Game access device

• US 9,183,693 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Asher, Joseph M., Rushin, Ron, Alderucci, Dean P., Gelman, Geoffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, Steve
• Application Number:
  US11/683,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20080220871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,169 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/29, 463/42, 235/375, 235/380, 235/492
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

Systems and methods for verifying the eligibility of players attempting to participate in gaming events are disclosed. Communication objects having RFID tags and closed electrical circuits are individually assigned to and worn by players within a gaming player verification system, which can be administered by a casino desk, hotel concierge, or other operating entity. These RFID tags are adapted to communicate with associated player tracking units attached to gaming machines and other devices via radio frequency waves, and each communication object is adapted to alter its communication pattern in response to any break of its closed electrical circuit. Bracelets, wristwatches or collars can be used as communication objects, such that the removal of such an object from a player cannot be accomplished without breaking the closed electrical circuit contained therein, thereby disabling or de-authenticating the device. Communication objects, such as bracelets, may further include patterns, colors, designs, or other markings to indicate a player status. A computer server having a player verification program and database may also be used.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a communication object adapted to be worn by a user;

(i) wherein the communication object comprises an RFID tag, is adapted to communicate via radio frequency waves, and is adapted to set its communication pattern based on whether it is or is not being worn by the user, the communication object having one communication pattern when it is being worn by the user and having a different communication pattern when it is not being worn by the user,

(ii) wherein the communication object further comprises a visible advertisement,

(iii) wherein a marketer of the advertisement pays an amount for having the advertisement on the communication object, and

(iv) wherein the amount the marketer pays is based on an amount of time the communication object is worn by the user; and

at least one computer server configured to;

determine a time that the communication object is worn by the user, wherein the determination is made based on detecting the one communication pattern of the communication object;

determine a subsequent time that the communication object is not worn by the user, wherein the determination is made based on detecting the different communication pattern of the communication object;

based on the time and the subsequent time, determine an amount of time the communication object is worn by the user; and

based on the amount of time the communication object is worn by the user, determine a payment amount the marketer should pay for having the advertisement on the communication object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a gaming device that includes a player tracking device,

wherein if the gaming device is accessed by the user, the player tracking device is adapted to obtain information regarding the user from the communication object; and

wherein the at least one computer server is further configured to deny initiation or continuation of a particular gaming event at the gaming device when any obtained information is determined unacceptable or when insufficient information has been obtained.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user is paid an amount to wear the communication object, and wherein the amount the user is paid is based on the amount of time the communication object is worn by the user.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user receives comp points based at least in part on wearing the communication object, and wherein a number of comp points the user receives is based on the amount of time the user wears the communication object.

5. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the communication object further comprises an electrical strip adapted to form a closed electrical circuit when the communication object is worn by the user and adapted to form an open electrical circuit when the communication object is not worn by the user;

wherein the communication object is adapted to have a first communication pattern when the electrical circuit is closed and a second communication pattern when the electrical circuit is open;

wherein the determination that the communication object is worn by the user is made based on detecting the first communication pattern; and

wherein the determination that the communication object is not worn by the user is made based on detecting the second communication pattern.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first communication pattern comprises a signal and the second communication pattern comprises no signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first communication pattern comprises a first signal and the second communication pattern comprises a second different signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication object comprises bracelet.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication object further comprises a visual scheme that is visible when the communication object is worn by the user, and wherein the communication object, together with the visual scheme, indicates to an observer that when the communication object is worn by the user, the user has at least one privilege.

10. The apparatus of claim 9,

wherein the visual scheme comprises a color scheme;

or

wherein the visual scheme comprises a color;

or

wherein the visual scheme comprises a pattern;

or

wherein the visual scheme comprises a design.

11. The apparatus of claim 9,

wherein the visual scheme further indicates that the user is of an age within a particular age range.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one privilege comprises at least one of:

a privilege to enter a certain area,

a privilege to enter a certain club,

a privilege to visit a certain restaurant,

a privilege to visit a certain lounge,

a privilege to visit a certain gaming room,

preferential access to a location,

preferential access to a restaurant,

preferential access to a theater,

preferential seating, and

preferential seating at a restaurant, and

preferential seating at a theater.

13. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the amount paid to the user comprises a portion of the payment amount paid by the marketer.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user receives entries into a drawing for a prize based at least in part on wearing the communication object, and wherein a number of entries the user receives is based on the amount of time the communication object is worn by the user.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication object comprises a battery and a battery indicator, and wherein the battery indicator is operable to show when the battery is near depletion.

16. A method comprising:

determining by at least one computer server a time that a communication object is worn by a user, wherein the determination is made based on detecting a communication pattern of the communication object,

(i) wherein the communication object comprises an RFID tag, is adapted to communicate via radio frequency waves, and is adapted to set its communication pattern based on whether it is or is not being worn by the user, the communication object having one communication pattern when it is being worn by the user and having a different communication pattern when it is not being worn by the user,

(ii) wherein the communication object further comprises a visible advertisement,

(iii) wherein a marketer of the advertisement pays an amount for having the advertisement on the communication object, and

(iv) wherein the amount the marketer pays is based on an amount of time the communication object is worn by the user;

determining by the at least one computer server a subsequent time that the communication object is not worn by the user, wherein the determination is made based on detecting the different communication pattern of the communication object;

based on the time and the subsequent time, determining by the at least one computer server an amount of time the communication object is worn by the user; and

based on the amount of time the communication object is worn by the user, determining the by at least one computer server a payment amount the marketer should pay for having the advertisement on the communication object.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the communication object further comprises a visual scheme that is visible when the communication object is worn by the user, and wherein the communication object, together with the visual scheme, indicates to an observer that when the communication object is worn by the user, the user has at least one privilege.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

obtaining by a player tracking device from the communication object information regarding the user, wherein the player tracking device is part of a gaming device accessed by the user; and

denying by the at least one computer server initiation or continuation of a particular gaming event at the gaming device based on the obtained information being determined unacceptable or based on insufficient information being obtained.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the user is paid an amount to wear the communication object, and wherein the amount the user is paid is based on the amount of time the communication object is worn by the user.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the user receives comp points based at least in part on wearing the communication object, and wherein a number of comp points the user receives is based on the amount of time the user wears the communication object.

21. The method of claim 16,

wherein the communication object further comprises an electrical strip adapted to form a closed electrical circuit when the communication object is worn by the user and adapted to form an open electrical circuit when the communication object is not worn by the user;

wherein the communication object is adapted to have a first communication pattern when the electrical circuit is closed and a second communication pattern when the electrical circuit is open;

wherein the determination that the communication object is worn by the user is made based on detecting the first communication pattern; and

wherein the determination that the communication object is not worn by the user is made based on detecting the second communication pattern.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first communication pattern comprises a signal and the second communication pattern comprises no signal.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the first communication pattern comprises a first signal and the second communication pattern comprises a second different signal.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the communication object comprises bracelet.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the amount paid to the user comprises a portion of the payment amount paid by the marketer.

26. The method of claim 17,

wherein the visual scheme comprises a color scheme;

or

wherein the visual scheme comprises a color;

or

wherein the visual scheme comprises a pattern;

or

wherein the visual scheme comprises a design.

27. The method of claim 17,

wherein the visual scheme further indicates that the user is of an age within a particular age range.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one privilege comprises at least one of:

a privilege to enter a certain area,

a privilege to enter a certain club,

a privilege to visit a certain restaurant,

a privilege to visit a certain lounge,

a privilege to visit a certain gaming room,

preferential access to a location,

preferential access to a restaurant,

preferential access to a theater,

preferential seating,

preferential seating at a restaurant, and

preferential seating at a theater.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein the user receives entries into a drawing for a prize based at least in part on wearing the communication object, and wherein a number of entries the user receives is based on the amount of time the communication object is worn by the user.

30. The method of claim 16, wherein the communication object comprises a battery and a battery indicator, and wherein the battery indicator is operable to show when the battery is near depletion.