System and method for using a smart card for wireless or wired remote gaming activities

• US 20030031321A1
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samuel Buchbinder
• Original Assignee: Samuel Buchbinder
• Inventors: Mages, Ken
• Application Number:
  US10/214,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20030031321A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A system and method for accurately identifying the user of wireless or wired devices used for playing casino games. The system includes a smart card reader associated with the device for reading information about the authorized user from a smart card. The information stored on the smart may include the amount of money left on the card or in the user'"'"'s account, as well as identification information such as a password or fingerprint associated with the authorized user. If the user enters the correct identification, then the device will proceed to allow gaming activities to be played. In addition to recording the balance remaining on the card, the smart card may also monitor and record information concerning the activities performed on the device to assist the casino in its reward program.

Claims

1. A system for verifying that a device that is capable of handling transactions is used by an authorized user comprising:

a smart card, wherein the smart card contains information related to the authorized user;

a device having a smart card reader for reading the information on the smart card and means to identify the authorized user based on the information on the smart card so as to allow the transactions only when the device verifies that the device is used by an authorized user.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the device is a wireless device.

3. The system according to claim 2 which further includes means to provide gaming activities.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the identifying means is a biometric scanner.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the biometric scanner is a fingerprint scanner and wherein the information stored on the smart card includes a copy of the authorized user'"'"'s fingerprint.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the identifying means is a password and wherein the information stored on the smart card includes the password.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the information stored on the smart card includes financial information concerning the authorized user.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein the information stored on the smart card is a monetary dollar amount.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein the smart card is a contact smart card.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein the smart card is a contactless smart card.

11. The system of claim 3 which further comprises means to record information on the smart card.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the recorded information includes the duration of time spent playing a game and the amount of money wagered.

13. The system of claim 3 wherein the means to play gaming activities includes means to connect the wireless device to the Internet.

14. The system of claim 3 wherein the means to play gaming activities includes means to connect the wireless device to a remote server.

15. The system of claim 3 which further includes means to verify the location of the wireless device.

16. A system for permitting an authorized user to participate in gaming activities comprising:

a smart card, wherein the smart card contains a stored value and information related to the authorized user;

a device having means to read the information on the smart card and means to identify the authorized user;

means to provide gaming activities;

means to compute and display results of the gaming activities; and

means to adjust the stored value on the smart card based on the results of the gaming activities.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the device is a wireless device.

18. A method for verifying that a device is used by an authorized user to perform a transaction comprising the steps of:

providing a device having a smart card reader and means to identify the authorized user;

providing a smart card, wherein the smart card includes information related to the authorized user;

allowing the smart card to communicate information related to the authorized user to the smart card reader;

requesting the authorized user to input identification information;

comparing the inputted identification information with the information stored on the smart card; and

selectively allowing the transaction to proceed depending on the comparison of the inputted identification information and the information stored on the smart card.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the device is a wireless device.

20. The method of claim 19 which further includes the steps of determining the location of the wireless device and selectively allowing the transaction to proceed depending on the location of the wireless device.

21. The method of claim 19 which further includes the step of connecting the wireless device to the Internet to allow the wireless device to offer gaming activities.

22. The method of claim 19 which further includes the step of connecting the wireless device to a computer network of a casino to allow the wireless device to offer gaming activities.

23. A method for verifying the identity of a user of a device for participating in gaming activities associated with a casino, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a device for participating in gaming activities, wherein the device includes a smart card reader and means to identify the authorized user;

providing a smart card, wherein the smart card includes stored information related to the authorized user;

allowing the smart card to communicate the stored information related to the user with the smart card reader;

requesting the authorized user to input identification information;

comparing the inputted identification information with the information stored on the smart card; and

selectively allowing the gaming activities to proceed depending on the comparison of the inputted identification information and the information stored on the smart card.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the device is a wireless device.

25. The method of claim 24 which further includes the step of connecting the wireless device to the Internet to allow the wireless device to offer gaming activities.

26. The method of claim 24 which further includes the step of connecting the wireless device to a computer network of the casino to allow the wireless device to offer gaming activities.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of comparing the inputted information with the information stored on the smart card comprises a biometric scanner.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the biometric scanner is a fingerprint scanner.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the information stored on the smart card includes a copy of the authorized user'"'"'s fingerprint.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein the identification information is a password and wherein the password is stored on the smart card.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein the information stored on the smart card includes financial information concerning the authorized user.

32. The method of claim 24 wherein the information stored on the smart card is a monetary dollar amount.

33. The method of claim 24 wherein the smart card is a contact smart card.

34. The method of claim 24 wherein the smart card is a contactless smart card.

35. The method of claim 24 which further comprises means to record information on the smart card.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the recorded information includes the duration of time spent playing a game and the amount of money wagered.

37. A method for allowing a device user to participating in gaming activities associated with a casino, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a device for participating in gaming activities, wherein the device includes a smart card reader and means to identify the authorized user;

connecting the device to a source for gaming activity;

providing a smart card, wherein the smart card includes information related to the authorized user and a stored value;

allowing the smart card to communicate the information regarding the authorized user and the stored value to the smart card reader;

requesting the authorized user to input identification information;

comparing the inputted identification information with the information stored on the smart card;

selectively allowing the transaction to proceed depending on the comparison of the inputted identification information and the information stored on the smart card;

offering at least one gaming activity to be played on the device;

indicating the results of the gaming activity; and

adjusting the stored value on the smart card based on the results of the gaming activity.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the device is a wireless device.

39. The method of claim 38 which further includes the steps of determining the location of the wireless device and selectively allowing the gaming activities to proceed depending on the location of the device.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the source of gaming activity comprises the Internet.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein the source of gaming activity comprises a computer network of the casino.