Method and apparatus using geographical position to provide authenticated, secure, radio frequency communication between a gaming host and a remote gaming device

• US 7,460,863 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Steelberg, Ryan S., Steelberg, Chad E.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US10/086,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20030139190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,470 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561- 3, 4554141-4143, 455/412.1, 455405-408, 455418-420, 455517-519, 463/25, 463 39- 42, 340/323.R, 2731381- 2, 705/14, 705/39, 709203-206, 709223-224
• US Class Current: 455/419
• 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: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/34 using an out-of-band subcarrier signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/53 Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/91 broadcasting computer programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/13 radio data system/radio broadcast data system [RDS/RBDS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/33 via the broadcast channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 : characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 : Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/07 : characterised by processes or methods for the generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 : Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/48 : for recognising items expressed in broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 : of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 : for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 : using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 : being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 : Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

Method and apparatus for providing authenticated, secure, communication between a gaming host communicating via radio frequency (RF) subcarriers to a remote user device in another location. Location of the remote user device and the host server are determined by accessing signals generated by either Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, or by terrestrial radio broadcast stations, through a process known as radio frequency triangulation telemetry tracking (RF-3T). Player authentication (identity verification) is determined by use of a personal identification number (PIN). A remote user device may be implemented as a stand alone or self-contained single unit that is portable and can receive communications via radio frequency, or may be implemented as one or more discreet components adapted to be used with a laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or desktop personal computer (PC).

Claims

1. A system for electronic gaming at locations remote from a gaming source authorized to host gaming services, comprising:

a broadcast station arranged to transmit game play signals in accordance with instructions from the gaming source; and

a remote gaming device having a memory arranged to store geographic delimiters defining an authorized gaming area for the gaming source, the remote gaming device further having a location determination system arranged to determine a physical location of the remote gaming device;

wherein the remote gaming device stores a credit balance, the credit balance representing funds available for game play, wherein the broadcast station transmits the credit balance to the remote gaming device, and

wherein the remote gaming device determines whether the physical location of the device is within the authorized gaming area as defined by the geographic delimiters, and wherein the remote gaming device is placed in an active condition for game play using the game play signals when the physical location of the remote gaming device is within the authorized gaming area and when the credit balance is greater than zero.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographic delimiters are determined based on a registration location of the remote gaming device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the geographic delimiters are provided to the remote gaming device in response to registration of the remote gaming device.

4. The system of claim 1, the remote gaming device further comprising:

a receiver arranged to receive the game play signals;

a processor operatively connected to the receiver; and

instructions, stored in memory and executable by the processor, arranged to cause graphical images depicting game play to be displayed on a display of the remote gaming device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the location determination system is operatively connected to the receiver.

6. The system of claim 1, the remote gaming device further comprising:

a GPS device, wherein the location determination system is further arranged to determine the physical location of the remote gaming device based on an output of the GPS device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the location determination system is further arranged to determine the physical location of the remote gaming device based on radio frequency triangulation telemetry tracking.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein data for the radio frequency triangulation telemetry tracking is received from the broadcast station.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the game play signals are broadcast on a band selected from the group consisting of an FM band, an AM band, a television band, a satellite band, and a cellular band.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote gaming device is arranged as a smart card.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote gaming device is arranged as a stand-alone purpose-built electronic gaming device.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the game play signals are broadcast on a radio frequency sub-carrier band.

12. A method of facilitating electronic gaming at locations remote from a gaming source authorized to host gaming services, comprising:

activating a remote gaming device, wherein the activating includes providing to the remote gaming device geographic delimiters defining an authorized gaming area for the gaming source; and

broadcasting to the remote gaming device game play signals in accordance with instructions from the gaming source, the broadcasting comprising broadcasting a credit balance to the remote gaming device,

wherein the remote gaming device stores the credit balance, the credit balance representing funds available for game play, and

wherein the remote gaming device determines whether a physical location of the device is within the authorized gaming area defined by the geographic delimiters, and wherein the remote gaming device is placed in an active condition for game play using the game play signals when the physical location of the remote gaming device is within the authorized gaming area and when the credit balance is greater than zero.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the physical location of the remote gaming device is determined by the remote gaming device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the geographic delimiters are determined based on a registration location of the remote gaming device.

15. A method of electronic game play at location remote from a gaming source authorized to host gaming services, comprising:

storing with a remote gaming device geographic delimiters defining an authorized gaming area for the gaming source;

determining with the remote gaming device a physical location of the remote gaming device;

determining at the remote gaming device whether the physical location of the device is within the authorized gaming area defined by the geographic delimiters;

receiving with the remote gaming device game play signals broadcasted in accordance with instructions from the gaming source;

storing with the remote gaming device a credit balance, the credit balance representing funds available for game play, wherein at least a portion of one of the received game play signals defines the credit balance; and

enabling game play using the game play signals when the physical location of the remote gaming device is within the authorized gaming area and when the credit balance is greater than zero.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the geographic delimiters are determined based on a registration location of the remote gaming device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the physical location of the remote gaming device is determined using a GPS device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the physical location of the remote gaming device is determined based on radio frequency triangnlation telemetry tracking.

19. The method of claim 15, the enabling game play comprising:

displaying graphical images on a display of the remote gaming device.