PLAYER TRACKING INSTRUMENTS HAVING MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION MODES

• US 20080176645A1
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• 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., Gadda, Christian E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,611,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

Systems and methods for conducting cashless gaming or player tracking within a gaming environment are disclosed. Players with associated player accounts are provided player tracking instruments having rewriteable displays. Also provided are gaming devices or machines having display panels adapted to display content and scan input through set display and read regions. Data on player tracking instruments is updated and displayed thereupon, and the input display panels of the gaming devices are used to read this data. These input display panels can also be used to read biometric information from players to confirm proper player account associations. The player tracking instruments may contain an RFID tag to receive communications from a transceiver associated with the gaming device or machine. A feedback loop from a master gaming controller to a transceiver to a player tracking instrument to an input display panel and back to the master gaming controller can be created.

Claims

1. A player tracking instrument adapted for use in a wager-based gaming system, said player tracking instrument comprising:

a storage component adapted to store data regarding a player to which said player tracking instrument is assigned;

a first communication component adapted for communications with an associated gaming machine or terminal using a first mode of communication; and

a second communication component adapted for communications with said associated gaming machine or terminal using a second mode of communication, said second mode of communication being separate and distinct from said first mode of communication, wherein said second communication component includes a rewritable component that is adapted to be rewritten to reflect one or more changes to said player data.

2. The player tracking instrument of claim 1, wherein said storage component comprises a radio frequency identification integrated circuit.

3. The player tracking instrument of claim 1, wherein said first communication component comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

4. The player tracking instrument of claim 1, wherein said second communication component comprises a rewritable display.

5. The player tracking instrument of claim 1, wherein said player tracking instrument comprises a player tracking card.

6. The player tracking instrument of claim 1, wherein said player tracking instrument is adapted for communications with said associated gaming machine or terminal via said first mode of communication without requiring said player to relinquish control of said player tracking instrument.

7. The player tracking instrument of claim 6, wherein said player tracking instrument is adapted for communications with said associated gaming machine or terminal via said second mode of communication without requiring said player to relinquish control of said player tracking instrument.

8. A method of facilitating wagers on a gaming event, comprising:

permitting a player to check in with a player tracking instrument assigned to said player;

reading said player tracking instrument through a display device having a display and read region, wherein said display device is adapted both to display gaming related information and to read player related information through said display and read region;

accepting a wager from said player regarding said gaming event; and

providing the result of said gaming event to said player.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said gaming event is played on a wager-based gaming machine.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said providing step includes displaying gaming related information through said display and read region of said display.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said player tracking instrument contains a radio frequency identification tag therein and a rewritable display thereupon.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said rewritable display of said player tracking instrument comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of electronic ink, thermal imprints and organic light emitting diodes.

13. The method of claim 8, further including the steps of:

prompting said player to check in again with said player tracking instrument;

sending a radio frequency communication to said player tracking instrument;

rewriting at least a portion of a rewritable display on said player tracking instrument in response to said radio frequency communication;

reading said rewritten portion of said rewritable display through said display and read region of said display; and

confirming that said rewritten portion of said rewritable display is correct in accordance with said radio frequency communication.

14. The method of claim 8, further including the steps of:

prompting said player to provide a player specific biometric identifier at said display device;

reading said provided biometric identifier; and

verifying that said biometric identifier corresponds to biometric information previously stored for said player.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said player tracking device is associated with a remotely administered account assigned to said player, and further including the steps of:

transferring funds from said remotely administered account; and

crediting said transferred funds to said player for wagering on said gaming event.

16. The method of claim 8, further including the steps of:

playing one or more additional gaming events;

tracking a monetary balance for said player with respect to the outcomes of said gaming event and said one or more additional gaming events; and

crediting at least a portion of said monetary balance to an account assigned to said player.

17. A gaming system for use in conjunction with gaming events involving the placement of wagers, the play of games, and the grant of monetary awards based upon the outcomes of the games, the gaming system comprising:

a computer server adapted to facilitate the tracking of information associated with a plurality of said gaming events;

a gaming device in communication with said computer server and adapted for use in association with one or more of said plurality of gaming events, wherein said gaming device includes a display panel having a display and read region adapted both to display gaming related information therethrough and to read player related information therethrough; and

a plurality of player tracking instruments for use by one or more players within said gaming system, wherein at least one of said plurality of player tracking instruments contains a first communication component adapted for communications using a first mode of communication and a second communication component adapted for communications using a second mode of communication, said second mode of communication being separate and distinct from said first mode of communication, wherein said second communication component includes a rewritable component.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein said first communication component comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

19. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein said second communication component comprises a rewritable display.

20. The gaming system of claim 17, further comprising:

a database in communication with said computer server, said database containing data with respect to a plurality of players.

21. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein said at least one player tracking instrument comprises a storage unit adapted to store information regarding a specific player account thereupon.

22. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein said at least one player tracking instrument comprises a player tracking card.

23. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein said at least one player tracking instrument is selected from the group consisting of a credit card, a debit card, a smart card, a magnetic striped card, a printed ticket, a room key, a keychain, a bracelet, a wristwatch, a lucky token and a portable wireless device.

24. A gaming machine or terminal adapted for accepting wagers, playing games thereupon and granting monetary awards, comprising:

an external cabinet defining an interior region of said electronic gaming machine, said external cabinet adapted to house a plurality of gaming machine components within or about said interior region; and

at least one display device located within or about said external cabinet, said at least one display device having a display and read region adapted to display gaming related information therethrough and to scan player related information from a substantially flat surface of a player tracking instrument therethrough.

25. The gaming machine or terminal of claim 24, further including:

a radio frequency communication device located within or about said external cabinet, said radio frequency communication device being adapted to communicate via radio frequency waves with said player tracking instrument.

26. The gaming machine or terminal of claim 24, wherein said at least one display device comprises an LCD panel having a built-in scanner, said LCD panel being adapted to display images thereupon and also read images of objects placed thereto.