Verifying a first device is in communications with a server by strong a value from the first device and accessing the value from a second device

• US 9,111,411 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2011
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• 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:
  US13/095,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20110201419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 726/3, 726/10, 713/157, 705/75, 705/39, 705/43, 463/29, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/10 Text processing natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30; processing or translation of natural language G06F40/40
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

A system includes a first server and a second server. The second server receives a value from a first device, possibly via the first server, and stores the value. In response to a request from a second device, the second server then determines the value and sends the value to the second device. In this fashion, verification can be made that the first device is in communications with the first 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;

receiving, by the processor, a request to purchase at least one convenience service; and

determining, by the processor based on the indicator of the player, that the player is permitted to purchase the at least one convenience service.

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

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 1, in which the at least one convenience service comprises a restaurant service.

6. 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.

7. The method of claim 6, in which the gaming server is also operable to provide through the mobile gaming device at least one convenience service to the player.

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

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

10. The method of claim 9, 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.

11. The method of claim 9, in which storing the indicator using the identification information comprises storing the indicator in a database based on the identification information.

12. The method of claim 9, in which storing the indicator using the identification information comprises associating the indicator with the identification information.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving the identification information from the verification device.

14. The method of claim 1, in which determining the indicator comprises using identification information to determine the indicator.

15. The method of claim 14, in which using the identification information to determine the indicator comprises accessing a database based on the identification information to determine the indicator.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving the identification information from the mobile gaming device.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from the mobile gaming device a request to verify that the mobile gaming device is in communications with the gaming server.

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

19. 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.

20. 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.

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