Systems and methods for providing access to wireless gaming devices

• US 8,695,876 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2008
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Alderucci, Dean, Asher, Joseph M., Bahrampour, Robert F., Burman, Kevin, Coffey, James J., Rushin, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US12/324,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20090075729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/381, 235/375, 235/382, 235/454, 235/492, 235/493
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling access to wireless gaming devices and networks are provided. For example, access is controlled through one or more levels of security checks, such as a hard security check instead of or in addition to a soft security check. In a hard security check, the user employs an apparatus such as a card or other physical token that can be used to access the wireless gaming device. Such an apparatus may communicate information that identifies the user to the device or may simply be used to produce a signal without which the device is locked to users.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a gaming device that includes software that when executed by the gaming device directs the gaming device to;

determine a characteristic of a user that is authorized to use the gaming device,

in which the characteristic comprises an average amount characteristically wagered by the user, and

in which the gaming device is operable to communicate with at least one server computer over a wireless communications network and to provide, in combination with the at least one server computer, a wagered-based gaming activity to the user;

determine that wagering occurring via the gaming device, by an operator of the gaming device, on the at least one wagered-based gaming activity deviates from the average amount characteristically wagered by the user; and

deny access to the operator of the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the wagering occurring via the gaming device deviates from the average amount characteristically wagered by the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the at least one wagered-based gaming activity comprises at least one of:

a gambling activity,

an activity that comprises wagering on an event, and

a lottery-based activity.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the gaming device comprises a wireless mobile gaming device registered to at least the user.

4. The apparatus of claim 1,

in which to determine the characteristic comprises at least one of to obtain and receive the characteristic from a second device;

in which the second device is physically separate from the gaming device; and

in which the second device comprises at least one of;

a device adapted to be worn, and

a device adapted to be carried.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, in which the second device comprises a bracelet.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, in which the second device comprises at least one of:

an RFID transponder programmed with the characteristic,

a magnetic strip comprising the characteristic,

an optically readable identifier comprising the characteristic,

a storage medium comprising the characteristic,

a disc comprising the characteristic,

a memory comprising the characteristic, and

a tape comprising the characteristic.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the software, that when executed by the gaming device, further directs the gaming device to:

at least one of obtain and receive identifying information from a second device,

in which the second device is physically separate from the gaming device, and

in which the second device comprises at least one of;

a device adapted to be worn, and

a device adapted to be carried; and

in which access is provided to the gaming device based at least in part on a determination that the identifying information is associated with the user that is authorized to use the gaming device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, in which to determine the characteristic comprises at least one of to obtain and receive the characteristic from the second device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, in which the second device comprises a bracelet.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the software, that when executed by the gaming device, further directs the gaming device to:

based at least in part on the determination that the identifying information is associated with the user that is authorized to use the gaming device, provide a signal, in which the signal comprises at least one of;

a visual signal,

an audio signal, and

the gaming device vibrating.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the software, that when executed by the gaming device, further directs the gaming device to:

at least one of obtain and receive a first identifier from a second device,

in which the second device is physically separate from the gaming device, and

in which the second device comprises at least one of;

a device adapted to be worn, and

a device adapted to be carried;

and

in which access is provided to the gaming device based at least in part on a determination that the first identifier matches the second identifier.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, in which to determine the characteristic comprises at least one of to obtain and receive the characteristic from the second device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the second device comprises a bracelet.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, in which the software, that when executed by the gaming device, further directs the gaming device to:

based at least in part on the determination that the first identifier matches the second identifier, provide a signal, in which the signal comprises at least one of;

a visual signal,

an audio signal, and

the gaming device vibrating.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the software, that when executed by the gaming device, further directs the gaming device to:

detect a signal produced by a second device,

in which the second device is physically separate from the gaming device, and

in which the second device comprises at least one of;

a device adapted to be worn, and

a device adapted to be carried; and

in which access is provided to the gaming device based at least in part on the gaming device detecting the signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the software, that when executed by the gaming device, further directs the gaming device to:

cause an alarm signal to be generated based at least in part on determining that the wagering occurring via the gaming device on the at least one wagered-based gaming activity deviates from the average amount characteristically wagered by the user.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a gaming device that includes software that when executed by the gaming device directs the gaming device to;

determine a characteristic of a user that is authorized to use the gaming device,

in which the characteristic comprises an amount characteristically wagered by the user, and

in which the gaming device is operable to communicate with at least one server computer over a wireless communications network and to provide, in combination with the at least one server computer, a wagered-based gaming activity to the user;

determine that wagering occurring via the gaming device, by an operator of the gaming device, on the at least one wagered-based gaming activity deviates from the amount characteristically wagered by the user; and

cause an alarm signal to be generated based at least in part on determining that the wagering occurring via the gaming device on the at least one wagered-based gaming activity deviates from the amount characteristically wagered by the user.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the at least one wagered-based gaming activity comprises at least one of:

a gambling activity,

an activity that comprises wagering on an event, and

a lottery-based activity.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the gaming device comprises a wireless mobile gaming device registered to at least the user.

20. The apparatus of claim 17,

in which to determine the characteristic comprises at least one of to obtain and receive the characteristic from a second device;

in which the second device is physically separate from the gaming device; and

in which the second device comprises at least one of;

a device adapted to be worn, and

a device adapted to be carried.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, in which the second device comprises a bracelet.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, in which the second device comprises at least one of:

an RFID transponder programmed with the characteristic,

a magnetic strip comprising the characteristic,

an optically readable identifier comprising the characteristic,

a storage medium comprising the characteristic,

a disc comprising the characteristic,

a memory comprising the characteristic, and

a tape comprising the characteristic.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the software, that when executed by the gaming device, further directs the gaming device to:

at least one of obtain and receive identifying information from a second device,

in which the second device is physically separate from the gaming device, and

in which the second device comprises at least one of;

a device adapted to be worn, and

a device adapted to be carried; and

in which access is provided to the gaming device based at least in part on a determination that the identifying information is associated with the user that is authorized to use the gaming device.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, in which to determine the characteristic comprises at least one of to obtain and receive the characteristic from the second device.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, in which the second device comprises a bracelet.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, in which the software, that when executed by the gaming device, further directs the gaming device to:

based at least in part on the determination that the identifying information is associated with the user that is authorized to use the gaming device, provide a signal, in which the signal comprises at least one of;

a visual signal,

an audio signal, and

the gaming device vibrating.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the software, that when executed by the gaming device, further directs the gaming device to:

at least one of obtain and receive a first identifier from a second device,

in which the second device is physically separate from the gaming device, and

in which the second device comprises at least one of;

a device adapted to be worn, and

a device adapted to be carried;

and

in which access is provided to the gaming device based at least in part on a determination that the first identifier matches the second identifier.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, in which to determine the characteristic comprises to at least one of to obtain and receive the characteristic from the second device.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, in which the second device comprises a bracelet.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, in which the software, that when executed by the gaming device, further directs the gaming device to:

based at least in part on the determination that the first identifier matches the second identifier, provide a signal, in which the signal comprises at least one of;

a visual signal,

an audio signal, and

the gaming device vibrating.

31. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the software, that when executed by the gaming device, further directs the gaming device to:

detect a signal produced by a second device,

in which the second device is physically separate from the gaming device, and

in which the second device comprises at least one of;

a device adapted to be worn, and

a device adapted to be carried; and

in which access is provided to the gaming device based at least in part on the gaming device detecting the signal.

32. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the amount characteristically wagered by the user comprises an average amount characteristically wagered by the user.