Apparatus And Method For Enabling A Transfer of Data

• US 20100260339A1
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations Limited (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Crane Payment Solution Limited
• Inventors: Barson, Andrew W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,718,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/283
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/00 Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus coin inlet arrangements G07F1/00; coin-actuated mechanisms, interlocks G07F5/00

Abstract

Secure data transfer apparatus comprising a first device to be mounted in a housing in a predetermined normal configuration for normal operation wherein secure data transfer takes place between the first device and a second device in the housing, the first device including a detector configured to detect when the first device is placed in a predetermined initialization configuration different from the normal configuration and to enable an initialization data transfer between the devices for permitting normal operation to occur thereafter in said normal configuration.

Claims

1. Secure data transfer apparatus comprising a first device to be mounted in a housing in a predetermined normal configuration for normal operation wherein secure data transfer takes place between the first device and a second device in the housing, the first device including a detector configured to detect when the first device is placed in a predetermined initialization configuration different from the normal configuration and to enable an initialization data transfer between the devices for permitting normal operation to occur thereafter in said normal configuration.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the detector is configured to detect when the geometric orientation or angular position or acceleration of the first device fulfils a predetermined condition corresponding to the initialization configuration, and to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the geometric orientation or angular position or acceleration of the first device fulfils the predetermined condition.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect when the first device is moved in a predetermined spatial or rotational pattern corresponding to the initialization configuration, and to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the first device has been moved in the predetermined spatial or rotational pattern.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect when the first device is moved in a predetermined sequence of predetermined spatial or rotational patterns, said sequence corresponding to the initialization configuration, and to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the first device has been moved in said sequence.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, configured to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the geometric orientation of the first device is substantially 180 degrees to its normal operating orientation.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, configured to enable the transfer of data in response to detecting that the first device is upside down.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector is provided in a removable unit which can be removed from the first device such that its geometric orientation, angular position or acceleration can be changed independently of the first device.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the detector is configured to detect when the geometric orientation or angular position or acceleration of the removable unit fulfils a predetermined condition corresponding to the initialization configuration, and to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the geometric orientation or angular position or acceleration of the removable unit fulfils the predetermined condition.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the detector is configured to detect when the removable unit is moved in predetermined spatial or rotational pattern corresponding to the initialization configuration, and to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the removable unit has been moved in the predetermined spatial or rotational pattern.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the detector is configured to detect when the removable unit is moved in a predetermined sequence of predetermined spatial or rotational patterns, said sequence corresponding to the initialization configuration, and to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the removable unit has been moved in said sequence.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7, configured to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the geometric orientation of the removable unit is substantially 180 degrees to its normal operating orientation.

12. An apparatus according to claim 7, configured to enable the transfer of data in response to detecting that the removable unit is upside down.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to enable the initialization data transfer for a preset period and to switch to a default mode in which the initialization data transfer is not allowed when the preset period has elapsed.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector comprises an orientation detector comprising an accelerometer.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector comprises a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS).

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the initialisation data comprises an encryption key for encrypted communication between the first and second devices.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first device comprises a memory configured to store whether or not the initialization data transfer is to be enabled, in response to a signal from the detector.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a capacitive reservoir configured to store electrical energy to power the first device.

19. A gaming machine comprising an apparatus according to claim 1.

20. Secure data transfer apparatus comprising a housing including first and second devices mounted therein in a predetermined normal configuration for normal operation wherein secure data transfer takes place between the devices, the first device being configured so that in response to being placed in a predetermined initialisation configuration different from the normal configuration an initialization data transfer is enabled between the devices to enable normal operation to occur thereafter in said normal configuration.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the housing is so configured that it cannot readily be moved when the first device therein is in said normal operating condition to place the first device in said initialization condition.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the housing comprises a secure enclosure containing the first and second devices, with a lockable opening to provide access to the first device, wherein the first device can be placed in the initialization condition by unlocking the opening to gain access to the first device and then moving the first device into said initialization condition.

23. Apparatus according to claim 20 having a fixing point to locate the first device in said normal configuration, wherein the first device is removable from the fixing point to be placed in the initialization condition.

24. An apparatus according to claim 20, comprising a gaming or vending machine.

25. A method of enabling an initialization data transfer between a first device to be mounted in a housing in a predetermined normal configuration for normal operation and second device mounted in the housing, comprising detecting when the first device is in a predetermined initialisation configuration different from the normal configuration and enabling an initialization data transfer between the devices for permitting normal operation to occur thereafter in said normal configuration.

26. A method according to claim 25, comprising detecting when the geometric orientation or angular position or acceleration of the first device fulfils a predetermined condition corresponding to the initialization configuration and enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting the geometric orientation or angular position or acceleration of the first device fulfils the predetermined condition.

27. A method according to claim 25, comprising detecting when first device is moved in predetermined spatial or rotational pattern corresponding to the initialization configuration, and enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the first device has been moved in the predetermined spatial or rotational pattern.

28. A method according to claim 25, comprising detecting when the first device is moved in a predetermined sequence of predetermined spatial or rotational patterns, said sequence corresponding to the initialization configuration, and enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the first device has been moved in said sequence.

29. A method according to claim 25, comprising enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the geometric orientation of the first device is 180 degrees to its normal operating orientation.

30. A method according to claim 25, comprising enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the first device is upside down.

31. A method according to claim 25 comprising detecting when the geometric orientation or angular position or acceleration of a removable unit removed from the first device fulfils a predetermined condition corresponding to the initialization configuration and enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting the geometric orientation or angular position or acceleration of the removable unit fulfils the predetermined condition.

32. A method according to claim 31, comprising detecting when the removable unit is moved in a predetermined spatial or rotational pattern corresponding to the initialization configuration, and enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the removable unit has been moved in the predetermined spatial or rotational pattern.

33. A method according to claim 31, comprising detecting when the removable unit is moved in a predetermined sequence of predetermined spatial or rotational patterns, said sequence corresponding to the initialization configuration, and enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the removable unit has been moved in said sequence.

34. A method according to claim 25, comprising enabling the initialization data transfer for a preset period and switching to a default mode in which the transfer of data is not allowed when the preset period has elapsed.

35. A method according to claim 25, wherein the initialization data comprises an encryption key for encrypted communication between the first and second devices.

36. A method according to claim 25, comprising storing whether or not the initialization data transfer is to be enabled, in response to the orientation of the first device.