Room key based in-room player tracking

• US 7,198,571 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: LeMay, Steven G., Benbrahim, Jamal
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn; Corbett B.
• Application Number:
  US10/100,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20030176218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/29, 263/25, 263/29
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

A disclosed authentication instrument is used to authorize various services at a hotel-casino complex, such as but not limited to in-room gaming, in-room sports wagering, room access, safe access, mini-bar access, Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT), player tracking services and in-room entertainment services (e.g., video games and movie channels). A smart card, an electronic token and a magnetic striped card are examples of hardware that may be used as authentication instruments. For in-room gaming, the authentication instrument may be used to authorize, in a secure and legal manner, in-room game play sessions on an entertainment terminal connected to a remote gaming machine.

Claims

1. A method of providing a game of chance, the method comprising:

in response to reading authentication instrument information from an authentication instrument in an entertainment terminal, wherein the entertainment terminal is located in a room, initiating a remote game play session on the entertainment terminal wherein the remote game play session comprises playing at least one game of chance using the entertainment terminal;

providing a communications link between the entertainment terminal and a gaming machine wherein the gaming machine is located on a casino floor outside of the room, the gaming machine operable to both;

i) provide the at least one game of chance in a local game play session in which the gaming machine is capable to receive a cash wager from a player located on the casino floor, including presentation of a game outcome on a display of the gaming machine responsive to receiving the wager, and output an award to the player, and

ii) provide the at least one game of chance in the remote game play session;

the remote game play session including;

confirming approval for the remote game play session from an authentication server based on the authentication instrument information;

initiating the game of chance responsive to input from an input device connected to the entertainment terminal;

receiving at the entertainment terminal a game outcome from the gaming machine via the communications link, the game outcome generated on the gaming machine; and

displaying the game outcome for the game of chance on the entertainment terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the game of chance is selected from the group consisting of slot games, poker, pachinko, multiple hand poker games, pai-gow poker, blackjack, keno, bingo, roulette, craps and card game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication instrument is selected from the group consisting of a smart card, a magnetic striped card, an electronic token, a cell phone and a personal digital assistant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication instrument information is a combination selected from the group consisting of 1) an authorization number that is used to approve the game play on the entertainment terminal, 2) a transaction number that is used for all games of chance initiated using the authentication instrument, 3) a betting limit, 4) a Personal Identification Number, 5) patron identification information, 6) player tracking information, 7) an expiration date, 8) a magnetic combination that is used to gain access to an entertainment terminal, 9) credits of indicia, 10) promotional credits used only for wagers in the game of chance, 11) one or more player preferences used to configure a gaming machine, 12) one or more encryption keys, 13) an authentication instrument identification number, 14) one or more gaming machine serial numbers, 15) biometric information, 16) an authorization number that is used to authorize sports wagering on the entertainment terminal, 18) an authorization number that is used to configure the authentication instrument to authorize a movie to be displayed on the entertainment terminal, 19) an authorization number that is used to configure the authentication instrument to authorize a video game of skill to be played on the entertainment terminal, 20) a magnetic combination that is used by a door access device to unlock a door, 21) a time and a date when the authentication instrument was issued and 22) a location where the authorization instrument was issued.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein access to the room is granted in response to reading the authentication instrument information from the authentication instrument in a door access device, and the authentication instrument information is read in the door access device from the authentication instrument using a magnetic striped card reader, a smart card reader, an electronic token acceptor and a wireless interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication instrument information is read in the entertainment terminal from the authentication instrument using a magnetic striped card reader, a smart card reader, an electronic token acceptor and a wireless interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirming comprises:

sending a message requesting an approval for the remote game play session to the authentication server; and

receiving the approval for the remote game play session from the authorization server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirming comprises:

sending a message requesting an authorization for the remote game play session to the authentication server;

receiving a rejection for the remote game play session from the authorization server; and

terminating the remote game play session.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to reading authentication instrument information from the authentication instrument in the entertainment terminal, using the authentication information to determine a list of services available on the entertainment terminal;

displaying a menu of the determined services on the entertainment terminal.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

storing game play session information to a non-volatile memory device located on the entertainment terminal.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a wager for the game of chance.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a bonus game on the entertainment terminal.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the authentication instrument being removed from an authentication port in the entertainment terminal; and

terminating the game play session.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input signal indicating a player dispute; and

contacting a remote attendant station.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

displaying game play history information to the entertainment terminal wherein the game play history information is used to resolve the dispute.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a player tracking session for the games of chance played on the entertainment terminal.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the entertainment terminal using commands transmitted from a remote device.

18. A method of providing a game of chance, the method comprising:

providing an entertainment terminal located in a room;

providing a gaining machine located on a casino floor separate from the room, the gaming machine operable to both;

i) provide at least one game of chance in a local game play session in which the gaming machine is capable to receive a cash wager from a player located on the casino floor, including presentation of a game outcome on a display of the gaming machine responsive to receiving the wager, and output an award to the player, and

ii) provide the at least one game of chance in a remote game play session;

the remote game play session including;

providing a communications link between the entertainment terminal and the gaining machine;

reading authentication instrument information from an authentication instrument in the entertainment terminal;

initiating, responsive to reading the authentication instrument information, the remote game play session on the entertainment terminal, the remote game play session enabling play of the game of chance using the entertainment terminal;

confirming approval for the remote game play session from an authentication server based on the authentication instrument information;

initiating the game of chance responsive to input from an input device connected to the entertainment terminal;

receiving at the entertainment terminal a game outcome from the gaining machine via the communications link, the game outcome generated on the gaming machine; and

displaying the game outcome for the game of chance on the entertainment terminal.