Storing information from a verification device and accessing the information from a gaming device to verify that the gaming device is communicating with a server

• US 9,064,373 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2011
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Alderucci, Dean P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Thanhnga B
• Application Number:
  US13/095,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20110201418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 726/3, 726/10, 713/157, 463/29, 463/42, 705/75, 705/39, 705/43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• 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 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

A system includes a server, which provides activities and possibly other services to a player through a mobile gaming device. To verify that the mobile gaming device is communicating with the server, information received from a verification device is stored. Thereafter, in response to a request from the mobile gaming device, the stored information is determined and sent to the mobile gaming device via the server.

Claims

1. A method for verifying that a mobile gaming device is communicating with a verification server, in which the method comprises:

receiving, by a processor of the verification server, an indicator that comprises personal information associated with a player using the mobile gaming device, in which the indicator is submitted by a verification device that is located within a stationary kiosk located in a gaming area of a gaming facility, in which the stationary kiosk comprises a reader;

storing, by the processor, the indicator;

receiving, by the processor from the mobile gaming device, a request from the player of the mobile gaming device to verify that the mobile gaming device is in communication with a gaming server;

in response to the request, transmitting, by the processor, the indicator via the gaming server to the gaming device.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the verification device comprises a device operable to receive the indicator and to convey the indicator to a computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the mobile gaming device comprises a device operable to provide at least one gaming activity to a player using the mobile gaming device.

4. The method of claim 3, in which the at least one gaming activity comprises a gambling activity.

5. The method of claim 3, in which the mobile gaming device is also operable to provide to the player at least one convenience service.

6. The method of claim 5, in which the at least one convenience service comprises a restaurant service.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the gaming server comprises a computing device operable to provide through the mobile gaming device at least one gaming activity to a player using the mobile gaming device.

8. The method of claim 7, in which the gaming server is also operable to provide through the mobile gaming device at least one convenience service to the player.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the indicator comprises, an audible signal that is transmitted over a voice communications network.

10. The method of claim 1, in which storing the indicator comprises storing the indicator using identification information.

11. The method of claim 10, in which the identification information comprises at least one of:

a name of the player using the mobile gaming device,

security information associated with the player using the mobile gaming device,

a tracking value assigned to the mobile gaming device, and

a name assigned to the mobile gaming device.

12. The method of claim 10, in which storing the indicator using the identification information comprises storing the indicator in a database based on the identification information.

13. The method of claim 10, in which storing the indicator using the identification information comprises associating the indicator with the identification information.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving the identification information from the verification device.

15. The method of claim 10, in which determining the indicator comprises using identification information to determine the indicator.

16. The method of claim 15, in which using the identification information to determine the indicator comprises accessing a database based on the identification information to determine the indicator.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving the identification information from the mobile gaming device.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining the identification information based on communications with the mobile gaming device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending information to a player that is using the verification device such that the player may confirm that the verification device is in communications with a licensed server.

20. The method of claim 1, in which the reader comprises an optical scanner, and

in which optical data from the player is transmitted to the verification device.

21. The method of claim 1, in which the reader comprises a RFID transceiver, and

in which RFID information located on the player'"'"'s mobile gaming device is transmitted to the verification device.

22. The method of claim 3, in which the at least one gaming activity comprises a non-gambling event.