Method and system for verifying entitlement to play a game using biometric identifier

• US 6,979,264 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Rowe, Rick, Chatigny, Michelle
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/244,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20040053692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 9- 13, 463 16- 20, 463 25- 27, 463 29- 30, 463/36, 463 40- 43, 273292-293, 273236-237, 273/143.R, 700 91- 96, 340/323.R, 340/5.8, 340/5.81, 340/5.82, 340/5.83, 902/23, 902/1, 902/3, 235/375, 235380-382, 713182-186, 382/115, 382/116, 382/118, 382/124
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• 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 player is permitted to participate in an interactive gaming event from a remote location, such as a hotel room or home computer, once the player'"'"'s entitlement to participate has been confirmed using a biometric identifier. One method of the invention includes first verifying the identity of a potential player of a gaming event, such as by verifying the age of the player. If verified, the fingerprint of the player is obtained and the fingerprint is stored in association with an assigned identification code. When a player requests to participate in a gaming event from a remote location, the player'"'"'s identification code is received from the player and is used to locate the corresponding stored fingerprint. The player then transmits their scanned fingerprint. If the transmitted fingerprint and stored fingerprint match, the player is verified as entitled to participate in the gaming event.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a player for determining entitlement of that player to participate in a gaming event that takes place in a room of a hotel having a legal gaming casino therein, the method comprising:

verifying the identity of a potential player of a gaming event when the player checks in to the hotel and is assigned to the room;

confirming that the potential player is authorized to participate in a gaming event in the future when the player checks in to the hotel at said legal gaming casino;

obtaining a fingerprint of said potential player using a first fingerprint scanner located in the hotel;

generating an identification code for said potential player;

associating said identification code with said fingerprint;

storing said fingerprint and identification code from said player on a database that is part of an event host and that is linked to a game server, the database and game server being located in the hotel or casino;

obtaining a request by a player to participate in a gaming event in the room;

using said identification code to locate a corresponding stored fingerprint;

accepting a fingerprint from said player using a second fingerprint scanner located in the room, said second scanner being incorporated into a spring-biased clamp member connected to a tuner linked to a television or monitor used to play said gaming event, the tuner and television or monitor being linked to the database and game server; and

comparing said fingerprint with said stored fingerprint, whereby if said fingerprint accepted from said player and said stored fingerprint match, said player is verified as entitled to participate in said gaming event played in the room using the tuner, television or monitor and games server.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said confirming step includes verifying that the potential player is of sufficient age to participate in a gaming event.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 including the steps of presenting a gaming event and accepting said fingerprint from said player at one or more times during said gaming event, comparing said fingerprint with said stored fingerprint and permitting continued participation in said gaming event if said accepted fingerprint and said stored fingerprint match.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3 including the step of continuously accepting said fingerprint from said player and comparing said accepted fingerprint with said stored fingerprint.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 including the steps of creating a database of stored fingerprints of unauthorized players and comparing said accepted fingerprint with said stored fingerprints of unauthorized players and preventing participating in said gaming event if said accepted fingerprint and one of said stored fingerprints of unauthorized players match.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of creating a database of stored fingerprints of particular categories of players.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein at least one of said categories of players comprises a category of players who voluntarily wish to be excluded from participating in gaming events at one or more times.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 including providing a remote central database and storing said fingerprint and identification code at said database.

9. A method of identifying a player for determining entitlement of that player to participate in a gaming event presented by a a hotel having a legal gaming casino therein to said player located in a room of the hotel assigned to the player comprising the steps of:

verifying the identity of a potential player of a gaming event when the player checks in to the hotel and is assigned to the room;

confirming that the potential player is authorized to participate in a gaming event in the future when the player cheeks in to the hotel;

obtaining biometric information regarding said potential player using a first scanner located in the hotel;

generating an identification code for said potential player;

associating said identification code with said biometric information;

storing said biometric information and identification code at a database on a database that is part of an event host and that is linked to a game server, the database and game server being located in the hotel or casino;

obtaining a request by a player to participate in a gaming event in the room;

requesting an identification code from said player;

obtaining an identification code form said player;

obtaining biometric information from said player in the room using a second scanner located in the room, said second scanner being connected to a tuner linked to a television or tuner used to play said gaming event in the room, the tuner and television or monitor being linked to the database and game server;

transmitting said biometric information from the room to the event host;

comparing said biometric information with biometric information stored at said database which is associated with said obtained identification code; and

transmitting information permitting said player to participate in said gaming event in the room if said biometric information matches.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said confirming step includes verifying that the potential player is of sufficient age to participate in a gaming event.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said step of obtaining biometric information regarding said potential player comprises scanning a fingerprint of said player and said step of obtaining biometric information from said player comprises scanning a fingerprint of said player in the room using a scanner incorporated into a spring biased clamp member that connected to the tuner used to play said gaming event.

12. The method in accordance with claim 9 including the step of creating a database of stored fingerprints of particular categories of players.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein at least one of said categories of players comprises a category of players who voluntarily wish to be excluded from participating in gaming events at one or more times.

14. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein at least one of said categories of players comprises unauthorized players.