Room key based in-room player tracking
First Claim
1. A method of providing a game of chance, the method comprising:
- in response to reading authentication instrument information from an authentication instrument in a door access device, granting access to a room;
in response to reading authentication instrument information from the authentication instrument in an entertainment terminal, initiating a game play session on the entertainment terminal wherein the game play session comprises playing at least one game of chance using the entertainment terminal;
establishing communications between the entertainment terminal and the gaming machine wherein the gaming machine is located outside of the room;
initiating the game of chance using an input device connected to the entertainment terminal;
generating a game outcome on the gaming machine; and
displaying the game outcome for the game of chance generated on the gaming machine on the entertainment terminal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disclosed authentication instrument is used to authorize various services at a hotel-casino complex, such as but not limited to in-room gaming, in-room sports wagering, room access, safe access, mini-bar access, Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT), player tracking services and in-room entertainment services (e.g., video games and movie channels). A smart card, an electronic token and a magnetic striped card are examples of hardware that may be used as authentication instruments. For in-room gaming, the authentication instrument may be used to authorize, in a secure and legal manner, in-room game play sessions on an entertainment terminal connected to a remote gaming machine.
500 Citations
76 Claims
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1. A method of providing a game of chance, the method comprising:
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in response to reading authentication instrument information from an authentication instrument in a door access device, granting access to a room;
in response to reading authentication instrument information from the authentication instrument in an entertainment terminal, initiating a game play session on the entertainment terminal wherein the game play session comprises playing at least one game of chance using the entertainment terminal;
establishing communications between the entertainment terminal and the gaming machine wherein the gaming machine is located outside of the room;
initiating the game of chance using an input device connected to the entertainment terminal;
generating a game outcome on the gaming machine; and
displaying the game outcome for the game of chance generated on the gaming machine on the entertainment terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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9. In response to reading authentication instrument information from the authentication instrument in the entertainment terminal, using the authentication information to determine a list of services available on the entertainment terminal;
displaying a menu of the determined services on the entertainment terminal.
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18. A method of issuing an authentication instrument used for at least granting room access privileges and granting gaming privileges, the method comprising:
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validating an identity of a patron to receive the authentication instrument;
determining the room access privileges wherein the room access privileges comprise at least granting access to a room with an entertainment terminal that is configured to receive inputs used to play a game of chance and that is configured to display the outcome of the game of chance;
configuring the authentication instrument to grant the determined room access privileges;
determining gaming privileges wherein the gaming privileges comprise at least;
i) allowing the entertainment terminal to be used to play the game of chance or ii) preventing the entertainment terminal from being used to play the game of chance;
configuring the authentication instrument to grant the determined gaming privileges;
storing a configuration of the authentication instrument to an authentication server wherein the configuration of the authentication instrument is a combination of authentication instrument information; and
issuing the authentication instrument to the patron. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. In a gaming machine, a method of providing a game play session on an entertainment terminal in communication with the gaming machine via a network, said method comprising:
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establishing communications with the entertainment terminal;
receiving from the entertainment terminal authentication instrument information read from an authentication instrument;
requesting approval for the game play session from an authentication server using the authentication information received from the entertainment terminal;
receiving an input signal to initiate a game of chance from the entertainment terminal;
generating the game outcome for the game of chance; and
displaying the game outcome for the game of chance on the entertainment terminal. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. In an authentication server that stores configuration information for a plurality of authentication instruments, a method of authorizing authentication instrument transactions on an entertainment terminal in communication with a gaming machine, the method comprising:
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receiving a transaction request message for an authentication instrument transaction from at least one of the gaming machine and the entertainment terminal wherein the request message contains authentication instrument information read from an authentication instrument;
identifying the authentication instrument using information stored in an authentication database;
comparing authentication instrument information read from the authentication instrument with information stored in the authentication database;
approving or rejecting the authentication instrument transaction; and
sending a reply message at least one of the gaming machine and the entertainment terminal indicating the authentication instrument transaction has been approved or rejected wherein at least one of the authentication instrument transactions is for a game play session on the entertainment terminal. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. An entertainment terminal for playing a game of chance, the entertainment terminal comprising;
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a communication interface;
a display screen;
one or more input mechanisms a device designed to read authentication instrument information from an authentication instrument; and
a microprocessor configured i) to present the game of chance on the display screen using instructions received via the communication interface from a master gaming controller located on a gaming machine, ii) to send information from input signals generated from the one or more input mechanisms used to play the game of chance to the master gaming controller via the communication interface and iii) to grant or deny access to the game of chance using the authentication instrument information read from the authentication instrument. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A gaming machine for providing remote game play, the gaming machine comprising:
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a master gaming controller designed or configured
1) to generate game outcomes for one or more games of chance and
2) to present remotely the game outcomes for the one or more games of chance on an entertainment terminala first cabinet enclosing the master gaming controller; and
the entertainment terminal comprising;
a communication interface;
a display screen;
one or more input mechanisms;
a device designed to read authentication instrument information from an authentication instrument;
a microprocessor configured i) to present the game of chance on the display screen using instructions received via the communication interface from the master gaming controller, ii) to send information from input signals generated from the one or more input mechanisms used to play the game of chance to the master gaming controller via the communication interface; and
a second cabinet enclosing at least the communication interface, the microprocessor and the device designed to read information from the authentication instrument;
wherein the master gaming controller is designed or configured to approve or reject access to the game of chance on the entertainment terminal using the information read from the authentication instrument. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. An authentication server used to validate authentication instruments, the authentication server comprising:
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a communication interface allowing the authorization server to communicate with (a) one or more configuration devices used to configure at least room access privileges and in-room gaming privileges on authentication instruments and (b) one or more devices with interfaces designed to read information stored on the authentication instruments;
an authentication database storing authentication instrument information for each authentication instrument configured using the configuration devices; and
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a processor configured or designed to (i) receive an authentication transaction requests including authentication instrument information via the communication interface from the one or more devices with interfaces designed to read information stored on the authentication instruments (ii) validate the authentication instrument information by at least comparing the authentication instrument information received in the authentication transaction request with the authentication instrument information stored in the authentication database, and (iii) approve or reject the authentication transaction requests wherein at least one of the authentication transaction requests is a request to approve a game play session on an entertainment terminal. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. An entertainment system for providing remote game play, the entertainment system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine comprising;
a master gaming controller designed or configured
1) to generate game outcomes for one or more games of chance and
2) to present remotely the game outcomes for the one or more games of chance on an entertainment terminala first cabinet enclosing the master gaming controller; and
the entertainment terminal comprising;
a communication interface;
a display screen;
one or more input mechanisms;
a device designed to read authentication instrument information from an authentication instrument;
a microprocessor configured i) to present the game of chance on the display screen using instructions received via the communication interface from the master gaming controller, ii) to send information from input signals generated from the one or more input mechanisms used to play the game of chance to the master gaming controller via the communication interface; and
a second cabinet enclosing at least the communication interface, the microprocessor and the device designed to read information from the authentication instrument;
wherein the master gaming controller is designed or configured to approve or reject access to the game of chance on the entertainment terminal using the information read from the authentication instrument and using information received from an authentication server; and
the authentication server, the authentication server comprising;
a communication interface allowing the authorization server to communicate with (a) one or more configuration devices used to configure at least room access privileges and in-room gaming privileges on authentication instruments, (b) one or more devices with interfaces designed to read information stored on the authentication instruments and (c) the plurality of gaming machines;
an authentication database storing authentication instrument information for each authentication instrument configured using the configuration devices; and
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a processor configured or designed to (i) receive an authentication transaction requests including authentication instrument information via the communication interface from the one or more devices with interfaces designed to read information stored on the authentication instruments and from the plurality of gaming machines (ii) validate the authentication instrument information by at least comparing the authentication instrument information received in the authentication transaction request with the authentication instrument information stored in the authentication database, and (iii) approve or reject the authentication transaction requests wherein at least one of the authentication transaction requests is a request to approve a remote game play session on one of the plurality of gaming machines.
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Specification