U.S. patent application number 11/208100 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-15 for electronic transaction access system and method using a player tracker card.
Invention is credited to Shanna Howatt, Scott Yankton.
Application Number | 20070060309 11/208100 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37855958 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070060309 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yankton; Scott ; et
al. |
March 15, 2007 |
Electronic transaction access system and method using a player
tracker card
Abstract
A electronic transaction access system and method using a player
tracker card is provided in which a player tracker card issued by a
casino may be used as an access device for an electronic
transaction. The electronic transaction that may be accessed using
the player tracker card may include, for example, an electronic
check cashing transaction, a check cashing transaction, a debit
transaction, a credit card cash advance transaction or an ATM
transaction.
Inventors: |
Yankton; Scott; (La Mesa,
CA) ; Howatt; Shanna; (La Mesa, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DLA PIPER RUDNICK GRAY CARY US, LLP
2000 UNIVERSITY AVENUE
E. PALO ALTO
CA
94303-2248
US
|
Family ID: |
37855958 |
Appl. No.: |
11/208100 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3239 20130101;
G07F 17/3251 20130101; G07F 17/3255 20130101; G07F 19/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/025 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A system for accessing an electronic transaction, comprising: a
reader device that reads a piece of information contained on a
player tracker card, the piece of information including a piece of
access data for a financial transaction, the reader device located
at a cashier's location of a casino; and a financial transaction
system that performs a financial transaction using an account
wherein the financial transaction is authorized by the piece of
access data contained on the player tracker card.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial transaction is an
electronic check cashing transaction.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial transaction is a
credit card cash advance transaction.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial transaction is a
debit transaction.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial transaction further
comprises an automatic teller machine transaction.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the piece of access data further
comprises an account number.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial transaction system
further comprises an entry pad wherein a personal identification
number is entered into the entry pad in order to authorize the
financial transaction.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader device further
comprises a player tracking card reader and a check reader.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the financial transaction may be
authorized based on the scanning of a check by the check
reader.
10. A method for performing a financial transaction, comprising:
reading a piece of data from a player tracker card at a location of
a cashier; determining an identity of the player based on the data
contained on the player tracker card; executing a financial
transaction at the location of the cashier based on the data
contained on the player tracker card; and providing at item of
value to the player based on the executed financial
transaction.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the financial transaction is an
electronic check cashing transaction.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the financial transaction is a
credit card cash advance transaction.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the financial transaction is a
debit transaction.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the financial transaction
further comprises an automatic teller machine transaction.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the piece of data further
comprises an account number.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein executing the financial
transaction further comprises receiving a personal identification
number from the user to authorize the financial transaction.
17. The method of claim 10, wherein executing the financial
transaction further comprises checking an identification of the
user prior to authorizing the financial transaction.
18. The method of claim 10, wherein the item of value further
comprises cash.
19. The method of claim 10, wherein the item of value further
comprises chips.
20. A system for accessing an electronic transaction, comprising: a
reader device that reads a piece of information contained on a
player tracker card, the piece of information including a piece of
access data for a financial transaction, the reader device being
located at a location outside of a casino that issued the player
tracker card; and a financial transaction system that performs a
financial transaction using an account wherein the financial
transaction is authorized by the piece of access data contained on
the player tracker card wherein the financial transaction is a
retail purchase that occurs outside of the casino.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the piece of access data
further comprises an account number.
22. The system of claim 20, wherein the financial transaction
system further comprises an entry pad wherein a personal
identification number is entered into the entry pad in order to
authorize the financial transaction.
23. The system of claim 20, wherein the reader device further
comprises a player tracking card reader and a check reader.
24. The system of claim 20 further comprising a player tracking
system with a database containing a player record wherein the
player record is associated with the player tracker card and
wherein the player record has a plurality of points attributed to
the player based on activities in the casino and wherein the
financial transaction system is coupled to the player tracking
system so that points are deducted from the player record based on
the retail purchase.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a financial transaction access
system and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Player tracker cards that permit a casino to track the
gambling of a particular player are well known. Typically, the user
is encouraged to use the player tracker card since a casino will
offer discounted rooms and other benefits based on the use of the
player tracker card. In typical use, the player tracker card is
only used to track a user's gaming activities in the casino.
However, it would be desirable to provide a method so that the
player tracker card may also be used to perform an electronic
transaction so that the player tracker card then serves an
additional beneficial purpose.
[0003] The use of automatic teller machine (ATM) access and/or
debit cards is widespread. The ATM cards permit the holder of the
card to access an ATM anywhere once the holder of the card enters
an access code (sometimes known as a personal identification number
(PIN)). A debit card permits the holder to purchase an item and
withdraw the money to pay for the item directly from their checking
or savings account when an access code is entered. It is desirable
to permit a user to access these types of financial transactions
using another card, such as a player tracker card.
[0004] The use of check cashing services is also well known and
widespread. During a check cashing transaction, the person holding
a check submits the check (or does so electronically in an
electronic check transaction) to an entity that then pays him the
amount of the check. It is desirable to permit a user to access
these types of financial transactions using another card, such as a
player tracker card. Thus, it is desirable to provide an electronic
transaction access system and method using a player tracker card
and it is to this end that the present invention is directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An electronic transaction access system and method are
provided in which a player tracker card is used to access the
electronic transaction. A player tracker card is a card issued by
an entity, such as a casino, to track a player's activities/gaming
while at the property, such as the casino and then often used for
redemption of services within the casino's environment (such as
comps, meals, bonuses, hotel stays, gifts, etc.) The player tracker
card is typically not used for any other functions. However, in
accordance with the invention, the player tracker card may also be
used to provide access to an electronic transaction wherein the
electronic transaction may be a check cashing transaction, a credit
card cash advance transaction, a debit transaction or an automatic
teller machine (ATM) transaction. In a preferred embodiment, the
electronic transaction is an electronic check cashing transaction.
In addition, the electronic transaction access system and method
may be used to access a transaction in an establishment/business
that is not related to the casino. For example, the player tracker
card may be used to conduct a retail POS transaction at a store not
connected with the casino that issued the player tracker card so
that the casino may generate revenue from the retail POS
transaction in accordance with the invention.
[0006] The electronic transaction access system and method may
include a reader device and financial transaction system. The
reader device is able to read a piece of information contained on a
player tracker card wherein the information may include access data
for a financial transaction. In accordance with the invention, the
access data may include one or more of a password, an account
number and a personal identification number (PIN.)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a typical player tracker
system;
[0008] FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a player tracker system
that includes an electronic transaction access system and method
using player tracker card in accordance with the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a check/card reader device
that may be used for the electronic transaction access system and
method using player tracker card;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating more details of a player
tracker card financial transaction access system in accordance with
the invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating more details of a preferred
embodiment of the electronic transaction system that may be
accessed using a player tracker card;
[0012] FIGS. 5A-5I are diagrams illustrating several examples of
the data contained on a player tracker card that may be used to
access an electronic transaction in accordance with the invention;
and
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates a player tracker card retail transaction
in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] The invention is particularly applicable to an electronic
cash checking transaction that is accessible using a player tracker
card and it is in this context that the invention will be
described. It will be appreciated, however, that the system and
method in accordance with the invention has greater utility since
the player tracker card may also be used to access other types of
transactions including but not limited to a check cashing
transaction, a debit transaction, a credit card cash advance
transaction or an ATM transaction. Prior to describing the
electronic transaction access system and method using player
tracker card in accordance with the invention, a typical player
tracker system is described.
[0015] FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a typical player tracker
system 9. The player tracker system may utilize a player tracking
card 12 that has the physical dimensions of a typical credit card
that contains data that permits an entity, such as a casino, to
track the gaming and activities of a particular player. The player
tracker card 12 may be inserted into a slot in a machine 14, gaming
table or other revenue producer, such as a slot machine or a
various types of gaming tables, so that the casino that houses the
machines is able to track the player activities (see step 1), such
as time spent using the slot machine, the type of slot machine and
the money inserted into the machine. The data from each machine is
fed to a player tracking system server 16 (see step 2) and stored
in a database for a particular player based on the player
identification code contained in the player tracker card. Based on
the length of play at the machine or table and the amount of money
spent at the table or machine, the player may be awarded player
points that are accumulated on the player tracker card and in the
player tracker system. In step 3, the player with the player
tracker card wants to redeem the points and the player goes to a
redemption place, such as a restaurant, box office, etc. In step 4,
the player redeems the points for one or more reward items 15. In
step 5, the points for the selected reward items are deducted from
the player tracking account associated with the player tracker
card.
[0016] FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a player tracker system 10
that includes an electronic transaction access system and method
using player tracker card in accordance with the invention. The
player tracker system 10 uses some of the same elements as shown in
FIG. 1A and those elements have the same reference numbers. In the
player tracker system 10, the player tracker card typically
contains an identification number that is used by the player
tracker system to correlate the play of the machine or table with a
player stored in the player tracker system database. When used with
the electronic transaction access system and method using player
tracker card in accordance with the invention, the identifier
contained on the player tracker card is used to provide access to
an account of the owner of the player tracker card so that the
owner may execute a financial transaction. Thus, as shown in FIG.
1B, the player tracker card 12 may be read at a cashier location 20
in the casino in order to, in a preferred embodiment, execute an
electronic check transaction by accessing an eCash system.RTM. 22
wherein the access is accomplished using a check reader and a web
page.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a check/card reader device
24 that may be used for the electronic transaction access system
and method using player tracker card. In a preferred embodiment,
the reader device 24 permits a cashier to swipe a card (and read
the data contained on the card such as the data contained on the
player tracker card) using a first slot 26 or to scan a check (and
read the data on the check) using a second slot 28. An example of a
reader device that may be used with the electronic transaction
access system and method is a commercially available Magtek.RTM.
MICR Plus reader device. The reader device is able to read MICR
characters on checks, deposit, withdrawal slips and other MICR
encoded documents and also has a 3-track MSR (Magnetic Stripe
Reader) for ISO and AAMVA card standards. The reader device may be
connected to a PIN entry device. The reader device may also have a
port, and an auxiliary port available to connect PINpads, barcode
readers, or signature capture pads. In a preferred embodiment, the
port and auxiliary port may be a universal serial bus (USB) port.
However, the port may also be an RS-232 port (such as for the
Magtek.RTM. MICR Plus reader device described above) or a wireless
communications port. More details of this commercially available
device is available at
http://www.magtek.com/products/check.sub.13reading/micr.sub.13plus/micr.s-
ub.13plus.asp.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating more details of a player
tracker card financial transaction access system 30 in accordance
with the invention. As shown, in order to perform an electronic
check cashing transaction, the player may either scan a check 31 or
swipe the player tracker card 12 using the reader device 24. The
reader device 24 is connected to a computer at the cashier's
location 20 and the location 20 may also be connected to a PINpad
32. In some cases, such as an ATM transaction, the player is able
to input his/her PIN number using the PINpad. In most other
transactions, a particular piece of identification of the player
with the player tracker card will be used to authenticate the
player and permit the financial transaction to continue. In a
preferred embodiment, the cashier may check the identification of
the player (using an approved ID type) once the player tracker card
has been swiped using the reader device. The computer at the
cashier's location 20 is connected to the eCash system.RTM. 22 that
communicates the various data associated with the check cashing
transaction onto the eCash systems.RTM. 22. The eCash system.RTM.
22 may forward some of the information from the cahier onto a Trans
Union model system 34 that provides any further information to
accomplish the check cashing transaction back to the eCash
system.RTM. 22. The eCash system.RTM. may then approve the amount
of the transaction and send the approval back to the cashier
location 20. The cashier may then provide an item of value, such as
casino chips or cash, to the player based on the approved
transaction. The eCash system.RTM. 22 may also then perform the
settlement of the check cashing transaction by performing either a
settlement 36 by an automated clearing house (ACH) transaction or a
settlement 38 via traditional physical deposit to a bank 40 that in
turn settles the check cashing transaction with a bank 42 of the
player.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating more details of the
preferred embodiment of the electronic transaction system that may
be accessed using a player tracker card. The electronic transaction
system may be accessed to perform a check cashing transaction 50
from the cashier location 20 or to perform a credit card
transaction 52 or a debit POS transaction 54 at a bank kiosk 60
wherein the data is routed to the eCash systems.RTM. 22. The
electronic transaction system may be accessed to perform a credit
transaction 52, a debit transaction 54 or an ATM transaction 56
from a multiple function ATM 62 or to perform an ATM transaction 56
from an ATM 64 wherein the data from these transactions is routed
to an ATM system 66 located within the bank 40 that also houses the
eCash system.RTM. 22. As shown, the eCash system.RTM. 22 and the
ATM system 66 are coupled to each other and communicate data
between the two systems. As shown, the eCash system.RTM. 22 is may
communicate the credit transaction data and the debit transaction
data between a payment processing system 68 and the eCash
system.RTM. 22. The payment processing system 68 may be coupled to
a bank 70 that issued the credit card and may communicate the data
between the bank and the payment processing system 68. The ATM
system 66 may be coupled to an ATM network 72 and communicate the
debit and ATM transaction data between the ATM system 66 and the
network 72. The ATM network 72 may in turn be coupled to a bank 74
that issued the ATM card and one or more other ATM networks 76. In
one embodiment, the primary ATM network 72 may be the STAR network
whole the other ATM networks may include Plus, Cirrus, etc. The
other ATM networks 76 may be connected to a bank 78 that issued the
ATM card for that network. As shown, the debit and ATM transaction
data may be communicated between these various elements in a known
manner since the various financial transactions shown in FIG. 4 are
well known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
[0020] FIGS. 5A-5I are diagrams illustrating several examples of
the data contained on a player tracker card that may be used to
access an electronic transaction in accordance with the invention.
As shown in FIG. 5A-5I, each different casino may have different
data stored on the player tracker card. Typically, the player
tracker card has a first track and a second track and the actual
data stored in these tracks depending on the particular casino. On
some player tracker cards, the data in at least one track is the
same as the player tracker identifier 80. In any event, the
electronic transaction system that may be accessed using a player
tracker card is able to use the data contained on the player
tracker card to identify the player which can then be used to
accomplish a check cashing transaction. In some situations, other
data from the player, such as an identification or a PIN, is
entered into the system. The player tracker card may also contain a
site/casino identifier to identify the casino that issued the
player tracker card in case the account numbers on the player
tracker cards for different sites/casinos overlap each other.
[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates a player tracker card retail transaction
system 80 in accordance with the invention since the electronic
transaction system using a player tracker card may also be used to
conduct a point of sale transaction. A point of sale (POS)
transaction is typically for retail purchases that occur outside of
the casino and maybe a third party. This embodiment of the
electronic transaction system using a player tracker card contains
some of the same elements shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and those
elements have the same reference numbers and operate in the same
manner unless indicated otherwise. As with the player tracker
system described above, the player may play slots, table games or
other revenue producers in step 101 and the player accumulated
points for those activities that may be sent to the player tracker
system 16 in step 102. In step 103, the player may use the player
tracker card for purchases, such as at a participating retail
store. The store at which the purchase occurs may be on the
casino/site property or it may also be outside of the casino/site
so that the player tracker card may enable a casino owner or the
like to derive revenue from activities that have occurred outside
of the casino. At the store, the player tracker card is swiped at a
POS terminal at the store wherein the player tracker card provides
access to the eCash system.RTM. 22. Typically, a cashier at the
store may check an ID of the player prior to authorizing the
purchase. In step 104, the eCash system.RTM. 22 has an interface
with the player tracker system 16 so that points may be deducted
from the player's points when the player tracker card is used for
retail purchases. The value to a casino/site of this embodiment is
that is differentiates the casino from other casinos since it
permits use of the player tracker card outside of the casino
property. The casino/site may also generate some revenue due to the
discounted repayment of the participating retailers.
[0022] In accordance with the invention, the electronic transaction
system using the player tracker card does not require that a PIN is
used for each type of transaction. However, it is understood that
the PIN may be used. In most cases, the system may instead require
an identification check of the player that holds the player
tracking card wherein the identification check is performed by the
cashier/retail store clerk when a transaction using the player
tracker card occurs.
[0023] While the foregoing has been with reference to a particular
embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art that changes in this embodiment may be made
without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention,
the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *
References