Patent ID: 7815103

Claim:
A computer program embodied in a computer-readable medium for predicting the probable future status of one or more components within an Automated Teller Machine, ATM, the components including (A) a pick mechanism which withdraws currency sheets from a storage cassette and which is driven by a first electric motor ( 70 ), (B) a transport mechanism which receives currency sheets from the pick mechanism and which is driven by a second electric motor ( 71 ), and (C) a purge bin ( 108 ) which receives currency sheets which have been withdrawn from a storage cassette but not delivered to a customer, and the ATM comprising (1) a plurality of sensors arranged to monitor the operation of components of the ATM, said sensors including (A) a sensor which detects speed of said first motor ( 70 ), (B) a sensor which detects speed of said second motor ( 71 ), (C) a sensor which ascertains whether currency sheets are present in the purge bin ( 108 ), (D) one or more temperature sensors which measure temperature at different locations within the ATM, and (E) one or more humidity sensors which measure humidity at different locations within the ATM, and (2) a control means arranged to receive information from said plurality of sensors, the program being adapted to: a) receive said sensor information; b) analyze said information to ascertain sensor patterns from said sensor information; c) compare said sensor patterns with detectors, which are predefined patterns, indicative of the future condition of said one or more components within the ATM; and d) classify said sensor patterns as being i) presently indicative of future failure of a component, if a detector so indicates, and ii) a novel pattern, if no corresponding detector is found.