Apparatus and method for enabling a transfer of data

• US 8,718,282 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations Limited (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations Limited (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Barson, Andrew W
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFFMAN, BRANDON S
• Application Number:
  US12/755,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20100260339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 380/251, 380/258, 380/278, 726/34
• US Class Current: 380/283
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/00 Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus coin inlet arrangements G07F1/00; coin-actuated mechanisms, interlocks G07F5/00

Abstract

Secure data transfer apparatus comprising a first device to be mounted in a housing in a predetermined normal configuration for normal operation wherein secure data transfer takes place between the first device and a second device in the housing, the first device including a detector configured to detect when the first device is placed in a predetermined initialization configuration different from the normal configuration and to enable an initialization data transfer between the devices for permitting normal operation to occur thereafter in said normal configuration.

Claims

1. A secure data transfer apparatus comprising a first device to be mounted in a housing for a gaming or vending apparatus in a predetermined normal geometric orientation for normal operation, wherein whilst mounted in the normal geometric orientation the first device is configured to perform normal operations comprising secure data transfer between the first device and a second device in the housing,

wherein the first device includes a detector which, when the first device is not mounted in the housing, is configured to detect when the first device is placed in a predetermined initialization configuration different from the normal orientation by detecting when at least one of a geometric orientation, angular position, or acceleration of the first device fulfills a predetermined condition which corresponds to the initialization configuration;

wherein the first device is configured to enable an orientation, angular position, or acceleration-triggered initialization data transfer between the first device and the second device in response to detecting that the first device has been placed in the initialization configuration; and

wherein the first device is configured thereafter to operate normally when secured in the housing in the normal orientation by participating in secure data transfer between the first device and the second device and the second device using the initialization data transferred in the orientation, angular position, or acceleration-triggered initialization data transfer.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect when the first device is moved in a predetermined spatial or rotational pattern corresponding to the initialization configuration, and to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the first device has been moved in the predetermined spatial or rotational pattern.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect when the first device is moved in a predetermined sequence of predetermined spatial or rotational patterns, said sequence corresponding to the initialization configuration, and to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the first device has been moved in said sequence.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, configured to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the geometric orientation of the first device is substantially 180 degrees to its normal operating orientation.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, configured to enable the transfer of data in response to detecting that the first device is upside down.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector is provided in a removable unit which can be removed from the first device such that its geometric orientation, angular position or acceleration can be changed independently of the first device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the detector is configured to detect when the geometric orientation or angular position or acceleration of the removable unit fulfils a predetermined condition corresponding to the initialization configuration, and to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the geometric orientation or angular position or acceleration of the removable unit fulfils the predetermined condition.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the detector is configured to detect when the removable unit is moved in predetermined spatial or rotational pattern corresponding to the initialization configuration, and to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the removable unit has been moved in the predetermined spatial or rotational pattern.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the detector is configured to detect when the removable unit is moved in a predetermined sequence of predetermined spatial or rotational patterns, said sequence corresponding to the initialization configuration, and to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the removable unit has been moved in said sequence.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, configured to enable the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the geometric orientation of the removable unit is substantially 180 degrees to its normal operating orientation.

11. The apparatus according to claim 6, configured to enable the transfer of data in response to detecting that the removable unit is upside down.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to enable the initialization data transfer for a preset period and to switch to a default mode in which the initialization data transfer is not allowed when the preset period has elapsed.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector comprises an orientation detector comprising an accelerometer.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector comprises a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS).

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the initialisation data comprises an encryption key for encrypted communication between the first and second devices.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first device comprises a memory configured to store whether or not the initialization data transfer is to be enabled, in response to a signal from the detector.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a capacitive reservoir configured to store electrical energy to power the first device.

18. A gaming machine comprising the apparatus according to claim 1.

19. A secure data transfer apparatus comprising a housing for a gaming or vending apparatus including first and second devices mounted therein in a predetermined normal geometric orientation for normal operation, wherein whilst mounted in the normal geometric orientation the first device is configured to perform normal operations comprising secure data transfer between the first device and the second device in the housing,

wherein the first device includes a detector which, when the first device is not mounted in the housing, is configured to detect when the first device is placed in a predetermined initialization configuration different from the normal orientation by detecting when at least one of a geometric orientation, angular position, or acceleration of the first device fulfills a predetermined condition which corresponds to the initialization configuration;

wherein the first device is configured to enable an orientation, angular position, or acceleration-triggered initialization data transfer between the first device and the second device in response to detecting that the first device has been placed in the initialization configuration; and

wherein the first device is configured thereafter to operate normally when secured in the housing in the normal orientation by participating in secure data transfer between the first device and the second device using the initialization data transferred in the orientation, angular position, or acceleration-triggered initialization data transfer.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the housing is so configured that it cannot readily be moved when the first device is secured in the housing in the normal operating orientation to place the first device in said initialization configuration.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the housing comprises a secure enclosure containing the first and second devices, with a lockable opening to provide access to the first device, wherein the first device can be placed in the initialization configuration by unlocking the opening to gain access to the first device and then moving the first device into said initialization configuration.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the housing comprises a fixing point to locate the first device in said normal orientation, wherein the first device is removable from the fixing point to be placed in the initialization configuration.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, comprising a gaming or vending machine.

24. A method of enabling an initialization data transfer between a first device to be mounted in a housing for a gaming or vending apparatus in a predetermined normal geometric orientation in which the first device is configured to perform normal operations comprising secure data transfer with a second device mounted in the housing, comprising:

detecting when the first device is in a predetermined initialization configuration different from the normal configuration by detecting when at least one of a geometric orientation, angular position, or acceleration of the first device fulfills a predetermined condition which corresponds to the initialization configuration;

enabling an orientation, angular position, or acceleration-triggered initialization data transfer between the first device and the second device in response to detecting that the first device has been placed in the initialization configuration; and

using the initialization data transferred in the orientation, angular position, or acceleration-triggered initialization data transfer in secure data transfer between the first device and the second device when the first device is secured in the housing in the normal orientation.

25. The method according to claim 24, comprising detecting when the first device is moved in predetermined spatial or rotational pattern corresponding to the initialization configuration, and enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the first device has been moved in the predetermined spatial or rotational pattern.

26. The method according to claim 24, comprising detecting when the first device is moved in a predetermined sequence of predetermined spatial or rotational patterns, said sequence corresponding to the initialization configuration, and enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the first device has been moved in said sequence.

27. The method according to claim 24, comprising enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the geometric orientation of the first device is 180 degrees to its normal operating orientation.

28. The method according to claim 24, comprising enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the first device is upside down.

29. The method according to claim 24 comprising detecting when the geometric orientation or angular position or acceleration of a removable unit removed from the first device fulfils a predetermined condition corresponding to the initialization configuration and enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting the geometric orientation or angular position or acceleration of the removable unit fulfils the predetermined condition.

30. The method according to claim 29, comprising detecting when the removable unit is moved in a predetermined spatial or rotational pattern corresponding to the initialization configuration, and enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the removable unit has been moved in the predetermined spatial or rotational pattern.

31. The method according to claim 29, comprising detecting when the removable unit is moved in a predetermined sequence of predetermined spatial or rotational patterns, said sequence corresponding to the initialization configuration, and enabling the initialization data transfer in response to detecting that the removable unit has been moved in said sequence.

32. The method according to claim 24, comprising enabling the initialization data transfer for a preset period and switching to a default mode in which the transfer of data is not allowed when the preset period has elapsed.

33. The method according to claim 24, wherein the initialization data comprises an encryption key for encrypted communication between the first and second devices.

34. The method according to claim 24, comprising storing whether or not the initialization data transfer is to be enabled, in response to the orientation of the first device.