Method and apparatus for limiting access to games using biometric data

• US 20040192442A1
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Griswold, Chauncey W., Wilder, Richard L., Mattice, Harold E., Wells, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,123,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• 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 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

In a method of facilitating the playing of a game via a gaming apparatus, a wager may be received via a value input device. Biometric data associated with a game play selection of a game may be received, and whether to permit the game play selection may be determined based on the received biometric data. A video image relating to the game may be displayed on a display unit, and a value payout associated with an outcome of the game may be determined.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a display unit;

an input device to allow a player to make an input selection; and

a controller operatively coupled to the display unit, the input device, and a biometric device, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor,

the controller being programmed to allow the player to play a game,

the controller being programmed to permit the player to make a wager,

the controller being programmed to receive biometric data associated with a game play selection of the player,

the controller being programmed to determine whether to permit the game play selection based on the received biometric data,

the controller being programmed to cause a video image relating to the game to be generated on the display unit,

the controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of the game.

2. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1,

wherein the controller is further operatively coupled to a network;

wherein the controller is programmed to transmit the received biometric data to an authentication server via the network;

wherein the controller is programmed to receive a message from the authentication server via the network that indicates whether the player should be permitted to play the game, the message in response to the biometric data transmitted to the authentication server.

3. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the message from the authentication server indicates whether the transmitted biometric data matches biometric data of a registered player.

4. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the game comprises a game selected from the group of games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno, and video bingo.

5. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a position sensing device operatively coupled to the controller;

wherein the controller is programmed to receive location data from the position sensing device, the location data indicative of the location of the gaming apparatus;

wherein the controller is programmed to allow the player to play a game based at least in part on the location data.

6. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 5,

wherein the controller is further operatively coupled to a network;

wherein the controller is programmed to transmit the location data received from the position sensing device to an authentication server via the network;

wherein the controller is programmed to receive a message from the authentication server via the network indicative of whether the player should be permitted to play a game, the message in response to the location data transmitted to the authentication server.

7. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the message from the authentication server indicates whether the location of the gaming apparatus is a permitted location.

8. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1,

wherein the controller is further operatively coupled to a network;

wherein the controller is programmed to receive a message from the authentication server via the network indicative of whether the player should be permitted to play the game, the message based on a determined location of the gaming apparatus;

wherein the controller being programmed to allow the player to play the game is further based on the message from the authentication server.

9. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a smart card reader operatively coupled to the controller;

wherein the controller is programmed to compare the received biometric data with biometric data stored on the smart card;

wherein the controller is programmed to not permit the game play selection if the received biometric data does not match the biometric data stored on the smart card.

10. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a value input device to allow the player to deposit a medium of value.

11. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a connector configured to permit a biometric device to removably couple with the gaming apparatus.

12. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a biometric device.

13. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the biometric device comprises a fingerprint scanner.

14. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the fingerprint scanner is integrated with a button;

wherein the controller is configured to determine that the player made the game play selection when the button is activated.

15. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the fingerprint scanner is integrated with a touch screen.

16. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the player made the game play selection when a touch on the fingerprint scanner is detected.

17. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the fingerprint scanner is integrated with a lever;

wherein the controller is configured to determine that the player made the game play selection when the lever is activated.

18. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the fingerprint scanner is integrated with a smart card.

19. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the biometric device comprises an eye scanner.

20. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the biometric device comprises a microphone coupled to a digital-to-analog converter.

21. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the biometric device comprises a camera.

22. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the input device is configured to permit the. player to make the game play selection, and wherein the input device comprises the biometric device.

23. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the input device is configured to permit the player to make the game play selection, and wherein the input device is integrated with the biometric device.

24. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to prompt the player to submit biometric data at least once before the start of the game.

25. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the received biometric data is indicative of the game play selection.

26. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to receive the game play selection via the input device;

wherein the received biometric data is received in conjunction with the received game play selection.

27. A method of facilitating the playing of a game via a gaming apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving a wager via a value input device;

receiving biometric data associated with a game play selection of a game;

determining whether to permit the game play selection based on the received biometric data;

displaying a video image relating to the game on a display unit; and

determining a value payout associated with an outcome of the game.

28. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein determining whether to permit the game play selection based on the received biometric data comprises comparing the submitted biometric data with data stored in a database, the database including biometric data of persons permitted to play the game.

29. A method as defined in claim 28, wherein determining whether to permit the game play selection based on the received biometric data further comprises:

transmitting the received biometric data to an authentication server via a network; and

receiving a message from the authentication server indicative of whether the player should be permitted to play the game, the message in response to the biometric data transmitted to the authentication server.

30. A method as defined in claim 29, wherein the message from the authentication server is indicative of whether the transmitted biometric data matches biometric data of a person permitted to play the game.

31. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein determining whether to permit the game play selection based on the received biometric data comprises comparing the received biometric data with data stored on a smart card.

32. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the game comprises a game selected from the group of games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno, and video bingo.

33. A method as defined in claim 27, further comprising determining whether to permit the player to play the game based at least on a location of a gaming apparatus via which the player is playing the game.

34. A method as defined in claim 33, further comprising determining the location of the gaming apparatus.

35. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein determining the location of the gaming apparatus is based on a network address of the gaming apparatus.

36. A method as defined in claim 35, wherein the network address of the gaming apparatus comprises an internet protocol address.

37. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein the gaming apparatus is operatively coupled with a global positioning system device, wherein determining the location of the gaming apparatus is based on position data from the global positioning system device.

38. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein the gaming apparatus is operatively coupled with a Loran-C device, wherein determining the location of the gaming apparatus is based on position data from the Loran-C device.

39. A method as defined in claim 33, further comprising:

transmitting data related to the location of the gaming apparatus to an authentication server via a network;

receiving a message from the authentication server indicative of whether the user should be allowed to play the game via the gaming apparatus, the message in response to the data related to the location of the gaming apparatus transmitted to the authentication server.

40. A method as defined in claim 39, wherein the message from the authentication server in response to the transmitted data related to the location of the gaming apparatus is indicative of whether the location of the gaming apparatus is a permitted location.

41. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the biometric data comprises data associated with a fingerprint.

42. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the biometric data comprises data associated with an eye.

43. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the biometric data comprises data associated with a face.

44. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the biometric data comprises data associated with a voice.

45. A method as defined in claim 27, further comprising receiving the game play selection via an input device.

46. A method as defined in claim 45, wherein the input device is integrated with a biometric device.

47. A method as defined in claim 45, wherein the biometric data is received in conjunction with the game play selection.

48. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the received biometric data is indicative of the game play selection.

49. A tangible medium storing machine readable instructions comprising:

first code for receiving a wager via a value input device;

second code for receiving biometric data associated with a game play selection of a game;

third code for determining whether to permit the game play selection based on the received biometric data;

fourth code four displaying a video image relating to the game on a display unit; and

fifth code for determining a value payout associated with an outcome of the game.