Redemption of virtual tickets using a portable electronic device

• US 10,297,105 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2011
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• 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): Shah, Milap
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pinheiro, Jason
• Application Number:
  US13/231,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20130065668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,807 Days
• Field of Search: 463 25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

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 non-transitory computer readable storage medium for tangibly storing a computer program used by a processor of a portable electronic device, the computer program causing the processor of the portable electronic device to:

after receipt, via a wireless interface, of data associated with a virtual ticket voucher from an electronic gaming machine, store, via a memory device, the virtual ticket voucher, wherein the virtual ticket voucher is a bearer instrument redeemable only once for one of;

an amount of cash and an amount of wagering credits on the electronic gaming machine;

cause a rendering, via a display device, of an image of at least a front side of the virtual ticket voucher, wherein the image is rendered in a format similar to a printed ticket voucher issued by the electronic gaming machine, wherein the rendered image of the virtual ticket voucher excludes a portion of information necessary to redeem the virtual ticket voucher, and wherein said excluded information is at least one of displayed information and embedded information, such that the rendered image of the virtual ticket voucher cannot be redeemed without the excluded portion of information separately communicated to the portable electronic device; and

after data associated with the excluded portion of information necessary to enable a subsequent redemption of the virtual ticket voucher is separately communicated from the electronic gaming machine to the portable electronic device via the wireless interface, send, via the wireless interface, data associated with the virtual ticket voucher to the electronic gaming machine, wherein following receipt of the data associated with the virtual ticket voucher, the electronic gaming device displays an electronic gaming machine credit balance at least partially based on the amount of wagering credits.

2. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor of the portable electronic device, the computer program causes the processor of the portable electronic device to:

receive a selection, via at least one input device, of a parameter to customize an appearance of the image of the virtual ticket voucher rendered via the display device, and

store, via the memory device, the selected parameter.

3. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor of the portable electronic device, the computer program causes the processor of the portable electronic device to:

store, via the memory device, a plurality of virtual ticket voucher templates wherein the virtual ticket vouchers templates affect an appearance of the rendered image of the virtual ticket voucher, and

enable a selection of one of the plurality of virtual ticket voucher templates to apply to the virtual ticket voucher.

4. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor of the portable electronic device, the computer program causes the processor of the portable electronic device to:

determine an expiration date of the virtual ticket voucher, and

send data associated with a notification message when the virtual ticket voucher is about to expire.

5. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor of the portable electronic device, the computer program causes the processor of the portable electronic device to send data associated with loyalty program information with the virtual ticket voucher.

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor of the portable electronic device, the computer program causes the processor of the portable electronic device to send data associated with a request to a remote server to extend an expiration date on the virtual ticket voucher.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor of the portable electronic device, the computer program causes the processor of the portable electronic device to:

communicate with a remote server, and

purchase a virtual ticket voucher from the remote server redeemable for game play at a casino.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor of the portable electronic device, the computer program causes the processor of the portable electronic device to:

send data associated with a request to a remote server to redeem a virtual ticket voucher, and

send the data associated with the virtual ticket voucher to the remote server for redemption.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor of the portable electronic device, the computer program causes the processor of the portable electronic device to generate a scannable image that is output to the display device for redemption of the virtual ticket voucher at at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a cashier station and a redemption kiosk.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor of the portable electronic device, the computer program causes the processor of the portable electronic device to upload the rendered image to a social media site.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor of the portable electronic device, the computer program causes the processor of the portable electronic device to obscure information from the rendered image needed to redeem the virtual ticket voucher.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor of the portable electronic device, the computer program causes the processor of the portable electronic device to upload information associated with the virtual ticket vouchers to a remote device for storage.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the excluded portion of information includes a unique validation number distinct from the ticket validation number, and when executed by the processor of the portable electronic device, the computer program causes the processor of the portable electronic device to communicate data associated with the unique validation number to the portable electronic device.

14. A method of operating a gaming server including a processor, a memory and a wireless network interface, the method comprising:

receiving data associated with a request from a portable electronic device, via the wireless network interface, to generate a virtual ticket voucher redeemable for game play at a casino;

receiving data associated with an electronic payment for the virtual ticket voucher;

sending data associated with a request to a remote server at the casino to send data associated with a ticket validation number including a value of the virtual ticket voucher;

receiving the data associated with the ticket validation number;

generating the virtual ticket voucher;

sending the data associated with the virtual ticket voucher to the portable electronic device;

notifying the remote server that the virtual ticket voucher has been generated; and

generating instructions that permit an image of the virtual ticket voucher to be rendered on a display of the portable electronic device, wherein the virtual ticket voucher excludes a portion of information necessary to redeem the virtual ticket voucher, and wherein said excluded information is at least one of displayed information and embedded information, such that the image of the virtual ticket voucher cannot be redeemed without data associated with the excluded portion of information separately communicated, via the wireless interface to the portable electronic device to enable a subsequent redemption of the virtual ticket voucher.

15. The method of claim 14, which includes sending the instructions to the portable electronic device.

16. The method of claim 14, which includes sending data associated with a promotion coupon to the portable electronic device.

17. The method of claim 14, which includes:

receiving data associated with a request for redemption of a first virtual ticket voucher from the portable electronic device, requesting the remote server to validate the first virtual ticket voucher and when the first virtual ticket voucher is validated arranging a transfer of funds for the value of the first virtual ticket voucher.

18. The method of claim 17, which includes determining whether the first virtual ticket voucher is eligible for redemption by the server.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining includes determining whether the virtual ticket voucher is near an expiration date.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining includes determining whether the virtual ticket voucher is below a threshold value.

21. The method of claim 14, which includes:

receiving data associated with a request to extend an expiration date of a first virtual ticket voucher, requesting the remote server to extend the expiration date of the first virtual ticket voucher and sending data associated with a message to the portable electronic device indicating whether the expiration date of the first virtual ticket voucher is extended.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the excluded portion of information includes a unique validation number distinct from the ticket validation number, and wherein the method includes communicating the unique validation number to the portable electronic device.

23. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

communicate, via a wireless interface, to a portable electronic device data associated with a virtual ticket voucher wherein the virtual ticket voucher is a bearer instrument redeemable only once for one of;

an amount of cash and an amount of wagering credits, wherein the portable electronic device stores the virtual ticket voucher and renders an image of at least a front side of the virtual ticket voucher to a display, wherein the image is rendered in a format similar to an issued printed ticket voucher, wherein the rendered image of the virtual ticket voucher excludes a portion of information necessary to redeem the virtual ticket voucher, and wherein said excluded information is at least one of displayed information and embedded information, such that the rendered image of the virtual ticket voucher cannot be redeemed without the excluded portion of information separately communicated to the portable electronic device;

separately communicate, via the wireless interface, data associated with the excluded portion of information to the portable electronic device to enable a subsequent redemption of the virtual ticket voucher,

thereafter, receive from the portable electronic device and via the wireless interface, the data associated with the virtual ticket voucher, and

following receipt of the virtual ticket voucher, cause the at least one display device to display a credit balance at least partially based on the amount of wagering credits.

24. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to utilize a wired communication connection to communicate with the portable electronic device.

25. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to communicate with the portable electronic device via a near-field communication protocol on the wireless interface.

26. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:

receive data associated with a selected parameter from the portable electronic device, and

cause a change in appearance of the image of the virtual ticket voucher rendered.

27. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:

communicate to the portable electronic device appearance data that affects the image of the virtual ticket voucher rendered on the portable electronic device.

28. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to receive data associated with a request from the portable electronic device to perform an electronic cash-in transaction.

29. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the portable electronic device receives an input for initiating the request.

30. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to receive data associated with a request from the portable electronic device to perform an electronic cash-out transaction.

31. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the portable electronic device receives an input for initiating the request.

32. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the portable electronic device displays a message requesting additional verification information before permitting the data associated with the virtual ticket voucher to be communicated.

33. The gaming system of claim 32, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to communicate data associated with the additional verification information via an encrypted communication, wherein the portable electronic device authenticates the additional verification information.

34. The gaming system of claim 32, wherein the additional verification information is one selected from the group consisting of:

a PIN, a password and a biometric data.

35. The gaming system of claim 32, wherein the request for the additional verification is triggered when a value of the virtual ticket voucher that is to be redeemed exceeds a threshold value.

36. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to receive, from the portable electronic device, data associated with a selected two or more virtual ticket vouchers.