Casino all in one kiosk for cash, tickets, and cards, with card issuing capability

• US 7,828,646 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology America, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient America Incorporated (Giesecke & Devrient GmbH)
• Inventors: Franks, Thedfred E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/240,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20060073883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 25
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs

Abstract

A casino all-in-one kiosk includes a card issuing unit that enables self service registration and dispensing of casino loyalty cards, in addition to cash-dispensing, and ticket redemption functions. The kiosk may also be adapted to provide ancillary services such as hotel check-in/check-out, reservations and ticketing, and coupon printing, and may further be integrated with a financial services network to provide banking and credit card services.

Claims

1. A casino all-in-one kiosk, comprising:

a cabinet;

a display and at least one data input device;

a note/ticket acceptance unit;

a currency dispensing unit;

a card reader/writer arranged to receive both a card inserted by a customer and a new card supplied by a dispensing unit, the card dispensing unit being arranged to supply the new card to the card reader/writer before issuance to the customer;

a printer; and

a central processing unit,

wherein the note/ticket acceptance unit, currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, display device and data input device, printer, and central processing unit are housed within the cabinet,

wherein the central processing unit is connected to the note/ticket acceptance unit, the currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, and printer, and

wherein the kiosk is arranged to carry out the following customer services;

dispensing of currency in response to acceptance and validation of tickets inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of notes/tickets in response to acceptance and validation of currency inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of currency in response to reading and validation of said card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

writing data to said card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer or said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit;

issuing to a customer said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit and written-to by the card reader/writer.

2. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein a card issued to the customer is a casino loyalty card.

3. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the card reader/writer is arranged to read and write to magnetic stripe cards.

4. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the card reader/writer is arranged to read and write to smart cards.

5. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the card reader/writer is arranged to read and write to smart cards and magnetic stripe cards.

6. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one data input device includes an encrypted keypad.

7. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one data input device includes a touch screen.

8. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one data input device includes a biometric reader.

9. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the note/ticket acceptor is arranged to accept and read bar coded tickets, coupons, promotional media, and banknotes.

10. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the note/ticket acceptor is arranged to internally validate banknotes.

11. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the currency dispenser includes a bill dispenser arranged to dispense multiple denominations of bills, and a coin dispenser arranged to dispense multiple types of coins.

12. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an interface for connecting the kiosk to a casino central accounting system.

13. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 10, wherein the interface is a TCP/IP interface.

14. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an interface for connecting the kiosk to a financial services provider, and wherein the kiosk is arranged to carry out automated teller machine transactions.

15. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printer is arranged to print receipts, coupons, and tickets.

16. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tickets include sports betting tickets.

17. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tickets include show tickets.

18. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the kiosk is arranged to provide hotel check-in/check-out services.

19. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabinet is protected by an electronic lock and alarm system.

20. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the kiosk is further arranged to provide ancillary services including at least one of the following:

show promotional videos, provide directions and customer assistance or information, and display menus for maintenance personnel.

21. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central processing unit is arranged to track all keystrokes and operations of components of the kiosk in order to establish an audit trail.

22. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, further comprising video surveillance means for capturing and storing snapshot video as part of a transaction log included in an audit trail.

23. A casino all-in-one kiosk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data written to the card is a credit amount.

24. A casino all-in-one kiosk, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the kiosk is arranged to dispense an electronic funds transfer (EFT) card.

25. A casino all-in-one kiosk, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the card is an electronic funds transfer (EFT) card.

26. A casino all-in-one kiosk, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the kiosk is arranged to dispense a gift card.

27. A casino all-in-one kiosk, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the card is a gift card.

28. A casino all-in-one kiosk, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the kiosk is arranged to dispense a hotel room key card.

29. A casino all-in-one kiosk, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the card is a hotel room key.

30. A casino all-in-one kiosk, comprising:

a cabinet;

a display and at least one data input device;

a note/ticket acceptance unit;

a currency dispensing unit;

a card reader/writer arranged to receive both a card inserted by a customer and a new card supplied by a dispensing unit, the card dispensing unit being arranged to supply the new card to the card reader/writer before issuance to the customer;

a printer; and

a central processing unit,

wherein the note/ticket acceptance unit, currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, display device and data input device, printer, and central processing unit are housed within the cabinet,

wherein the central processing unit is connected to the note/ticket acceptance unit, the currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, and printer, and

wherein the kiosk is arranged to carry out the following customer services;

dispensing of currency in response to acceptance and validation of tickets inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of notes/tickets in response to acceptance and validation of currency inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of currency in response to reading and validation of said card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

writing indicia that is visible to the unaided human eye to said card inserted into the card reader/writer or said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit;

issuing to a customer said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit and written-to by the card reader/writer.

31. A casino all-in-one kiosk, comprising:

a cabinet;

a display and at least one data input device;

a note/ticket acceptance unit;

a card reader/writer arranged to receive both a card inserted by a customer and a new card supplied by a dispensing unit, the card dispensing unit being arranged to supply the new card to the card reader/writer before issuance to the customer;

a card dispensing unit;

a printer; and

a central processing unit,

wherein the note/ticket acceptance unit, currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, display device and data input device, printer, and central processing unit are housed within the cabinet,

wherein the central processing unit is connected to the note/ticket acceptance unit, the currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, and printer, and wherein the kiosk is arranged to carry out the following customer services;

dispensing of currency in response to acceptance and validation of tickets inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of notes/tickets in response to acceptance and validation of currency inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of currency in response to reading and validation of said card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

writing both machine readable data and indicia that is visible to the unaided human eye to said card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer or said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit;

issuing to a customer said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit and written-to by the card reader/writer.

32. A casino all-in-one kiosk, comprising:

a cabinet;

a display and at least one data input device;

a note/ticket acceptance unit;

a currency dispensing unit;

a card reader/writer arranged to receive both a card inserted by a customer and a new card supplied by a dispensing unit, the card dispensing unit being arranged to supply the new card to the card reader/writer before issuance to the customer;

a printer; and

a central processing unit,

wherein the note/ticket acceptance unit, currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, display device and data input device, printer, and central processing unit are housed within the cabinet,

wherein the central processing unit is connected to the note/ticket acceptance unit, the currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, and printer, and

wherein the kiosk is arranged to carry out the following customer services;

dispensing of currency in response to acceptance and validation of tickets inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of notes/tickets in response to acceptance and validation of currency inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of currency in response to reading and validation of said card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

writing indicia that is visible to the unaided human eye to said card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer or said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit;

erasing visible indicia that have been previously printed on the card;

issuing to a customer said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit and written-to by the card reader/writer.

33. A casino all-in-one kiosk, comprising:

a cabinet;

a display and at least one data input device;

a note/ticket acceptance unit;

a currency dispensing unit;

a card reader/writer arranged to receive both a card inserted by a customer and a new card supplied by a dispensing unit, the card dispensing unit being arranged to supply the new card to the card reader/writer before issuance to the customer;

a printer; and

a central processing unit,

wherein the note/ticket acceptance unit, currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, display device and data input device, printer, and central processing unit are housed within the cabinet,

wherein the central processing unit is connected to the note/ticket acceptance unit, the currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, and printer, and

wherein the kiosk is arranged to carry out the following customer services;

dispensing of currency in response to acceptance and validation of tickets inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of notes/tickets in response to acceptance and validation of currency inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of currency in response to reading and validation of said card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

writing indicia that is visible to the unaided human eye to said card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer or said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit;

erasing visible indicia that have been previously printed on the card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

writing new indicia that is visible to the unaided human eye to the card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

issuing to a customer said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit and written-to by the card reader/writer.

34. A casino all-in-one kiosk, comprising:

a cabinet;

a display and at least one data input device;

a note/ticket acceptance unit;

a currency dispensing unit;

a card reader/writer arranged to receive both a card inserted by a customer and a new card supplied by a dispensing unit, the card dispensing unit being arranged to supply the new card to the card reader/writer before issuance to the customer;

a printer; and

a central processing unit,

wherein the note/ticket acceptance unit, currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, display device and data input device, printer, and central processing unit are housed within the cabinet,

wherein the central processing unit is connected to the note/ticket acceptance unit, the currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, and printer, and

wherein the kiosk is arranged to carry out the following customer services;

dispensing of currency in response to acceptance and validation of tickets inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of notes/tickets in response to acceptance and validation of currency inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of currency in response to reading and validation of said card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

writing both machine readable data and indicia that is visible to the unaided human eye to said card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer or said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit;

erasing visible indicia that have been previously printed on the card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

erasing or overwriting any machine readable data that has been previously written to the card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

issuing to a customer said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit and written-to by the card reader/writer.

35. A casino all-in-one kiosk, comprising:

a cabinet;

a display and at least one data input device;

a note/ticket acceptance unit;

a currency dispensing unit;

a card reader/writer arranged to receive both a card inserted by a customer and a new card supplied by a dispensing unit, the card dispensing unit being arranged to supply the new card to the card reader/writer before issuance to the customer;

a printer; and

a central processing unit,

wherein the note/ticket acceptance unit, currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, display device and data input device, printer, and central processing unit are housed within the cabinet,

wherein the central processing unit is connected to the note/ticket acceptance unit, the currency dispensing unit, card reader/writer, card dispensing unit, and printer, and

wherein the kiosk is arranged to carry out the following customer services;

dispensing of currency in response to acceptance and validation of tickets inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of notes/tickets in response to acceptance and validation of currency inserted into the note/ticket acceptance unit;

dispensing of currency in response to reading and validation of said card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

writing both machine readable data and indicia that is visible to the unaided human eye to said card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer or said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit;

erasing visible indicia that have been previously printed on the card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

erasing or overwriting any machine readable data that has been previously written to the card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

writing new indicia that is visible to the unaided human eye to the card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

writing new machine readable data to the card inserted by the customer into the card reader/writer;

issuing to a customer said new card dispensed by the card dispensing unit and written-to by the card reader/writer.