Device detection

• US 8,899,477 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• 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: Gelman, Geoffrey M., Rushin, Ronald, Alderucci, Dean P., Asher, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US12/792,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20100304850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,644 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/381, 235/493, 235/492, 235/454, 235/382, 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/380
• 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: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• 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. The apparatus may further emit a time varying signal to enhance security.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting by a receiver a first signal produced by a device associated with a first person, the device comprising a mobile phone, PDA, computer, or mini-computer, the first signal being unique to the device associated with the first person;

detecting by the receiver a second signal produced by a device associated with a second person, the device associated with the second person comprising a mobile phone, PDA, computer, or mini-computer, the second signal being unique to the device associated with the second person and different than the first signal;

using a medium, which stores a set of signals each corresponding to a device and a person, to look up an identity of the second person by matching the second signal with one of the signals stored on the medium; and

causing an output device to produce a third signal which is perceptible to humans, the third signal produced based on the identity of the second person.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the output device is a display device.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the output device is a buzzer.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the output device produces the third signal if the identity of the second person corresponds to a friend of the first person.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the medium to look up an identity of the first person based on the first signal; and

producing by an output device a fourth signal which is perceptible to humans, the fourth signal produced based on the identity of the first person.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing by at least one server games to the first person and to the second person via the device associated with the first person and the device associated with the second person respectively.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing by at least one server to the first person and to the second person via the device associated with the first person and the device associated with the second person respectively at least one game in which the first and second persons interact with one another.

8. A method comprising:

detecting by a receiver a signal produced by a device associated with a first person, the device comprising a mobile phone, PDA, computer, or mini-computer;

associating the signal produced by the device with an identity of the first person; and

based on the identity of the first person, causing another device to display the identity of the first person.

9. The method of claim 8, in which the another device is a mobile phone or PDA.

10. The method of claim 9, in which the another device is associated with a second person, and in which the method further comprises providing by at least one server games to the first person and to the second person via the device associated with the first person and the device associated with the second person respectively.

11. The method of claim 9, in which the another device is associated with a second person, and in which the method further comprises providing by at least one server to the first person and to the second person via the device associated with the first person and the device associated with the second person respectively at least one game in which the first and second persons interact with one another.

12. The method of claim 8, in which the another device is a computer.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal produced by a device associated with a first person is unique to the device associated with the first person.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein a set of signals are stored on a medium with each signal corresponding to a device and a person, and wherein associating the signal produced by the device with an identity of the first person includes matching the signal produced by the device with one of the signals stored on the medium.

15. A method comprising:

detecting by a receiver of a mobile phone or PDA associated with a first person a signal produced by a mobile phone or PDA associated with a second person;

associating by the mobile phone or PDA associated with the first person the signal with an identity of the second person; and

displaying by the mobile phone or PDA associated with the first person the identity of the second person.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising displaying by the mobile phone or PDA associated with the first person information associated with a game.

17. The method of claim 16, in which the game comprises a game in which the first and second persons interact with one another.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the signal produced by the mobile phone or PDA associated with the second person is unique to the mobile phone or PDA associated with the second person.