PROCESSING USER INFORMATION IN WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS

• US 20100048291A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Warkentin, Terry D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,875,597 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 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

Techniques for processing user information in wagering game systems are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a first wagering game system to assign a first set of access credentials to a user, wherein the first wagering system is connected to a first set of wagering game machines. The system can also include a second wagering game system to assign a second set of access credentials to the user, wherein the second wagering system connected to a second set of wagering game machines. The systems can also include a master identifier controller to receive and store the first and second sets of access credentials, to receive requests to access the first wagering game system based on the second set of user access credentials, and to facilitate access the first wagering game system based on the second set of user access credentials.

Claims

1. A wagering game network comprising:

a first wagering game system configured to assign a first set of access credentials to a user, wherein the first wagering system is connected to a first set of wagering game machines each configured to conduct wagering games;

a second wagering game system configured to assign a second set of access credentials to the user, wherein the second wagering system connected to a second set of wagering game machines each configured to conduct wagering games;

a master identifier controller configured to receive and store the first and second sets of access credentials, to receive requests to access the first wagering game system based on the second set of user access credentials, and to facilitate access the first wagering game system based on the second set of user access credentials.

2. The wagering game network of claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of access credentials include one or more selected from die group consisting of username, password, and biometric information.

3. The wagering game network of claim 1, wherein the user is selected from the group consisting of a wagering game player, a system administrator, and a wagering game machine technician.

4. The wagering game network of claim 1, wherein the first and second wagering game systems track wagers made by the user.

5. The wagering game network of claim 1, wherein the first and second wagering game systems track repairs made by the user.

6. The wagering game network of claim 1, wherein the master identifier controller is further configured to receive requests to access the first wagering game system based on the first set of user access credentials, and to facilitate access the first wagering game system based on the first set of user access credentials.

7. The wagering game network of claim 1, wherein the master identifier controller is configured to receive the requests to access the first wagering game system from ones of the first set of wagering game machines.

8. A machine-readable medium including instructions that are executable by a machine, the instructions comprising:

instructions to receive user information associated with a user identifier;

instructions to determine one of a plurality of managed wagering game systems associated with the user identifier; and

instructions to transmit the user information to the one of the plurality of managed wagering game systems.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, the user information includes permission information.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to store the user information in a database, wherein the user information is stored in association with the user identifier.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the user information includes one or more selected from the group consisting of username, password, telephone number, address, credit limit, game play preferences, and payment information.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein transmission of the user information to the one or more of the plurality of managed wagering game systems is to facilitate presentation of wagering games on the one or more managed wagering game systems.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, the user information being received from a wagering game machine, another of the plurality of managed wagering game systems, or a configuration computer.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to determine others of the plurality of managed wagering game systems associated with the user identifier;

instructions to transmit the profile information to the others of the plurality of managed wagering game systems.

15. A method comprising:

receiving a first identifier, wherein the first identifier was assigned by a first wagering game system;

receiving a second identifier;

selecting a second wagering game system based on the second identifier;

determining a third identifier associated with the first identifier and with the second wagering game system; and

transmitting the third identifier for use in accessing the second wagering game system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first identifier is received as a result of one or more actions selected from the group consisting of receiving a player card at a wagering game machine, receiving a user card at wagering game configuration terminal, receiving a password at a wagering game machine, receiving a password at a configuration terminal, receiving biometric information at a wagering game machine, and receiving biometric information a configuration terminal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second identifier indicates one or more of the group consisting of a manufacturer of a wagering game machine, an operator of a wagering game machine, and wagering game system membership information.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting of the managed identifier includes transmitting the managed identifier to a destination selected from the group consisting of the managed wagering game system and a wagering game machine.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the third identifier is associated with one or more of the group consisting of casino patrons, casino administrators, service technicians, wagering game administrators, and wagering game players.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first wagering game system is selected from the group consisting of a manufacturer player tracking system, a casino player tracking system, and a casino configuration systems.