GAME ACCESS DEVICE WITH TIME VARYING SIGNAL

• US 20130065672A1
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Gelman, Geoffrey M., Rushin, Ronald, Alderucci, Dean P., Asher, Joseph M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,840,018 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 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling access to wireless gaming devices and networks are provided. For example, access is controlled through one or more levels of security checks, such as a hard security check instead of or in addition to a soft security check. In a hard security check, the user employs an apparatus such as a card or other physical token that can be used to access the wireless gaming device. Such an apparatus may communicate information that identifies the user to the device or may simply be used to produce a signal without which the device is locked to users. The apparatus may further emit a time varying signal to enhance security.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal at a first time;

determining a first period based on the first time;

comparing the first signal to a second signal that is associated with the first period;

permitting the placement of a first bet and the generation of a first game outcome if the first signal matches the second signal;

receiving a third signal at a second time, in which the third signal is different from the first signal;

determining a second period based on the second time;

comparing the third signal to a fourth signal that is associated with the second period;

permitting the placement of a second bet and the generation of a second game outcome if the third signal matches the fourth signal.

2. The method of 1 in which the first signal is received from a bracelet comprising a wristband and an RFID tag.

3. The method of 2 in which the third signal is received from the bracelet.

4. The method of 1 in which the second signal is stored in a table in association with the first period, and the fourth signal is stored in the table in association with the second period.

5. The method of 4 in which the second signal is stored in the table in further association with a player identifier, and in which the fourth signal is stored in the table in further association with the player identifier.

6. The method of 1 in which the first period is a period of time within which the first time falls.

7. The method of 1 in which the first period is adjacent in time to the second period.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a wristband;

an emitter operable to emit different signals according to a programmed schedule, wherein each signal is associated with the same player.

9. The method of 8 in which the emitter is operable to repeatedly emit a first signal during a first five-minute period, and to repeatedly emit a second signal during a second five-minute period.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a wristband;

an emitter operable to emit a first signal which is associated with a first player;

a receiver operable to detect a second signal which is associated with a second player;

a medium for storing a set of signals, each signal associated with a player;

logic operable to use the medium to look up the identity of the second player based on the second signal; and

an output device operable to produce a third signal which is perceptible to humans, the third signal produced based on the identity of the second player.

11. The apparatus of 10 in which the output device is a display device.

12. The apparatus of 10 in which the output device is a buzzer.

13. The apparatus of 10 in which the output device is operable to produce the third signal if the identity of the second player corresponds to a friend of the first player.