Gaming access card with display

• US 8,079,904 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Griswold, Chauncey W., Gadda, Christian, Mattice, Harold E., Stockdale, James, Wells, William R., Wilder, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US12/195,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20090011821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 463 39- 42, 463/25, 463/29, 463/47
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

Systems and methods for conducting cashless gaming or player tracking within a gaming environment are disclosed. Players with associated player accounts are provided player tracking instruments having rewriteable displays. Also provided are gaming devices or machines having display panels adapted to display content and communicate with the player tracking cards or instruments. Data on player tracking instruments is updated and displayed thereupon. The player tracking instruments may contain an RFID tag to receive communications from a transceiver associated with the gaming device or machine. A feedback loop from a master gaming controller to a transceiver to a player tracking instrument to an input display panel and back to the master gaming controller can be created. Player tracking instruments may also have lights, speakers, vibration components, and other advanced features thereupon.

Claims

1. A player tracking card adapted for use in a wager-based gaming system, said player tracking card comprising:

a storage component adapted to store data regarding a player to which said player tracking card is assigned;

a first communication component adapted for communications with an associated gaming machine or terminal using a first mode of communication, wherein said first communication component is configured to interact with an input display panel on a gaming machine or terminal and further configured to facilitate processing of cashless transactions and accounting associated with said wager-based gaming system, and configured to allow a player to access remote player accounts; and

a second communication component adapted for communications with said associated gaming machine or terminal using a second mode of communication, said second mode of communication being separate and distinct from said first mode of communication, wherein said second communication component is tied to a messaging system and includes a speaker, a light, or both, situated on the player tracking card itself, such that a player may receive messages through the player tracking card.

2. The player tracking card of claim 1, wherein said player tracking card has a thickness that is greater than about 0.8 millimeters.

3. The player tracking card of claim 1, wherein said player tracking card has a thickness that is greater than about 1.0 millimeters.

4. The player tracking card of claim 1, wherein said player tracking card has an interior that is at least partially hollow.

5. The player tracking card of claim 1, further including:

a vibration component adapted to vibrate said player tracking card as a form of communication with a user thereof.

6. The player tracking card of claim 5, wherein said vibration component comprises a transducer.

7. The player tracking card of claim 5, wherein said vibration component comprises an irregularly shaped object that rotates about an axis within an internal cavity of the player tracking card.

8. The player tracking card of claim 1, wherein said player tracking card is adapted to read a user specific input onto the player tracking card itself.

9. The player tracking card of claim 1, wherein said player tracking card is adapted to function as a room key.

10. The player tracking card of claim 1, wherein said player tracking card is adapted to operate in conjunction with an external messaging system.

11. The player tracking card of claim 1, wherein said player tracking card is adapted to provide voice mail to a user thereof via one or more speakers.

12. The player tracking card of claim 1, wherein said player tracking card is adapted to access accounts for multiple different users.

13. A player tracking card adapted for use in a wager-based gaming system, said player tracking card comprising:

a first communication component adapted for communications with an associated gaming machine or terminal using a first mode of communication, wherein said first communication component is configured to interact with an input display panel on a gaming machine or terminal and further configured to facilitate processing of cashless transactions and accounting associated with said wager-based gaming system, and configured to allow a player to access remote player accounts; and

a second communication component adapted for communications with said associated gaming machine or terminal using a second mode of communication, said second mode of communication being separate and distinct from said first mode of communication, wherein said second communication component is tied to a messaging system and includes a rewritable display situated on the player tracking card itself, such that a player may receive messages through the player tracking card.

14. A player tracking system adapted for use in a wager-based gaming system, said player tracking system comprising:

a player tracking card including a first communication component adapted for communications with an associated gaming machine or terminal using a first mode of communication, wherein said first communication component is configured to interact with an input display panel on a gaming machine or terminal and further configured to facilitate processing of cashless transactions and accounting associated with said wager-based gaming system, and configured to allow a player to access remote player accounts, and a second communication component adapted for communications with said associated gaming machine or terminal using a second mode of communication, said second mode of communication being separate and distinct from said first mode of communication, wherein said second communication component is tied to a messaging system and includes a rewritable display, such that a player may receive messages through the player tracking card;

a gaming machine or terminal adapted to communicate with said player tracking card via both said first mode of communication and said second mode of communication; and

a remote server in communication with said gaming machine or terminal, said remote server adapted to provide one or more services to a user of said player tracking card via said gaming machine or said gaming machine or terminal.

15. The player tracking system of claim 14, wherein said player tracking card comprises one or more speakers.

16. The player tracking system of claim 15, wherein said one or more services include the ability of a user to listen to voice mail via said one or more speakers.

17. The player tracking system of claim 14, wherein said player tracking card comprises a vibration component adapted to vibrate said player tracking card as a form of communication with a user thereof.