Player identification using biometric data in a gaming environment

• US 6,612,928 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sierra Design Group (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert Anthony Jr., Marsden, Russ Frederick, Bradford, Russel Tower
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US09/908,878
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463/22, 463/16, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for using two authenticators to identify a player in a gaming environment is disclosed, where the second authenticator is based on biometric data. The two authenticators allow a two-level authorization process, where the second authenticator, being based on biometric data, allow a player to quickly and easily authenticate documents while remaining at game machines, authenticate electronically based transfers into and out of accounts at game machines, and further allow casinos and other establishments having age requirements and operating in an open environment to confirm that an underage person is not enabling the game play button (making use of the game machine thereby).

Claims

1. A method for creating a player identification usable in a gaming environment and having at least two authenticators, the method comprising:

(a) creating a first authenticator;

(b) entering at least one more authenticator in the form of biometric data;

(c) associating said first authenticator and said at least one more authenticator with a player;

(d) providing player identification at a game device having an associated biometric reader using said first authenticator and at least one of said at least one more authenticators where said first authenticator is one of;

a magnetic stripe card;

a voucher;

an alpha-numeric sequence;

an RFID tag;

a smart card;

a memory card;

a handheld device having retrievable memory and an RF interface;

a handheld device having retrievable memory and an IR interface;

a magnetic diskette;

or, an optical mini-disk.

2. A method for creating a player identification usable in a gaming environment and having at least two authenticators, the method comprising:

(a) creating a first authenticator;

(b) entering at least one more authenticator in the form of biometric data;

(c) associating said first authenticator and said at least one more authenticator with a player and further identifying said first authenticator as the authenticator that will be the initial authenticator used by a player to identify themselves, and will further be the authenticator used for searching and identifying said player in a player identification database; and

,

(d) providing player identification at a game device having an associated biometric reader using said first authenticator and at least one of said at least one more authenticators.

3. The method of claim 2 where (c) further comprises assigning a search sequence indicator for each of said additional authenticators, where said search sequence indicator will be used to determine the order in which the authenticators are used to identify a player.

4. A method for using at least two authenticators for identification of a player, where one of the at least two authenticators is identified as a first authenticator, and where at least one of the remaining authenticators is identified as a second authenticator, and further where any authenticator that is not a first authenticator comprises data derived from a biometric measurement, usable at a game device having an associated biometric reader, the method comprising:

(a) having a player present a first authenticator to a game device in an operable manner;

(b) finding at least one second authenticator associated with a player identification entry in a player identification database, where said entry is associated with said first authenticator;

(c) indicating to said player that the player is now to present a second authenticator, if said second authenticator requires the player to actively present a part of themselves to a reading device;

(d) reading biometric data from said player using a biometric reader;

(e) checking data derived from said biometric reading against said at least one second authenticator; and

,

(f) indicating to said player the results of the authorization.

5. The method of claim 4 where (a) further comprises having a player present a player ID card to a player ID card reader.

6. The method of claim 4 where (a) further comprises having a player present a voucher ID to a voucher reader.

7. The method of claim 4 where (a) further comprises having a player present an APID (anonymous player ID) to a reader.

8. The method of claim 4 where (b) further comprises:

ending the identification process if no entry in a player database corresponding to said first authenticator is found;

identifying one second authenticator associated with said first authenticator if one entry associated with said first authenticator is found; and

,

identifying a second authenticator for each entry in a player identification database, where said each entry is an entry having a possible match for said first authenticator.

9. The method of claim 8 where (g) further comprises:

checking said biometric data against said second authenticator if there was one entry in said player identification database associated with said first authenticator;

indicating a failure to said player if said biometric data does not indicate a match to said second authenticator;

checking said biometric data against each identified second authenticator if there was more than one entry in said player database corresponding to said first authenticator; and

,

indicating a failure to said player if said biometric data indicates one of;

less than one match;

or, greater than one match, with any of said identified second authenticators if there was more than one entry in said player database corresponding to said first authenticator.

10. The method of claim 4 where said second authenticator comprises fingerprint data.

11. The method of claim 4 where said biometric data is fingerprint data, where said second authenticator comprises fingerprint data, where said biometric reader is a fingerprint reader, and where any authenticator in addition to the first and second authenticators comprises fingerprint data.

12. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

allowing said player to use any other authenticator to provide biometric data, other than said first authenticator and said second authenticator, if said player previously entered other authenticators in said player identification database, if said indicated results where a failure;

checking said other authenticator biometric data against data associated with each authenticator but not including data associated with said first authenticator in said player identification database and associated with said first authenticator; and

,

giving positive results if said other authenticator matches data associated with authenticator data that is not first authenticator data.

13. The method of claim 12 where said any other authenticator comprises fingerprint data from an additional fingertip, where the finger used to derive said fingerprint data is a different fingertip belonging to the same player as compared to any fingertips used for any first or second authenticator.

14. A method for using at least two authenticators, where one of the at least two authenticators is identified as a first authenticator, and where at least one of the remaining authenticators is identified as a second authenticator, and further where any authenticator that is not a first authenticator comprises data derived from a biometric measurement, usable at a game device having an associated biometric reader for age verification, the method comprising:

(a) presenting age verification to an attendant and said attendant using said age verification to verify a player is of legal age to use game devices;

(b) asking said player to operably interact with a biometric reader to input biometric data, if said player is of age;

(c) associating said biometric data with an identifier; and

,

(d) allowing said potential player to use game devices.

15. The method of claim 14 where (c) further comprises:

associating said biometric data with an APID, said APID usable by at least one game device in the establishment said attendant represents; and

,

issuing said associated APID to said player.

16. The method of claim 14 where (c) further comprises:

associating said biometric data with a player ID, said player ID usable by at least one game device in the establishment said attendant represents; and

,

issuing said associated player ID to said player, if said player ID was generated for this transaction; and

,

allowing said associated player ID to be usable with said biometric data, if said player ID was provided by said player.

17. The method of claim 14 where (d) further comprises:

using an APID for said identifier;

designating said APID as the first authenticator;

designating said biometric data as the second authenticator;

presenting said player with said APID;

proceeding to a game device having a reader operable with said first authenticator and a reader operable with said second authenticator;

using said first authenticator before play starts; and

,

using said second authenticator before each game play.

18. The method of claim 17 where said using said second authenticator before each game play comprises a single physical act by said player.

19. The method of claim 18 where said single physical comprises using a single button which comprises a combining of authentication, reselection of any settable game play settings to the settings just played, and game play initiation.

20. The method of claim 14 where (d) further comprises:

using a player ID for said identifier;

designating said player ID as the first authenticator;

designating said biometric data as the second authenticator;

presenting said potential player with said player ID, if said player ID was not already in the possession of the potential player;

proceeding to a game device having a reader operable with said first authenticator and a reader operable with said second authenticator;

presenting said first authenticator to said game device play starts; and

,

using said second authenticator before each game play.

21. The method of claim 20 where said using said second authenticator before each game play comprises a single physical act by said potential player.

22. The method of claim 21 where said single physical act further comprises combining authentication, reselection of any settable game play settings to the settings just played, and game play initiation.

23. A method for using at least two authenticators, where one of the at least two authenticators is identified as a first authenticator, and where at least one of the remaining authenticators is identified as a second authenticator, and.further where any authenticator that is not a first authenticator comprises data derived from a biometric reader which measures a biometric measurement, usable at a game device associated having an associated biometric reader, a method for form generation comprising:

(a) having an entry in a player identification database;

(b) uniquely associating a player using a game device with an entry in said player identification database and playing said game device until a form generation event occurs;

(c) generating a completed form; and

,

(d) using an authenticator other than said first authenticator to authorize said completed form.

24. The method of claim 23 where (b) further comprises:

playing said game device until a form generation event occurs;

asking said player for a first authenticator;

finding at least one entry in said player identification database corresponding to said first authenticator;

asking said player for a second authenticator if said first authenticator potentially corresponds to more than one entry in said player identification database; and

,

using said second authenticator to uniquely identify one entry in said player identification database, if more than one entry potentially corresponded to said player'"'"'s first authenticator.

25. The method of claim 23 where (b) further comprises:

asking a player for a first authenticator;

finding at least one entry in said player identification database corresponding to said first authenticator;

playing said game device until a form generation event occurs;

asking said player for a second authenticator if said first authenticator potentially corresponds to more than one entry in said player identification database; and

,

using said second authenticator to uniquely identify one entry in said player identification database, if more than one entry potentially corresponded to said player'"'"'s first authenticator.

26. The method of claim 23 where (c) further comprises:

using said entry in said player identification database to complete a required form, if there is enough information;

requesting said player to provide any further data needed to complete said form, if any additional data is required;

completing said form;

asking said player if data just provided should be stored in the player ID database, if said player was requested to provide any further data to complete said form; and

,

storing said data just provided from said player in said player identification database, if said player authorized said data to be stored.

27. The method of claim 23 where (d) further comprises:

asking said player to use a biometric reader to provide a second authenticator; and

,

authenticating said completed form by checking data read in from said biometric reader against second authenticator data found in said uniquely identified entry in said player identification database.

28. The method of claim 23 where said at least two authenticators comprise exactly two authenticators, and where said first authenticator comprises a player ID and said second authenticator comprises fingerprint data, and said biometric reader is a fingerprint reader.

29. The method of claim 23 where said form generation event is a W2G event, and said form is a W2G form.

30. A method for using a first authenticator and a second authenticator, where the first authenticator is a player ID and the second authenticator comprises fingerprint data, for the automated generation of W2G forms at a game device being used by a player who has an entry in a player identification database, the method comprising:

(a) having said player present their first authenticator at the start of game play at said game device, identifying a unique entry in said player identification database;

(b) having a W2G event occur;

(c) generating a completed W2G;

(d) having said player touch a fingertip to a fingerprint reader associated with said game device, authorizing said completed W2G form thereby; and

,

(e) repeating (b) through (d) while said player is at said game device and upon each occurrence of a W2G event.

31. A method for using a first authenticator and a second authenticator, where the first authenticator comprises fingerprint data and the second authenticator comprises fingerprint data from the same person as that used for the first authenticator, but not from the same fingertip, for the automated generation of W2G forms at a game device being used by a player who has an entry in a player identification database, the method comprising:

(a) having said player present the fingertip used to derive fingerprint data comprising said first authenticator to a fingerprint reader associated with said game device at the start.of game play at said game device, identifying at least one entry in said player identification database;

(b) having said player present the fingertip used in creating said second authenticator to a fingerprint reader associated with said game device and using said second authenticator data to uniquely identify one entry in said player identification database, if, in (a), more than entry was identified using said first authenticator;

(c) stopping the process if no unique match can be made;

(d) having a W2G event occur;

(e) generating a completed W2G;

(f) having said player touch a fingertip to a fingerprint reader associated with said game device, where said fingertip touching said fingerprint reader is the same fingertip used to derive fingerprint data comprising said second authenticator, authorizing said completed W2G form thereby; and

,

(g) repeating (d) through (f) while said player is at said game device and upon each occurrence of a W2G event.

32. A method for enabling electronic transfers using at least two authenticators where any authenticator that is not the first authenticator uses biometric data, in a gaming environment while using a game device having an associated biometric reader, the method comprising:

(a) having a first authenticator readable by a reader associated with said game device;

(b) having a second authenticator different from said first authenticator and readable by a reader associated with said game device;

(c) having an entry in a player identification database, where said entry further comprises first authenticator data and second authenticator data;

(d) uniquely associating a player using a game device with an entry in said player identification database and recognizing a player request for an electronic transfer;

(e) acknowledging a desired electronic transfer;

(f) using said second authenticator to confirm and authorize said desired electronic transfer.

33. The method of claim 32 where said first authenticator is one of:

a magnetic stripe card;

a voucher;

an alpha-numeric sequence;

an RFID tag;

a smart card;

a memory card;

a handheld device having retrievable memory and an RF interface;

a handheld device having retrievable memory and an IR interface;

a magnetic diskette;

an optical mini-disk;

or, an APID.

34. The method of claim 32 where said first authenticator comprises biometric data, derived from a biometric reading.

35. The method of claim 34 where said biometric data derives from one of:

a fingertip;

an iris;

a retina;

a hand;

or, a face.

36. The method of claim 32 where said at least one more authenticator is a single authenticator.

37. The method of claim 36 where said single authenticator comprises biometric data derived from one of:

a fingertip;

an iris;

a retina;

a hand;

or, a face.

38. The method of claim 32 where said at least one more authenticator comprises two authenticators.

39. The method of claim 38 where said two authenticators comprise biometric data derived from two different fingertips belonging to the same player.

40. The method of claim 38 where said two authenticators each comprise biometric data derived from:

a fingertip;

an iris;

a retina;

a hand;

or, a face, and further where each of said two authenticators are derived from different biometric sources.

41. The method of claim 32 where (d) further comprises:

using said game device until a player requested electronic transfer request is made;

asking said player for a first authenticator;

finding at least one entry in said player identification database corresponding to said first authenticator;

asking said player for a second authenticator if said first authenticator corresponds to more than one entry in said player identification database; and

,

using said second authenticator to uniquely identify one entry in said player identification database, if more than one entry potentially corresponded to said player'"'"'s first authenticator.

42. The method of claim 32 where (d) further comprises:

asking a player for a first authenticator;

finding at least one entry in said player identification database corresponding to said first authenticator;

using said game device until said player requests an electronic transfer;

asking said player for a second authenticator if said first authenticator potentially corresponds to more than one entry in said player identification database; and

,

using said second authenticator to uniquely identify one entry in said player identification database, if more than one entry potentially corresponded to said player'"'"'s first authenticator.

43. The method of claim 32 where (e) further comprises:

presenting a player with a screen having a set of pre-determined choices including but not limited to;

transfer all credits from said game device to an electronic account, if applicable to said game device;

transfer a pre-selected amount of money from an electronic account to said game device, if applicable to said game device;

transfer a preselected amount of award credits from an electronic account to said game device, if applicable to said game device;

transfer pre-selected game state data from an electronic account to said game device, if applicable to said game device;

transfer promotional credits from an electronic account to said game device, if applicable to said game device;

show electronic account status; and

, go to a screen where said player can input selections not on a pre-selected screen.

44. The method of claim 32 where (f) further comprises:

asking said player to use a biometric reader to provide a second authenticator; and

,

authenticating said desired electronic transfer by checking data read in from said biometric reader against second authenticator data found in said uniquely identified entry in said player identification database.

45. The method of claim 32 where said at least two authenticators comprise exactly two authenticators, and where said first authenticator is a player ID and said second authenticator comprises fingerprint data, and said biometric reader is a fingerprint reader.

46. A method for using a first authenticator and a second authenticator, where the first authenticator comprises fingerprint data and the second authenticator comprises fingerprint data from the same person as that used for the first authenticator, but not from the same fingertip, for the automated authentication of an electronic transfer at a game device being used by a player who has an entry in a player identification database, the method comprising:

(a) having said player present player'"'"'s fingertip used in creating said first authenticator to a fingerprint reader associated with said game device at the start of game play at said game device, identifying at least one entry in said player identification database;

(b) having said player present the fingertip used in creating said second authenticator to a fingerprint reader associated with said game device and using said second authenticator data to uniquely identify one entry in said player identification database, if, in (a), more than entry was identified using said first authenticator;

(c) stopping the process if no unique match can be made;

(d) having a player request an electronic transfer;

(e) completing an electronic transfer request;

(f) having said player present a fingertip to a fingerprint reader associated with said game device, authorizing said completed electronic transfer request thereby; and

,

(g) repeating (d) through (f) while said player is at said game device and upon each occurrence of an electronic account transfer event.

47. A method for using a first authenticator and a second authenticator, where the first authenticator is an APID (anonymous player ID) and the second authenticator comprises fingerprint data, for the authentication of an electronic transfer at a game device being used by a player who has an APID and the APID has an entry in a player identification database, the method comprising:

(a) having said player present said APID as a first authenticator at the start of game device use at said game device, identifying a unique entry in said player identification database;

(b) having said player request an electronic'"'"'transfer;

(c) completing an electronic transfer request;

(d) having said player touch a fingertip to a fingerprint reader associated with said game device, authorizing said completed electronic transfer request thereby; and

,

(e) repeating (b) through (d) while said player is at said game device and upon each occurrence of an electronic account transfer event.

48. A method for using a first authenticator and a second authenticator, where the first authenticator is an APID (anonymous player ID) and the second authenticator comprises fingerprint data, for the authentication of an electronic transfer at a game device being used by a player who has an APID and the APID has an entry in a player identification database, the method comprising:

(a) having said player request an electronic transfer;

(b) having said player present said APID as a first authenticator to said game device currently is use, identifying a unique entry in said player identification database;

(c) completing an electronic transfer request;

(d) having said player touch a fingertip to a fingerprint reader associated with said game device, authorizing said completed electronic transfer request thereby; and

,

(e) repeating (b) through (d) while said player is in the establishment that issued the APID upon each occurrence of a request for an electronic transfer.

49. A gaming system including at least one game device comprising:

at least one non-biometric reader associated with and in operable communication with said at least one game device;

at least one biometric reader associated with and in operable communication with said at least one game device;

a database configured to retrievably contain entries where said entries further comprise at least two authenticators, including a first authenticator and a second authenticator and where said second authenticator further comprises biometric data, in operable communication with said at least one game device.

50. The gaming system of claim 49 further configured such that said at least one non-biometric reader, said at least one biometric reader, and said at least one game device are operably disposed within a single external cabinet.

51. The gaming system of claim 49 further configured such that said at least one non-biometric reader and said game device are both operably disposed within a same cabinet, and where said at least one biometric reader is in an enclosure in close proximity to said cabinet.

52. The gaming system of claim 49 further comprising:

a cabinet, said non-biometric reader and said game device operably disposed therein and further configured to use the same network interface;

a first network in operable communication with said network interface;

a second network in operable communication with said biometric reader;

a computer system having at least'"'"'two network interfaces, where a first interfaces is operably connected to said first network, and where a second interface is operably connected to said second network;

a BDIM (biometric data information manager) operably disposed within said computer system in operable communication with said network interfaces, and where said BDIM is in operable communication with said database.

53. The gaming system of claim 52 where said computer system at least partially comprises an RGC (remote game controller).

54. The gaming system of claim 52 where said game device is further configured to enable said game device'"'"'s game play button to be controlled by said BDIM, and where said BDIM is further configured such that upon receiving confirmation of a match between data from said biometric reader and data comprising said second authenticator, game play is initiated.

55. The gaming system of claim 49 further comprising:

a cabinet, said non-biometric reader, said biometric reader, and said game device operably disposed therein and further.configured to use the same network interface;

a first network in operable communication with said network interface;

a computer system having at least one network interface, where a first network interface is operably connected to said first network;

a BDIM (biometric data information manager) operably disposed within said computer system and in operable communication with said first-network interface, and where said BDIM is in operable communication with said database.

56. The gaming system of claim 55 where said computer system at least partially comprises an RGC.

57. The gaming system of claim 55 where said game device is further configured to enable said game device'"'"'s game play button to be controlled by said BDIM, and where said BDIM is further configured such that upon receiving confirmation of a match between data from said biometric reader and data comprising said second authenticator, game play is initiated.

58. A multifunction game play button for use in a game device comprising:

a fingerprint reader;

logic having at least two interfaces, said logic operably connected to said fingerprint reader and said at least two interfaces;

a first interface configured to one of;

send;

receive;

or, send and receive, signals having substantially the same characteristics as a single function game device game play button;

a second interface configured to one of;

send;

receive;

or, send and receive, fingerprint data.

59. The multifunction game play button of claim 58 further comprising a fingerprint comparator operably disposed within said logic.

60. The multifunction game play button of claim 59 wherein said fingerprint comparator is further configured to carry out a local comparison of two sets of fingerprint data where a first fingerprint data set is associated with a fingertip just reader and a second fingerprint data set is associated with a second authenticator having been received via said second interface, and further configured to compare said fingerprint characterization data sets and upon the occurrence of a match cause said first interface to one of:

send;

receive;

or, send and receive, signals that are capable of initiating game play.

61. The multifunction game play button of claim 59 where said fingerprint comparator is further configured to store and reuse said received fingerprint data, and further configured to purge said fingerprint data upon the receipt, through said second interface, of a signal to purge said fingerprint data.

62. The multifunction game play button of claim 59 where said fingerprint comparator is further configured to store fingerprint data received from said fingerprint reader upon the receipt, through said second interface, of a signal to save said fingerprint data, and is further configured to use said stored fingerprint data to compare with fingerprint data received from said fingerprint reader subsequent to said saved fingerprint data, indicating a match by causing said first interface to one of:

send;

receive;

or, send and receive, signals that are capable of initiating game play, enabling the use of a second authenticator comprising fingerprint data to be both initially input and checked locally thereby.

63. The multifunction game play button of claim 58 where said at least two interfaces are implemented in the same physical interface.

64. The multifunction game play button of claim 58 where said first interface and said second interface are implemented using two separate physical interfaces.

65. A method for using a first authenticator and a second authenticator for age verification with a game device remotely located from a game establishment and connected to the game establishment via a network, where the second authenticator comprises biometric data, and where a player identification database is provided by the game establishment and where the player identification database comprises, for each entry, data associated with the first and second authenticator, and where the remote game device is operably connected to a biometric reader corresponding to the type of biometric data comprising the second authenticator, the method comprising:

(a) receiving from said remote game device first authenticator data;

(b) finding an entry in said player identification database where data corresponding to a first authenticator matches said first authenticator data received from said remote game device;

(c) receiving from said remote game device biometric data;

(d) finding second authenticator data associated with said entry in said player identification database;

(e) comparing said biometric data and said second authenticator data; and

,

(f) allowing game play if said biometric data and said second authenticator data are comparable.

66. The method of claim 65 further comprising:

(a) receiving a next biometric data from said remote game device;

(b) comparing said next biometric data with said second authenticator data;

(c) initiating one game play if said next biometric data is comparable to said second authenticator data; and

,

(d) repeating (a) through (c) until a game play end indicator is received.

67. The method of claim 66 where said biometric reader is a fingerprint reader and said biometric data is fingerprint data.

68. The method of claim 65 where said first authenticator comprises an alpha-numeric sequence.