Apparatus, systems and methods for accepting payment at a sales device

• US 7,641,036 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Alderucci, Dean P., Walker, Jay S., Tedesco, Daniel E., Downs, Michael D., Jorasch, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEAUCHAINE, MARK J
• Application Number:
  US11/456,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20070012542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 194205-207, 194215-217, 194/202, 194/302, 700/231, 700/237, 700/232, 731/63, 702/81, 702/82, 702/105
• US Class Current: 194/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/28 Setting of parameters; Software updates
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/00 Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method comprising determining sales data associated with a sales device (e.g., a vending machine) and adjusting a level of sensitivity of a currency validator based on the sales data.

Claims

1. A gaming device system including at least one gaming device having a normal operating mode, comprising:

a currency acceptance device operatively associated with the gaming device, the currency acceptance device configured to determine the presence of a risk of the tendered currency being counterfeit; and

a controller operatively associated with said gaming device and said currency acceptance device to receive data from each, and operable such that in the event that tendered currency is determined by the currency acceptance device to present some risk of being counterfeit, to change the mode of operation of the gaming device from the normal operating mode to a second mode which mitigates the risk of the tendered currency being counterfeit,

wherein the second mode of operation comprises preventing payouts of credits unless at least one condition is met and wherein the at least one condition comprises one or more of;

(i) a presentation of a user identifier;

(ii) a presentation by the user of an alternate form of payment in the event that the tendered currency is counterfeit; and

(iii) acceptance of an offer selected to mitigate the risk.

2. A method of operating a gaming system comprising at least one gaming device and at least one currency acceptance device associated with the gaming device, comprising the acts of:

receiving a tender of currency payment at the currency acceptance device;

examining the tendered currency and determining a risk that the currency is counterfeit;

altering an operational mode of the gaming device in a manner to mitigate the risk of the currency being counterfeit, wherein the operational mode of the gaming device is altered to change gaming outcomes that may result from playing the gaming device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the gaming outcomes are altered to preclude certain game attributes from occurring.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the gaming device is a video poker machine, and wherein the precluded game attributes comprise selected poker hands.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the gaming device is a slot machine, and wherein the precluded game attributes comprise selected reel spins.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the operational mode of the gaming device is further altered to change the conditions for payout of credits on the gaming device.

7. A gaming device system including at least one gaming device having a normal operating mode, comprising:

a currency acceptance device operatively associated with the gaming device, the currency acceptance device configured to determine the presence of a risk of the tendered currency being counterfeit; and

a controller operatively associated with said gaming device and said currency acceptance device to receive data from each, and operable such that in the event that tendered currency is determined by the currency acceptance device to present some risk of being counterfeit, to change a gaming mode of the gaming device from a normal gaming mode to a second gaming mode which mitigates the risk of the tendered currency being counterfeit.