ELECTRONIC IMAGE ACQUISITION FOR GAMING SYSTEMS

• US 20080099555A1
• Filed: 12/26/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• 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 7,841,521 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. An apparatus, comprising:

an image-capturing device configured for making an electronic representation of at least a portion of a payment document;

an evaluator configured to do the following;

sort currency and non-currency payment documents;

route at least the non-currency payment documents to the image capturing device, wherein at least one of the image-capturing device and the evaluator is configured to cause an electronic representation of a non-currency payment document to be transmitted to a host device;

route currency payment documents to a secure receptacle;

receive validation information from the host device; and

determine, based at least in part on the validation information from the host device, whether the non-currency payment document is valid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reader configured for reading payment document information, wherein at least one of the image-capturing device and the evaluator is further configured to cause at least some of the payment document information read from the non-currency payment document to be transmitted to the host device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a voider configured for voiding non-currency payment documents.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image-capturing device is configured for making an electronic representation of at least a portion of a currency payment document.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the evaluator is further configured for determining whether a currency payment document is valid.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the evaluator is further configured for transmitting, to a wager gaming machine, an authorization of a specific monetary amount that may be used for gaming on the wager gaming machine.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reader comprises at least one of a bar code reader and a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) reader.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the evaluator includes the image-capturing device.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the payment document information comprises at least one of bar code data, radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag data, magnetic data and watermark data.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the evaluator is further configured to route a non-currency payment document to the voider after the image-capturing device makes an electronic representation of at least a portion of the non-currency payment document.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the voider is further configured to route voided non-currency payment documents to a non-secure location.

12. A wager gaming machine, comprising:

a master gaming controller;

an image-capturing device configured for making an electronic representation of at least a portion of a payment document;

an evaluator configured to do the following;

sort currency and non-currency payment documents;

route at least the non-currency payment documents to the image capturing device, wherein at least one of the image-capturing device and the evaluator is configured to cause an electronic representation of a non-currency payment document to be transmitted to a host device;

route currency payment documents to a secure receptacle;

receive validation information from the host device; and

determine, based at least in part on the validation information from the host device, whether the non-currency payment document is valid.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a reader configured for reading payment document information, wherein at least one of the image-capturing device and the evaluator is further configured to cause at least some of the payment document information read from the non-currency payment document to be transmitted to the host device.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a voider configured for voiding non-currency payment documents.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the image-capturing device is configured for making an electronic representation of at least a portion of a currency payment document.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the evaluator is further configured for determining whether a currency payment document is valid.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the evaluator is further configured for indicating, to the master gaming controller, an authorization of a specific monetary amount that may be used for gaming on the wager gaming machine.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the evaluator includes the image-capturing device.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the reader comprises at least one of a bar code reader and a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) reader.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the payment document information comprises at least one of bar code data, radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag data, magnetic data and watermark data.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the evaluator is further configured to route a non-currency payment document to the voider after the image-capturing device makes an electronic representation of at least a portion of the non-currency payment document.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the voider is further configured to route voided non-currency payment documents to a non-secure location.

23. A method, comprising:

receiving payment documents;

sorting currency and non-currency payment documents;

making an electronic representation of at least a portion of a non-currency payment document, the electronic representation comprising an electronic image;

transmitting the electronic representation to a host device;

routing currency payment documents to a secure receptacle;

receiving validation information from the host device; and

determining, based at least in part on the validation information from the host device, whether the non-currency payment document is valid.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the making comprises reading payment document information from the non-currency payment document and wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting at least some of the payment document information to the host device.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising voiding non-currency payment documents.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising making an electronic representation of at least a portion of a currency payment document.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising determining whether a currency payment document is valid.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising transmitting, to a wager gaming machine, an authorization of a specific monetary amount that may be used for gaming on the wager gaming machine.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein reading comprises reading the non-currency payment document with at least one of a bar code reader and a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) reader.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the payment document information comprises at least one of bar code data, radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag data, magnetic data and watermark data.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising routing voided non-currency payment documents to a non-secure location.

32. A method, comprising:

receiving payment documents;

separating a currency payment document from a non-currency payment document;

routing the currency payment document to a secure receptacle;

making an electronic representation of at least a portion of the non-currency payment document;

transmitting the electronic representation to a host device;

receiving validation information from the host device;

voiding the non-currency payment document;

routing the non-currency payment document to a non-secure receptacle; and

determining, based at least in part on the validation information from the host device, whether the non-currency payment document is valid.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the making comprises reading payment document information from the non-currency payment document and wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting at least some of the payment document information to the host device.