Verifying a gaming device is in communications with a gaming server

• US 7,942,738 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Alderucci, Dean P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARNER, WERNER G
• Application Number:
  US11/560,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20080113803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,644 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0838 using one-time-passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0846 using time-dependent-passwords, e.g. periodically changing passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0884 by delegation of authentication, e.g. a proxy authenticates an entity to be authenticated on behalf of this entity vis-à-vis an authentication entity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215

Abstract

A system includes a verification server and a gaming server, which provides gaming activities and possibly other services to a player through a gaming device. The system further includes a verification device in communications with the verification server. The verification server passes an indicator between the verification device and gaming device via the gaming server and in this fashion, verification can be made that the gaming device is in communications with the gaming server.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a player of a mobile gaming device, by a processor of a verification device, a request to verify that the mobile gaming device is in communication with a gaming server,

wherein the verification device comprises a stationary kiosk located in a gaming area of a gaming facility,

wherein the stationary kiosk comprises a reader, wherein the reader comprises at least one of;

an optical scanner,

a magnetic card reader, and

an RFID transceiver,

and

wherein the verification device is a separate entity from the mobile gaming device;

receiving, by a processor of a verification server located in the gaming area of the gaming facility, from the verification device, the request from the player of the mobile gaming device,

wherein the verification device is in communication with the verification server via a first network and the verification server is in communication with the gaming server via a second network,

wherein the verification device is a separate entity from the verification server and the gaming server,

wherein the verification server is a separate entity from the gaming server and the mobile gaming device,

wherein the mobile gaming device, together with the gaming server, is operable to provide the player of the mobile gaming device with at least one gaming activity,

wherein the mobile gaming device is in communication with the gaming server via a third network, and

wherein the mobile gaming device is a separate entity from the verification server, the verification device, and the gaming server;

obtaining, by the processor of the verification device, identification information from the mobile gaming device, wherein obtaining the identification information comprises;

reading, using the reader of the stationary kiosk, a tracking value assigned to the mobile gaming device;

receiving, by the processor of the verification server, the identification information from the verification device;

determining, by the processor of the verification server, a first indicator, wherein determining the first indicator comprises;

determining, by the processor of the verification server, a random value;

sending, by the processor of the verification server, the first indicator to the verification device;

causing, by the processor of the verification server, the mobile gaming device to prompt the player of the mobile gaming device to enter a second indicator at the mobile gaming device, wherein the second indicator comprises the first indicator;

receiving, by the processor of the verification server, the second indicator from the mobile gaming device via the gaming server;

determining, by the processor of the verification server, that the second indicator matches the first indicator; and

sending, by the processor of the verification server, a notification that the second indicator matches the first indicator to the verification device as verification that the mobile gaming device is in communication with the gaming server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the random value is unknown to the player of the mobile gaming device prior to the first indicator being sent to the mobile gaming device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is indicative to the player that the mobile gaming device is in communication with the gaming server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming facility comprises at least one of a casino and a casino-hotel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming facility comprises a racino.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing, by the processor of the verification server, communications with the verification device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to sending the first indicator to the verification device;

confirming, by the processor of the verification server, to the player via the verification device that the verification device is in communication with the verification server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein confirming to the player comprises:

sending, by the processor of the verification server, verification information to the player via the verification device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming server comprises a licensed gaming server.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second networks are the same network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second networks are interconnected.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second networks share common resources.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second networks are different networks.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of:

an alphanumeric text value,

a plurality of alphanumeric text values,

an audible signal,

an audible tone,

an audible text value, and

a plurality of audible text values.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming activity comprises at least one of:

a gambling activity,

wagering on an event,

a lottery activity, and

a non-gambling activity.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile gaming device, together with the gaming server, is further operable to provide to the player at least one convenience service.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one convenience service comprises at least one of:

a restaurant service,

an entertainment service,

a hotel service,

a money management service,

a news service, and

a financial exchange service.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a player of a mobile gaming device, by a processor of a verification server located in a gaming area of a gaming facility, via a verification device, a request to verify that the mobile gaming device is in communication with a gaming server;

wherein the verification device comprises a stationary kiosk located in the gaming area of the gaming facility,

wherein the stationary kiosk comprises a reader, wherein the reader comprises at least one of;

an optical scanner,

a magnetic card reader, and

an RFID transceiver,

wherein the verification device is in communication with the verification server via a first network and the verification server is in communication with the gaming server via a second network,

wherein the verification device is a separate entity from the mobile gaming device, the verification server and the gaming server,

wherein the verification server is a separate entity from the gaming server and the mobile gaming device,

wherein the mobile gaming device, together with the gaming server, is operable to provide the player of the mobile gaming device with at least one gaming activity,

wherein the mobile gaming device is in communication with the gaming server via a third network, and

wherein the mobile gaming device is a separate entity from the verification server, the verification device, and the gaming server;

obtaining, by the processor of the verification server, via the verification device, identification information from the mobile gaming device, wherein the identification information comprises a tracking value assigned to mobile gaming device;

determining, by the processor of the verification server, a first indicator, wherein determining the first indicator comprises;

determining, by the processor of the verification server, a random value;

sending, by the processor of the verification server, the first indicator to the verification device;

causing, by the processor of the verification server, the mobile gaming device to prompt the player of the mobile gaming device to enter a second indicator at the mobile gaming device, wherein the second indicator comprises the first indicator;

receiving, by the processor of the verification server, the second indicator from the mobile gaming device via the gaming server;

determining, by the processor of the verification server, that the second indicator matches the first indicator; and

sending, by the processor of the verification server, a notification that the second indicator matches the first indicator to the verification device as verification that the mobile gaming device is in communication with the gaming server.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a player of a mobile gaming device, by a processor of a verification device, a request to verify that the mobile gaming device is in communication with a gaming server,

wherein the verification device comprises a stationary kiosk located in a gaming area of a gaming facility, and

wherein the verification device is a separate entity from the mobile gaming device;

receiving, by a processor of a verification server, from the verification device, the request from the player of the mobile gaming device,

wherein the verification device is in communication with the verification server via a first network and the verification server is in communication with the gaming server via a second network,

wherein the verification device is a separate entity from the verification server and the gaming server,

wherein the verification server is a separate entity from the gaming server and the mobile gaming device,

wherein the mobile gaming device, together with the gaming server, is operable to provide the player of the mobile gaming device with at least one gaming activity,

wherein the mobile gaming device is in communication with the gaming server via a third network, and

wherein the mobile gaming device is a separate entity from the verification server, the verification device, and the gaming server;

obtaining, by the processor of the verification device, identification information from the mobile gaming device;

receiving, by the processor of the verification server, the identification information from the verification device;

determining, by the processor of the verification server, a first indicator, wherein determining the first indicator comprises;

determining, by the processor of the verification server, a random value;

sending, by the processor of the verification server, the first indicator to the verification device;

causing, by the processor of the verification server, the mobile gaming device to prompt the player of the mobile gaming device to enter a second indicator at the mobile gaming device, wherein the second indicator comprises the first indicator;

receiving, by the processor of the verification server, the second indicator from the mobile gaming device via the gaming server;

determining, by the processor of the verification server, that the second indicator matches the first indicator; and

sending, by the processor of the verification server, a notification that the second indicator matches the first indicator to the verification device as verification that the mobile gaming device is in communication with the gaming server.