Self-Service Terminal Management Agent for Legacy Network Fault Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-service terminals, such as ATMs, operating on legacy network technologies like SNA networks lack the ability to efficiently transmit management information and fault notifications to remote locations without requiring IP network connectivity, hindering fault detection and maintenance in unattended environments.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a communications stack for receiving and preparing management information, enabling its transmission across a legacy network to a host, which then forwards it to a remote management center, allowing for centralized maintenance and management without upgrading the legacy network to IP standards. This involves using a management agent, a communications stack, and a self-service terminal application to package and transmit notifications using protocols like SNMP and NDC formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If self-service terminals use legacy network technologies like SNA networks, then the network infrastructure complexity is reduced and existing infrastructure can be maintained, but the ability to transmit management information and fault notifications to remote locations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protocol converter as an intermediary device that sits between the legacy SNA network and the IP-based management system. This converter translates SNA network messages into IP-compatible protocols, enabling management information to be transmitted from self-service terminals over the legacy network infrastructure to remote management systems without requiring the terminal itself to have IP connectivity.
2Ease of operation
If self-service terminals are designed to operate independently in unattended environments, then the ease of operation is improved and human assistance is minimized, but the ability to detect and report faults quickly is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where self-service terminals continuously monitor their own operational status and automatically generate fault notifications. These notifications are transmitted through the protocol converter to remote management systems, which then provide feedback by sending alert messages back to the terminals. This closed-loop feedback system enables quick fault detection and reporting while maintaining independent unattended operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If self-service terminals use host-driven software to control operations, then the ease of manufacture is improved and software deployment is simplified, but the adaptability to different network protocols is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protocol converter acts as an intermediary that handles network protocol compatibility, allowing self-service terminals to use simplified host-driven software without needing to implement complex protocol adaptation logic. The converter translates between the simple host-driven communication format and the required network protocols, maintaining both software deployment simplicity and network protocol versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-service terminal comprises a plurality of devices, each device providing management information. A management agent is installed in the terminal and adapted to monitor the plurality of devices. In the event that management information from a device indicates that there is a fault, the management creates and transmits a notification. A communications stack is adapted to receive the transmitted notification from the management agent. A self-service terminal application is adapted to (i) monitor the communications stack to receive the transmitted notification, (ii) package the notification within a host message conforming to a host messaging format, and (iii) transmit the host message to a remote host via a legacy network.