Game access device with privileges
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a player tracking device adopted to obtain verification information regarding a respective player from at least one communication object;
at least one merchant communication device;
at least one computer server comprising;
(i) a player verification program that when executed by the at least one computer server, configures the at least one server to;
verify that the obtained verification information regarding the respective player meets one or more pre-determined verification criteria,deny initiation or continuation of a particular gaming event at a gaming device when accessed by the respective player when the at least one computer server determines that the obtained verification information regarding the respective player does not meet the one or more pre-determined verification criteria or when the obtained verification information regarding the respective player is insufficient;
(ii) a communication object distribution program that, when executed by the at least one computer server, configures the at least one computer server to;
maintain an inventory of communication objects;
maintain an inventory of available privileges conferred by merchants;
determine a status of a first player and a second player, wherein the status of the first player does not match the status of the second player;
determine at least one preference of the first player and the second player, wherein the at least one preference of the first player does not match the at least one preference of the second player;
based on the status of the first player, determine a first type of a communication object to be assigned to the first player;
based on the status of the second player, determine a second type of a communication object to be assigned to the second player;
in response to determining that the inventory of available communication objects comprises at least one of the first type of communication objects, assign a communication object of the first type to the first player, the communication object assigned to the first player being a first communication object;
in response to determining that the inventory of available communication objects comprises at least one of the second type of communication objects, assign a communication object of the second type to the second player, the communication object assigned to the second player being a second communication object;
based on the status and the at least one preference of the first player, determine a first privilege to be assigned to the first player;
based on the status and the at least one preference of the second player, determine a second privilege to be assigned to the second player, wherein the first privilege does not match the second privilege;
in response to determining that the inventory of the available privileges comprises at least one of the first privileges, configure the first communication object for the at least one of the first privileges;
in response to determining that the inventory of the available privileges comprises at least one of the second privileges, configure the second communication object for the at least one of the second privileges;
update the inventory of communication objects in response to assigning the first communication object to the first player;
update the inventory of communication objects in response to assigning the second communication object to the second player; and
update the inventory of available privileges in response to configuring each of the first communication objects and the second communication objects; and
wherein the first communication object comprises;
(i) an RFID tag and (ii) an electrical strip adapted to form a closed electrical circuit when the first communication object is worn by the first player,wherein the second communication object comprises;
(i) an RFID tag and (ii) an electrical strip adapted to form a closed electrical circuit when the second communication object is worn by the second player,wherein the first communication object is further configured to;
(i) store first privilege information indicating the assigned privileges for the first player and first verification information regarding the first player, (ii) communicate the first verification information regarding the first player to the player tracking device when the first player is wearing the first communication object in a proximity of the player tracking device, (iii) communicate the first privilege information indicating the assigned privileges for the first player to the at least one merchant communication device when the first player is wearing the first communication object in a proximity of the at least one merchant communication device, and (iv) alter communication of the first verification information and the first privilege information indicating the assigned privileges for the first player in response to any break of the respective closed electrical circuit, andwherein the second communication object is further configured to;
(i) store second privilege information indicating the assigned privileges for the second player and second verification information regarding the second player, (ii) communicate the second verification information regarding the second player to the player tracking device when the second player is wearing the second communication object in a proximity of the player tracking device, (iii) communicate the second privilege information indicating the assigned privileges for the second player to the at least one merchant communication device when the second player is wearing the second communication object in a proximity of the at least one merchant communication device, and (iv) alter communication of the second verification information and the second privilege information indicating the assigned privileges for the second player in response to any break of the respective closed electrical circuit;
wherein the player tracking device is configured to obtain the first verification information regarding the first player from the first communication object when the first player is wearing the first communication object in bracelet form in proximity of the player tracking device and is accessing the gaming device, and the player tracking device is further configured to communicate the first verification information regarding the first player to the at least one computer server;
wherein the player tracking device is further configured to obtain the second verification information regarding the second player from the second communication object when the second player is wearing the second communication object in bracelet form in the proximity of the player tracking device and is accessing the gaming device, and the player tracking device is further configured to communicate the second verification information regarding the second player to the at least one computer server;
wherein the at least one merchant communication device is configured to obtain the first privilege information about at least one available privilege conferred by the at least one merchant to be provided to the first player from the first communication object when the first player is wearing the first communication object in bracelet form in the proximity of the at least one merchant communication device; and
wherein the at least one merchant communication device is further configured to obtain the second privilege information about at least one available privilege conferred by the at least one merchant to be provided to the second player from the second communication object when the second player is wearing the second communication object in bracelet form in the proximity of the at least one merchant communication device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for verifying the eligibility of players attempting to participate in gaming events are disclosed. Communication objects having RFID tags and closed electrical circuits are individually assigned to and worn by players within a gaming player verification system, which can be administered by a casino desk, hotel concierge, or other operating entity. These RFID tags are adapted to communicate with associated player tracking units attached to gaming machines and other devices via radio frequency waves, and each communication object is adapted to alter its communication pattern in response to any break of its closed electrical circuit. In some embodiments, a communications object may emit a signal that conveys a privilege of the player wearing the communications object. Such a privilege may include a privilege to bypass a line at a restaurant or to otherwise receive priority seating. Bracelets, wristwatches or collars can be used as communication objects, such that the removal of such an object from a player cannot be accomplished without breaking the closed electrical circuit contained therein, thereby disabling or de-authenticating the device. A computer server having a player verification program and database may also be used.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a player tracking device adopted to obtain verification information regarding a respective player from at least one communication object; at least one merchant communication device; at least one computer server comprising; (i) a player verification program that when executed by the at least one computer server, configures the at least one server to; verify that the obtained verification information regarding the respective player meets one or more pre-determined verification criteria, deny initiation or continuation of a particular gaming event at a gaming device when accessed by the respective player when the at least one computer server determines that the obtained verification information regarding the respective player does not meet the one or more pre-determined verification criteria or when the obtained verification information regarding the respective player is insufficient; (ii) a communication object distribution program that, when executed by the at least one computer server, configures the at least one computer server to; maintain an inventory of communication objects; maintain an inventory of available privileges conferred by merchants; determine a status of a first player and a second player, wherein the status of the first player does not match the status of the second player; determine at least one preference of the first player and the second player, wherein the at least one preference of the first player does not match the at least one preference of the second player; based on the status of the first player, determine a first type of a communication object to be assigned to the first player; based on the status of the second player, determine a second type of a communication object to be assigned to the second player; in response to determining that the inventory of available communication objects comprises at least one of the first type of communication objects, assign a communication object of the first type to the first player, the communication object assigned to the first player being a first communication object; in response to determining that the inventory of available communication objects comprises at least one of the second type of communication objects, assign a communication object of the second type to the second player, the communication object assigned to the second player being a second communication object; based on the status and the at least one preference of the first player, determine a first privilege to be assigned to the first player; based on the status and the at least one preference of the second player, determine a second privilege to be assigned to the second player, wherein the first privilege does not match the second privilege; in response to determining that the inventory of the available privileges comprises at least one of the first privileges, configure the first communication object for the at least one of the first privileges; in response to determining that the inventory of the available privileges comprises at least one of the second privileges, configure the second communication object for the at least one of the second privileges; update the inventory of communication objects in response to assigning the first communication object to the first player; update the inventory of communication objects in response to assigning the second communication object to the second player; and update the inventory of available privileges in response to configuring each of the first communication objects and the second communication objects; and wherein the first communication object comprises;
(i) an RFID tag and (ii) an electrical strip adapted to form a closed electrical circuit when the first communication object is worn by the first player,wherein the second communication object comprises;
(i) an RFID tag and (ii) an electrical strip adapted to form a closed electrical circuit when the second communication object is worn by the second player,wherein the first communication object is further configured to;
(i) store first privilege information indicating the assigned privileges for the first player and first verification information regarding the first player, (ii) communicate the first verification information regarding the first player to the player tracking device when the first player is wearing the first communication object in a proximity of the player tracking device, (iii) communicate the first privilege information indicating the assigned privileges for the first player to the at least one merchant communication device when the first player is wearing the first communication object in a proximity of the at least one merchant communication device, and (iv) alter communication of the first verification information and the first privilege information indicating the assigned privileges for the first player in response to any break of the respective closed electrical circuit, andwherein the second communication object is further configured to;
(i) store second privilege information indicating the assigned privileges for the second player and second verification information regarding the second player, (ii) communicate the second verification information regarding the second player to the player tracking device when the second player is wearing the second communication object in a proximity of the player tracking device, (iii) communicate the second privilege information indicating the assigned privileges for the second player to the at least one merchant communication device when the second player is wearing the second communication object in a proximity of the at least one merchant communication device, and (iv) alter communication of the second verification information and the second privilege information indicating the assigned privileges for the second player in response to any break of the respective closed electrical circuit;wherein the player tracking device is configured to obtain the first verification information regarding the first player from the first communication object when the first player is wearing the first communication object in bracelet form in proximity of the player tracking device and is accessing the gaming device, and the player tracking device is further configured to communicate the first verification information regarding the first player to the at least one computer server; wherein the player tracking device is further configured to obtain the second verification information regarding the second player from the second communication object when the second player is wearing the second communication object in bracelet form in the proximity of the player tracking device and is accessing the gaming device, and the player tracking device is further configured to communicate the second verification information regarding the second player to the at least one computer server; wherein the at least one merchant communication device is configured to obtain the first privilege information about at least one available privilege conferred by the at least one merchant to be provided to the first player from the first communication object when the first player is wearing the first communication object in bracelet form in the proximity of the at least one merchant communication device; and wherein the at least one merchant communication device is further configured to obtain the second privilege information about at least one available privilege conferred by the at least one merchant to be provided to the second player from the second communication object when the second player is wearing the second communication object in bracelet form in the proximity of the at least one merchant communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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communicating, by a communication object to a gaming device, verification information regarding a player, wherein the communication object is worn by the player as a bracelet, wherein the communication object comprises an RFID tag and an electrical strip adapted to form a closed electrical circuit when the communication object is worn by the player as a bracelet, wherein the communication object stores privilege information indicating privileges for the player and the verification information, and wherein the communication object is configured to alter its communication of the verification information to gaming devices and alter its communication of the privilege information to merchant communication devices in response to any break of the closed electrical circuit; receiving, by the gaming device from the communication object, the verification information; communicating, by the gaming device, the verification information to at least one computer server; receiving, by the at least one computer server from the gaming device, the verification information; verifying, by the at least one computer server, that the verification information is acceptable according to one or more pre-determined verification criteria; permitting, by the at least one computer server, initiation or continuation of a particular gaming event at the gaming device by the player in response to verifying that the obtained verification information is acceptable according to the one or more pre-determined verification criteria; maintaining, by the at least one computer server, an inventory of communication objects; maintaining, by the at least one computer server, an inventory of available privileges conferred by merchants; determining, by the at least one computer server, a status of the player; determining, by the at least one computer server, at least one preference of the player; determining a type of a communication object to be assigned to the player based on the status of the player; assigning a communication object of the determined type to the player in response to determining that the inventory of available communication objects comprises at least one of the determined type of communication objects; determining a privilege to be assigned to the player based on the status and the at least one preference of the player; determining that the inventory of the available privileges comprises at least one of the determined privileges, then configuring the communication object for the at least one of the determined privileges; updating the inventory of communication objects in response to assigning the communication object to the player; and updating the inventory of available privileges in response to configuring the communication object; providing at least one merchant communication device; communicating, by the communication object to a merchant communication device, the privilege information, and; receiving, by the merchant communication device from the communication object, the privilege information. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification