Apparatus for monitoring a self-service transaction terminal

An apparatus for monitoring an automated teller machine (ATM) which has a currency dispenser unit for dispensing currency to a customer to carrying out a self-service financial transaction at the ATM, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one acoustic sensor for sensing acoustic outputs associated with operation of the currency dispenser unit;
• storage means for storing digital representations of normal acoustic outputs from the acoustic sensor corresponding to normal operation of the currency dispenser unit;
• and
• processing means for (i) comparing digital representations of the acoustic outputs of the acoustic sensor with stored digital representations of normal acoustic outputs of the acoustic sensor, and (ii) providing an output signal indicative of abnormal operation of the currency dispenser unit based upon comparison of digital representations of the acoustic outputs of the acoustic sensor with stored digital representations of the normal acoustic outputs of the acoustic sensor.

An automated teller machine (ATM) for allowing a customer to carry out a self-service financial transaction, the ATM comprising:

• a currency dispenser unit for dispensing currency to the customer carrying out the self-service financial transaction;
• at least one acoustic sensor for sensing acoustic outputs associated with operation of the currency dispenser unit;
• storage means for storing digital representations of normal acoustic outputs from the acoustic sensor corresponding to normal operation of the currency dispenser unit;
• and
• processing means for (i) comparing digital representations of the acoustic outputs of the acoustic sensor with stored digital representations of normal acoustic outputs of the acoustic sensor, and (ii) providing an output signal indicative of abnormal operation of the currency dispenser unit based upon comparison of digital representations of the acoustic outputs of the acoustic sensor with stored digital representations of the normal acoustic outputs of the acoustic sensor.

An apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of acoustic sensors for sensing acoustic outputs of different parts of the apparatus;
• storage means for storing digital representations of normal outputs of the sensors respectively corresponding to normal operation of the parts;
• and
• processing means for (i) comparing digital representations of the acoustic outputs of the sensors with respective stored digital representations of the normal outputs of the sensors, and (ii) based upon the comparison, providing an indication as to whether any of the sensors has an abnormal acoustic output;
• each of the sensors being a microphone or an acoustic emission (AE) sensor;
• the sensors including at least one microphone for sensing air-borne acoustic waves and at least one AE sensor for sensing structure-borne acoustic waves;
• the AE sensor being physically attached to a wall of a safe;
• a digital representation of the normal output of the AE sensor being stored in an associated location in the storage means;
• the processing means being arranged at intervals to compare a digital representation of the acoustic output of the AE sensor with the stored digital representation of the normal output of the AE sensor, the processing means being arranged to send a warning signal to a remote station coupled to the processing means in the event of an appropriate match not being found as a result of such comparison.