention, information on the stature or positioning of a user may be obtained by means other than a sensor which locates the user, as described below. 
     According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for improving the accessibility of a self-service terminal (SST) having at least one user-interfacing element, the method comprising the step of: providing the SST with information relating to a user; and adjusting the position or orientation of at least one user-interfacing element of the SST with reference to said information such that the element is more readily accessible to the user. 
     According to another aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for improving the accessibility of a self-service terminal (SST) including at least one user-interfacing element, the apparatus comprising means for receiving information relating to a user, and means for adjusting the position of a user-interfacing element of the SST with reference to received user information to render the element more accessible to a user. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a self-service terminal (SST) including means for receiving information relating to a user, at least one user-interfacing element for permitting the SST to interact with the user, and means for adjusting the position of the user-interfacing element with reference to the received information relating to the user such that the element is more readily accessible to the user. 
     In accordance with these aspects of the invention, information on user stature and the like may be stored in a smart device, such as a smart card, smart button, or the like. The smart device is read by a smart device reader in the SST and the information is used to adjust one or more user-interfacing elements of the SST to suit the particular user. In other embodiments, once the user identity has been established by the SST, for example by means of one or more of a magnetic stripe card, PIN number or biometric identifier, user stature information may be retrieved from a remote database to allow the SST to be adjusted to suit the identified user. In addition or as an alternative to information on user stature, such user information may include other details of a user&#39;s particular physical traits, characteristics or requirements, for example that the user is a wheelchair user, the user is left-handed, the user has restricted use or mobility of one or both hands and, for drive-up SSTs, details of the user&#39;s motor vehicle. 
     These aspects of the invention may also be useful in applications where it is difficult to distinguish details of a user from the background, for example at an SST located in a busy shopping mall where people other than the user are likely to be in close proximity to the SST, or in SST locations where a user&#39;s stature or physical traits are likely to be disguised by heavy outdoor clothing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a conventional prior art automated teller machine (ATM); 
     FIG. 2 shows an improved accessibility ATM incorporating a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 shows an improved accessibility ATM incorporating a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 shows a schematic detail of a portion of the ATM of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, this shows the main elements of the fascia of a conventional ATM. The ATM  10  comprises two main fascia panels  12 ,  13 . Mounted in the lower panel  13  is a magnetic card reader slot  14 , where the user inserts an identification card  15 ; a keypad  16 , where the user may enter their PIN or other data; and a cash dispensing slot  18 , from where the user may collect bank notes. Mounted in the upper panel  12  are a monitor  20 , which displays messages and instructions to the user, the monitor  20  being flanked by a series of keys  21 , which the user may use to select options as displayed on the monitor  20 ; and a dispensing slot  22 , used to dispense receipts and the like. 
     Above the two main panels  12 ,  13  is a further display panel  24 , often used by the financial institution which operates the ATM to display its own name. 
     FIG. 2 shows an improved accessibility ATM  30  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Mounted in the upper display panel  32  is a sensor  34 ; in this example an infra-red detecting camera. The camera  34  is fitted with an appropriate lens, to provide the camera with a wide field of view and thus sense the position of users of a wide range of statures. The planar upper and lower panels  12 ,  13  of the conventional ATM of FIG. 1 have in this example been replaced with part-cylindrical panels  36 ,  38  pivotally mounted relative to the body of the ATM about respective horizontal axes. Each panel  36 ,  38  is coupled with a drive arrangement  40 ,  42  actuatable to pivot the respective panel  36 ,  38  in the directions shown by arrows AA and BB. Conveniently, the drive arrangements  40 ,  42  comprise electric motors driving respective gears which engage curved racks provided on the internal faces of the panels  36 ,  38 . Resilient seals  44  are provided on the fascia around the panels  36 ,  38  to prevent dust and moisture from passing into the interior of the ATM. 
     In use, a user stands before the ATM, and is detected by the sensor  34  which determines the location of the user&#39;s head and thus the height of the user by identifying the uppermost area at body temperature in the sensor&#39;s field of view. A processor linked to the sensor  34  determines the orientation of the panels  36 ,  38  relative to the user&#39;s assumed eye level and hand positions, respectively, and instructs the drive arrangements  40 ,  42  to rotate the panels  36 ,  38  to bring the monitor and keypad into optimum positions for a user of the sensed height. 
     FIG. 3 shows the fascia of an ATM  50  in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention provided with a sensor  52  and upper and lower panels  54 ,  56 . A monitor  58  is mounted in a part spherical radial collar  60 , which is located behind a window  61  in the upper panel  54 . Similarly, the keypad  62  is mounted on another part-spherical radial collar  64  located behind a window  65  in the lower panel  56 . Drive arrangements, as will be described, lie behind each of the collars  60 ,  64 , enabling the monitor  58  and keypad  62  to be moved both up\down and left\right, to an optimum position for a user of the stature as determined by the sensor  52  in combination with an appropriate sensor input processor  92  (FIG.  4 ). Additionally, a cash dispensing slot  66  is mounted on a cylinder  68  similar to the cylinders  32  and  34  described above. 
     FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the spherical radial collar  64  of FIG. 3 (the collar dimensions are somewhat exaggerated in the Figure). Mounted centrally in the collar  64  is the ATM keypad  62 . The area of the collar visible through the window  64  is surrounded by fascia-mounted rubber seals  78  (FIG. 3) to prevent moisture, dust and the like from passing into the interior of the ATM. The collar  64  is mounted on a semi-circular support  80 , connected to the collar  64  by horizontal stub axles  82 . One of the axles  82  is connected to a stepper motor  84  mounted on the support  80 , which is operable to rotate the collar  64  on the axles  82 . The support  80  is itself mounted on a vertical axle  86 , connected to another stepper motor  88  mounted to the terminal chassis (not shown), which motor  88  is operable to rotate the support  80 , and thus also the collar  64 , on the axle  86 . Both stepper motors  84 ,  88  are controlled by the user position sensor  52  and sensor input processor  92 . 
     It will be understood that the foregoing is for illustrative purposes only, and that various modifications and improvements may be made to the apparatus described herein without departing from the scope of the invention.