Method and apparatus for enhancing a wagering experience using a wagering terminal adaptable to a self-service mode

• US 7,762,886 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Tote Co. (Churchill Downs Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Tote Co. (Churchill Downs Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vlazny, Kenneth A., Pfennighausen, Scott B., Burgess, Brendan, Baker, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoo; Jasson H
• Application Number:
  US11/005,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20060121981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,058 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463 46- 47, 40530-533, 36167904-67906, 361/679.27, 235/6, 235/7.R, 235/29, 235/29.A, 235/31.R, 235/31.T, 235/33, 235/383, 345/1.1, 345/1.3, 345/204
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• 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 method and apparatus for use in a wagering environment are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a wagering terminal including a processor, a memory, a primary display, and a secondary display. The primary display is configured for displaying visual messages. These visual messages are displayed as part of a graphical user interface and include at least one wagering transaction message. The secondary display is configured for displaying additional visual messages associated with the visual messages of the primary display. These additional visual messages are displayed as part of an additional graphical user interface. The wagering terminal may further include a proximity detector configured for detecting the presence of a gaming patron, a user identification unit configured for sampling a unique physical attribute of a user, and an image capture unit configured for capturing at least one image in a vicinity of the wagering terminal.

Claims

1. A wagering terminal, comprising:

a processor;

a memory operably coupled to the processor;

a primary display pivotally attached to the wagering terminal, operably coupled to the processor, and configured for displaying visual messages, the visual messages displayed as part of a graphical user interface and including at least one wagering transaction message;

a secondary display, facing a patron perspective, operably coupled to the processor and configured for displaying additional visual messages associated with the visual messages, the additional visual messages displayed as part of an additional graphical user interface; and

a teller input device operably coupled to the processor and configured to face a teller perspective and receive input from a teller;

wherein the wagering terminal is adapted to;

operate in a self-service mode when the primary display is positioned in a pivotally open position and displaying wagering transaction information on the primary display to the patron perspective facing a front side of the wagering terminal; and

operate in a teller-assisted mode when the primary display is positioned in a pivotally closed position wherein a teller can input information on the teller input device to develop the wagering transaction information, the primary display presents the wagering transaction information, to the teller perspective facing a back side of the wagering terminal, and the secondary display presents at least some of the wagering transaction information to the patron perspective.

2. The wagering terminal of claim 1, further comprising a primary touch screen integrally coupled with the primary display, the primary touch screen configured for receiving a first user input corresponding to a location on the primary touch screen substantially contacted by a user, wherein the primary touch screen can function as the teller input device when the wagering terminal is in the teller-assisted mode.

3. The wagering terminal of claim 1, further comprising a secondary touch screen integrally coupled with the secondary display, the secondary touch screen configured for receiving a second user input corresponding to a location on the secondary touch screen substantially contacted by a user.

4. The wagering terminal of claim 1, further comprising a proximity detector operably coupled to the processor and configured for detecting a presence of a gaming patron in proximity to the wagering terminal.

5. The wagering terminal of claim 1, further comprising a user identification unit operably coupled to the processor and configured for sampling a unique physical attribute of a user of the wagering terminal.

6. The wagering terminal of claim 1, further comprising an image capture unit operably coupled to the processor and configured for capturing at least one image in a vicinity of the wagering terminal.

7. The wagering terminal of claim 1, further comprising at least one transaction device operably coupled to the processor and configured for accepting at least one of a form of payment, a form of user identification, and a form of wager identifier.

8. The wagering terminal of claim 7, wherein the at least one transaction device is selected from the group consisting of a card reader, a card writer, a combined card reader/writer, a ticket dispenser, a ticket receiver, and a currency receiver.

9. The wagering terminal of claim 1, further comprising a network interface configured for communication with a network.

10. The wagering terminal of claim 1, further comprising at least one I/O device configured for providing at least one of input to the wagering terminal and communication with a peripheral device.

11. The wagering terminal of claim 1, further comprising a computer readable medium configured for storing computer executable instructions and data for the wagering terminal.

12. The wagering terminal of claim 1, further comprising a computer readable medium including computer executable instructions, which when executed on the processor, generate a lottery ticket sales environment on the wagering terminal.

13. The wagering terminal of claim 1, further comprising a computer readable medium including computer executable instructions, which when executed on the processor, generate a pari-mutuel wagering environment on the wagering terminal.

14. A wagering terminal, comprising:

a processor;

a memory operably coupled to the processor;

a first side facing a patron perspective;

a second side, opposite from the first side and facing a teller perspective;

a teller input device operably coupled to the processor and configured to face the teller perspective and receive input from a teller;

a primary display operably coupled to the processor and pivotally attached to the wagering terminal such that the primary display faces the patron perspective when in a pivotally open position and faces the teller perspective when in a pivotally closed position, the primary display for displaying visual messages including at least one wagering transaction message while in the pivotally open position and the pivotally closed position; and

a secondary display operably coupled to the processor and configured to face the patron perspective and display at least some of the at least one wagering transaction message when in a teller-assisted mode.

15. The wagering terminal of claim 14, wherein the wagering terminal is configured to operate in a self-service mode when the primary display is in the pivotally open position a the teller-assisted mode when the primary display is in the pivotally closed position.

16. The wagering terminal of claim 14, further comprising a primary touch screen integrally coupled with the primary display, the primary touch screen configured for receiving a first user input corresponding to a location on the primary touch screen substantially contacted by a patron or a teller, wherein the primary touch screen can function as the teller input device when the wagering terminal is in the teller-assisted mode.

17. A wagering terminal, comprising:

a processor;

a memory operably coupled to the processor;

a teller input device operably coupled to the processor and configured to face a teller perspective and receive input from a teller;

a primary display operably coupled to the processor and pivotally attached to the wagering terminal such that the primary display faces a patron perspective toward a first side of the wagering terminal when in a pivotally open position and faces the teller perspective toward an opposite side of the wagering terminal relative to the first side when in a pivotally closed position, the primary display for displaying visual messages including at least one wagering transaction message; and

a secondary display operably coupled to the processor, facing the patron perspective, and configured for displaying at least some of the at least one wagering transaction message to the user.

18. The wagering terminal of claim 17, wherein the wagering terminal is configured to operate in a self-service mode by the user when the primary display is in the pivotally open position or a teller-assisted mode by the teller when the primary display is in the pivotally closed position.

19. The wagering terminal of claim 17, further comprising a primary touch screen integrally coupled with the primary display, the primary touch screen configured for receiving a first user input corresponding to a location on the primary touch screen substantially contacted by a patron or the teller, wherein the primary touch screen can function as the teller input device when the wagering terminal is in a teller-assisted mode.