Electronic image acquisition for gaming systems

• US 20060016883A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Olson, Garrett, Lundy, Chris, Kremer, Jason, Silva, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,331,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3246 involving coins and/or banknotes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for making, storing and retrieving electronic representations of payment documents such as payment tickets used for gaming machines. Some implementations sort currency and non-currency payment documents. According to some embodiments, electronic representations are made only of non-currency payment documents. After an electronic representation of a non-currency payment document is made, the payment document is preferably voided. Voided payment documents may be stored in a non-secure storage area, may be automatically disposed of, or may simply be ejected. Some implementations provide devices and methods for resolving payment disputes by reference to stored electronic representations of payment documents. Other embodiments read information from a payment document and make an electronic representation of the payment document without retaining the payment document. Voiding information is transmitted to, e.g., a host device and/or a gaming machine in order to prevent re-use of a payment document.

Claims

1. A payment validation device for a gaming machine, the payment validation device comprising:

a feeder for receiving a payment document;

an image-capturing device for making an electronic representation of the payment document;

a logic device configured to evaluate the payment document and transmit payment document information to a gaming machine, wherein the payment document information comprises an authorization of a specific monetary amount that may be used for gaming on the gaming machine; and

a voiding device configured for voiding the payment document.

2. The payment validation device of claim 1, further comprising a sorting device for sorting currency payment documents from non-currency payment documents.

3. The payment validation device of claim 1, wherein the voiding device is configured to void the payment document by performing at least one operation selected from a list of operations consisting of shredding, heating and overprinting.

4. The payment validation device of claim 1, wherein the image-capturing device comprises one or more devices selected from the list consisting of a charge-coupled device, a camera and a scanner.

5. The payment validation device of claim 1, wherein the electronic representation comprises a digital image of the payment document.

6. The payment validation device of claim 1, wherein the electronic representation comprises data for reconstructing an image of the payment document.

8. The payment validation device of claim 1, wherein voided payment documents are routed to a non-secure location.

9. The payment validation device of claim 1, further comprising an ejector for ejecting voided payment documents.

10. The payment validation device of claim 2, wherein the sorting device routes the currency payment documents to a secure collection box and routes the non-currency payment documents to the voiding device.

11. The payment validation device of claim 2, wherein the image-capturing device makes an electronic representation of the non-currency payment documents but does not make an electronic representation of the currency payment documents.

7. (canceled)

12. A method for processing payment documents for gaming, the method comprising:

receiving a payment document;

making an electronic representation of the payment document;

transmitting the electronic representation to a host device;

determining whether the payment document is valid;

transmitting authorization information to a gaming machine, the authorization information comprising a specific monetary amount that may be used for gaming on the gaming machine; and

voiding the payment document.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining whether the payment document is valid comprises receiving validation information from the host device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the voiding step comprises one of shredding, heating or overprinting the payment document.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising disposing voided payment documents in a non-secure location.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising disposing voided payment documents from a plurality of gaming machines into a common location.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the payment document is received at a gaming machine, further comprising the step of removing voided payment documents without opening the gaming machine.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the authorization information comprises a monetary authorization for gaming.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising automatically collecting voided payment documents for disposal.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising ejecting voided payment documents.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of automatically collecting voided payment documents for disposal comprises collecting voided payment documents into a waste disposal container.

22. A method for resolving payment disputes for gaming, the method comprising:

searching a database comprising global image data corresponding to payment documents received by a plurality of gaming machines;

retrieving image data from the database corresponding to payment documents received by a gaming machine within a specified period of time; and

displaying the image data on a hand-held device.

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. A computer program stored in a machine-readable medium, the computer program comprising instructions for controlling at least one computing device to perform the following steps:

search a database comprising global image data corresponding to payment documents received by a plurality of gaming machines;

retrieve image data from the database corresponding to a last N payment documents received by a gaming machine; and

display the image data on a hand-held device.

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. A hand-held device for resolving payment disputes for gaming, the hand-held device comprising:

an input device for receiving instructions from a user;

at least one port for communicating with a network;

a logic device configured to retrieve image data by searching a database stored on another device in the network, the database comprising global image data corresponding to payment documents received by a plurality of gaming machines, the image data corresponding to payment documents received by a gaming machine that is specified by the user via instructions from the input device; and

a screen for displaying the image data according to commands from the logic device.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the logic device is configured to retrieve image data corresponding to a last N payment documents received by the gaming machine and wherein N is a number indicated by a user via the input device.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein the logic device is configured to retrieve image data corresponding to payment documents received by the gaming machine within a period of time specified by a user via the input device.

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. A payment validation device for a gaming machine, the payment validation device comprising:

a surface for positioning a payment document;

an image-capturing device for making an electronic representation of the payment document when the payment document is positioned on the surface; and

a logic device configured to;

evaluate the payment document;

transmit payment document information to a gaming machine, the payment document information comprising an authorization of a specific monetary amount that may be used for gaming on the gaming machine; and

transmit the electronic representation and voiding information regarding the payment document to a host device.

36. The payment validation device of claim 35, wherein the payment document information is determined from the electronic representation.

37. The payment validation device of claim 35, further comprising a reading device for reading the payment document information from the payment document.

38. The payment validation device of claim 37, wherein the reading device comprises one of an RFID receiver and a bar code scanner.

39. A payment validation device for a gaming machine, the payment validation device comprising:

an image-capturing device for making an electronic representation of a payment document;

an indicator for making an indication of when the payment document is in a position suitable for making the electronic representation; and

a logic device configured to;

determine when the payment document is in a suitable position for making the electronic representation;

control the indicator to make the indication when the payment document is in the suitable position;

control the image-capturing device to make the electronic representation when the payment document is in the suitable position;

evaluate the payment document;

transmit payment document information to a gaming machine, the payment document information comprising an authorization of a specific monetary amount that may be used for gaming on the gaming machine; and

transmit the electronic representation and voiding information regarding the payment document to a host device.

40. The payment validation device of claim 39, wherein the payment document information is determined from the electronic representation.

41. The payment validation device of claim 39, further comprising a reading device for reading the payment document information from the payment document.

42. The payment validation device of claim 41, wherein the reading device comprises one of an RFID receiver and a bar code scanner.

43-46. -46. (canceled)

47. A gaming machine, comprising:

a feeder for receiving a payment document;

an image-capturing device for making an electronic representation of the payment document;

a logic device configured to evaluate the payment document and transmit payment document information to a gaming machine, the payment document information comprising an authorization of a specific monetary amount that may be used for gaming on the gaming machine;

a voiding device configured for voiding the payment document;

a receptacle for collecting voided payment documents; and

a port configured for accessing the receptacle without opening another portion of the gaming machine.

48. A system for resolving payment disputes, the system comprising:

a network device;

a gaming machine, comprising;

a feeder for receiving a payment document;

an image-capturing device for making an electronic representation of the payment document; and

a first logic device configured to evaluate the payment document and transmit payment document information to the network device; and

a hand-held payment resolution apparatus, comprising;

an input device for receiving instructions from a user;

at least one port for communicating with the network device;

a second logic device configured to retrieve image data from the network device, the image data corresponding to payment documents received by the gaming machine; and

a screen for displaying the image data according to commands from the second logic device.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein the network device comprises a server.

49. (canceled)