Bill acceptors and printers for providing virtual ticket-in and ticket-out on a gaming machine

• US 10,121,318 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: LeMay, Steven G., Nelson, Dwayne R., Vasquez, Jim A., Gowin, Scott T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Galka, Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US13/229,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20130065686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,615 Days
• Field of Search: 463 37
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can include electronic gaming machines that are compatible to receive both virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that are redeemable for credits on the electronic gaming machines. Information associated with a virtual ticket voucher can be stored on a patron-controlled portable electronic device and then can be wireless transmitted to the electronic gaming machines. The electronic gaming machines can be configured to issue virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for cash or additional game play on another electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, the electronic gaming machine can be configured to issue a virtual ticket voucher to a patron-controlled portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a wireless interface;

a communication interface;

a controller including a processor and a memory which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

in association with a virtual ticket electronic cash-in transaction;

receive, via the wireless interface, information representing a first gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher from a portable electronic device,

validate the first gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher using at least the information representing the first gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher received from the portable electronic device, and

send virtual ticket voucher information, via the communication interface, to a game controller of an electronic gaming machine which is different from the controller, wherein a credit balance of the electronic gaming machine is modified at least partially based on a credit amount associated with the first gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher, and wherein the credit balance is decreasable based on a wager amount subsequently placed on a play of a wagering game;

in association with a virtual ticket electronic cash-out transaction;

receive a signal to request the virtual ticket electronic cash-out transaction,

receive, from the game controller and via the communication interface, a gaming establishment ticket voucher validation number and an amount associated with the gaming establishment ticket voucher validation number, and

send, via the wireless interface, a second gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher to the portable electronic device, the second gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher including the gaming establishment ticket voucher validation number and the amount associated with the gaming establishment ticket voucher validation number; and

update one or more virtual ticket meters that accumulate virtual ticket voucher information, wherein the one or more virtual ticket meters updated by the controller are separate from a printed ticket meter updated by the game controller of the electronic gaming machine that is used for recording printed ticket voucher information.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to read at least one of a magnetic striped card and a smart card.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to generate a printed ticket voucher.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to accept and read data from at least one of:

a printed ticket voucher and a bill of currency.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a network interface, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to communicate, via the network interface, inputted loyalty program information to a loyalty program server.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a display, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to cause the display to output virtual ticket voucher information.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile memory, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to cause the non-volatile memory to store virtual ticket voucher information.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the one or more virtual ticket meters are one or more soft meters, and when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to:

(i) update the one or more soft meters that accumulate virtual ticket voucher information stored in the non-volatile memory, (ii) maintain the one or more soft meters when error conditions occur on the gaming device, and (iii) only reset the one or more soft meters when the gaming device is placed in an operator mode.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface and controller are compatible with a near-field communication protocol.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to turn on the wireless interface in response to receiving the signal from one of:

a first input button, and a second input button.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a status indicator, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to control the status indicator to indicate a status of the wireless interface.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor during a virtual ticket voucher transaction, the instructions cause the processor to send a notification to the game controller that causes the game controller to update the printed ticket meter in the same manner as if a printed ticket voucher transaction occurred.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher and the second gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher are different virtual ticket vouchers.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the electronic gaming machine includes a housing, and a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including (i) an acceptor, and (ii) a cashout device, wherein the game controller of the electronic gaming machine is configured to:

responsive to a physical item being received via the acceptor, modify the credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

15. A gaming device comprising:

a wireless interface configured to communicate with a portable electronic device;

a first communication interface configured to communicate with a game controller on an electronic gaming machine, said electronic gaming machine configured to be coupled the gaming device;

a second communication interface configured to communicate with a remote server;

a controller including a processor and a memory which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

upon receiving a request for a virtual ticket electronic cash-in transaction;

receive, via the wireless interface, information representing a first gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher from a portable electronic device, and

in response to receiving the information representing the first gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher;

validate the first gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher using at least the information representing the first gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher received from the portable electronic device, and

send, via the first communication interface, virtual ticket voucher information to the game controller of the electronic gaming machine, wherein a credit balance of the electronic gaming machine is modified at least partially based on a credit amount associated with the first gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher, and wherein the credit balance is decreasable based on a wager amount subsequently placed on a play of a wagering game,

upon receiving a request for a virtual ticket electronic cash-out transaction;

receive, from the game controller and via the first communication interface, a gaming establishment ticket voucher validation number and an amount associated with the gaming establishment ticket voucher validation number, and

send to the portable electronic device, via the wireless interface, a second gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher including the gaming establishment ticket voucher validation number and the amount associated with the gaming establishment ticket voucher validation number;

update one or more soft virtual ticket meters that accumulate virtual ticket voucher information, wherein the one or more soft virtual ticket meters updated by the controller are separate from a printed ticket meter updated by the game controller of the electronic gaming machine that is used for recording printed ticket voucher information.

16. The gaming device of claim 15 wherein the request for the virtual ticket electronic cash-in transaction is received from one selected from the group consisting of:

the game controller, the portable electronic device and the remote server.

17. The gaming device of claim 15 wherein the request for the virtual ticket electronic cash-out transaction is received from one selected from the group consisting of:

the game controller, the portable electronic device and the remote server.

18. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the virtual ticket voucher information received from the portable electronic device is sent to one selected from the group consisting of:

the remote server and the game controller.

19. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the gaming establishment ticket voucher validation number is received from the remote server.

20. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the request for the virtual ticket electronic cash-in transaction is a detected actuation of an input button.

21. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the request for the virtual ticket electronic cash-out transaction is a detected actuation of an input button.

22. The gaming device of claim 15, further comprising an interface, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to cause the interface to output information related to one selected from the group consisting of:

the virtual ticket electronic cash-in transaction and the virtual ticket electronic cash-out transaction.

24. The gaming device of claim 22 wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to cause the interface to output at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a light pattern and a readable message.

25. The gaming device of claim 15 wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to cause a status indicator to indicate a status of the wireless interface.

26. The gaming device of claim 15 wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to cause a status indicator to indicate a status of a communication session established between the gaming device and the portable electronic device.

27. The gaming device of claim 15 wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to output the virtual ticket voucher and a printed ticket voucher including the gaming establishment ticket validation number.

28. The gaming device of claim 15 wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to output the virtual ticket voucher and a printed receipt indicating the virtual ticket voucher has been issued.

29. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to receive at least one selected from the group consisting of:

biometric information, a pin and a password for validating the virtual ticket voucher.

30. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor emulate a bill validator of the electronic gaming machine to send the virtual ticket voucher information to the game controller in the form of a printed ticket voucher transaction.

31. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to emulate a printer of the electronic gaming machine after receiving the gaming establishment ticket voucher validation number and an amount associated with the gaming establishment ticket voucher validation number to respond to the gaming controller as if it were the printer and as if the printer had issued a paper ticket.

32. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein when executed by the processor during a virtual ticket voucher transaction, the instructions cause the processor to send a notification to the game controller that causes the game controller to update the printed ticket meter in the same manner as if a printed ticket voucher transaction occurred.

33. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the first gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher and the second gaming establishment virtual ticket voucher are different virtual ticket vouchers.

34. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the electronic gaming machine includes a housing, and a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including (i) an acceptor, and (ii) a cashout device, wherein the game controller of the electronic gaming machine is configured to:

responsive to a physical item being received via the acceptor, modify the credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

23. The gaming device of device 22 wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to cause the interface to output at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a sound and a verbal message.