Ncr Corporation

Jim Henderson

Martin Smith

Wolf Rossmann

Paul Nielsen

Mel Walter

Andrew Colley

Jonathan S Black

Barrie Clark

Graeme Mitchell

Mark M Grossi

Phil Noel Day

Michael McBride

Timothy Wiggins

John McRobert

Mike Taylor

A wireless communication device which stores and transfers entire digital media files for later use at transfer speeds compliant with the 60 GHz wireless standard. An example wireless communication device includes a receiver for wirelessly receiving an entire digital media file and associated usage rights from a kiosk while the receiver is within a wireless reception range of the kiosk, a memory for storing the digital media file and the associated usage rights, transfer circuitry for transferring the digital media file and the associated usage rights, and a controller for operating the receiver to receive the entire digital media file and associated rights, for storing the digital media file for later playing, and for operating the transfer circuitry to transfer the digital media file and associated rights.

Wireless communication device

A self-service terminal has a fascia. A transmittersends a chirped ultrasonic pulse across a region R of the fascia. The pulse interacts with the region R and the region R responds by emitting an output. A receiverreceives the output and produces an electrical signal corresponding to the output. A frequency analysing moduletransforms the electrical signal into a frequency response.

Foreign body detecting

A method of operating a sensorhaving a first transmit plate, a second receive plateand a dielectric material between the two plates. The method comprises the steps of: applying an alternating across the transmit and receive plates, thereby to create an alternating electric field, which applied voltage results in a current Iflowing through the two plates; producing a voltage signal corresponding to the resultant current I; determining the average value of the product of the corresponding voltage signal and a reference voltage signal V; and adjusting the phase of the reference voltage Vuntil a null condition is achieved, at which condition the average value is approximately zero. A sensoris also disclosed.

A kiosk for sale or rental of secure USB flash drives employing digital rights management to implement secure digital media storage such as that provided by encrypted storage utilizing content protection for recordable media (CPRM) or the like. Preferably, the form factor of the secure USB flash drives is that of a standard USB flash drive, and a standard USB connector is employed therein making the devices and their use familiar and comfortable to the average consumer. Further, the kiosk may employ an array of USB ports and support writing of content from one drive to another to advantageously adjust inventory to respond to demand. Light, simple kiosks may be designed.

Digital media kiosk

A self-service terminal comprises a media dispenser coupled to a control board; a cryptographic memory coupled to the control board; a network connection; a contact token reader; and a user interface comprising a plurality of lights. The control board includes a processor executing firmware. The firmware is operable to (i) read a token presented to the token reader each time the token contacts the token reader, (ii) ascertain a number of times a token reader is presented as part of a single transaction, (iii) create a transaction request including (a) an identifier read from the presented token and (b) an amount of cash requested based on the number of times the token was presented, (iv) encrypt the transaction request using data read from the cryptographic memory, and (v) transmit the encrypted transaction request to a remote authorization server using the network connection.

Media dispensing self-service terminal

A method of accessing content on a secure terminal is described. The method comprises: capturing an image of a visual code presented on a display of a secure terminal. The method then involves decoding the visual code to ascertain (i) a set of connection parameters and (ii) a unique identifier. The set of connection parameters are used to establish a connection with the secure terminal. The method also comprises receiving the content from the secure terminal via the established connection in response to transmission of the unique identifier.

Accessing a secure terminal

A particular problem for self-service devices incorporating USB devices () and a USB host () is that, when communication is lost between the USB host and one or more of the devices it is difficult (in particular situations) to reset those USB devices without manual intervention. We address that problem by using self-powered USB devices and/or bus powered devices connected to USB hubs, and by creating a power control interface () which is itself a USB device. That power control interface takes instructions from the USB host and is able to interrupt a power supply () to the USB devices to provoke automatic reset of those devices. Additionally, a watchdog application within the power control interface causes reset of that interface should it malfunction. Also, a master watchdog application at the USB host communicates with a slave watchdog application at the power control interface via a USB link. In the event of cessation of heartbeat signals between the master and slave the power control interface sends a hardware reset signal to the USB host.

Power control interface for a self-service apparatus

A module (), a terminal () including the module, and a system () including the terminal (), are described. The module may be a printer module () comprising a print engine (), a microcontroller (), and a wireless receiver (), such as a wireless modem, so that the module () is operable to receive data from a remote server () and to print the received data. The module () also includes a coupler (or) for directing data received from the wireless modem () to the microcontroller () and for directing data from the terminal () to the microcontroller (). A method of printing tickets at a terminal () and a method of retro-fitting a self-service terminal () are also described.

Module

A terminal in the form of an automated teller machine (ATM) comprises a base unit,with additional add-on modules. These include a depository/dispenser,, a statement printer,and secondary dispenser unit,. The base unit has a card reader,, keypad,and display,to allow cash to be dispensed. The add-on units are attached to the base unit which base unit provides environmental control as well as a processor control and power sourcing.

Growing community of inventors

Fife, United Kingdom

Jim Henderson