Protecting against impulse expenditure
First Claim
1. A method of protecting against impulse expenditure during an expenditure period, including the steps of:
- (a) prior to the commencement of the expenditure period, using a digital information processing device to enter or select rules governing permissible expenditure during the expenditure period;
(b) during the expenditure period, using expenditure controlling apparatus to control expenditure in accordance with the rules defined prior to the commencement of the expenditure period;
wherein the rules governing permissible expenditure are stored on a portable data storage device, and the portable data storage device is used to convey the rules to the expenditure controlling apparatus; and
wherein the expenditure controlling apparatus is a gaming machine or a device attached to a gaming machine, and the expenditure period is a period spent operating the gaming machine.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of protecting against impulse expenditure during an expenditure period includes the step prior to the commencement of the expenditure period, of using a digital information processing device to enter or select rules governing permissible expenditure during the expenditure period. During the expenditure period, expenditure controlling apparatus is used to control expenditure in accordance with the rules defined prior to the commencement of the expenditure period. The rules governing permissible expenditure are stored on a portable data storage device, and the portable data storage device is used to convey the rules to the expenditure controlling apparatus.
52 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of protecting against impulse expenditure during an expenditure period, including the steps of:
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(a) prior to the commencement of the expenditure period, using a digital information processing device to enter or select rules governing permissible expenditure during the expenditure period;
(b) during the expenditure period, using expenditure controlling apparatus to control expenditure in accordance with the rules defined prior to the commencement of the expenditure period;
wherein the rules governing permissible expenditure are stored on a portable data storage device, and the portable data storage device is used to convey the rules to the expenditure controlling apparatus; and
wherein the expenditure controlling apparatus is a gaming machine or a device attached to a gaming machine, and the expenditure period is a period spent operating the gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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2. A method of protecting against impulse expenditure during an expenditure period, including the steps of:
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(a) prior to the commencement of the expenditure period, using a digital information processing device to enter or select rules governing permissible expenditure during the expenditure period;
(b) during the expenditure period, using expenditure controlling apparatus to control expenditure in accordance with the rules defined prior to the commencement of the expenditure period;
wherein the rules governing permissible expenditure are stored on a portable data storage device, and the portable data storage device is used to convey the rules to the expenditure controlling apparatus; and
wherein the expenditure controlling apparatus dynamically monitors expenditure flow and provides an indication, based on expenditure rates, of a time at which a budgeted expenditure limit will be reached.
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8. A system for protecting against impulse expenditure during an expenditure period, including:
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(a) a digital information processing device;
(b) software operating on the digital information processing device which allows a user to enter or select rules governing permissible expenditure during the expenditure period;
(c) expenditure controlling apparatus; and
(d) software operating on the expenditure controlling apparatus to control expenditure in accordance with the predefined rules;
(e) a portable data storage device;
wherein the portable data storage device is used to convey the rules from the digital information processing device to the expenditure controlling apparatus; and
wherein the expenditure controlling apparatus is a gaming machine or a device attached to a gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. Expenditure controlling apparatus including:
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(a) electronic funds transfer apparatus, for transferring funds expended by a user;
(b) a data storage device reader, for reading rules stored on a data storage device relating to expenditure of funds permitted for a user; and
(c) software operating on the expenditure controlling apparatus to control the transfer of funds expended by the user in accordance with the rules read from the data storage device;
wherein the expenditure controlling apparatus is a gaming machine or is attached to a gaming machine.
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13. Expenditure controlling apparatus including:
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(a) electronic funds transfer apparatus, for transferring funds expended by a user;
(b) a data storage device reader, for reading rules stored on a data storage device relating to expenditure of funds permitted for a user; and
(c) software operating on the expenditure controlling apparatus to control the transfer of funds expended by the user in accordance with the rules read from the data storage device;
further including an expenditure flow monitor which dynamically monitors expenditure flow and provides an indication, based on expenditure rates, of a time at which a budgeted expenditure limit will be reached. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification