Evaluating and Servicing Problematic Cash-Handling Machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016196172-A1
Application number	US-201615047481-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 18, 2016
Priority date	Oct 10, 2012
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of tracking repeated performance problems in a machine is disclosed. The method comprises storing the faults in a computer memory, and assigning a classification value to the machine based on the frequency and number of the faults. Based on the classification value of the cash handing device it is determined whether the cash handing device needs to be serviced. The faults can be related to one of the hardware, the cash reject rate, image handling, crash rate, user claim rate, and check handling accuracy of the machine.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
determining whether a determined fault exists in a cash-handling machine; when the determined fault occurs, assigning a first chronic value to the cash-handling machine based on a predetermined set of criteria, wherein the determined fault comprises at least two of a hardware fault type, a communication fault type, a cash reject rate fault type, an image handling fault type, a crash rate fault type, a user claim rate fault type, and a check handling accuracy fault type; outputting the first chronic value of the cash-handling machine; and when the cash-handling machine is assigned the first chronic value and the cash-handling machine operates without faults for a first predetermined time period without servicing, re-assigning a second chronic value to the cash-handling machine, wherein the second chronic value corresponds to a less problematic condition than the first chronic value.

2 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising configuring a plurality of chronic values to range depending on a fault duration.

3 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the cash-handling machine is considered problematic if it is unavailable for a predetermined amount of time at least once within a predetermined number of days.

4 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein tracking information is used to determine the predetermined set of criteria.

5 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
when communication-type faults occur more than a predetermined amount during a predetermined time duration, generating a chronic communications failure ticket.

6 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
when the cash-handling machine is assigned the first chronic value and the cash-handling machine remains problematic for a second time period, re-assigning a third chronic value to the cash-handling machine, wherein the third chronic value corresponds to a more problematic condition than the first chronic value.

7 . The computer implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising:
when the cash-handling machine is assigned the first chronic value and the cash-handling machine remains problematic for a third time period, re-assigning a fourth chronic value to the cash-handling machine, wherein the third time period is greater than the second time period and wherein the fourth chronic value corresponds to a more problematic condition than the third chronic value.

8 . An apparatus comprising:
a processor for executing computer-executable instructions; and one or more memories storing the computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to perform a method comprising: determining whether a determined fault exists in a cash-handling machine; when the determined fault occurs, assigning a first chronic value to the cash-handling machine based on a predetermined set of criteria, wherein the determined fault comprises at least two of a hardware fault type, a communication fault type, a cash reject rate fault type, an image handling fault type, a crash rate fault type, a user claim rate fault type, and a check handling accuracy fault type; outputting the first chronic value of the cash-handling machine; and when the cash-handling machine is assigned the first chronic value and the cash-handling machine operates without faults for a first predetermined time period without servicing, re-assign a second chronic classification value to the cash-handling machine, wherein the second chronic value corresponds to a less problematic condition than the first chronic value.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a plurality of chronic values is configured to range depending on a fault duration.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the cash-handling machine is considered problematic if it is unavailable for a predetermined amount of time at least once within a predetermined number of days.

11 . The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the processor is configured to use tracking information to determine the predetermined set of criteria.

12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable instructions that, when executed, further cause the apparatus to perform a method comprising:
when the cash-handling machine is assigned the first chronic value and the cash-handling machine remains problematic for a second time period, re-assigning a third chronic value to the cash-handling machine, wherein the third chronic value corresponds to a more problematic condition than the first chronic value.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the computer-executable instructions that, when executed, further cause the apparatus to perform a method comprising:
when the cash-handling machine is assigned the first chronic value and the cash-handling machine remains problematic for a third time period, re-assigning a fourth chronic value to the cash-handling machine, wherein the third time period is greater than the second time period and wherein the fourth chronic value corresponds to a more problematic condition than the third chronic value.

14 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable instructions that, when executed, further cause the apparatus to perform a method comprising:
when communication-type faults occur more than a predetermined amount during a predetermined time duration, generating a chronic communications failure ticket.

15 . A computer program product, comprising a computer usable, non-transitory medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed by a processor to implement a method comprising:
determining whether a determined fault exists in a cash-handling machine; when the determined fault occurs, assigning a first chronic value to the cash-handling machine based on a predetermined set of criteria, wherein the determined fault comprises at least two of a hardware fault type, a communication fault type, a cash reject rate fault type, an image handling fault type, a crash rate fault type, a user claim rate fault type, and a check handling accuracy fault type; displaying the classification value of the cash-handling machine; and when the cash-handling machine is assigned the first chronic value and the cash-handling machine operates without faults for a first predetermined time period without servicing, re-assign a second chronic value to the cash-handling machine, wherein the second chronic value corresponds to a less problematic condition than the first chronic value.

16 . The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the cash-handling machine is considered problematic if it is unavailable for a predetermined amount of time at least once within a predetermined number of days.

17 . The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the processor is configured to determine the predetermined set of criteria based on tracking information.

18 . The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the computer readable program code is adapted to be executed by the processor to implement a method comprising:
when the cash-handling machine is assigned the first chronic value and the cash-handling machine remains problematic for a second time period, re-assigning a third chronic value to the cash-handling machine, wherein the third chronic value corresponds to a more problematic condition than the first chronic value.

19 . The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein t

Assignees

• Bank Of America

Inventors

• Bond Cheryl S
• Bell Rebecca L
• Bellamy Dion L
• Burton Pat
• Crist Kristy M
• Giordano Carol
• Goodwin James D
• Hipple Jeffrey
• Peretto Maggie M
• Rhodes Devin D
• Stavinoha Karen Y
• Wilson Susan A

Classifications

• G06F11/076 Primary

  by exceeding a count or rate limit, e.g. word- or bit count limit · CPC title

• G06F11/0751 Primary

  Error or fault detection not based on redundancy (power supply failures G06F1/30; network fault management H04L41/06) · CPC title

• G06F11/0736

  in functional embedded systems, i.e. in a data processing system designed as a combination of hardware and software dedicated to performing a certain function (testing or monitoring of automated control systems G05B23/02) · CPC title

• G06F11/079

  Root cause analysis, i.e. error or fault diagnosis (in a hardware test environment G06F11/22; in a software test environment G06F11/36) · CPC title

• G06F11/0787

  Storage of error reports, e.g. persistent data storage, storage using memory protection · CPC title