Avatar as security measure for mobile device use with electronic gaming machine

• US 10,192,400 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Price, Derrick, Nelson, Dwayne R., Kleppen, Dennis Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US15/785,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20180040194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/30 Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system is configured to establish a secure communication session between an electronic gaming machine and a portable electronic device. The system can confirm that a communication session is secure by displaying pre-selected content unique to the portable electronic device. The content can be continuously displayed on the EGM during the active communication session to indicate that the session is secure.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at an electronic gaming machine, from a first portable electronic device operable by a user and including a touch screen and a processor, an electronic communication signal related to a designated activity;

receiving, at the electronic gaming machine, from the first portable electronic device, data representing displayable security content selected by the user and accessible through the first portable electronic device, the data representing the displayable person-selected security content including data representing real time information provided by the first portable electronic device, said displayable user selected security content including a visually displayable representation; and

causing the electronic gaming machine to display the displayable user-selected security content to confirm to the user that a designated level of security exists between the first portable electronic device and the electronic gaming machine in relation to the designated activity, wherein the designated activity occurs during a period of time while the first portable electronic device and the electronic gaming machine are in a substantially same proximity to each other.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayable user-selected security content includes real time video.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayable user-selected security content includes real time motion information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayable user-selected security content includes real time touch information.

5. The method of claim 1, which includes continuously displaying the displayable user-selected security content on the display of the electronic gaming machine until a designated event occurs.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated activity includes a communication session between the first portable electronic device and the electronic gaming machine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayable user-selected security content is directly received by the electronic gaming machine from the first portable electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, which includes causing a transfer of monetary value associated with the designated activity.

9. The method of claim 1, which includes causing data related to payment information to be transferred from the first portable electronic device to the electronic gaming machine.

10. The method of claim 1, which includes causing data related to electronic voucher information to be transferred from the first portable electronic device to the electronic gaming machine.

11. The method of claim 1, which includes causing an electronic fund transfer from the first portable electronic device to the electronic gaming machine.

12. The method of claim 1, which includes causing data related to player tracking information to be transferred from the first portable electronic device to the electronic gaming machine.

13. A method comprising:

sending, from a first electronic device to a second electronic device including a touch screen and a processor, an electronic communication signal related to a designated activity;

sending, from the first electronic device to the second electronic device, data representing displayable security content selected by a user of the first electronic device and accessible through the first electronic device, the data representing the displayable user-selected security content including real time information provided by the first electronic device, said displayable user-selected security content including a visually displayable representation; and

causing the second electronic device to display the displayable user-selected security content to confirm to a person that a designated level of security exists between the first electronic device and the second electronic device in relation to the designated activity, wherein the designated activity occurs during a period of time while the first electronic device and the second electronic device are in a substantially same proximity to each other.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the displayable user-selected security content includes real time motion information.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the displayable user-selected security content includes real time touch information.

16. The method of claim 13, which includes continuously displaying the displayable user-selected security content on the display of the second electronic device until a designated event occurs.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the designated activity includes a communication session between the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the displayable user-selected security content is directly received by the second electronic device from the first electronic device.

19. The method of claim 13, which includes causing a transfer of monetary value associated with the designated activity.

20. The method of claim 13 which includes causing data related to payment information to be transferred from the first electronic device to the second electronic device.

21. The method of claim 13, which includes causing data related to electronic voucher information to be transferred from the first electronic device to the second electronic device.

22. The method of claim 13, which includes causing an electronic fund transfer from the first electronic device to the second electronic device.

23. The method of claim 13, which includes causing data related to player tracking information to be transferred from the first electronic device to the second electronic device.