Information provision

A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing information to a customer of a Self-Service Terminal (SST) such as an Automated Teller Machine (ATM). The method includes the steps of updating storage data of a Near Field Communication (NFC) device at an SST and reading data associated with the storage data from the NFC device via a mobile terminal of a customer at the SST.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing user information to a customer of a Self-Service Terminal (SST). In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a method of providing data to a mobile terminal of a customer at an SST, such as an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), from a Near Field Communication (NFC) device of the ATM. The information can subsequently be utilised to help complete a transaction or be used for other purposes.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Various types of Self-Service Terminal (SST) are known and these can be used by a customer to carry out a transaction. A transaction may involve the dispensation of something from the SST or may include the deposit of something at the SST by a customer. An example of an SST is an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and these are often used by customers to withdraw items of media in the form of currency notes or to make deposits of currency notes. It is appreciated that from time to time in order to initiate a transaction at the SST a customer must identify themselves in some way. This often includes a customer presenting a token in the form of a bank card or the like and entering a PIN. This is prone to error and security risk.

In addition to or as an alternative to carrying out a transaction at an SST, there are occasions when it would be helpful to provide a customer of an SST with information. Such information could be any one of a wide variety of topics which could be used by a customer for a wide variety of uses. Until now, the provision of information to a customer at an SST has been a complicated process and has required SSTs to be regularly updated in an inconvenient and time consuming manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to at least partly mitigate the above-mentioned problems.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for providing user information to a customer of a Self-Service Terminal (SST).

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to enable a customer to identify themselves at a pre-determined location and for an SST at that location to perform a transaction with that customer responsive to a verification step being carried out.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to enable customers with a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone to conveniently read data from an NFC device of an SST and for the read data to be utilised to initiate and/or complete a customer transaction at a desired SST.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to enable information of a broad variety of types to be conveniently provided to customers at an SST.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing information to a customer of a Self-Service Terminal (SST), comprising the steps of:updating storage data of a Near Field Communication (NFC) device at an SST; andreading data, associated with the storage data, from the NFC device via a mobile terminal of a customer of the SST.

Aptly, the method further comprises modifying the storage data by selectively updating new storage data to the NFC device from the SST.

Aptly, the method step of updating storage data comprises, from a network centre node of a network of SSTs, providing new network data to at least said SST;storing said new network data at the SST; andwriting new storage data corresponding to the new network data to the NFC device at a pre-determined time.

Aptly, the method further comprises providing information to the customer of the mobile terminal via a User Interface (UI) of the mobile terminal responsive to the data read from the NFC device.

Aptly, the method further comprises executing a transaction at the SST responsive to providing the information to the user of the SST.

Aptly, the information comprises one or more electronic voucher, at least one electronic coupon, location information for the SST and/or an authorisation code for a transaction executable at the SST.

Aptly, the method further comprises reading the data by locating the mobile terminal proximate to the NFC device at the SST.

Aptly, the method further comprises locating the mobile terminal by tapping the mobile terminal to a pre-determined location on a fascia of the SST.

Aptly, the method further comprises:launching a transaction application at the mobile terminal;authenticating a user of the mobile terminal;selecting a transaction to be executed at the SST via a UI of the SST or mobile terminal;authorising a transaction responsive to said step of reading said data; andinstructing the SST to execute the selected transaction via a server remote from the SST.

Aptly, the NFC device comprises an NFC tag, such as an NFC smart poster tag.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a Self-Service Terminal (SST) for providing information to a customer, comprising:a Near Field Communication (NFC) device comprising a data store, storing storage data, that can be written to; andan SST processor connected to the NFC device that selectively receives new network data from a remote network centre node and is arranged to update said storage data at the NFC device responsive to said new network data.

Aptly, the SST processor is connectable to a remote server node to receive instructions to execute a transaction subsequent to providing data from the NFC device to a mobile terminal of a customer of the SST wherein said data is associated with said storage data.

Aptly, the NFC device is readable by a mobile terminal located proximate to the NFC device to provide data to the mobile terminal that provides information to a customer of the SST in possession of the mobile terminal.

Aptly, said information comprises one or more of marketing information, at least one electronic voucher, at least one electronic coupon, location information for the SST and/or an authorisation code for a service available at the SST.

Aptly, the SST is an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and the NFC device is located proximate to a fascia panel region of the ATM.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing contactless services at a Self-Service Terminal (SST), comprising:providing information associated with an SST from the SST via a contactless Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled communication link to a mobile terminal of a customer of the SST.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may enable data stored in an NFC device at a Self-Service Terminal (SST) to be updated from time to time and for the stored data to subsequently be read by a mobile terminal of an SST customer in a highly convenient manner. The information provided to the customer can be utilised to facilitate execution of a transaction at the SST or for a wide variety of other reasons. The mobile terminal may be a smartphone, tablet, laptop or the like.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may enable customers to approach an SST and scan an NFC device to take away some information from the machine. The type of information could be any of a wide variety of types such as marketing information, vouchers, coupons, or the like. Under certain circumstances, the information can be utilised to allow a mobile terminal of the customer to request that the SST performs a transaction. For example, if the

SST is an ATM, the information received from the NFC device can be used to stimulate a mobile terminal of a customer to request that the SST dispense currency notes at that moment in time and that location.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may enable a customer of an ATM to conveniently walk up to an ATM and tap an NFC device, such as an NFC smart tag, on the ATM with their mobile phone. The mobile phone reads the ATM NFC device data and an application on the mobile phone communicates with a remote server informing the server that there is a customer at a particular ATM and potentially what transaction a customer wants if that customer has pre-staged a transaction. The remote server can then tell the ATM to fulfil a transaction since it knows that a desired customer is in front of the ATM at that precise moment in time.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may allow an SST to offer contactless services to customers in a format that is easily accessible from a wide range of mobile terminals. The SST is also enabled to dynamically change data that can be stored in and broadcast from an NFC device of the SST as and when required.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1illustrates a block diagram of a Self-Service Terminal (SST)100in the form of an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) according to an embodiment of the present invention. It will be understood that certain embodiments of the present invention are applicable to other types of SST, such as vending machines, kiosks, or the like.

The ATM100includes different modules for enabling transactions to be executed and recorded by the ATM100. These ATM modules include user transaction modules and service personnel modules. The ATM modules include an ATM controller101, a customer display102, a card reader/writer module103, an encrypting keypad module104, a receipt printer module105, a cash dispense/deposit module106, a journal printer module107for creating a record of every transaction executed by the ATM, a connection module108, an operator panel module109for use by an authorised user of the SST, such as a service operator, field engineer, a replenisher (of currency, of printed paper or the like), or the like. A user interface130of the ATM100includes the customer display102, card reader/writer module103, encrypting keypad module104, receipt printer module105, and at least one currency dispense/deposit slot111in communication with the cash dispense/deposit module106.

Certain customer transaction modules (such as the ATM controller101) are also used by the service personnel for implementing management functions. However, some of the modules are referred to herein as service personnel modules (such as the journal printer module107and the operator panel module109) because they are never used by ATM customers. The ATM100is a node or network end point in an overall financial network. The ATM100may be connected to the remainder of the financial network via a connection to the Internet120. It will be appreciated that the ATM100could alternatively be connected to the remainder of the financial network via another suitable form of connection.

With reference toFIG. 2, a fascia200of the ATM is mounted on a chassis (not shown) of the ATM. The fascia200provides the user (customer) interface (130inFIG. 1) for allowing a customer to interact with the ATM. In particular, the fascia200has apertures aligned with respective modules of the ATM mounted behind the fascia200. The fascia200includes a card reader aperture203in communication with the card reader module103, at least one printer aperture205in communication with the receipt printer module105, and a dispensing aperture206and deposit aperture211in communication with the cash dispense/deposit module106. The fascia200also includes a display aperture202aligning with the customer display102. A keypad214of the keypad module104is located on a shelf216extending outwardly from the bottom edge of the fascia200.

A Near Field Communication (NFC) device (not shown) is located behind the shelf216(at the right hand end as viewed inFIG. 2). A visual cue217is provided on the shelf216to indicate the location of the NFC device to a customer at the ATM. The visual cue217may take the form of a sticker, etching, embossment, print, illumination, or the like.

With reference toFIG. 3, the controller101of the ATM100includes a microprocessor312having a CPU316and chipset317. BIOS318is stored in a non-volatile memory. Associated with the microprocessor312is a main memory320loaded with a control application321, a platform322and an operating system324. The ATM100is also provided with an ATM data store326, in the form of a magnetic disc drive. The display module102, keypad module104and NFC device310are connected to the microprocessor312. A mobile terminal314of a customer is provided with an NFC communication capability; in other words, the NFC device310is readable by the mobile terminal314in order to read data from the NFC device310. In order to do so, the mobile terminal314is brought into close proximity with the fascia200of the ATM100and the NFC device310located behind the fascia (otherwise known as “tapping” the mobile terminal314on the ATM). The mobile terminal314may be a smart phone, tablet, laptop, or the like.

With reference toFIG. 4, the ATM100is connected via the connection module108and a network400, such as a virtual private network (VPN) or the internet or the like, to an ATM network centre402. The NFC device310has an NFC data store404. From time to time, new data is supplied by the network centre402to the ATM100via the network400. The data may be, for example, marketing information, an electronic voucher, an electric coupon, location information for the ATM100, or an authorisation code for the services available at the ATM100, or the like. The new data is stored and updated at the ATM100as well as being stored and updated in the data store404of the NFC device310. The ATM controller101communicates with the NFC device310in order to selectively update data stored in the NFC data store404responsive to new data received by the ATM and the ATM data store326. This allows the ATM to dynamically update and/or selectively change data being stored on the NFC device310and accordingly the information available for transfer to a customer. The NFC device310allows information to be written to the device and to be updated when required, whilst allowing the information to be read from the device by an NFC reader device, such as a mobile phone or tablet.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a customer approaches the ATM100and scans the NFC device310with a suitable mobile terminal, such as a smartphone to receive information associated with the ATM100and to display such information in the display of the mobile terminal314. The type of information could be any of a wide variety of types such as marketing information, e-vouchers, e-coupons or certain details about the ATM100, such as ID or location of the ATM100. The NFC device may be an NFC tag, such as a so-called ‘smart poster tag’, for example. The NFC device of the ATM is effectively operating in ‘card emulation’ mode wherein information of interest to the customer is transferred to the mobile terminal and can be acted upon by the mobile terminal potentially via the network centre when the NFC device is scanned by the mobile terminal.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, information associated with the customer, such as ID, account details, or the like, is input by the customer and stored on the mobile terminal314via an application of the mobile terminal. The customer approaches the ATM100and scans the NFC device310with the mobile terminal which automatically launches the application in the display of the mobile terminal314. Alternatively, the customer may manually launch the application on the mobile terminal before scanning the NFC device of the ATM100. Information associated with the customer is then transferred from the mobile terminal314to the network centre402via the ATM100and network400, or directly from the mobile terminal, to identify the customer and authorise/initiate a transaction.

Alternatively, the mobile terminal may include an NFC device capable of reading information associated with a customer and user of the mobile terminal. The NFC device of the ATM may include an NFC reader which is capable of reading the NFC device of the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is placed in close proximity to the NFC device of the ATM. Information associated with the customer, such as ID, account details, or the like, is transferred from the mobile terminal to the network centre402via the ATM NFC device and the network400. This allows the ATM to have the functionality of a contactless card reader wherein the mobile terminal is effectively operating like an identification card of a customer. Of course, a physical contactless card may be used instead of a mobile terminal which stores information associated with the customer and which is readable by the ATM NFC device. When the ATM NFC device is in such a ‘reader/writer’ mode, it reads information from the mobile terminal NFC device allowing the transfer of information from the mobile terminal to the ATM NFC device.

The NFC device310of the ATM may operate in the ‘reader/writer’ mode or ‘card emulation’ mode, or may selectively operate in either mode.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 5, a customer initiates a first stage of a transaction on a computer or mobile terminal314at a remote location relative to the ATM100. The application is launched by the customer on the mobile terminal314(shown at step510). The customer is required to input account/ID details, such as a PIN code and/or security question(s), via the application on the mobile terminal314to authorise the initial stage of the transaction (at step520). A desired transaction is selected (at step530) by the customer via the application, such as a withdrawal of currency notes from an ATM100.

Optionally, initial transaction information, is sent from the mobile terminal314to the network centre402via the network and a respective ATM100or a subset of all ATM's in a distributed network or all ATM's in a distributed network is prepared accordingly for the customer initiated transaction to be completed at the ATM100. The respective ATM100may be chosen by the network centre402in accordance with a location of the customer, i.e. the respective ATM100may be the closest or most convenient ATM to the customer at the time of the initial transaction stage being made by the customer or the customer may select a preferred ATM100as part of the initial transaction stage at which to complete the transaction and from which to receive dispensed items of value, such as currency notes. Aptly the location of the customer is determined via a GPS application/function of the mobile terminal314and the location of the respective ATM100is provided to the customer via the mobile terminal314. The customer is directed to the respective ATM via a navigational application of the mobile terminal314. Alternatively, the ATM at which a transaction is to be completed is determined when the customer scans the NFC device310of an ATM100to indicate their presence and readiness to complete the transaction at that particular ATM100.

The initial transaction information sent to the respective ATM100, optionally including a unique transaction ID, is received by the ATM100via the network400and updated to the NFC device310of the ATM100by the controller101. When ready, the customer scans the NFC device310of the ATM100with their mobile terminal314to read the data stored on it (at step540). This action of scanning the device or ‘tapping’ the ATM launches the respective transaction application on the mobile terminal314of the customer and allows the customer to enter or amend the pre-staged transaction accordingly, such as by adding a value of currency notes to be dispensed at the ATM. The action of scanning the NFC device also indicates to the ATM that the customer is present at the ATM to complete the transaction. To authorise the customer's ID, the transaction ID stored on the NFC device310is optionally matched with a transaction ID subsequently sent to the mobile terminal314and/or with a parameter associated with the customer's ID, such as a parameter of the mobile terminal314. Authorisation may take place locally at the ATM100and/or at the network centre402via the network400. Transaction information, including for example customer ID, account details, transaction details and, optionally, a transaction ID, are sent to the ATM via the network centre402and the network400(at step550). Once the customer has been identified and the initial transaction stage has been authorised at the ATM100, the network centre402communicates with the ATM100(at step560) and the transaction is performed at the ATM100(at step570). For example, currency notes are dispensed at the ATM100to the customer, to complete the transaction (at step580). Where a transaction does not involve dispensation of items of media from an SST, such as a currency notes from an ATM, transaction information, such as account balance, transaction history, or the like, is received by the mobile terminal314from the network centre402via the network400, and the transaction is completed (at step590). Information associated with the ATM100and/or banking body, such as marketing information, ATM details, or the like, which is stored in the NFC device310of the ATM100is continuously or selectively updated by the network centre402via the network400(at step595).

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a customer initiates and completes a transaction via the mobile terminal314whilst at an ATM100. In this embodiment, the customer scans the NFC device310of a chosen ATM100to launch a transaction application on the mobile terminal314. This indicates to the ATM that a customer is present and optionally transfers information associated with the customer, such as ID and/or account details, from the mobile terminal314to the ATM100via the NFC device to authenticate the user of the mobile terminal. In this manner, the NFC device operates as a contactless card reader wherein the mobile terminal operates like an ID card of the customer. The customer then selects and initiates a desired transaction by inputting a PIN code, or similar security details, via the application of the mobile terminal314. Transaction details, such as a value of currency notes to be dispensed at an ATM, are input by the customer via the mobile terminal314. Information and/or data may be communicated between the mobile terminal and the ATM and via the network centre via an ATM communications channel and/or a communications channel of the mobile terminal. Once the transaction is authorised either locally at the ATM and/or at the network centre402via the network400, the ATM dispenses currency notes, or similar items of value, to the customer in accordance with the transaction. The transaction is then complete.

There are many NFC device types available in various ISO standards such as ISO 15693, ISO 14443-A, ISO 14443-B, ISO 14443-B(SRIxx) and ISO 18092. It will be appreciated that certain embodiments of the present invention are not restricted to NFC devices having any pre-determined ISO standard compatibility. Rather, certain embodiments of the present invention are broadly applicable to the use of NFC devices. It will be appreciated that NFC is a set of short-range wireless technologies which require devices communicating with each other to be separated by a distance of 20 cm or less, typically around 10 cm. Aptly, communication between an NFC device and an NFC reader occurs over a distance of around 20 cm to around 4 cm or less. The communication operates at around 13.56 MHz with data rate exchanges ranging from around 106 kbit/s to 424 kbit/s. In passive NFC devices, a reader acts as an initiator device and provides a carrier field whilst the NFC device acts as a target device answering the field generated by the initiator device by modulating the existing field. In this way, the target device may draw its operating power from the initiator-provided electromagnetic field. This is thus a passive communication mode. Certain embodiments of the present invention can optionally use such passive NFC devices or alternatively can utilise NFC devices able to operate in a so-called active communication mode. In this mode, both the initiator device and target device communicate by alternatively generating their own fields. Each device de-activates its own RF field whilst waiting for data. Active or ‘dynamic’ NFC devices thus have their own power (which may aptly be rechargeable) and are able to generate their own detectable field. Suitable dynamic NFC devices310for certain embodiments of the present invention include the Sony RC-S801 and RC-802 NFC tags.

Certain embodiments thus provide a programmable NFC device which can be dynamically updated by a Self-Service Terminal (SST), such as an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), to which the device is attached. The device enables banks or other bank partners or other such institutions which exercise control over the SST to transfer digital information or content to be conveniently picked up by customers. Using a dynamic NFC device allows this information to be updated as often and as quickly as required and the information can be used for a wide variety of purposes such as execution of a transaction.