Method and apparatus for enrolling gaming device players into a player-tracking system

• US 7,988,553 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Candalino, Ted G., Kastner, Steven Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino; Paul A
• Application Number:
  US10/198,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20040014523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,303 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/29, 463/36, 463/40, 463/42, 463/43, 705/14, 705/39
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered

Abstract

An apparatus and method for selecting an account for a gaming player is presented. In one embodiment, a preexisting card is electronically read. Information coded into the magnetic stripe or bar code on the preexisting card is decoded. The decoded information is used to identify matching player accounts. The identified player accounts are presented to the user, who can then select one of the accounts. The selected account is then accessed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for selecting an account for a player comprising:

a card reader configured to electronically read a bit sequence of encoded information off a preexisting card issued by an entity other than a casino without decoding the bit sequence of encoded information in order to associate the bit sequence of encoded information with an account for identification purposes;

a database of casino player tracking accounts, each account identified by a respective bit sequence of encoded information;

a network; and

a microprocessor programmed to;

use only the bit sequence of encoded information read off a preexisting card without decoding the information to identify and access an account from the database, over the network, identified by the bit sequence of encoded information;

present to the player a display of any account identified by the bit sequence of encoded information such that the player may select and access an account from a displayed list of possible accounts;

receive an input from the player indicating a selection of a single account from the displayed list of possible accounts; and

provide the player with access to the selected single account.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the card reader includes a magnetic stripe reader designed to read a magnetic stripe on the preexisting card.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the card reader includes a bar code reader designed to read a bar code on the preexisting card.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the card reader includes a smart card reader designed to read a chip embedded in the preexisting card.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further including a CRT display having a touch sensitive screen operable as a means for receiving a selection from the player of an account from a list of accounts.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preexisting card is drawn from the set including a driver'"'"'s license, a credit card, and a bonus card.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to generate a new account associated with the bit sequence of encoded information read from the preexisting card when the database does not include an account associated with the bit sequence of encoded information read from the preexisting card.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to present the player with an option of generating a new account associated with the bit sequence of encoded information read from the preexisting card.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to update a selected account from a list of presented accounts by receiving information entered by the player.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bit sequence of encoded information read from the preexisting card is associated with a player account not previously registered using the preexisting card.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including an input device configured to allow a player account to be updated with information input by the player.

18. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the bar code on the preexisting card is a two-dimensional bar code.

19. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for receiving a selection from the player includes at least one button.

22. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a player-accessible keyboard to permit the player to enter account information.

12. A method for selecting an account for a player from a database of casino player tracking accounts, each account identified by a respective bit sequence of encoded information, the method comprising:

electronically reading a bit sequence of encoded information off a preexisting card issued by an entity other than a casino without decoding the bit sequence of encoded information in order to associate the bit sequence of encoded information with an account for identification purposes;

using only the bit sequence of encoded information, without decoding it, to select at least one account from the database of casino player tracking accounts identified by the bit sequence of encoded information;

presenting to the player a display of any account identified by the bit sequence of encoded information such that the player may select and access an account from a displayed list of possible accounts;

receiving an input from the player indicating a selection of a single account from the displayed list of possible accounts; and

providing the player with access to the selected single account.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein electronically reading includes scanning a magnetic strip on a driver'"'"'s license for the player.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein electronically reading includes reading a bar code on a driver'"'"'s license for the player.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein electronically reading includes reading a smart chip embedded in a driver'"'"'s license for the player.

16. A method according to claim 12, further including:

generating a new account.

20. A method according to claim 14, wherein reading a bar code includes reading a two-dimensional bar code on the driver'"'"'s license for the player.

21. A method according to claim 16, wherein generating a new account includes:

establishing the new account; and

defining account information from the bit sequence of encoded information.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage media containing a computer program to select an account for a player, the program comprising:

reading software to electronically read a bit sequence of encoded information off a preexisting card issued by an entity other than a casino without decoding the bit sequence of encoded information in order to associate the bit sequence of encoded information with an account for identification purposes; and

selection software to use only the bit sequence of encoded information, without decoding it, to select at least one account from a database of casino player tracking accounts identified by the bit sequence of encoded information;

to present to the player a display of any account identified by the bit sequence of encoded information such that the player may select and access an account from a displayed list of possible accounts;

to receive an input from the player indicating a selection of a single account from the displayed list of possible accounts; and

to provide the player with access to the selected single account.