Biometric broadband gaming system and method

• US 20020142844A1
• Filed: 07/05/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael A Kerr
• Original Assignee: Michael A Kerr
• Inventors: Kerr, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US09/899,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20020142844A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/705 Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants tumour specific antigens C07K14/4748
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• 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 17/3239 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 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking
• 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: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

The present invention is a biometric broadband gaming system and method that comprises a verification system, a broadband gaming system and a transactional system. The verification system operations include receiving a biometric input to ensure that a user is a registered player. The broadband gaming system operations include providing a game of skill or game of chance to a plurality of players communicating via different network access devices. The transactional system operations include managing transactions conducted by the verification system and the broadband gaming system.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising;

a verification system in communication with a network, said verification system configured to receive a user biometric and compare said user biometric to a plurality of registered player biometrics;

a broadband gaming module that is enabled when said user biometric matches one of said plurality of registered players, said gaming module configured to provide a game that is played by said registered player; and

a transactional system in communication with said verification system and said broadband gaming module, said transactional system configured to monitor transactions conducted by said verification system and said broadband gaming system.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein said verification system is in communication with a network access device operatively coupled to a network, said network access device having a biometric input module configured to receive said user biometric.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein said broadband gaming system is configured to communicate with a first network access devices having a first protocol and a second network device having a second protocol.

4. The gaming system of claim 3 wherein said first protocol is an IP communications protocol.

5. The gaming system of claim 3 wherein said first protocol is an MPEG communications protocol.

6. The gaming system of claim 3 wherein said first protocol is an IP communications protocol and said second protocol is an MPEG communications protocol.

7. A gaming system, comprising;

a verification system configured to communication with a network, said verification system configured to receive a user biometric and compare said user biometric to a plurality of registered player biometrics; and

a gaming module that is enabled when said user biometric matches one of said plurality of registered players, said gaming module including a random number generator that is used to determine whether a prize is awarded to a player.

8. The gaming system of claim 7 wherein said verification system is configured to communicate with a network access device having a biometric input module that receives said user biometric.

9. The gaming system of claim 7 wherein said gaming module is resident in a broadband gaming system, said broadband gaming system configured to communicate with a plurality of network access devices.

10. The gaming system of claim 9 wherein at least one of said plurality of network access devices comprises a biometric input module.

11. The gaming system of claim 7 further comprising a paytable module in communication with said random number generator, said paytable module configured to determine whether said player is awarded said prize.

12. The gaming system of claim 11 further comprising a memory module in communications with said paytable module, said memory module configured to store a plurality of images that are displayed on said plurality of network access devices.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising causing said user biometric to be communicated from said network access device to a verification system, said verification system comparing said user biometric to said plurality of registered player biometrics.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising comparing said user biometric to one of said plurality of registered player biometrics at said network access device.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising requesting a personal identification code from a user that is providing said user biometric and using said personal identification code to identify said registered player biometric.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising permitting a plurality of registered players to access said game when a plurality of users submit a plurality of user biometrics that identify said plurality of users as said plurality of registered players.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein playing said game comprises generating at least one random number.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising determining whether a prize is awarded to said player based on said at least one random number.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising generating a plurality of images that communicate said prize awarded to said player.

13. A gaming method, comprising:

providing a network that permits communications between a network access device and a gaming system;

inputting a user biometric into said network access device;

comparing said user biometric to a plurality of registered player biometrics;

permitting a player access to a game when said user biometric matches one of said plurality of registered player biometrics;

playing said game; and

viewing results from said game on said network access device.