Gaming device docking station for authorized game play

• US 10,755,523 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2017
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Incorporated (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nguyen Gaming LLC
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, Steve
• Application Number:
  US15/798,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20180053378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• 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 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system to authorize a mobile electronic device to play games of chance includes a gaming system manager and a docking station, The docking station can be configured to: (i) detect whether the mobile electronic device is connected to a receiver of the docking station; (ii) receive device information from the mobile electronic device if it is detected that the mobile electronic device is connected to the receiver; (iii) determine whether a game of chance can be played on the mobile electronic device based on the received device information; (iv) authorize the mobile electronic device to play the game of chance; and (v) transmit gaming data to the mobile electronic device if it is determined that the game of chance can be played on the mobile electronic device and if the mobile electronic device is authorized.

Claims

1. A docking station configured to authorize a player'"'"'s mobile electronic device to play one or more games of chance, the docking station comprising:

a detector configured to detect whether the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station; and

a processor operatively coupled to the detector and configured to;

detect whether the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device has been detected via the detector;

receive device information from the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device if it is detected that the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is detected by the detector;

determine whether the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more games of chance based on the received device information;

authorize the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device to participate in the one or more games of chance after it is determined that the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more games of chance; and

receive participation data from the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device if it is determined that the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more games of chance and if the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is authorized,

wherein once the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is authorized to participate in the one or more games of chance, the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is deemed a trusted gaming device for use within a gaming establishment and is automatically authenticated when coupled to another docking station within the gaming establishment, and

wherein the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is able to be used by the player independent of the gaming establishment.

2. A docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the player brings the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device to the gaming establishment.

3. A docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the docking station comprises a recess configured to receive the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device when the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station.

4. A docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is a mobile telephone.

5. A docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more games of chance are managed at a gaming server that is separate and distinct from the docking station.

6. A docking station configured to authorize a player'"'"'s mobile electronic device to play one or more games of chance, the docking station comprising:

a processor operatively coupled to a detector and configured to;

detect whether the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station;

receive information from the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device if it is detected that the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station;

determine whether the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more games of chance based on the received information;

authorize the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device to participate in the one or more games of chance after it is determined that the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more games of chance; and

receive participation data from the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device if it is determined that the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is authorized,

wherein once the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more games of chance, the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is deemed a trusted gaming device for use within a gaming establishment and is automatically authorized when coupled to another docking station within the gaming establishment.

7. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is able to be used by the player for uses other than participation in the one or more games of chance, even while coupled to the docking station.

8. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the docking station comprises one or more of:

a card reader, a printer, a scanner, a camera, a wireless transceiver, a display, a button, a motion sensor, wired charging technology, wireless induction charging technology, or a near-field wireless technology.

9. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the docking station comprises:

a charging technology for charging the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device while coupled to the docking station.

10. A docking station as recited in claim 9, wherein the charging technology provides wireless, induction charging.

11. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the docking station configured to permits a funds transfer using at least one of a card reader, a printer, a scanner, a wireless transceiver or a near-field communication device, and wherein the funds transfer renders funds available for use in playing the one or more games of chance using the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device.

12. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the docking station configured to facilitate funds transfer, and wherein the funds transfer renders funds available for use in playing the one or more games of chance using the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device.

13. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the received information comprise one or more of a user identification, user preference information, game history, player tracking account information, or mobile device information.

14. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein while the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is deemed a trusted gaming device, the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is permitted to transfer funds into or out of a fund account for use by the player for gaming or non-gaming use.

15. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

after the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device has been authorized, detect whether the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is no longer in a detection range of the docking station.

16. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the docking station further comprises:

a display operatively coupled to the processor and configured to display status and transaction messages.

17. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the docking station further comprises:

a user interface control operatively coupled to the processor and configured to provide player input for use in playing the one or more games of chance.

18. A docking station as recited in claim 17, wherein at least one of the one or more games of chance uses one or more reels, and

wherein the user interface control is configured to signal a request by the player to cause the one or more reels to spin.

19. A docking station as recited in claim 17, wherein the user interface control is further configured to generate a service request.

20. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the docking station is configured to facilitate electronic funds transfer to a player account.

21. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the docking station comprises a card reader or a near-field communication interface to facilitate electronic funds transfer to a player account.

22. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the docking station is further configured to connect to a player tracking server to obtain player information or to facilitate a fund transfer transaction.

23. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine whether the mobile electronic device that was previously authorized is no longer authorized; and

deauthorize the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device when it is determined that the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is no longer authorized.

24. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect whether the mobile electronic device is no longer in a detection range of the docking station; and

deauthorize the mobile electronic device when it is determined that the mobile electronic device is no longer authorized.

25. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the game data is transmitted to the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device by streaming data to the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device via the docking station.

26. A docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the player'"'"'s mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station by being wirelessly connected therebetween.