Modular entertainment and gaming system configured for processing raw biometric data and multimedia response by a remote server

• US 20030100371A1
• Filed: 04/10/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mudalla Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cyberview Technology, Inc. (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: De Courssou, Thierrry Brunet, Gatto, Jean-Marie, Beney, Pierre-Jean
• Granted Patent: US 6,945,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play
• 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 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

A secure and modular architecture for monitoring and controlling clusters of pay entertainment and gaming devices. The architecture allows flexible and secure use of state-of-the-art multimedia and Internet technologies to attract the younger player generation used to flashy and networked games. Cash or cash-less entertainment and gaming devices are supported.

Claims

1. A gaming system including:

at least one gaming machine including;

means for receiving and displaying video images;

means for providing user interaction network services;

at least one central server including, for each gaming machine,

means for consuming the user interaction network services;

processing means for applying game rules;

computer graphics means for creating video images in response to directives from at least one of the processing means for applying game rules and the user interaction network services, and

video casting means for transmitting the video images, and

a communication network linking the at least one gaming machine and the at least one central server enabling the network services to be supplied and consumed, wherein each gaming machine displays video images produced by the at least one central server in response to user interaction.

2. A gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the communication network uses wireless technology, the video casting means uses wireless technology and the gaming machine is portable and mobile.

3. A gaming system according to claim 1, wherein user interaction includes means for processing voice commands.

4. A gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the video casting means use analog or digital TV wireless or cable broadcast technology.

5. A gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the means for receiving and displaying video images includes a standard TV fitted with a video signal tuner, a plasma screen fitted with a video receiver, a HDTV fitted with a HDTV video tuner, a TV set top box and TV, a HDTV set top box and a HDTV or a video display driven by a hardware digital decoder.

6. A gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the central server further includes means for creating and casting sound signals for each gaming machine, and wherein each gaming machine further includes means for receiving and rendering sound signals.

7. A gaming system including:

at least one gaming machine including;

means for receiving and displaying video images;

means for providing user interaction network services;

at least one central server system including a farm of computer servers, the farm including one computer server associated with each gaming machine, each computer server including;

means for consuming user interaction network services;

processing means for applying game rules;

computer graphics means for creating video images in response to directives from at least one of the processing means for applying game rules and the user interaction network services;

video casting means for transmitting the video images, and

a communication network linking the at least one gaming machine and the at least one central server to enable network services to be supplied and consumed, wherein each gaming machine displays video images produced by the associated computer server central server in response to user interaction.

8. A gaming system according to claim 7, wherein the communication network uses wireless technology, the video casting means uses wireless technology and the gaming machine is portable and mobile.

9. A gaming system according to claim 7, wherein user interaction means includes means for processing voice commands.

10. A gaming system according to claim 7, wherein the video casting means includes analog or digital TV wireless or cable broadcast technology.

11. A gaming system according to claim 7, wherein the video casting means use a wireless network communications standard.

12. A gaming system according to claim 7, wherein the means for receiving and displaying video images includes a standard TV fitted with a video signal tuner, a plasma screen fitted with a video receiver, a HDTV fitted with a HDTV video tuner, a TV set top box and TV, a HDTV set top box and a HDTV or a video display driven by a hardware digital decoder.

13. A gaming system according to claim 7, wherein each computer server in the farm of computer servers further includes means for creating and casting sound signals for each gaming machine, and wherein each gaming machine further includes means for receiving and render sounding signals.

14. A gaming system including:

at least one gaming machine including;

means for receiving, decoding and displaying video images;

means for providing user interaction network services;

at least one central server including, for each of the at least one gaming machine;

means for consuming user interaction network services;

computer means for processing game rules;

computer graphics means for creating video images in response to directives from the computer means for processing game rules and/or the user interaction network services;

video coding means for compressing the video image;

video casting means for transmitting the compressed video images, and

a communication network linking the at least one gaming machine and the at least one central server to enable network services to be supplied and consumed, wherein each gaming machine displays video images produced by the at least one central server in response to user interaction.

15. A gaming system according to claim 14, wherein the communication network uses wireless technology, the video casting means uses wireless technology and the gaming machine is portable and mobile.

16. A gaming system according to claim 14, wherein user interaction may includes means for processing voice commands.

17. A gaming system according to claim 14, wherein the video coding means uses digital video encoding technology.

18. A gaming system according to claim 14, wherein the video casting means use network video streaming.

19. A gaming system according to claim 14, wherein the video casting means use an IP wired network communication standard.

20. A gaming system according to claim 14, wherein the video casting means use a wireless network communication standard.

21. A gaming system according to claim 14, wherein and the central server further includes means for creating and casting sound signals for each gaming machine, and each gaming machine further includes means for receiving and rendering sound signals.

22. A gaming system including:

at least one gaming machine, including;

means for digitally capturing user raw biometric data;

means for providing user raw biometric data network services;

at least one central server including, for each gaming machine;

means for consuming user raw biometric data network services;

computer means for processing the raw biometric data,

means for providing processed biometric data network services, and

a communication network linking the at least one gaming machine and the at least one central server to enable network services to be supplied and consumed, wherein the at least one gaming machine obtains processed biometric data from the at least one central server in response to capture of user raw biometric data.

23. A gaming system according to claim 22, wherein the communication network uses wireless technology and the gaming machine is portable and mobile.

24. A gaming system according to claim 22, wherein the raw biometric data includes unprocessed fingerprint or palm print data.

25. A gaming system according to claim 22, wherein the raw biometric data includes unprocessed voice data.

26. A gaming system according to claim 22, wherein the raw biometric data includes an unprocessed video image of a user'"'"'s head or face.

27. A gaming system according to claim 22, wherein the processed biometric data constitutes a certified identity of the user.

28. A gaming system according to claim 22, wherein the processed biometric data includes a software command event resulting from a user voice command.

29. A gaming system according to 117, wherein the raw biometric data includes unprocessed video image of a user'"'"'s head or face and the processed biometric data includes a user avatar.

30. A gaming system including:

at least one gaming machine, including at least one specialized device having;

means for digitally capturing user raw biometric data;

means for providing user raw biometric data network services;

at least one central server including, for each gaming machine;

means for consuming user raw biometric data network services;

computer means for processing the raw biometric data,

means for providing processed biometric data network services, and

a communication network linking the at least one gaming machine, the at least one specialized device and the at least one central server to enable network services to be supplied and consumed, wherein the at least one gaming machine obtains processed biometric data from the at least one central server in response to capture of user raw biometric data.

31. A gaming system according to claim 30, wherein the communication network uses wireless technology and the gaming machine is portable and mobile.

32. A gaming system according to claim 30, wherein the raw biometric data includes unprocessed fingerprint or palm print data.

33. A gaming system according to claim 30, wherein the raw biometric data includes unprocessed voice data.

34. A gaming system according to claim 30, wherein the raw biometric data includes an unprocessed video image of a user'"'"'s head or face.

35. A gaming system according to claim 30, wherein the processed biometric data constitutes a certified identity of the user.

36. A gaming system according to claim 30, wherein the processed biometric data includes a software command event resulting from a user voice command.

37. A gaming system according to 30, wherein the raw biometric data includes unprocessed video image of a user'"'"'s head or face and the processed biometric data includes a user avatar.

38. A gaming system including:

at least one gaming machine, including;

means for digitally capturing user raw biometric data;

means for providing user raw biometric data network services;

at least one central server system including a farm of computer servers, one computer server being associated with each gaming machine, each of the computer server including;

means for consuming user raw biometric data network services;

computer means for processing the raw biometric data;

means for providing processed biometric data network services, and

a communication network linking each gaming machine with its associated computer server enabling network services to be supplied and consumed, wherein each gaming machine obtains processed biometric data from its associated computer server in response to capture of user raw biometric data.

39. A gaming system according to claim 38, wherein the communication network uses wireless technology and the gaming machine is portable and mobile.

40. A gaming system according to claim 38, wherein the raw biometric data includes unprocessed fingerprint or palm print data.

41. A gaming system according to claim 38, wherein the raw biometric data includes unprocessed voice data.

42. A gaming system according to claim 38, wherein the raw biometric data includes unprocessed video image data of a user'"'"'s head or face.

43. A gaming system according to claim 38, wherein the processed biometric data is a certified identity of the user.

44. A gaming system according to claim 38, wherein the processed biometric data includes a software command event resulting from a user voice command.

45. A gaming system according to claim 38, wherein the raw biometric data includes unprocessed video image data of a user head or face and the processed biometric data includes a user avatar.

46. A method of controlling a gaming system including a gaming machine and a central server system, including the steps of:

providing network hardware and software to a specialized device of the gaming machine to enable the specialized device to offer network services;

executing software in the central server system that consumes the network services, and

monitoring and controlling events associated with the operation of the specialized device by the software in a central server system.

47. A method of controlling a gaming system according to claim 46, wherein the specialized device includes a payment device.

48. A method for a gaming system according to claim 46, wherein the specialized device includes an identification device.