Voucher gaming system
First Claim
1. A method for using a voucher in a gaming system having at least a terminal device configured to allow a player to play a game whose outcome is at least partially dependent on a random event, networked with a computer having a database configured to retrievably store individual voucher information using a unique transaction number, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving an indication from a player to issue a voucher at said terminal device;
(b) generating a unique transaction number by said terminal device;
(c) determining if said indication from said player was for taking unused credit from said terminal device or for prize redemption;
(d) issuing a voucher having thereon said unique transaction number in machine readable form and further having thereon an indicator of a value for said voucher, said indicator of value corresponding to said credit on said terminal device if said player indication was for unused credit and being information associated with said unique transaction number;
(e) issuing a voucher having thereon said unique transaction number in machine readable form and further having thereon an indicator for prize redemption comprising one of a selected prize or prize value, said indicator of prize redemption corresponding to a prize or prize value awarded on said terminal device if said player indication was for prize redemption and being information associated with said unique transaction number;
(f) sending to said database said unique transaction number and associated information;
(g) storing said unique transaction number and associated information in a manner retrievable using said unique transaction number, and further retrievable without the use of player-specific information; and
, (h) re-sending said unique transaction number and said associated information for said issued voucher at a later time and then continuing to (g), if said database is currently not reachable.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The system of the present invention provides for cashless transactions in Nevada-style casinos, bingo halls, Amerindian casinos, and the like. The system has a central database running on a server networked to player terminals, cashier'"'"'s terminals (or stations), and unmanned voucher/cash exchange terminals. Individual transactions are recorded in the database using a unique transition ID where a transaction corresponds to vouchers being inserted into a terminal or vouchers being issued from a terminal. Each transaction stands alone and is recorded separately in the database; there is no logical connection between transactions unlike systems working from a central account. The present invention is particularly robust as it enables terminals to generate unique transaction IDs and print vouchers having a unique transaction ID and player'"'"'s credits and other information thereon, before confirmation from the central server that the transaction has been stored in the database.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for using a voucher in a gaming system having at least a terminal device configured to allow a player to play a game whose outcome is at least partially dependent on a random event, networked with a computer having a database configured to retrievably store individual voucher information using a unique transaction number, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving an indication from a player to issue a voucher at said terminal device;
(b) generating a unique transaction number by said terminal device;
(c) determining if said indication from said player was for taking unused credit from said terminal device or for prize redemption;
(d) issuing a voucher having thereon said unique transaction number in machine readable form and further having thereon an indicator of a value for said voucher, said indicator of value corresponding to said credit on said terminal device if said player indication was for unused credit and being information associated with said unique transaction number;
(e) issuing a voucher having thereon said unique transaction number in machine readable form and further having thereon an indicator for prize redemption comprising one of a selected prize or prize value, said indicator of prize redemption corresponding to a prize or prize value awarded on said terminal device if said player indication was for prize redemption and being information associated with said unique transaction number;
(f) sending to said database said unique transaction number and associated information;
(g) storing said unique transaction number and associated information in a manner retrievable using said unique transaction number, and further retrievable without the use of player-specific information; and
,(h) re-sending said unique transaction number and said associated information for said issued voucher at a later time and then continuing to (g), if said database is currently not reachable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for using a voucher in a gaming system having a terminal device configured to allow a player to play a game whose outcome is at least partially dependent on a random event, the terminal also configured to generate transaction numbers, networked with a computer having a database configured to retrievably store associated individual voucher information using a unique transaction number, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving a voucher on a terminal device;
(b) extracting from said voucher a transaction number and associated voucher information from said received voucher by said terminal device;
(c) sending to said database at least said transaction number;
(d) making available to a player one of game credits or prizes, in accordance said associated voucher information;
(e) receiving a confirmation from said database that said unique transaction number and associated information are validated where said unique transaction number and associated information have been retrieved using said unique transaction number and not using any player-specific information;
(f) re-sending at least said unique transaction number at a later time, if said database is currently not reachable; and
,(g) repeating (f) until receiving a confirmation from said database that said unique transaction number has been received by said database. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A gaming system comprising:
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a computer having a database operably disposed therein, said database configured to retrievably store individual voucher data using a unique transaction number and further configured such that each unique transaction number and associated data is retrievable without using player-specific information;
a plurality of terminal devices where at least one terminal device is configured to allow a player to play a game whose outcome is at least partially dependent on a random event;
a network connecting said computer having said database and said plurality of terminal devices;
a terminal device identifier in each of said terminal devices, configured to be usable to generate unique transaction IDs;
a voucher device operably disposed in each of said terminal devices, configured to read and write vouchers;
a program operably disposed within each of said terminal devices, said program comprising code that is configured to generate unique transaction numbers using said terminal device identifier, associate one unique transaction number with data usable to issue a voucher, issue a voucher using said voucher device having thereon said associated unique transaction number and data, and to send and re-send said associated unique transaction number and data until a confirmation is received from said database. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A system for using a voucher in a gaming system, the system having at least a terminal device configured to allow a player to play a game whose outcome is at least partially dependent on a random event, networked with a computer having a database configured to retrievably store individual voucher information using a unique transaction number, the system comprising:
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means for a player to request a voucher at said terminal device;
means for said request to include an indicator if said request is for either one of taking unused game credits off of said terminal device, or, for prize redemption;
means for said terminal device to generate a unique transaction number;
means for issuing a voucher having thereon said unique transaction number in machine readable form and further having thereon an indicator of a value for said voucher, said indicator of value corresponding to said game credits on said terminal device if said player indication was for unused game credits, said indicator of value further being information associated with said unique transaction number;
means for issuing a voucher having thereon said unique transaction number in machine readable form and further having thereon an indicator for prize redemption comprising one of a selected prize or a prize value, said indicator of prize redemption corresponding to a prize or prize value awarded on said terminal device if said player indication was for prize redemption, said indicator of prize redemption associated with said unique transaction number;
means for sending to said database said unique transaction number and associated information;
means for storing said unique transaction number and associated information in a manner retrievable using said unique transaction number and further retrievable without using player-specific information; and
,means for re-sending said unique transaction number and said associated information for said issued voucher at a later time if said database is currently not reachable. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification