ZA201008113B

ZA201008113B - Automatic teller monitoring system

Info

Publication number: ZA201008113B
Application number: ZA2010/08113A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Paul Warren
Original assignee: Ringoscan (Pty) Ltd
Priority date: 2009-08-14
Filing date: 2010-11-12
Publication date: 2011-07-27

Description

..2010/ 08113 "5 AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINE MONITORING SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a monitoring system for automatic teller machines, otherwise known as ATM's.

Background to the Invention

It is well known that because ATM’s are loaded with cash they are targets for criminals as are clients who legitimately withdraw cash from such machines.

It is believed that if such machines and users could be monitored in a manner which made it difficult for criminals to remain anonymous and further, which may even seek

® assistance during a robbery or other criminal event, then criminals would be less likely to target ATM's and their users.

The operating zone around an ATM may be termed a cubicle, although a physical cubicle is not always present. In order to inhibit ATM crime the cubicle needs to be secured or monitored and it is this need that the inventor aims to address.

However, this is not as simple as it may seem as criminals are alert to CCTV installations and often disable such devices prior to committing crimes.

Object of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to monitor the ATM vicinity or cubicle in a manner which makes it difficult for a criminal to avoid being recorded or to damage or destroy the recording without destroying or substantially damaging the ATM, if at all.

Summary of the Invention :

7.90107 081 13 ® According to the invention, there is provided an ATM monitoring system, said system including: - motion sensing means located in, on, or in the proximity of the ATM being monitored; - one or more cameras located within an ATM cubicle to record all activity within the cubicle, said cameras operating in response to motion sensed by the motion sensing means in accordance with preset rules: - a digital video recorder (DVR) for recording the activity from the cameras, said

DVR located within a secure zone of the ATM so as to inhibit tampering therewith; and - transmission means for transmitting sound and/or images and/or video from the

DVR to a remote monitoring location.

The cameras may be located with the secure zone of the ATM.

The secure zone of the ATM may be the tamper resistant shell of the ATM.

The DVR may include software programmed with an algorithm or rules to recognize activity which is outside the norm of expected activities and to transmit images of the person or persons involved in such activities to the monitoring location.

The DVR may transmit video clips of said person or person either in addition to the images or as an alternative thereto.

The transmission means may include a virtual private network (VPN).

The transmission of the images and or video may be over cable infrastructure or over wireless communications network.

Deterrent means may be provided in or in the vicinity of the ATM to deter tampering with the ATM.

The deterrent means may include pepper spray apparatus, a smoke generator, capsicum powder dispersal, or other means of deterring the initiation or continuation of undesirable behaviour at an ATM.

Audio means may be provided to issue an audio warning prior to the deterrent means being activated thereby to discourage undesirable behaviour.

® The monitoring system may include timing means to activate the system or parts thereof only during predetermined hours, for example, from 23h00 to 04h00.

Thus, although recording may take place 24 hours a day, the deterrent means will only be active when the ATM is in a low use time period and when collateral damage is likely to be at a minimum. :

Description of an Example of the Invention

The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only.

The invention includes the installation of a passive infrared motion detector or PIR at an approach to the ATM cubicle and one or more cameras, and a DVR in the ATM Cubicle.

When activated in response to the PIR detecting a person approaching the ATM, the cameras detect images which are then recorded in the digital video recorder, the digital video recorder then transmits the images to a central control room via VPN (Virtual

Private Network), or other communication method, with the enabling software allowing for the explaining of certain defined priority or red tag events which can then receive immediate attention at a remote control room.

¥ N \ a. ° ..2010708113

The recorded material is then used in criminal prosecutions and the diverse alarms used in crime prevention and detection.

Also, when a red tag event occurs between, for example, the hours of 23h00 to 04h00, then the system may activate the deterrent means and discharge pepper spray into the immediate vicinity of the ATM after issuing an audio warning to stop tampering with the

ATM. The activation of the deterrent means may require an operator to agree thereto and conform to rules-based activation after viewing live video from the ATM. © 10

Claims

® Claims Le

1. An ATM monitoring system, said system including: - motion sensing means located in, on, or in the proximity of the ATM being monitored; - one or more cameras located within an ATM cubicle to record all activity within the cubicle, said cameras operating in response to motion sensed by the motion sensing means in accordance with preset rules; - a digital video recorder (DVR) for recording the activity from the cameras, said DVR located within a secure zone of the ATM so as to inhibit tampering therewith; and - transmission means for transmitting sound and/or images and/or video from the DVR to a remote monitoring location.

2. An ATM monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cameras are located with the secure zone of the ATM.

3. An ATM monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the secure zone of the ATM is the tamper resistant shell of the ATM.

® 4. An ATM monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the DVR includes software programmed with an algorithm or rules to recognize activity which is outside the norm of expected activities and to transmit images of the person or persons involved in such activities to the monitoring location.

5. An ATM monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the DVR transmits video clips of said person or persons either in addition to the images or as an alternative thereto.

6. An ATM monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission means includes a virtual private network (VPN).

7. An ATM monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission of the images and or video is over cable infrastructure or over wireless communications network.

8. An ATM monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein deterrent means is provided in or in the vicinity of the ATM to deter tampering with the ATM, which deterrent means includes one or more of a pepper spray apparatus, a smoke generator, capsicum powder dispersal, or other means of deterring the initiation or continuation of undesirable behaviour at an ATM.

9. An ATM monitoring system as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein audio means is provided to issue an audio warning prior to the deterrent means being activated thereby to discourage undesirable behaviour.

10. An ATM monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the monitoring system includes timing means to activate the system or parts thereof only during predetermined hours of low ATM activity.

11. An ATM monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

12. A new ATM monitoring system substantially as herein described. DATED THIS 12™ DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2010. rot HAHN & HAHN INC. Agent for Applicant