TOKEN AUTHENTICATION

• US 20070094721A1
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Paulsen, Craig, Nguyen, Binh, Muir, David, Tolles, Harry
• Granted Patent: US 8,645,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/06 Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

Methods and devices are described that authenticate portable tokens, such as plastic tokens used in casinos on card tables. The systems and methods assign authentication data to a token. The authentication data is verified when a person tries to redeem value on the token. A person'"'"'s authentication data may be acquired via an interface provided by a gaming machine, for example, and the authentication data stored so that the authentication information is later be read when someone tries to redeem value on the token. Only a person who presents the tokens and authentication data could then negotiate such tokens.

Claims

1. A method of providing a portable gaming token, the method comprising:

assigning an identification number to the portable gaming token;

assigning authentication data to the identification number, where the authentication data is designed to limit transactions of value on the token to an entitled token owner that can present the authentication data;

storing the authentication data and the identification number; and

providing the gaming token to a person, where the portable gaming token includes a body externally shaped to resemble a coin.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication data and the identification number are stored together in a memory included in the token.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication data and the identification number are stored together in a central memory for a server in a gaming system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the token is provided to the person at a gaming machine configured to present one or more games of chance.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving authentication information from a person that is used to generate the authentication data.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication data is transferable between a first person and a second person.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication data identifies authentication data carried by an entitled token owner.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication data identifies authentication information known by an entitled token owner.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication data includes biometric data.

10. A method for redeeming value on a portable gaming token, the method comprising:

assigning an identification number to the portable gaming token, where the portable gaming token includes a body externally shaped to resemble a coin;

assigning authentication data to the identification number;

storing the authentication data and the identification number;

receiving a request to redeem the value on the token;

obtaining authentication data from a person;

verifying that the person is an entitled token owner using the authentication data obtained from the person and the authentication data stored with the identification number; and

authorizing the value when the person is an entitled token owner.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the authentication data and the identification number are stored together in a memory included in the token.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the authentication data and the identification number are stored together in a central memory for a server in a gaming system.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the request is received at a gaming machine configured to present one or more games of chance.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the authentication data is transferable between a first person and a second person.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein verifying that the person is an entitled token owner includes a biometric challenge.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein verifying that the person is an entitled token owner includes verifying personal knowledge for the person.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the personal knowledge includes one of a PIN number or password.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein verifying that the person is an entitled token owner includes verifying data or information included with an object carried by the person.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the object carried by the person includes a form of personal identity.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the object carried by the person is a card issued by a gaming property to the person carrying the card.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the card does not identify the person by name.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the object is a room card for a hotel or casino.

23. The method of claim 10 further comprising revoking the value on the tokens when the authentication data received from the person is not an entitled token owner.

24. The method of claim 10 wherein the authentication data stored with the identification number is anonymous.

25. A portable gaming token for use in a gaming property, the gaming token comprising:

a body;

an identification number that distinguishes the token from other tokens;

authentication data associated with the identification number and designed to limit redemption of value on the token to an entitled token owner that can present the authentication data; and

a wireless transponder that permits wireless communication of the identification number and the authentication data with a reader using a wireless signal that passes through the body.

26. The token of claim 25 wherein the body is externally shaped to resemble a coin.

27. The token of claim 26 wherein the body is non-circular.

28. The token of claim 25 wherein the entitled token owner is a person to whom the token was issued.

29. The token of claim 25 wherein the entitled token owner is anonymous relative to the authentication data.

30. The token of claim 25 further including a digital memory, internal to the body, configured to store the identification number and the authentication data.

31. The token of claim 25 wherein the authentication data identifies authentication data carried by an entitled token owner.

32. The token of claim 25 wherein the authentication data identifies authentication information known by an entitled token owner.

33. The token of claim 25 wherein the where the authentication data is designed to prevent a non-entitled token owner from transacting the value on the token.

34. A server for use in a gaming system, the server comprising:

a processor;

a memory configured to store information for a set of tokens, the information for each token including

an identification number that distinguishes the token from other tokens in the set, and

authentication data associated with the identification number and designed to limit redemption of value on the token to an entitled token owner that can present the authentication data; and

a communications interface configured to communicate with a first gaming device and a second gaming device.

35. The server of claim 34 wherein the information for each token includes one of:

a) a private status that designates that the authentication data is needed for redemption of value on the token, and b) a public status that designates that the authentication data is not needed for redemption of value on the token.

36. The server of claim 34 wherein the server is operated by a banking organization.

37. The server of claim 34 wherein the first gaming device and the second gaming device are located in different casinos.

38. The server of claim 34 wherein the first gaming device and the second gaming device are located in different states.

39. The server of claim 34 wherein the first gaming device is a gaming machine configured to present one or more games of chance and the second gaming device is a card table.

40. The server of claim 34 wherein the entitled token owner is a person to whom the token was issued.

41. The server of claim 34 wherein the entitled token owner is anonymous relative to the authentication data.

42. The server of claim 34 wherein the memory also includes:

instructions for verifying that the person is an entitled token owner using the authentication data obtained from the person and the authentication data stored with the identification number; and

instructions for authorizing the value when the person is an entitled token owner.

43. A gaming device that limits transactions of value on a token to an entitled token owner, the gaming device comprising:

a processor;

a reader configured to transmit a wireless message to the token and configured to receive a wireless message from the token that includes authentication data for the token; and

a memory comprising instructions for a) comparing stored authentication data stored with authentication data obtained from a person at the gaming device to determine if the person is an entitled token owner, and b) authorizing the value when the person is an entitled token owner.

44. The gaming device of claim 43 wherein the gaming device is a gaming machine configured to present one or more games of chance.

45. The gaming device of claim 44 further comprising a token acceptor adapted to receive the token from the person.

46. The gaming device of claim 44 wherein the reader is configured to poll the token after the token is received in the token acceptor.

47. The gaming device of claim 43 wherein the gaming device is a card table.

48. A computer readable medium including instructions for method for transacting value on a portable gaming token, the instructions comprising:

instructions for assigning an identification number to the portable gaming token;

instructions for assigning authentication data to the identification number;

instructions for storing the authentication data and the identification number;

instructions for receiving a request to transact the value on the token;

instructions for obtaining authentication data from a person;

instructions for verifying that the person is an entitled token owner using the authentication data obtained from the person and the authentication data stored with the identification number; and

instructions for authorizing the value when the person is an entitled token owner.