NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM INCLUDING ANONYMOUS PLAYER BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING

• US 20130231180A1
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan, Rowe, Bruce, Cody, JP
• Application Number:
  US13/786,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20130231180A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

A system and method are set forth which provides for biometric identification at a first server of an identified user and an established anonymous user and a device such as a gaming device and for using a second device such as a cellular telephone interfacing with the device to also access a second server which may also store biometric information as well as chargeable account information. If a user cannot be identified the first server establishes a new anonymous player account. Location determination may also be used where use of the device is subject to area use restrictions, such as remote gaming, to enable or disable the restricted use.

Claims

1. A system for uses of first devices communicating over a network to at least one remote first server where said first devices are configured to interface through electronic communication with a second device, said second device enabling access to a second server with data associated with one or more of chargeable account, password and biometric information;

said system comprising;

said at least one remote first server storing user account data including (i) biometric image data for identified users and unidentified, established anonymous users and (ii) data associated with one or more of chargeable account, password and biometric information associated with said second server;

one or more biometric sensors associated with said first devices to acquire biometric image data of a substantially unique biometric feature of a user, one of said sensors or first devices configured to provide the biometric image data to the first server through said network;

one of said first or second devices configured for determination of the geographic location of the device and providing data corresponding to said location to said first server;

said first server configured to receive from said first devices (i) account information from said second server via said electronic communication between said first device and said second device, (ii) match the acquired biometric image data with a biometric image data stored at one or more of said first server and said second server, if a match is made (iii) associate a user with an identified user account at one or more of said first server and said second server or an established anonymous player account at said first server to provide access thereto or in the event a match is not made to (iv) establish a new anonymous user account at said first server and associate said acquired biometric image data for said user who cannot be identified and data from said second server with said new anonymous user account and provide access thereto.

2. The system of claim 1 comprising said second device is a cellular telephone and said electronic communication is near-field communication.

3. The system of claim 1 comprising said first server configured to charge against said chargeable account for gaming.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein use is subject to a geographic area restriction, said system comprising said first server is configured to determine if said first device is located in said geographic area and if so to enable said first device for use and if not to disable said first device.

5. A system for players of gaming devices communicating over a first network to at least one remote gaming server where said gaming devices are configured to interface through electronic communication with a second device, said second device enabling access to a non-gaming account server with data associated with one or more of chargeable account, password and biometric information;

said system comprising;

said at least one remote gaming server storing player gaming account data including (i) biometric image data for identified players and unidentified, established anonymous players and (ii) data associated with one or more of chargeable account, password and biometric information associated with said second server;

one or more biometric sensors associated with said gaming devices to acquire biometric image data of a substantially unique biometric feature of a player, one of said sensors or gaming devices configured to provide the biometric image data to the at least one gaming server through said first network;

at least one said gaming and second devices configured for determination of the geographic location of the gaming device and providing data corresponding to said location to said at least one gaming server;

said at least one gaming server configured to receive from said gaming devices (i) account information from said non-gaming server via said electronic communication between said gaming device and said second device, (ii) match the acquired biometric image data with a biometric image data stored at one or more of said gaming server and said non-gaming server, if a match is made (iii) associate a player with an identified player account at one or more of said gaming server and said non-gaming server or an established anonymous player account at said gaming server to provide access thereto or in the event a match is not made to (iv) establish a new anonymous player account at said gaming server and associate said acquired biometric image data for said player who cannot be identified and data from said second server with said new anonymous player account and provide access thereto.

6. The system of claim 5 comprising said second device is a cellular telephone and said electronic communication is near-field communication.

7. The system of claim 5 comprising said gaming server configured to charge against said chargeable account for gaming.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein gaming is subject to a geographic area restriction and said devices are configured for determination of the geographic location of the device and providing data corresponding to said location to said at least one gaming server, said system comprising said gaming server is configured to determine if said gaming device is located in said geographic area and if so to enable said gaming device for play and if not to disable said device for play.

9. A method for play of gaming devices communicating over a first network to at least one remote gaming server where said gaming devices are configured to interface through electronic communication with a second device, said second device enabling access to a non-gaming account server with data associated with one or more of chargeable account, password and biometric information;

said method comprising;

storing player gaming account data at a remote gaming server and memory device, said account data including (i) biometric image data for identified players and unidentified, established anonymous players and (ii) data associated with one or more of chargeable account, password and biometric information associated with said second server;

at said gaming devices acquiring biometric image data of a substantially unique biometric feature of a player, one of said sensors or gaming devices configured to provide the biometric image data to the at least one gaming server through said first network;

said devices configured for determination of the geographic location of the device and for providing data corresponding to said location to said gaming server;

configuring said gaming server for (i) receiving from said gaming devices account information from said non-gaming server via said electronic communication between said gaming device and said second device, (ii) matching the acquired biometric image data with biometric image data stored at one or more of said gaming server and said non-gaming server, if a match is made (iii) associating the player with an identified player account at one of said gaming server and said non-gaming server or establishing a anonymous player account at said gaming server to provide access thereto or in the event a match is not made (iv) establishing a new anonymous player account at said gaming server and associating said acquired biometric image data for said player who cannot be identified and data from said second server with said new anonymous player account and provide access thereto.

10. The method of claim 9 comprising said second device is a cellular telephone and said electronic communication is near-field communication.

11. The method of claim 9 comprising said configuring the gaming server to enable charging against said chargeable account for gaming.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein gaming is subject to a geographic area restriction and said devices are configured for determination of the geographic location of the device and providing data corresponding to said location to said at least one gaming server, said method comprising configuring said gaming for determining if said gaming device is located in said geographic area and if so to enabling said gaming device for play and if not disabling said device for play.