Method and apparatus for scrip distribution and management permitting redistribution of issued scrip

• US 7,520,810 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Gaming Properties
• Original Assignee: Stanley P. Dabrowski
• Inventors: Dabrowski, Stanley P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US10/893,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20050003889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 25, 235/281
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2455 Printers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• 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 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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 17/3246 involving coins and/or banknotes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/24 with change-giving

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for transferring credits from one gaming device to another via the use of coded scrip is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of accepting a cash-out command in the gaming device, scanning a magnetically manifested code uniquely identifying a scrip stored in the gaming device, transmitting a cash-out message comprising the code to a remote processor having access to a database configured to store and retrieve codes from a plurality of gaming devices, receiving a scrip dispense message from the remote processor, and dispensing the scrip. The apparatus comprises a scrip storage unit, a scrip dispensing unit having a scrip transducer for reading and recording a magnetically manifested code on a scrip retrieved from the scrip storage unit, and a processor, communicatively coupled to the scrip transducer and a remote computer having access to a database for storing and retrieving code information from the plurality of gaming devices.

Claims

1. A method for transferring game credits among a plurality of gaming devices, comprising the steps of:

accepting a cash-out command in a first gaming device;

retrieving a reusable card stored in the first gaming device, the reusable card accepted into the first gaming device from another of the plurality of gaming devices;

recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device on the reusable card;

dispensing the reusable card;

accepting the reusable card in a second gaming device;

reading the code;

providing a number of credits in the second gaming device based upon the read code; and

storing the reusable card in the second gaming device for reuse by the second gaming device wherein;

the step of recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device comprises the steps of;

transmitting a cashout balance to a remote computer;

receiving a code from the remote computer;

recording the code on the reusable card; and

the step of recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device comprises the steps of

transmitting a second cashout balance to the remote computer;

receiving a second code from the remote computer; and

recording the second code on the reusable card.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

accepting a second cash out command in the second gaming device;

recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device; and

dispensing the reusable card.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the card is self-authenticating.

4. An apparatus for transferring game credits among a plurality of gaming devices, comprising:

means for accepting a cash-out command in a first gaming device;

means for retrieving a reusable card stored in the first gaming device, the reusable card accepted into the first gaming device from another of the plurality of gaming devices;

means for recording a code uniquely identifying a reusable card stored in the first gaming device on the reusable card;

means for dispensing the reusable card;

means for accepting the reusable card in a second gaming device;

means for reading the code;

means for providing a number of credits in the second gaming device based upon the read code; and

means for storing the reusable card in the second gaming device for reuse by the second gaming device;

wherein;

the means for recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device comprises;

means for transmitting a cashout balance to a remote computer;

means for receiving a code from the remote computer;

means for recording the code on the reusable card; and

the means for recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device comprises

means for transmitting a second cashout balance to the remote computer;

means for receiving a second code from the remote computer; and

means for recording the second code on the reusable card.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

means for accepting a second cash out command in the second gaming device;

means for recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device; and

means for dispensing the reusable card.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the card is self-authenticating.

7. A method for transferring game credits among a plurality of gaming devices, comprising the steps of:

accepting a cash-out command in a first gaming device;

retrieving a reusable card stored in the first gaming device, the reusable card accepted into the first gaming device from another of the plurality of gaming devices;

recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device on the reusable card;

dispensing the reusable card;

accepting the reusable card in a second gaming device;

reading the code;

providing a number of credits in the second gaming device based upon the read code; and

storing the reusable card in the second gaming device for reuse by the second gaming device;

wherein

the step of recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device comprises the steps of;

transmitting a request for a code to a remote computer;

receiving the requested code from the remote computer;

generating a second combined code from the received code and a cashout balance;

recording the combined code on the reusable card; and

the step of recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device comprises the steps of

transmitting a second request for a code to the remote computer;

receiving the requested second code from the remote computer;

generating a second combined code from the received code and a second cashout balance;

recording the second code on the reusable card.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

accepting a second cash out command in the second gaming device;

recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device; and

dispensing the reusable card.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the card is self-authenticating.

10. A method for transferring game credits among a plurality of gaming devices, comprising the steps of:

accepting a cash-out command in a first gaming device;

retrieving a reusable card stored in the first gaming device, the reusable card accepted into the first gaming device from another of the plurality of gaming devices;

recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device on the reusable card;

dispensing the reusable card;

accepting the reusable card in a second gaming device;

reading the code;

providing a number of credits in the second gaming device based upon the read code; and

storing the reusable card in the second gaming device for reuse by the second gaming device;

wherein;

the step of recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device comprises the steps of;

generating the code in the first gaming device;

transmitting the code and a cashout balance to a remote computer;

receiving a dispense message from the remote computer;

recording the generated code on the reusable card;

the step of recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in second gaming device comprises the steps of;

generating a second code in the second gaming device

transmitting the second code and a second cashout balance to the remote computer;

receiving a dispense message from the remote computer; and

recording the second code on the reusable card.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

accepting a second cash out command in the second gaming device;

recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device; and

dispensing the reusable card.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the card is self-authenticating.

13. An apparatus for transferring game credits among a plurality of gaming devices, comprising:

means for accepting a cash-out command in a first gaming device;

means for retrieving a reusable card stored in the first gaming device, the reusable card accepted into the first gaming device from another of the plurality of gaming devices;

means for recording a code uniquely identifying a reusable card stored in the first gaming device on the reusable card;

means for dispensing the reusable card;

means for accepting the reusable card in a second gaming device;

means for reading the code;

means for providing a number of credits in the second gaming device based upon the read code; and

means for storing the reusable card in the second gaming device for reuse by the second gaming device;

wherein;

the means for recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device comprises;

means for transmitting a request for a code to a remote computer;

means for receiving the requested code from the remote computer;

means for generating a second combined code from the received code and a cashout balance;

means for recording the combined code on the reusable card; and

the means for recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device comprises the steps of

means for transmitting a second request for a code to the remote computer;

means for receiving the requested second code from the remote computer;

means for generating a second combined code from the received code and a second cashout balance;

means for recording the second code on the reusable card.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for accepting a second cash out command in the second gaming device;

means for recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device; and

means for dispensing the reusable card.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the card is self-authenticating.

16. An apparatus for transferring game credits among a plurality of gaming devices, comprising:

means for accepting a cash-out command in a first gaming device;

means for retrieving a reusable card stored in the first gaming device, the reusable card accepted into the first gaming device from another of the plurality of gaming devices;

means for recording a code uniquely identifying a reusable card stored in the first gaming device on the reusable card;

means for dispensing the reusable card;

means for accepting the reusable card in a second gaming device;

means for reading the code;

means for providing a number of credits in the second gaming device based upon the read code; and

means for storing the reusable card in the second gaming device for reuse by the second gaming device;

wherein;

the means for recording a code uniquely identifying the reusable card stored in the first gaming device comprises;

means for generating the code in the first gaming device;

means for transmitting the code and a cashout balance to a remote computer;

means for receiving a dispense message from the remote computer

means for recording the generated code on the reusable card;

the means for recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in second gaming device comprises;

means for generating a second code in the second gaming device;

means for transmitting the second code and a second cashout balance to the remote computer; and

means for receiving a dispense message from the remote computer; and

recording the second code on the reusable card.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

means for accepting a second cash out command in the second gaming device;

means for recording a second code uniquely identifying the reusable card retrieved from being stored in the second gaming device; and

means for dispensing the reusable card.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the card is self-authenticating.