Secure identification devices and methods for detecting and monitoring access thereof

• US 9,245,416 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2013
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Steil, Rolland N.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIM, SENG HENG
• Application Number:
  US13/937,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20130296034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

A game token having a counter system including a denomination value, a housing, and a token identification element at least partially contained within the housing is disclosed. The token identification element includes an antenna configured to receive and transmit a signal, a memory configured to store a plurality of different types of token data, a counter configured to modify and maintain a read attempt value, and a processor or control logic. The processor or logic control configured to, upon a read attempt of the memory by a reader, compare a signature of the reader against the one or more authorized reader signatures, and generate an alert when the signature does not match any one of the one or more authorized reader signatures.

Claims

1. A game token having a counter system comprising:

a housing;

a token identification element at least partially contained within the housing, the token identification element comprising;

at least one antenna configured to receive and transmit a signal;

a memory configured to store a plurality of different types of token data, including;

a read attempt value that represents a number of read attempts of the memory, a denomination value and one or more authorized reader signatures; and

a counter configured to modify the read attempt value and to maintain the read attempt value within the game token such that the read attempt value represents a number of read attempts of the memory each time the at least one of the plurality of different types of token data is read by an authorized reader; and

a processor or control logic configured to;

upon a read attempt of the memory by a reader, compare a signature of the reader against the one or more authorized reader signatures; and

generate an alert when the signature does not match any one of the one or more authorized reader signatures.

2. The game token of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to store a successful read value representing a number of successful reads of the memory.

3. The game token of claim 1, wherein the counter is configured to retrieve the read attempt value from the memory, increment the read attempt value to create an incremented read attempt value, and write the incremental read attempt value to the memory.

4. The game token of claim 1, wherein the read attempt value represents an actual number of times the token value was read from the memory.

5. The game token of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna is a radio frequency identification antenna.

6. The game token of claim 1, wherein the housing resembles a coin.

7. A token comprising:

a housing;

an antenna configured to communicate data with a reader external of the housing;

a memory having a read only portion and a writable portion, wherein the memory includes data relating to a listing of authorized reader devices; and

a memory logic device configured to read the data stored on the memory and to write data to be stored on the writable portion;

wherein upon a read attempt by a reader, the memory logic device is configured to update a first counter value stored in the memory and to compare an identity of the reader with the listing of authorized readers, wherein if the identity of the reader does not match an entry of the listing of authorized readers, the memory logic device is configured to increment a second counter value stored in the memory relating to a number of unauthorized access attempts.

8. The token of claim 7, further comprising a power converter coupled to the antenna, wherein the power converter is configured to convert a portion of the energy of received radio waves at the antenna into electrical power used to power a component of the token.

9. The token of claim 7, wherein the memory logic device is further configured to transmit the second counter value to an authorized reader upon a read attempt by the authorized reader.

10. The token of claim 7, further comprising data relating to a player tracking information stored in the writable portion of the memory.

11. The token of claim 7, further comprising data relating to a token value stored in the memory.

12. The token of claim 7, wherein the housing resembles a coin.

13. The token of claim 7, further comprising data relating to a write counter stored in the memory.

14. The token of claim 13, wherein the memory logic device is further configured to increment the write counter if the reader initiates a write operation to the memory.

15. A method in a RFID game token comprising an antenna, memory, and a memory logic device, the method comprising:

receiving a first communication from a first reader through the antenna, wherein the communication includes a first reader identifier;

comparing, by the memory logic device, the first reader identifier to a listing of authorized readers stored in the memory;

determining, by the memory logic device, that the first reader is not an authorized reader; and

in response to determining that the first reader is not an authorized reader, incrementing a value of a first counter stored in the memory, wherein the first counter relates to a number of unauthorized access attempts.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication includes a request to read data stored in the memory.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication includes a request to decrypt data stored in the memory.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a second communication from a second reader through the antenna, wherein the communication includes a second reader identifier;

comparing, by the memory logic device, the second reader identifier to the listing of authorized readers stored in the memory;

determining, by the memory logic device, that the second reader is an authorized reader; and

in response to determining that the first reader is not an authorized reader, transmitting a value of the counter to the second reader such that the value can be stored in a database of counter values.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a second communication from a second reader through the antenna, wherein the communication includes a second reader identifier;

comparing, by the memory logic device, the second reader identifier to the listing of authorized readers stored in the memory;

determining, by the memory logic device, that the second reader is an authorized reader; and

in response to determining that the second reader is an authorized reader, incrementing a value of a second counter stored in the memory, wherein the second counter relates to a number of authorized access attempts.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising converting a portion of the communication into electrical power by a power converter.