Method and apparatus for limiting access to games using biometric data

• US 20040192438A1
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Griswold, Chauncey W., Wilder, Richard L., Mattice, Harold E., Wells, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,867,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

In a method of operating an authentication server, where the authentication server operatively coupled to a network, a request to determine whether a person is allowed to play a game on a gaming system may be received from a computer via the network. The request may include biometric data associated with the person. The received biometric data may be compared with data in a database that includes biometric data of persons allowed to play games on the gaming system. It may be determined whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming system based on the comparison of the received biometric data with the data in the database. A message may be transmitted to the computer via the network that indicates whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming system. Additionally, it may be determined whether a gaming unit on which the person desires to play a game is in a permitted location for playing the game. A message may be transmitted to the computer via the network that indicates whether the gaming unit on which the person desires to play a game is in a permitted location.

Claims

1. An authentication server, comprising:

a network communications circuit for communicatively coupling to a network;

a controller that controls the operation of the authentication server, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor,

the controller being programmed to receive from a computer via the network a request to determine whether a person is allowed to play a game on a gaming system, the request including biometric data associated with the person,

the controller being programmed to compare the received biometric data with data in a database that includes biometric data of persons allowed to play games on the gaming system,

the controller being programmed to determine whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming system based on the comparison of the received biometric data with the data in the database,

the controller being programmed to transmit a message to the computer via the network that indicates whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming system,

the controller being programmed to determine whether a gaming unit on which the person desires to play a game is in a permitted location for playing the game,

the controller being programmed to transmit a message to the computer via the network that indicates whether the gaming unit on which the person desires to play a game is in a permitted location.

2. An authentication server as defined in claim 1, wherein the request to determine whether a person is allowed to play a game on a gaming system further includes personal data associated with the person;

wherein the controller is programmed to attempt to retrieve biometric data from the database based on at least some of the personal data;

wherein the controller is programmed, if biometric data is retrieved from the database based on the at least some of the personal data, to compare the received biometric data with the biometric data retrieved from the database.

3. An authentication server as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to query the database based on the received biometric data.

4. An authentication server as defined in claim 1, wherein the message that indicates whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming system and the message that indicates whether the gaming unit on which the person desires to play a game is in a permitted location comprise a single message that indicates whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming unit.

5. An authentication server as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to determine whether the gaming unit on which the person desires to play the game is in a permitted location based on a network address of the gaming unit.

6. An authentication server as defined in claim 5, wherein the network address comprises an internet protocol address.

7. An authentication server as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to determine whether the gaming unit on which the person desires to play the game is in a permitted location based on location data received from the computer via the network, the location data indicative of the location of the gaming unit.

8. An authentication server as defined in claim 7, wherein the location data comprises global positioning system data.

9. An authentication server as defined in claim 7, wherein the received biometric data comprises data associated with at least one fingerprint.

10. An authentication server as defined in claim 7, wherein the received biometric data comprises data associated with an eye scan.

11. An authentication server as defined in claim 7, wherein the received biometric data comprises data associated with the person'"'"'s voice.

12. An authentication server as defined in claim 7, wherein the received biometric data comprises data associated with a picture of the person'"'"'s face.

13. An authentication server as defined in claim 1, wherein the game comprises a game selected from the group of games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno, and video bingo.

14. A method of operating an authentication server, the authentication server operatively coupled to a network, comprising:

receiving from a computer via the network a request to determine whether a person is allowed to play a game on a gaming system, the request including biometric data associated with the person;

comparing the received biometric data with data in a database that includes biometric data of persons allowed to play games on the gaming system;

determining whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming system based on the comparison of the received biometric data with the data in the database;

transmitting a message to the computer via the network that indicates whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming system;

determining whether a gaming unit on which the person desires to play a game is in a permitted location for playing the game; and

transmitting a message to the computer via the network that indicates whether the gaming unit on which the person desires to play a game is in a permitted location.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the request to determine whether a person is allowed to play a game on a gaming system further includes personal data associated with the person, wherein comparing the received biometric data with data in the database comprises:

attempting to retrieve biometric data from the database based on at least some of the personal data, and

if biometric data is retrieved from the database based on the at least some of the personal data, comparing the received biometric data with the biometric data retrieved from the database.

16. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein comparing the received biometric data with data in the database comprises querying the database based on the received biometric data.

17. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the message that indicates whether the person is allowed to play the game on the gaming system and the message that indicates whether the gaming unit on which the person desires to play the game is in a permitted location comprise a single message that indicates whether the person is allowed to play the game on the gaming unit.

18. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein determining whether the gaming unit on which the person desires to play the game is in a permitted location comprises determining whether the gaming unit on which the person desires to play the game is in a permitted location based on a network address of the gaining unit.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the network address comprises an internet protocol address.

20. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein determining whether the gaming unit on which the person desires to play the game is in a permitted location comprises determining whether the gaming unit on which the person desires to play the game is in a permitted location based on location data received from the computer via the network, the location data indicative of the location of the gaming unit.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the location data comprises global positioning system data.

22. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the received biometric data comprises data associated with a fingerprint.

23. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the received biometric data comprises data associated with an eye scan.

24. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the received biometric data comprises data associated with the person'"'"'s voice.

25. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the received biometric data comprises data associated with a picture of the person'"'"'s face.

26. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the game comprises a game selected from the group of games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno, and video bingo.

27. A gaming server, comprising:

a network communications circuit that allows data to be communicated between the gaming server and a gaming unit when the gaming unit is communicatively coupled to the gaming server via a network;

a controller that controls the operation of the gaming server, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor,

the controller being programmed to cause first display data to be transmitted to the gaming unit via the network communications circuit, the first display data representing a game image relating to a game, the game being playable via the gaming unit that is remote from the gaming server,

the controller being programmed to receive, from the gaming unit, data associated with a game play selection of a player;

the controller being programmed to determine whether to permit the game play selection based on biometric data,

the controller being programmed to, if the game play selection is permitted, cause second display data to be transmitted to the gaming unit via the network communications circuit, the second display data representing a game outcome image relating to the game.

28. A gaming server as defined in claim 27, wherein the network communications circuit allows data to be communicated between the gaming server and an authentication server when the authentication server is communicatively coupled to the gaming server via the network;

wherein the data associated with a game play selection of the player comprises biometric data;

wherein the controller is programmed to transmit the biometric data to the authentication server via the network communications circuit;

wherein the controller is programmed to receive a message from the authentication server via the network communications circuit, the message indicative of whether the player is allowed to play the game, the message from the authentication server in response to the biometric data transmitted to the authentication server.

29. A gaming server as defined in claim 28, wherein the message from the authentication server is further indicative of whether the biometric data matches biometric data of a person allowed to play the game.

30. A gaming server as defined in claim 28, wherein the biometric data is indicative of the game play selection.

31. A gaming server as defined in claim 27, wherein the game comprises a game selected from the group of games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno, and video bingo.

32. A gaming server as defined in claim 27, wherein the biometric data comprises data associated with at least one fingerprint.

33. A gaming server as defined in claim 27, wherein the biometric data comprises data associated with an eye scan.

34. A gaming server as defined in claim 27, wherein the biometric data comprises data associated with the person'"'"'s voice.

35. A gaming server as defined in claim 27, wherein the biometric data comprises data associated with a picture of the person'"'"'s face.

36. A gaming server as defined in claim 27, wherein the controller is programmed to determine whether the gaming unit is in a permitted location for playing the game;

wherein the controller being programmed to determine whether to permit the game play selection is further based on whether the gaming unit is in a permitted location.

37. A gaming server as defined in claim 36, wherein the network communications circuit allows data to be communicated between the gaming server and an authentication server when the authentication server is communicatively coupled to the gaming server via the network;

wherein the controller is programmed to receive a message from the authentication server via the network communications circuit, the message indicative of whether the gaming unit is in a permitted location.

38. A gaming server as defined in claim 37, wherein the data associated with a game play selection of the player comprises biometric data;

wherein the controller is programmed to transmit the biometric data to the authentication server via the network communications circuit;

wherein the controller is programmed to receive a message from the authentication server via the network communications circuit, the message indicative of whether the player is allowed to play the game, the message from the authentication server in response to the biometric data transmitted to the authentication server.

39. A gaming server as defined in claim 38, wherein the message that indicates whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming system and the message that indicates whether the gaming unit is in a permitted location comprise a single message that indicates whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming unit.

40. A method of operating a gaming server, the gaming server operatively coupled to a network, comprising:

causing first display data to be transmitted to a gaming unit via the network, the first display data representing a game image relating to a game, the game being playable via the gaming unit that is remote from the gaming server;

receiving, from the gaming unit, data associated with a game play selection of a player;

determining whether to permit the game play selection based on biometric data;

if the game play selection is permitted, causing second display data to be transmitted to the gaming unit via the network, the second display data representing a game outcome image relating to the game.

41. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein determining whether to permit the game play selection comprises:

transmitting the received biometric data to an authentication server via the network; and

receiving a message from the authentication server via the network, the message indicative of whether the player is allowed to play the game.

42. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein the game comprises a game selected from the group of games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno, and video bingo.

43. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein the data associated with a game play selection comprises the biometric data;

wherein the biometric data is indicative of the game play selection.

44. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein the biometric data comprises data associated with at least one fingerprint.

45. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein the biometric data comprises data associated with an eye scan.

46. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein the biometric data comprises data associated with the person'"'"'s voice.

47. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein the biometric data comprises data associated with a picture of the person'"'"'s face.

48. A method as defined in claim 40, further comprising:

determining whether the gaming unit is in a permitted location for playing the game; and

wherein determining whether to permit the game play selection is further based on whether the gaming unit is in a permitted location.

49. A method as defined in claim 48, further comprising receiving a message from an authentication server via a network, the message indicative of whether the gaming unit is in a permitted location.

50. A method as defined in claim 49, wherein the data associated with a game play selection of the player comprises biometric data, the method further comprising:

transmitting the biometric data to the authentication server via the network communications circuit; and

receiving a message from the authentication server via the network, the message indicative of whether the player is allowed to play the game, the message from the authentication server in response to the biometric data transmitted to the authentication server.

51. A method as defined in claim 48, wherein the message that indicates whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming system and the message that indicates whether the gaming unit is in a permitted location comprise a single message that indicates whether the person is allowed to play a game on the gaming unit.