Electronic signature capability in a gaming machine

• US 20030045353A1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T., Paulsen, Craig A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,935,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• 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 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual 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 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A disclosed gaming machine provides electronic signature capability to enable signature transactions to be effected from the gaming machine. The gaming machine utilizes electronic signature capture and authentication software in conjunction with an electronic signature database to authenticate an electronic signature input on the gaming machine. The authentication software may be co-located with the electronic signature capture software on the gaming machine or may be remotely located from the electronic signature capture software. The electronic signature database may be co-located with either or both the electronic signature capture software and authentication software or may be remotely located from either or both.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller configured to control one or more games played on the gaming machine;

a plurality of gaming devices connected to the gaming machine and in communication with the master gaming controller wherein at least one of the gaming devices is a signature input device configured to generate electronic signature data elements representing an electronic signature resulting from the input of a signature to the signature input device; and

a memory configured to store a plurality of electronic signature software elements that allow the machine to capture the electronic signature input on the signature input device and to authenticate the electronic signature.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising:

player tracking software, wherein the electronic signature software elements are located in the player tracking software.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the electronic signature software elements further comprise:

an electronic signature capture software element, for receiving electronic signature data elements generated by the signature input device, and for communicating the signature data elements to a signature authentication software element.

4. The gaming machine of claim 3, wherein the electronic signature software elements further comprise:

an electronic signature authentication software element, for receiving electronic signature data from the electronic signature capture software element and for authenticating the electronic signature data.

5. The gaming machine of claim 4, further comprising:

an electronic signature database in communication with the signature authentication software element, wherein the electronic signature database includes at least one signature stored as one or more electronic signature data elements.

6. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein the signature authentication software element is in communication with an electronic signature database and authenticates the electronic signature data based upon a comparison of the input signature data elements with at least one signature stored as one or more electronic signature data elements in the electronic signature database.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the signature input device comprises at least one of a touch screen display, an input pad, a stylus, a scanner, an input port, a wireless interface, a mouse, a biometric device, a digital imager, a hand-held device, and a digital glove.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the electronic signature database further includes information associated with the player whose signature is stored in the electronic signature database.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more games is selected from the group consisting of video slot games, mechanical slot games, video black jack games, video poker games, video keno games, video bingo games, video pachinko games, video card games, video games of chance, and combinations thereof.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless interface for receiving signature information from a hand-held device.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising:

gaming software elements for providing a transaction at the gaming machine requiring a signature.

12. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the transaction is selected from the group consisting of a car rental, a casino show ticket purchase, a lodging reservation, an airline reservation, a tour package purchase, a drink request, a dinner reservation, an electronic W2G form, a casino credit arrangement, a receipt of a cash payout, a credit card purchase, a merchandise purchase, and an electronic fund transfer.

13. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the transaction is a casino service transaction for accessing gaming machine data.

14. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the gaming machine data is selected from the group consisting of number of coins inserted, number of coins paid out, number of games played, gaming machine configuration, jackpot history, and combinations thereof.

15. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the transaction is an auditing transaction for accessing audit related data.

16. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the transaction is a government auditing transaction for accessing government audit related data.

17. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein the government auditing related data is selected from the group consisting of gaming machine software compliance data.

18. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the audit related data is selected from the group consisting of jackpot verification, gaming machine performance, gaming machine configuration, and combinations thereof.

19. A method for authenticating an electronic signature input on a gaming machine, the method comprising:

inputting a signature on a signature input device located on the gaming machine;

generating first electronic signature data elements representing a first electronic signature; and

authenticating the first electronic signature.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

capturing the first electronic signature by an electronic signature capture software element; and

communicating the first electronic signature to an electronic signature authentication software element for authentication.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

recognizing the input signature prior to generating the first electronic signature.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

inputting signature related data associated with the signature on an input device located on the gaming machine; and

communicating the signature related data to the electronic signature authentication software element.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving the first electronic signature at the electronic signature authentication software element and comparing the first electronic signature to at least a second electronic signature stored as second electronic signature data elements in an electronic signature database.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

generating an authentication notification at the signature authentication software element; and

communicating the authentication notification to the gaming machine.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

determining whether the first electronic signature should be validated by the gaming machine.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

validating the first electronic signature; and

initiating game play.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

validating the first electronic signature; and

initiating one or more processes requiring signature validation.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the one or more processes is at least one of an electronic funds transfer, a player tracking service and auditing.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the signature input device may include any one or more of a touch screen display, an input pad, a stylus, a scanner, an input port, a wireless interface, a mouse, a biometric device, a digital imager, a hand-held device, and a digital glove.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the electronic signature capture software element is stored in memory on the gaming machine.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein the electronic signature capture software element is stored in the player tracking unit of the gaming machine.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein the electronic signature capture software element and the signature authentication software elements are stored in memory on the gaming machine.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein the electronic signature capture software element, the signature authentication software element, and the electronic signature database are stored in memory on the gaming machine.

34. The method of claim 23, wherein the electronic signature capture software element is stored in the player tracking software on the gaming machine, and wherein the signature authentication software and the electronic signature database are stored on a player tracking/accounting server in communication with the gaming machine.

35. The method of claim 23, wherein the electronic signature capture software element is stored in memory on the gaming machine, and wherein the signature authentication software element and the electronic signature database are stored on a signature authentication server in communication with the gaming machine.

36. The method of claim 23, wherein the electronic signature capture software element and the signature authentication software element are stored in memory on the gaming machine, and wherein the electronic signature database is located on a server in communication with the gaming machine.

37. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

identifying a name associated with the first electronic signature; and

providing one or more customized services associated with the identified name at the gaming machine.

38. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing a transaction at the gaming machine requiring a signature.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the transaction is selected from the group consisting of a car rental, a casino show ticket purchase, a lodging reservation, an airline reservation, a tour package purchase, a drink request, a dinner reservation, an electronic W2G form, a casino credit arrangement, a receipt of a cash payout, a credit card purchase, a merchandise purchase, and an electronic fund transfer.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the transaction is a casino service transaction for accessing gaming machine data.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the gaming machine data is selected from the group consisting of number of coins inserted, number of coins paid out, number of games played, gaming machine configuration, jackpot history, and combinations thereof.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the transaction is an auditing transaction for accessing audit related data.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the transaction is a government auditing transaction for accessing government audit related data.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the government auditing related data is selected from the group consisting of gaming machine software compliance data.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the audit related data is selected from the group consisting of jackpot verification, gaming machine performance, gaming machine configuration, and combinations thereof.

46. A gaming machine network comprising:

a plurality of file storage devices storing gaming software programs;

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine comprising;

a master gaming controller configured to control one or more games played on the gaming machine,

a plurality of gaming devices connected to the gaming machine and in communication with the master gaming controller wherein at least one of the gaming devices is a signature input device configured to generate electronic signature data elements representing an electronic signature resulting from the input of a signature to the signature input device, and

a memory configured to store a plurality of electronic signature software elements that allow the gaming machine to capture the electronic signature input on the signature input device and to authenticate the electronic signature; and

a network allowing communication between the file storage devices and the plurality of gaming machines.

47. The gaming machine network of claim 46, further comprising:

player tracking software, wherein the electronic signature software elements are located in the player tracking software.

48. The gaming machine network of claim 46, wherein the electronic signature software elements further comprise:

an electronic signature capture software element, for receiving electronic signature data elements generated by the signature input device, and for communicating the signature data elements to a signature authentication software element; and

an electronic signature authentication software element, for receiving electronic signature data from the electronic signature capture software element and for authenticating the electronic signature data.

49. The gaming machine network of claim 48, further comprising:

an electronic signature database in communication with the signature authentication software element, wherein the electronic signature database includes at least one signature stored as one or more electronic signature data elements.

50. The gaming machine network of claim 48, wherein the signature authentication software element is in communication with an electronic signature database and authenticates the electronic signature data based upon a comparison of the input signature data elements with at least one signature stored as one or more electronic signature data elements in the electronic signature database.

51. The gaming machine network of claim 46, wherein the signature input device comprises at least one of a touch screen display, an input pad, a stylus, a scanner, an input port, a wireless interface, a mouse, a biometric device, a digital imager, a hand-held device, and a digital glove.

52. The gaming machine network of claim 46, wherein the electronic signature database further includes information associated with the player whose signature is stored in the electronic signature database.

53. The gaming machine network of claim 46, wherein the one or more games is selected from the group consisting of video slot games, mechanical slot games, video black jack games, video poker games, video keno games, video bingo games, video pachinko games, video card games, video games of chance, and combinations thereof.

54. The gaming machine network of claim 46, further comprising:

a wireless interface for receiving signature information from a hand-held device.

55. The gaming machine network of claim 46, further comprising:

gaming software elements for providing a transaction at the gaming machine requiring a signature.

56. The gaming machine network of claim 55, wherein the transaction is selected from the group consisting of a car rental, a casino show ticket purchase, a lodging reservation, an airline reservation, a tour package purchase, a drink request, a dinner reservation, an electronic W2G form, a casino credit arrangement, a receipt of a cash payout, a credit card purchase, a merchandise purchase, and an electronic fund transfer.

57. The gaming machine network of claim 55, wherein the transaction is a casino service transaction for accessing gaming machine data.

58. The gaming machine network of claim 57, wherein the gaming machine data is selected from the group consisting of number of coins inserted, number of coins paid out, number of games played, gaming machine configuration, jackpot history, and combinations thereof.

59. The gaming machine network of claim 55, wherein the transaction is an auditing transaction for accessing audit related data.

60. The gaming machine network of claim 59, wherein the transaction is a government auditing transaction for accessing government audit related data.

61. The gaming machine network of claim 60, wherein the government auditing related data is selected from the group consisting of gaming machine software compliance data.

62. The gaming machine network of claim 59, wherein the audit related data is selected from the group consisting of jackpot verification, gaming machine performance, gaming machine configuration, and combinations thereof.

63. A computer readable medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a digital processing system cause the system to perform a method for authenticating an electronic signature input on a gaming machine, the method comprising:

inputting a signature on a signature input device located on the gaming machine;

generating first electronic signature data elements representing a first electronic signature; and

authenticating the first electronic signature.

64. The computer readable medium of claim 63, further comprising:

capturing the first electronic signature by an electronic signature capture software element; and

communicating the first electronic signature to an electronic signature authentication software element for authentication.

65. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

inputting signature related data associated with the signature on an input device located on the gaming machine; and

communicating the signature related data to the electronic signature authentication software element.

66. A method for authenticating an electronic signature input on a gaming machine, the method comprising:

inputting a signature on a signature input device located on the gaming machine;

generating first electronic signature data elements representing a first electronic signature; and

authenticating the first electronic signature.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

capturing the first electronic signature by an electronic signature capture software element; and

communicating the first electronic signature to an electronic signature authentication software element for authentication.

68. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

recognizing the input signature prior to generating the first electronic signature.

69. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

inputting signature related data associated with the signature on an input device located on the gaming machine; and

communicating the signature related data to the electronic signature authentication software element.

70. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

receiving the first electronic signature at the electronic signature authentication software element and comparing the first electronic signature to at least a second electronic signature stored as second electronic signature data elements in an electronic signature database.

71. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

generating an authentication notification at the signature authentication software element; and

communicating the authentication notification to the gaming machine.

72. The method of claim 71, further comprising:

determining whether the first electronic signature should be validated by the gaming machine.

73. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

validating the first electronic signature; and

initiating game play.

74. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

validating the first electronic signature; and

initiating one or more processes requiring signature validation.

75. The method of claim 71, wherein the one or more processes is at least one of an electronic funds transfer, a player tracking service and auditing.

76. The method of claim 66, wherein the signature input device may include any one or more of a touch screen display, an input pad, a stylus, a scanner, an input port, a wireless interface, a mouse, a biometric device, a digital imager, a hand-held device, and a digital glove.

77. The method of claim 67, wherein the electronic signature capture software element is stored in memory on the gaming machine.

78. The method of claim 67, wherein the electronic signature capture software element is stored in the player tracking unit of the gaming machine.

79. The method of claim 67, wherein the electronic signature capture software element and the signature authentication software elements are stored in memory on the gaming machine.

80. The method of claim 70, wherein the electronic signature capture software element, the signature authentication software element, and the electronic signature database are stored in memory on the gaming machine.

81. The method of claim 70, wherein the electronic signature capture software element is stored in the player tracking software on the gaming machine, and wherein the signature authentication software and the electronic signature database are stored on a player tracking/accounting server in communication with the gaming machine.

82. The method of claim 70, wherein the electronic signature capture software element is stored in memory on the gaming machine, and wherein the signature authentication software element and the electronic signature database are stored on a signature authentication server in communication with the gaming machine.

83. The method of claim 70, wherein the electronic signature capture software element and the signature authentication software element are stored in memory on the gaming machine, and wherein the electronic signature database is located on a server in communication with the gaming machine.

84. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

identifying a name associated with the first electronic signature; and

providing one or more customized services associated with the identified name at the gaming machine.

85. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

providing a transaction at the gaming machine requiring a signature.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the transaction is selected from the group consisting of a car rental, a casino show ticket purchase, a lodging reservation, an airline reservation, a tour package purchase, a drink request, a dinner reservation, an electronic W2G form, a casino credit arrangement, a receipt of a cash payout, a credit card purchase, a merchandise purchase, and an electronic fund transfer.

87. The method of claim 85, wherein the transaction is a casino service transaction for accessing gaming machine data.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein the gaming machine data is selected from the group consisting of number of coins inserted, number of coins paid out, number of games played, gaming machine configuration, jackpot history, and combinations thereof.

89. The method of claim 85, wherein the transaction is an auditing transaction for accessing audit related data.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein the transaction is a government auditing transaction for accessing government audit related data.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein the government auditing related data is selected from the group consisting of gaming machine software compliance data.

92. The method of claim 89, wherein the audit related data is selected from the group consisting of jackpot verification, gaming machine performance, gaming machine configuration, and combinations thereof.