U.S. patent application number 11/404016 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-15 for method of cashless gaming and player tracking.
This patent application is currently assigned to IDX, INC.. Invention is credited to James H. Halsey, Scott Juds.
Application Number | 20070060326 11/404016 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37809452 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070060326 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Juds; Scott ; et
al. |
March 15, 2007 |
Method of cashless gaming and player tracking
Abstract
Methods of cashless gaming and player tracking use buttonless
RFID technology at both gaming machines and gaming tables to
transfer a predetermined denominated amount of credit from a remote
network connected gaming account server to the gaming machine or
table. Gaming machines have an Idle State, an anonymous credit
state, and an identified credit state, each with specific methods
for changing from one to another. Gaming tables have a keypad for
the dealer, RFID readers at each seating position, and a
transaction display visible to the dealer, the patrons, and an
overhead security camera.
Inventors: |
Juds; Scott; (Seattle,
WA) ; Halsey; James H.; (El Dorado, AR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Vincent L. Ramik;DILLER, RAMIK & WIGHT
Suite 101
7345 McWhorter Place
Annandale
VA
22003
US
|
Assignee: |
IDX, INC.
|
Family ID: |
37809452 |
Appl. No.: |
11/404016 |
Filed: |
April 14, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11214923 |
Aug 31, 2005 |
|
|
|
11404016 |
Apr 14, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3239 20130101;
G07F 17/3248 20130101; G07F 17/3251 20130101; G07F 17/32
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/029 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction comprising
the steps of providing a patron with a gaming account and an ID
carrier having an ID code that uniquely identifies the patron's
gaming account, storing a predetermined denomination amount for
association with the ID code prior to conducting a cashless gaming
transaction, providing a gaming machine with an ID carrier reader,
reading the ID code from an ID carrier, transmitting the ID code to
a remote network connected gaming account server and verifying that
the gaming account balance associated with the ID code has at least
the predetermined denomination amount, providing the patron access
to the predetermined denomination amount of credit for gaming, and
displaying the predetermined denomination amount to the patron on
the gaming machine as credit authorized for game play.
2. The method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction according
to claim 1 including the step of storing in and reading back from
the ID carrier the predetermined denomination amount associated
with the ID code.
3. The method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction according
to claim 1 including the step of storing in and reading back from
the gaming account the predetermined denomination amount associated
with the ID code.
4. The method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction according
to claim 1 including the step of reading the ID carrier with a
non-contact reader having neither buttons nor display for patron
interface during the cashless gaming transaction.
5. The method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction according
to claim 1 including the steps of debiting or crediting both the
displayed credit authorized for game play and the patron's gaming
account balance according to the results of a played game and the
wagered amount, and, inhibiting game play when the displayed credit
authorized for game play is less than one of the selected wager
amount and the minimum wager amount regardless of the balance in
the patron's gaming account.
6. A method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction comprising
the steps of providing a patron with a gaming account and an ID
carrier having, an ID code that uniquely identifies the patron's
gaming account, storing a predetermined denomination amount for
association with the ID code prior to conducting a cashless gaming
transaction, providing a gaming machine with an ID carrier reader,
reading the ID code from an ID carrier, transmitting the ID code to
a remote network connected gaming account server and verifying that
the gaming account balance associated with the ID code has at least
the predetermined denomination amount, providing the patron access
to the predetermined denomination amount of credit for gaming,
displaying the predetermined denomination amount to the patron on
the gaming machine, and maintaining a link between the gaming
machine and the gaming account without the continued presence of
the ID carrier within reading range of the ID carrier reader until
the displayed credit available for game play is at least one of
reset to zero by the patron and played down to zero.
7. The method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction according
to claim 6 including the steps of awarding player tracking points
during play of the gaming machine while a link remains between the
gaming machine and the gaming account, and transmitting awarded
player tracking points from the gaming machine to the remote
network connected gaming account server for accumulation and
storage in the gaming account.
8. The method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction according
to claim 7 including the step of changing an illuminated portion of
the ID carrier reader from a first color to a second color to
indicate that an exclusive link is established.
9. A method of creating and using a cashless gaming account
comprising the steps of providing a first gaming machine with a
currency validator, validating a patron's currency to provide a
credit balance on the first gaming machine, generating a cash-out
request on the first gaming machine, reading a predetermined ID
code from an ID carrier and dispensing the ID carrier to the patron
from the first gaming machine, transmitting the predetermined ID
code to a remote network connected gaming account server,
automatically creating an anonymous gaming account on the gaming
account server associated with the predetermined ID code,
transferring the remaining credit balance from the first gaming
machine to the anonymous gaming account, providing each of a
plurality of other gaming machines with an ID carrier reader,
reading the predetermined ID code from the patron's ID carrier at a
second gaming machine, enabling game play on the second gaming
machine upon verification of sufficient credit balance in the
anonymous gaming account, reading the predetermined ID code from
the patron's ID carrier at a third gaming machine, and enabling
game play on the third gaming machine upon verification of
sufficient credit balance in the anonymous gaming account.
10. The method of creating a cashless gaming account according to
claim 9 including the step of automatically associating a
predetermined denomination amount with the ID code upon creation of
the anonymous gaming account wherein the predetermined denomination
amount is displayed to the patron upon reading the ID code from the
patron's ID carrier on any of the plurality of other gaming
machines so long as the anonymous gaming account credit balance is
at least one of greater than and equal to the predetermined
denomination amount.
11. The method of creating a cashless gaming account according to
claim 10 wherein the predetermined denomination is an integer
number of one of dollars and euros and wherein the integer is one
of one, five, ten, twenty, twenty five, fifty, one hundred and five
hundred.
12. The method of creating a cashless gaming account according to
claim 11 wherein the predetermined denomination is an integer
multiple, greater than zero, of the base wagering denomination of
the gaming machine dispensing the ID carrier.
13. A cashless gaming system comprising means for reading an ID
code from a patron's ID carrier at one of a gaming machine and a
gaming table, means for associating the ID code with a
predetermined denomination amount, means for associating the ID
code with a gaming account located on a remote network connected
account server, means for displaying the predetermined denomination
amount to the patron at one of the gaming machine and gaming table
following a first reading of the ID code when the gaming account
balance is at least as large as the predetermined denomination
amount, and means for adding the predetermined denomination amount
to a prior amount shown by the display means following a subsequent
reading of the ID code.
14. The cashless gaming system according to claim 13 further
including means to track game play associated with the displayed
amount and award points to a player tracking account associated
with the ID code.
15. A cashless gaming system for table games comprising means for
reading a first ID code from a patron's ID carrier at each seating
position of a gaming table, means for associating the first ID code
with a predetermined denomination amount, means for associating the
first ID code with a gaming account located on a remote network
connected account server, means for reading a second ID code from a
supervisor's ID carrier at the gaming table to provide transaction
authorization, and means for visually indicating on the reading
means for the supervisor's ID carrier that authorization is
required to complete a patron's buy-in or cash-out transaction when
it exceeds a predetermined threshold.
16. A cashless gaming system comprising means for reading an ID
code from a patron's ID carrier at one of a gaming machine and a
gaming table, means for associating the patron's ID code with a
gaming account located on a remote network connected account
server, means for reading an ID code from a beverage server's ID
carrier at the same one of a gaming machine and a gaming table,
means for associating the beverage server's ID code with a gratuity
account located on a remote network connected account server, means
for associating the beverage server's ID code with a gratuity
amount, means for approving a pending gratuity transaction by at
least reading the ID code from patron's same ID carrier, means for
debiting one of the patron's gaming account and the patron's gaming
machine credit balance with the gratuity amount, and means for
crediting the gratuity account with the gratuity amount.
17. The cashless gaming system according to claim 16 further
including means for associating the beverage server's ID code with
a predetermined denomination amount, and means for incrementing the
gratuity amount by the predetermined denomination amount when the
beverage server's ID code is read.
18. The cashless gaming system according to claim 16 further
including means for displaying to the patron a selection of
gratuity amounts in response to reading the beverage server's ID
code.
19. A method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction comprising
the steps of reading an ID code from a patron's ID carrier at one
of a gaming machine and a gaming table, associating the patron's ID
code with a gaming account located on a remote network connected
account server, reading an ID code from a beverage server's ID
carrier at the same one of a gaming machine and a gaming table,
associating the beverage server's ID code with a gratuity account
located on a remote network connected account server, associating
the beverage server's ID code with a gratuity amount, approving a
pending gratuity transaction by at least reading the ID code from
patron's same ID carrier, debiting one of the patron's gaming
account and the patron's gaming machine credit balance with the
gratuity amount, and crediting the gratuity account with the
gratuity amount.
20. The method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction
according to claim 19 including the steps of associating the
beverage server's ID code with a predetermined denomination amount,
and incrementing the gratuity amount by the predetermined
denomination amount when the beverage server's ID code is read.
21. The method of conducting a cashless gaming transaction
according to claim 19 including the step of displaying to the
patron a selection of gratuity amounts in response to reading the
beverage server's ID code.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/214,923 filed Aug. 31,2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention pertains to casino gaming, and in particular
to methods of cashless gaming and player tracking designed to
simplify and secure their operation while eliminating the supplies,
maintenance, and repair costs associated with coin acceptors, bill
acceptors, card readers, and ticket printers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Casinos and gaming equipment manufactures continually strive
to improve the attraction of gaming to the patron while reducing
the operating costs of the equipment. Operating costs include
amortized installation costs, operating supplies, maintenance costs
and repair costs.
[0004] On the operating cost side of the equation, one of the more
significant categories is that of coins, tickets, bills, and their
associated acceptors, hoppers, and printers. Each of these
electromechanical devices occasionally requires attention to
maintain it in proper working order. Coin acceptors and coin
hoppers can become jammed with bent coins. Bill validators can
become jammed with worn or dirty bills. Ticket printers can become
jammed with paper debris. Optical sensors in each of them
occasionally need cleaning. Coins must be provided to fill all of
the hoppers and back room hopper fill inventory requirements.
Personnel must empty drop vaults and perform hopper fills on call.
Ticket printers must have their paper ticket stock replenished
periodically. Although the material and labor costs for any one
machine may seem insignificant, when a casino has many thousands of
gaming machines, the aggregate cost becomes worthy of
attention.
[0005] On the attraction side of the equation, in addition to the
attractive design of a game itself, casinos have long employed
loyalty club programs to reward their better customers with perks,
such as free meals, free rooms, and free entertainment. Today, most
casinos employ one of a number of available player tracking systems
at gaming machines in order to both identify the patron and to
record the amount, of the patron's gaming activity. The hardware
and software that implements gaming loyalty club programs is
commonly known as a player tracking system.
[0006] When player tracking systems first took root they used a
plastic card the size of a credit card 10 with numerous punched
holes 11, as shown in FIG. 1A. The holes 11 were read by an optical
card reader, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,304 granted
December to Acres, et al. As the industry progressed, the optically
read card 10 was replaced by a card 12 having a magnetic strip 13,
as illustrated in FIG. 1B. More recently RFID technology has been
employed for player tracking. An RFID (radio frequency
identification) keyfob 14 having an RFID inlay 16 with RFID chip 17
and antenna 18 of FIG. 1C is used by Golden Gaming for its casinos
and pubs as a player tracking identification means. The keyfob 14
is placed near a reader at a slot machine when the patron logs onto
the player tracking system to earn loyalty points while playing.
The RFID keyfob has no magnetic reading head to get dirty and
intermittent over the course of reading thousands of player cards,
and there are no optical sensors to get dirty and intermittent over
the course many thousands of player card insertions.
[0007] Ease of registration for a loyalty program is an important
part of attracting and maintaining customers. Patrons have come to
the casino because they are interested in playing the games, as
opposed to standing in a line to fill out paperwork for a casino
loyalty program. A gaming machine adapted to provide a method of
registering a patron to a loyalty program at the gaming machine
wherein the patron or a casino service representative enters
personal identification information for the account into a device
on the gaming machine or on a hand-held wireless device is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,618 granted May 24, 2005 to Benoy,
et al.
[0008] Casinos and gaming equipment manufacturers have also worked
to reduce the material and labor costs associated with the money
involved in gaming machines. Initially slot machines were all coin
operated. In order to reduce the labor cost of selling coins or
tokens to patrons, bill validators were introduced on slot machines
in the mid 1990s. However, with the subsequent growth in
popularity-of the nickel video slot machines hopper fills became a
problem. When a patron feeds a $20 bill into a machine and then
later presses the cash-out button, the average patron will get a
significant portion of that $20 bill in change. That typically
results in dispensing nearly 400 nickels and as a consequence
results in frequent hopper fills with heavy bags of coins, and
furthermore results in frequent instances when a patron is forced
to wait ten to fifteen minutes for the hopper refill in order to
get fully paid when the slot machine runs out of coins during a
cash-out procedure. The industry solution to this problem has been
to pay patrons with a barcoded ticket 21 of FIG. 2A which is
printed by the slot machine. The ticket 21 has a barcode 22
representative of an amount of money owed the patron. The barcode
and the amount are both transmitted through a network connection to
a central server at which that information may later be accessed.
The ticket 21 may then be redeemed at the next machine by a bill
validator adapted to read the barcoded ticket 21, or at the
cashier. A slot machine having a bar code ticket printer and a bar
code ticket reader to avoid having to use coins or tokens in the
operation of slot machines is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,269
granted Apr. 11, 2000 to Burns, et al. This technology has become
known in the industry as ticket-in-ticket-out, or TITO.
[0009] TITO was the first widely successful electronic funds
transfer (EFT) technology for slot machines. Although it is a
partial step toward cashless gaming, it really only goes as far as
coinless gaming. TITO machines still rely on a bill validator for
the patron to initially put gaming credits on a machine.
Furthermore, the industry standard means of reading the barcoded
tickets is through the bill validator. True cashless gaming
requires elimination of coins, bills, and hopefully even tickets.
Although elimination of coin handling for gaming machines with TITO
has had an important cost reduction impact for casinos, it has also
had an inadvertent negative side effect on beverage service
availability around gaming machines. Patrons no longer have a ready
cup full of coins from which to offer the beverage server a tip.
So, the incidence of tipping at TITO gaming machines has declined
significantly enough that servers prefer to avoid serving patrons
at the machines in favor of serving patrons at the tables where
plenty of gaming chips are at hand for tipping. Casinos have been
looking for a way to remedy this service problem.
[0010] Attempts have been made to link together the player tracking
account with a debit account to achieve cashless gaming. A cashless
gaming system wherein a patron provides money and an ID card to a
clerk and wherein the ID number and the amount of money are stored
in the memory of the validation terminal is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,265,874 granted Nov. 30, 1993 to Dickinson. The patron
subsequently uses the ID card for operating one of a number of game
terminals which reads and validates the patron's ID card and then
downloads the cash amount from the validation terminal. Upon
actuation of the cash-out button the remaining amount is uploaded
back to the validation terminal where it may subsequently be
likewise downloaded to another game terminal. Slot machine
manufacturer IGT markets a system with these features under the
trademark Coinless Transit. It utilizes a player tracking card as
the ID card and describes the system as a "virtual coin cup" due to
the fact that the entire amount is transferred from machine to
machine through the "validation terminal" account.
[0011] A version of slot machine manufacturer IGT's Coinless
Transit system uses a Smart Card 27 of FIG. 2B having contact pads
28 for connection to an embedded encrypted data storage processor
in accordance with ISO standard 7816. It stores gaming credits on
the card and enforces transaction limits. Similarly, slot machine
manufacturer Atronic offers a system called Chip Cash that uses
Smart Card technology. Funds are loaded onto the card at a cashier
station or simply via the bill validator of the slot machine, and
may be cashed out directly from the slot machine to the card. The
Chip Cash card may be personalized to also be a player tracking
card with optional PIN protection. The advantage of a Smart Card
system is that it can operate independently of concern for
compatibility and licensing fees required for network connection to
a casino player tracking account system since the value is carried
on the card and the card provides its own validation and security
features. The disadvantage is that if the card is damaged or
stolen, the value stored on it is permanently lost. A system fairly
similar to both of the above described systems is being marketed by
MaxeTag of Australia but instead employs an RFID tag having
writable storage memory to hold the gaming funds within the RFID
transponder chip in much the same way as does a Smart Card. In any
of these systems, once funds have been transferred to the gaming
machine, there is no further link maintained between the remaining
funds balance on the gaming machine and the patron's ID. The ID
must again be present when transferring funds back off the machine
to a remote account, and certainly of course, to a Smart Card or
RFID transponder that is designed to be an electronic funds
carrier.
[0012] A patron identification card having UV fluorescent qualities
and an RFID transceiver that is linked to a patron's account on a
host computer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,035 granted Nov.
4, 2003 to Predescu, et al. The Predescu et al. patent discloses,
but does not claim, that at each game play the amount won is
credited and the amount lost is debited to the patron's account,
thus allowing patrons to enjoy games without using cash or tokens.
Similarly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,328 granted Aug. 28,
2001 to Holch is an account based gaming system wherein the actual
funds remain located in an account on a remote network connected
server, a network connected gaming machine is enabled to play if
the patron's account balance is sufficient for the desired wager,
and game result information is transmitted back to the account
server where the account balance is credited or debited
accordingly. Neither of these disclosures suggests any means or
method for limiting display or access of the patron's account
balance at the gaming machine other than always working with the
full account balance.
[0013] To address the problem of limiting the amount the access to
funds associated with a patrons credit card or banking debit card
account, a gaming machine which allows electronic funds transfer to
a gaming machine requests playing credit in according to a limited
preset amount not controlled by the patron is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,902,983 granted May 11, 1999 to Crevelt, et al., and in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,738 granted Feb. 19, 2002 also to Crevelt, et
al.
[0014] A coin shaped token for use in a cashless transaction having
a memory, a display, a keypad and an RF input/output interface
embedded within the token body to communicate with an electronic
gaming device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,591 granted Oct.
7, 2003 to Griswold, et al. Monetary value and transaction history
is stored in the memory. The keypad and display provide a means for
the patron to navigate a menu of choices regarding actions and
amounts. A very similar device and system called Easy Money,
manufactured by Ardent Gaming and used in Isle of Capri casinos,
has an electronics funds carrier 23 of FIG. 2C with an LCD display
24, a keypad 25, and utilizes RF communication to transfer funds to
and from a gaming machine. These devices in effect are like a Smart
Card with a keypad and display. Just like the Smart Card, the
disadvantage is that if it is damaged or stolen, the value stored
on it is permanently lost. Its more complex construction makes it
inherently more susceptible to damage and places additional
manufacturing cost burden on the many electronic funds carriers
rather than on the fewer transceivers in the gaming machines.
[0015] In addition to the methods of transferring credit for
cashless gaming systems previously described, still other ways of
determining how much credit or value is to be transferred have been
used in other markets. A fueling system capable of conducting a
wireless transaction to effect payment based on a patron's use of
an RFID transponder to link to one of the patron's credit card
accounts is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,840 granted Jun. 13,
2000 to Marion. The amount of the payment is defined by the amount
of fuel pumped by the patron. The nature of the transaction allows
the amount to be unknown and unlimited until the fuelling is
complete largely because it is a credit account and because the
risk is inherently limited by the limited size of a vehicle fuel
tank.
[0016] Despite the considerable effort that has been applied
heretofore towards both player tracking systems and cashless gaming
systems, many important aspects of such systems stand in further
need of improvement, particularly when they are combined as a
single system. While the prior art already has examples of the
combination, the problems that remain in the current systems
include: a) magnetic strip card systems suffer from the simplicity
of making copies, reader heads the get dirty and fail, and the
requirement to leave the card in the reader during game play
results in many cards being erroneously abandoned when the patron
leaves a gaming machine; b) RF tokens or keyfob devices with
buttons and LCD displays are comparatively fragile and expensive,
all value stored on them is lost if they are lost or broken, and
they do not provide a reasonably economical path for the complete
elimination of physical monetary media in gaming machines; c) the
electrical contacts of Smart Card readers are at least as
susceptible to reliability problems as are magnetic strip card
reader heads, and the laminated chip embedded in the card is
susceptible to damage through bending which can lead to loss of all
value stored thereon; and d) ticket-in-ticket-out systems are
really only capable of a single use for transfer of monetary value
from one machine to another, and they still use a physical media
prone to paper jams and do require regular refilling of blank
ticket stock. Furthermore, because card systems have not taken the
next evolutionary steps in design a) they either make the erroneous
assumption that the patron wants access to the full balance of the
account at the gaming machine or they require the patron to press
buttons and navigate menu screens to select the amount to access,
or b) they have not developed the requisite security measures to
inherently identify and protect a patron's monetary value currently
held by a gaming machine from the surreptitious actions of a second
patron.
[0017] As can readily be appreciated, there remains a need for
further improvement in methods of cashless gaming and player
tracking designed to simplify and secure their operation while
eliminating the supplies, maintenance, and repair costs associated
with coin acceptors, bill acceptors, card readers, and ticket
printers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] In a first embodiment of the present invention a method of
cashless gaming includes providing a patron with an ID carrier
having an ID code that uniquely identifies the patron's gaming
account, predetermining a denomination amount for association with
the ID code, reading the ID code at a gaming machine or gaming
table, verifying that a gaming account associated with the ID code
may be charged the predetermined denomination amount, providing the
patron with the predetermined denomination amount of credit for
gaming, and charging the predetermined denomination amount to the
gaming account.
[0019] In a second embodiment of the present invention a method of
cashless gaming includes providing a patron with an ID carrier
having an ID code that uniquely identifies the patron's gaming
account on a remote network connected gaming account server. The
gaming account includes both credit balance and player tracking
information. Reading the ID code at a gaming machine or table
automatically links play activity to the player tracking database
and provides for electronic funds transfer.
[0020] In a third embodiment of the present invention for cashless
gaming, a table game has a keypad for the dealer, an ID carrier
reader at each seating position, and a transaction display visible
to the dealer, the patron, and to an overhead security camera. When
the patron presents his ID carrier to the ID carrier reader at his
seat, the transaction display indicates the seating position and a
multiple of a predetermined denomination of credit that the patron
requests in playing chips from the dealer. The chips are counted
and delivered to the patron and a keypad acknowledgement completes
the transaction.
[0021] In a fourth embodiment of the present invention for cashless
gaming, a gaming machine has an Idle State, an Anonymous Credit
State, and an Identified Credit State in order to properly treat
the difference between anonymous currency and identified gaming
accounts. Sets of methodical steps provide definition for
transition from one state to another in response to currency
validation, cash-out requests, reading of a first ID code, reading
of a second ID code, and various account credit balance conditions
in order to protect the patron while providing simplicity in system
use.
[0022] In a fifth embodiment of the present invention cashless
gaming methods are shown for creating an instant anonymous account
and funding the account from a gaming machine. An ID carrier is
dispensed and an account is instantly created when an anonymous
currency using patron cashes out from a gaming machine. Patrons new
to casino property can use an ID carrier from another property to
instantly create a gaming account at a machine without the need for
any additional overt registration steps.
[0023] In a sixth embodiment of the present invention cashless
gaming methods are shown for providing a beverage server with a
gratuity at a cashless gaming machine by providing the server with
a tip ID carrier that can be read at the gaming machine associated
with the gaming account of a patron, and wherein the gratuity
amount is authorized by the patron by a subsequent re-reading of
the patron's ID carrier.
[0024] The foregoing and many other additional method details
described herein finally provide for an integrated electronics
funds transfer system and player tracking system, preferably
utilizing the non-contact secure technology of RFID, which removes
unnecessary costs from the patron's ID carrier without compromising
security or simplicity in use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1A is a top plan view, and illustrates a prior art
player tracking card having an ID code composed of a series of
punched holes.
[0026] FIG. 1B is a bottom plan view, and illustrates a prior art
player tracking card having an ID code composed of a magnetic
pattern on a magnetic recording strip.
[0027] FIG. 1C is a top plan view, and illustrates a player
tracking keyfob having an ID code composed of an RFID circuit with
a unique serial number.
[0028] FIG. 2A is a top plan view, and illustrates a cash-out
ticket for ticket-in-ticket-out.
[0029] FIG. 2B is a top plan view, and illustrates a smartcard with
an embedded chip.
[0030] FIG. 2C is a front perspective view, and illustrates an
electronic funds carrier.
[0031] FIG. 3A is a side perspective view, and illustrates a low
frequency RFID keyfob.
[0032] FIG. 3B is a top plan view, and illustrates a high frequency
RFID keyfob.
[0033] FIG. 3C is a top plan view, and illustrates a high frequency
RFID inlay.
[0034] FIG. 4A is a top plan view, and illustrates a $25
denominated RFID player tracking keyfob.
[0035] FIG. 4B is a bottom plan view, and illustrates a denominated
RFID player tracking keyfob.
[0036] FIG. 4C is a top plan view, and illustrates a $5 denominated
RFID player tracking keyfob.
[0037] FIG. 4D is a top plan view, and is illustrative of a $100
denominated RFID player tracking keyfob.
[0038] FIG. 5 is a side plan view, and illustrates an RFID
transceiver.
[0039] FIG. 6 is an axial cross-sectional view of the RFID
transceiver of FIG. 5, and illustrates interior components and
mounting of the RFID transceiver relative to an apertured
support.
[0040] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view, and illustrates a slot
machine.
[0041] FIG. 8 is a top plan view, and illustrates an RFID keyfob
card assembly in a breakaway holder having the outer dimensions of
a standard credit card.
[0042] FIG. 9 is a top plan view, and illustrates a gaming
table.
[0043] FIG. 10A is a front perspective view, and illustrates a
transaction display.
[0044] FIG. 10B is a front perspective view, and illustrates a
transaction display.
[0045] FIG. 10C is a front perspective view, and illustrates a
transaction display.
[0046] FIG. 10D is a front perspective view, and illustrates a
transaction display.
[0047] FIG. 11 is a block diagram, and illustrates components for
the gaming table embodiment of the invention and the connections
therebetween.
[0048] FIG. 12 is a system diagram, and illustrates the
interconnections between gaming tables, gaming machines, and a
gaming account server.
[0049] FIG. 13 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for
performing a denominated cashless gaming transaction.
[0050] FIG. 14 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for
transitioning a gaming machine from an Idle State to another
state.
[0051] FIG. 15 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for
transitioning a gaming machine from an Identified Credit State to
another state.
[0052] FIG. 16 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for
transitioning a gaming machine from an Anonymous Credit State to
another state.
[0053] FIG. 17 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for
performing a merger of gaming accounts and display of a gaming
account balance.
[0054] FIG. 18 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for
performing a cash-out procedure at a gaming table.
[0055] FIG. 19 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for
cashless operation of a gaming machine where no funds are
transferred to the gaming machine.
[0056] FIG. 20 is a front perspective view, and illustrates a
beverage serving tray having two denominated tip ID carriers.
[0057] FIG. 21 is a front plan view, and illustrates a gratuity
selection touchscreen display on a gaming machine.
[0058] FIG. 22 is a front plan view, and illustrates a gratuity
authorization touchscreen display on a gaming machine.
[0059] FIG. 23 is a flow chart, and illustrates the steps for
cashless operation of providing a beverage server a gratuity at
gaming machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0060] Within the context of the invention description that
follows, the term gaming machine refers to slot machines and their
derivatives, including the mechanical reel types, video reel types,
video poker, video black jack, and various adventure games for
gambling whether or not they actually still have a traditional coin
slot. The term gaming table refers to craps tables, roulette
tables, and card tables for black jack, baccarat, Pai Gow, Let It
Ride, and others. An ID carrier includes any machine readable card,
keyfob, button, or other device which holds an ID code that can
uniquely identify a patron, and more specifically a patron's gaming
account. RFID transponders are also commonly known as RFID tags.
The term cash-out button refers to a physical button, a virtual
button on a touch-screen display, or other means by which the
patron may otherwise invoke a cash-out request. Although the
preferred embodiment of the invention includes a bill validator, it
is representative of any type of currency, including the private
currency of sponsored tokens and coupons.
[0061] Within the casino gaming industry, customer loyalty programs
are commonly used in an attempt to attract and hold a casino
property's best customers. At the root of the customer loyalty
programs used within the casino gaming industry are the automated
player tracking systems used in the gaming machines, and the manual
player tracking systems used at the gaming tables. The magnetic
strip card readers used at the gaming machines to read player
tracking cards are not very physically practical at a gaming table,
and at a gaming table there is not the same kind of connection with
metered wagering for the automated tracking of play activity as has
long been available in the gaming machines.
[0062] The preferred embodiment for an ID carrier is an RFID
transponder. RFID transponders, such as the cylindrical keyfob 30
of FIG. 3A, have a long standing record for quickly and securely
linking to a patron's credit card account to effect payment at the
gas pump. This service is marketed by Exxon/Mobile under the
Speedpass trademark. The keyfob 30 is manufactured by Texas
Instruments, operates at 134 KHz and has a 64 bit read-only serial
number. The keyfob 31 of FIG. 3B, also manufactured by Texas
Instruments and marketed under the Tag-It trademark, operates at
13.56 MHz, has a flat internal inlay 32 of FIG. 3C, a printed
antenna 33, a transponder chip 34, and a 64 bit read-only serial
number. The 64 bit serial number provides over 18 billion-billion
different numbers, enough for three billion per person on earth,
and which is enough to ensure there will never be two alike, at
least not in the lifetime of anyone alive today. These RFID
transponders additionally have a programmable user data area that
can be used to identify the sponsor and various application
specific parameters. One of the primary reasons for embracing RFID
technology is the degree of difficulty of counterfeiting it,
especially when compared to the punched-hole plastic card 10 of
FIG. 1A. Even the magnetic strip card 12 of FIG. 1B is not even
close to safe as magnetic strip card readers and writers have long
been freely available on the market to anyone so interested in
connecting them together to make card copies. Even American Express
and MasterCard have embraced and have started to market credit
cards with an embedded Texas Instruments Tag-It RFID inlay.
[0063] In addition to the aforementioned security value of RFID,
other relatively important qualities of the technology include its
low cost, its physical reliability, and the fact that the account
value is not directly stored on it. When considering the economics
of a system involving very large numbers of ID carriers, much
effort should be applied to eliminating cost from the ID carrier,
even at the expense of moving it into the ID carrier reader.
Certainly this means eliminating buttons, batteries, and displays
from the ID carrier, as are evident in the electronic funds carrier
23 of FIG. 2C. While the cost of an RFID keyfob today at about 75
in moderate volume cannot come close to the cost of the printed
ticket 20 of FIG. 2A, the printed ticket 20 is a fragile
one-time-use instrument. Thus, when considering the delivered cost
of a paper ticket, it doesn't take too many transactions before a
multi-use RFID keyfob starts looking economically justifiable.
Another part of the cost picture relates to maintenance costs and
indirect lost opportunity costs of intermittent equipment related
to physical contact media. Eventually physical contact readers will
get dirty, unreliable, and need some labor clock time for cleaning,
adjustment, and possible replacement. Non-contact RFID thus
provides the best balance of ID carrier cost, operating cost, and
security.
[0064] As previously noted, use of an RFID tag for player tracking
is not a new concept and is easily understood in operation.
However, many logistical questions arise when attempting to use an
RFID tag for electronics funds transfer. In the previously
mentioned application for using an RFID tag to pay at the pump,
there is no need to for the patron to enter an amount to charge to
the account as it is precisely defined by the amount of gasoline
pumped. Also as previously mentioned, slot machine manufacturer IGT
markets a system under the trademark Coinless Transit that utilizes
a player tracking card as an ID card to electronically transfer
game credits from one gaming machine to the next. The system is
described as a virtual coin cup because the entire amount is
transferred from machine to machine. While this is another easy
answer to the question of how much to transfer when the ID code is
read from the ID carrier, it is not very practical if one wants to
place a few days worth of gaming funds into a gaming account. Not
many people really want to empty their complete stash into each
machine or as the buy-in at a gaming table.
[0065] The answer to what to transfer from a gaming account to a
gaming machine or a gaming table without the need to read menus and
push buttons is found by realizing that people of different
economic means are quite satisfied to classify themselves, for
example, as a $5, $25 or $100 buy-in category of patron. Thus when
a patron registers with the casino for an ID carrier, they can
select their buy-in category and receive an ID carrier denominated
as $5, $25 or $100. The denomination value could be stored as
additional information along with the ID code on the ID carrier, or
it could be stored in the gaming account on a remote network gaming
account server. Such an ID carrier may take the form of an RFID
keyfob 40 of FIG. 4A having a product trade name 41, casino
property information 42, and denomination information 43 printed on
a front face. A back face of the RFID keyfob 40 shown in FIG. 4B
provides information 44 interpreting the transaction status
indication of an ID carrier reader based on the illumination color
of a sensing face of the ID carrier reader, a signature location 45
for indication of ownership, and a help reference 46 to get further
instruction on use of the ID carrier. The RFID keyfobs of FIGS. 4C
and 4D illustrate ID carriers denominated in $5 and $100
respectively.
[0066] One of the ways in which a patron can acquire an ID carrier
40 is during registration as a hotel guest at a hotel-casino.
During the registration process, the patron selects a denomination
amount for an ID carrier. The clerk provides an ID carrier of that
denomination, reads the ID code from it, and opens a gaming account
for the patron associated with the ID code. The gaming account is a
database that may include a) patron identification information,
such as a name, driver's license, phone number, etc., b) credit
balance information, c) credit transfer records, and d) gaming
activity records for the loyalty program player tracking system.
The patron can then elect to deposit funds for gaming into the
account.
[0067] The denomination amount associated with the ID carrier can
be stored in the gaming account database, or can be written into an
additional user data area of the RFID transponder memory when it is
factory configured for the application. In the preferred embodiment
of the invention, the denomination information is stored on the
RFID transponder along with information to identify the casino
property and information that identifies it as a patron transponder
versus one of a service employee that may use the same ID carrier
reader to access the gaming machine for diagnostics, maintenance or
repair. Since the ID carriers reasonably should have printed
graphics indicating the denomination amount and the casino
property, it makes reasonable sense to factory configure the
respective ID carriers to hold the same information internally.
[0068] An RFID transceiver 50 suitable for use as an ID carrier
reader for RFID keyfob 40 of FIGS. 4A - 4D is illustrated in FIGS.
5 and 6, and is the subject matter of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/214,922 filed on Aug. 31, 2005 in the name
of Scott Juds and is incorporated herein by reference. The RFID
transceiver 50 has a sensing face 51, a threaded tubular body 52
for through-panel mounting, a washer 53 and nut a 54 for securing
the mounting, and wires 55 for providing power and communication
with other system components. FIG. 6 illustrates the mounting of
RFID transceiver 50 through a table surface having a plywood base
56, a foam cushion layer 57, and a felt-like surface layer 58.
Tightening the nut 54 against washer 53 on the underside of the
table base 56 causes compression of the foam cushion layer 57 and
the felt-like surface layer 58 about a periphery 59 of the RFID
transceiver 50. The RFID transceiver 50 has a circuit board 60
having component parts 61 and others for creating the RF signals
necessary for interrogation of the keyfob transponder and for
interpretation of the corresponding signals received. The RF
signals are transmitted and received through a ferrite core antenna
64. The sensing face 51 of RFID transceiver 50 is illuminated by a
multi-color LED 62 which emits light into a light pipe 63 for
transmission through and around a ferrite pot core 64. The LED 62
is preferably an RGB type capable of producing any color desired
through proper combination of the three base colors red, blue and
green, and the relative intensity control of each. Thus, the RFID
transceiver 50 can directly indicate to a patron the status of a
transaction by the color of its illumination as detailed by
information 44 on the back face of the RFID keyfob 40 of FIG. 4B.
Each icon adjacent to one of the transaction states of the
information 44 is printed with its respective color. For example,
IDLE (FIG. 4B) may be blue, ACCEPT may be green, REJECT may be red,
UNABLE may be yellow, TRACKING may be white, and NO SERVICE may be
purple. The RFID transceiver 50 is designed to communicate via
RS-232 and have the capability of replacing the RS-232 interface
magnetic strip card reader currently popular in player tracking
systems.
[0069] A gaming machine 70 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a machine
base denomination display 71, a bill validator 72 for accepting
paper currency, an RFID transceiver 50 to read a patron's ID
carrier, a player tracking display 74 for displaying information
about points being earned, a credit balance display 75, a cash-out
button 76, a dispensing tray 77, and various other customary
component parts to facilitate the functionality of the gaming
machine 70. Basic use of a patron's ID carrier at the gaming
machine 70 is described as follows. Upon approaching the gaming
machine 70, the patron observes the ID carrier reader 50 has blue
illumination, indicating it is in the Idle State. The patron
positions his denominated ID carrier 40 in close proximity to ID
carrier reader 50 wherein the ID code on ID carrier 40 is read.
When the gaming machine has verified that the gaming account
associated with the ID code, located on a remote network connected
gaming account server, has a sufficient credit balance, the
denominated amount of credit is transferred from the gaming account
to the gaming machine. To indicate acceptance, the ID carrier
reader 50 momentarily changes the illumination of its sensing face
from blue to green. If the patron desires to have twice the
denominated amount transferred from the gaming account to the
gaming machine, the patron simply places the ID carrier 40 in close
proximity to the ID carrier reader 50 a second time. The credit
balance of the gaming machine for game play by the patron is shown
at all times in the credit balance display 75.
[0070] The foregoing conventional description of credit transfer
from a gaming account to a gaming machine 70 causes a debit in the
amount of the transferred credit value to the gaming account and a
corresponding credit to the displayed credit balance 75 on the
gaming machine 70 such that the transferred funds literally are
present in the gaming machine. However, to accommodate the
regulations of some jurisdictions, an alternative embodiment of
this transaction causes the actual funds to technically remain
located in the patron's gaming account, and the credit balance
display 75 to only indicate what portion of the gaming account
balance has been authorized for game play on the gaming machine 70.
For example, if the patron's gaming account balance is $800 and the
patron reads his $25 denominated ID carrier 40 twice in succession
upon arrival at an idle gaming machine 70, the credit balance
display 75 will indicate $50 has been authorized for game play on
the machine even though all of the funds remain located in the
gaming account. If the patron then wagers and looses $5 during play
of a game on the gaming machine 70, the credit balance display will
indicate $45 of remaining authorization for game play and a $5
debit message will be transmitted back to the remote network
connected gaming account server where the credit balance of the
patron's gaming account will be reduced to $795. To the patron the
operational difference is transparent. For the purposes of clarity
and brevity in the following descriptions, this transparent
difference will be referenced to simply as an amount authorized for
game play or transferred from the gaming account to the gaming
machine resulting in a credit authorization/balance on the gaming
machine 70.
[0071] When the patron first uses his ID carrier 40 at the gaming
machine 70 and a denominated amount is authorized for game play or
is transferred from his gaming account to the gaming machine 70,
the credit authorization/balance on the gaming machine 70
additionally becomes linked to the gaming account, and thus also
linked to the patron. The purpose of maintaining a link between the
future remaining credit authorization/balance on the gaming machine
and the gaming account is so that the continued presence of the ID
carrier within reading range of the ID carrier reader is not
required, thus allowing the patron to keep the ID carrier secured
in a pocket or a purse. While the credit authorization/balance on
the gaming machine 70 is linked to the patron's gaming account, the
illuminated face color of the ID carrier reader 50 changes to white
to indicate the linked state so that the patron knows that game
play activity will be attributed to the patron and logged to the
player tracking portion of his gaming account. If the patron
decides to leave the gaming machine 70 while a credit
authorization/balance remains, the patron presses the cash-out
button 76. Since any remaining credit balance is linked with the
patron's gaming account, the remaining credit balance is simply
transferred back to the patron's gaming account. The ID carrier 50
momentarily changes the color of its illuminated sensing face to
green to indicate acceptance of the cash-out transaction, and then
returns its color to blue to indicate an Idle State concurrent with
the credit balance display 75 indicating a zero balance. The link
is terminated when the remaining credit authorization/balance is
cashed-out or reduced to zero through exhaustive game play.
[0072] Certain precautions are required to protect the patron's
credit balance, but these precautions should not have any adverse
side effects on the operation of the casino or the play of other
patrons. For example, while a first patron is playing a gaming
machine 70 that has its credit balance linked to the first patron's
gaming account it is possible that a second patron could place his
ID carrier 40 in proximity to the ID carrier reader 50. The system
must not simply just transfer additional credit value from the
second patron's gaming account to add to the credit balance on the
gaming machine 70 and then change the linkage to the second
patron's account. This would constitute hijacking of the credit
balance of the first patron by the second patron, and could happen
when the first patron was distracted from the gaming machine by the
perpetrator's accomplice. There are two parts to the solution of
this problem. The first part of the solution is to reject the
second patron's attempted transaction when the read ID code is
different from the ID code of the current gaming account linkage. A
rejection of an ID carrier 40 (and ID code) is indicated by
momentarily changing the color of the sensing face of ID carrier
reader to red. However, this part of the solution by itself creates
a secondary problem. If the first patron decides to abandon a
machine having a trivial remaining balance linked to his gaming
account, that machine would then reject the ID carrier 40 of other
patrons who may later desire to use the gaming machine, thus
effectively disabling the gaming machine from use. In the second
part of the solution, upon reading the ID carrier 40 of a second
patron, a test is made to determine if there has been recent game
play activity. If, for example, there has been no game play
activity for at least five minutes, then the remaining credit
balance on the gaming machine 70 is first returned to the gaming
account of the first patron, and then the denominated amount
associated with the ID code and gaming account of the second patron
is transferred to the gaming machine 70 and displayed in credit
balance display 75. In both parts of the solution the first
patron's money is protected, and an appropriate decision is made
relative to which patron should have control of the gaming
machine.
[0073] The die cutting layout shown in FIG. 8 has an ID carrier 40
embedded in a retainer portion 81 providing a card assembly 80 with
the overall dimensions of a standard credit card. The retainer
portion 81 is easily broken away from the ID carrier 40 by the
patron after dispensing. There are numerous credit card dispensers
available on the market, such as the CDT-200 Series from Vendapin
L.L.C., that could be adapted to dispense the card assembly 80. The
retainer portion 81 can further serve to carry printed introductory
instructions to aid a patron's understanding of what to do with the
ID carrier 40. The CDT-200 Series dispenser includes the capability
to both hold or to fully eject the card assembly 80. In addition to
the possibility of dispensing ID carriers 40 at the hotel-casino
registration desk or at a kiosk, in the preferred embodiment of the
invention a card assembly dispenser (not shown) is installed within
the slot machine 70. The benefits of doing so include a) the
elimination of coin and ticket handling costs and, b) providing a
means to cash-out a cash paying customer while gently converting
them to the use of the ID carrier. In practice, a cash paying
customer approaches gaming machine 70 and inserts one or more
currency bills into bill validator 72 to provide a credit balance
for game play. When the patron has finished his game play, he
presses the cash-out button 76. The gaming machine 70 instructs the
installed card assembly dispenser to dispense a card assembly 80 to
the patron into the dispensing tray 77. In the process of
dispensing the card assembly 80, the card is made to pass over
another ID carrier reader 50 (FIGS. 5 and 6) to read its ID code.
The ID code and the credit balance are transmitted to a remote
gaming account server 120 (FIG. 12) where a new gaming account is
instantly opened. In addition to providing the new gaming account
with the credit balance from the gaming machine, the game play
activity since the gaming machine last had a zero credit balance
may also be transmitted to and stored in a player tracking portion
of the gaming account.
[0074] Upon the automatic opening of an account associated with a
dispensed ID carrier 40 card assembly 80, a base denomination for
use of the ID carrier 40 must be predetermined. A first method of
denomination predetermination is to select and write this
information into a programmable memory location within the RFID
transponder chip 34 of FIG. 3C prior to loading the ID carriers 40
into the dispenser. The predetermined denomination may be
associated with the base wagering denomination of a gaming machine.
A casino may decide, for example, that $5 predetermined
denomination ID carriers should be used in gaming machines 70
having a base wager denomination of $1 and under and that a $25
predetermined denomination should be used for gaming machines with
a base wagering denomination of $5 and $10, etcetera. In the
preferred embodiment of the invention, the predetermined
denomination is an integer multiple, between one and one hundred,
of the base wagering denomination of the gaming machine. A second
method of denomination predetermination is to have the gaming
machine automatically report its base wagering denomination when
transmitting information to the remote gaming account server 120 to
open the account. The gaming account server can then set the
predetermined denomination to an integer multiple, between one and
one hundred, of the base wagering denomination of the gaming
machine. A third method of denomination predetermination is to
select from a menu a default value for use as the predetermined
denomination. The menu selection may be made from a setup menu
available on the gaming machine or on the gaming account server.
Finally, a fourth method of denomination predetermination is to ask
the patron to enter this information at the gaming machine when the
ID carrier is dispensed. The patron may also be asked to select a
PIN number for use with the account at that time.
[0075] Use of the ID carrier at a gaming table 90 (FIG. 9) is quite
similar, but includes some additional steps required to accommodate
the human dealer involved in the transaction. The gaming table 90
has a playing surface 91, an elbow rest 92, a chip tray 93, table
chips 94 of a variety of denominations sorted by tray column, card
position markers 95 at each seating location indicating where cards
will be dealt, ID carrier readers 50 at each patron seating
location (unnumbered), dealer keypad 97, ID carrier reader 98 for
large transaction approval by a pit supervisor, and a transaction
display 100. The transaction display 100, also shown in FIGS.
10A-10D, is designed to provide visual confirmation to the patron,
the dealer, and an overhead security camera. This can be
accomplished by both having a vertical facing display 101 and a
forward facing display 102 (FIGS. 9, 10A and 10B) or a single
back-tilted display 104 that can simultaneously be viewed and
provide confirmation to all parties. Preferably the display is
tilted back from vertical between 30 and 60 degrees, although
angles as low as 20 degrees would still provide a sufficiently
readable display for the overhead security camera. Transaction
display 100 is positioned on a pedestal 103 on the left side corner
of the gaming table 90 where an engraved sign is usually posted to
indicate the name of the game played at the table and the minimum
and maximum wager.
[0076] When a patron arrives at gaming table 90 and wishes to
buy-in, the patron places his ID carrier 40 in proximity to the ID
carrier reader 50. The ID code is read, the gaming account credit
balance and the predetermined denomination are checked against the
minimum wager requirements to authorize a transaction. If the
requirements are met, the sensing face of the ID carrier reader 50
will momentarily change color to green to indicate acceptance and
the preset denominated amount will appear on transaction display
100 along with the seat number of the patron making the
transaction. Each time the patron repeats bringing his ID carrier
40 in proximity to the ID carrier reader 50 the amount shown on the
transaction display 100 will increment by the preset denomination
amount. When the patron has completed incrementing his buy-in
amount, the dealer counts out the requisite number of table chips
94 in full view of the patron and the overhead security camera.
When the counted table chips are ready for delivery to the patron,
the dealer hits a confirmation key on dealer keypad 97. If the
requested transaction is over the approval limit of the dealer,
then a pit supervisor must first approve the transaction by reading
his ID carrier at ID carrier reader 98. The need for approval is
indicated by the sensing face of the ID carrier reader 98 near the
dealer flashing white until the ID carrier of an authorized pit
supervisor is read. When authorized, the transaction is completed
by charging the patron's gaming account with the amount,
momentarily indicating the confirmation on transaction display 100,
and then returning the display function to its normal passive
message functions.
[0077] When a patron at a gaming table desires to cash-out, he
returns his table chips 94 to the dealer who counts them out for
everyone, including the overhead security camera, to see. The
dealer then enters the amount and the seating position number using
the dealer keypad 97. The information is shown on the transaction
display 100 for everyone, including the overhead security camera,
to see. If the requested transaction is over the approval limit of
the dealer, then a pit supervisor must first approve the
transaction by reading his ID carrier at ID carrier reader 98. The
need for approval is indicated by the sensing face of the ID
carrier reader 98 near the dealer flashing white until the ID
carrier of an authorized pit supervisor is read. When authorized,
the sensing face of the ID carrier reader 50 at the seating
position of the patron starts flashing white to indicate that his
pending transaction needs to be confirmed by reading of the ID code
from his ID carrier 40. When the ID code is read, the amount shown
in the transaction display 100 (FIG. 10B) is transferred to the
patron's gaming account, the transaction display 100 momentarily
confirms completion of the transaction, and the sensing face 51
(FIG. 6) of the ID carrier reader 50 at the seating position of the
patron preferably turns green before returning to its blue idle
color.
[0078] Transaction information is always displayed on both the
vertical facing display portion 101 and the forward facing display
portion 102 of the transaction display 100 for the dealer, patron
and overhead security camera to see. The forward facing display
portion 102 (FIGS. 10A and 10B) shows information in a more verbose
format than the vertical facing display portion 101 in order to
facilitate its intrinsic understanding at first glance. The forward
facing display 102 can additionally integrate the function of the
former engraved sign when no transaction is taking place, as
illustrated in FIGS. 10C and 10D.
[0079] The block diagram of FIG. 11 illustrates the preferred
embodiment of the gaming table system components and their
connections for performing the functions of the present invention.
A table system controller 110 controls the information flow to and
between the other components and the network for access to gaming
account information on the remote gaming server. The table system
controller 110 is a module that mounts under the gaming table and
connects to each of the other components as shown. In the preferred
embodiment of the invention, the table system controller 110 is an
embedded microcontroller design executing firmware that performs
the functions as described anywhere herein by text or flow charts.
One suitable microcontroller is the Freescale (formerly Motorola)
MC68HC705C9A having 32 I/0 pins, 16 K of ROM, 176 bytes of RAM, and
SPI port and an RS-232 port. Communication to each of the ID
readers 50 and 98 requires an RS-232 port which is provided in the
table system controller 110 through use of multiple SPI to RS-232
interface chips such as the MAX3100 produced by Maxim Integrated
Products. The keypad interface to the microcontroller is simply a
direct connection between the three column and four row signal
wires and well known keypad scanning and contact debounce
algorithms. One suitable keypad is the model 88AC2 manufactured by
Grayhill. One suitable transaction display 100 is the Noritake's
model GU140X32F-7000 vacuum fluorescent display with 140.times.32
pixel graphics display capability and a serial port interface
packaged in a suitable molded housing such as the 5.9'' by 3.2''
transparent cover housing model 1591DTBU produced by Hammond
Manufacturing. The network interface may be a simple RS-485 design
requiring little more than a transceiver buffer such as the Linear
Technology model LTC1335IN to provide the multi-drop functionality
from RS-232. The protocol will depend on the player tracking
network system already installed in a casino, the details of which
are known and easily implemented as the installation demands. The
power supply for all of the components can be provided by a
pre-packaged and safety agency approved module such as the 6.0VDC
500 mA model 318AS06050 manufactured by Tamura. Further details
involving the design of the table system controller 110 or its
connections are well known to those skilled in the art of
electronic design.
[0080] The block diagram of FIG. 12 illustrates the interconnection
of a plurality of gaming machines 70 and gaming tables 90 through
networks 115, 121, and 125 through network bridges 122 and 123 to a
remote gaming account server 120. In a typical casino installation,
a group of up to 32 machines use a low bandwidth RS-485 multi-drop
network 115 that connects to a network bridge 122 that functions to
translate the protocols between networks. Although interconnection
of the gaming tables 90 into a player tracking system is both rare
and incomplete in today's casinos, the preferred embodiment of the
invention requires a network 121 to connect each of the gaming
tables through network bridge 123 onto network 125 in order to
access a patron's gaming account on the gaming account server
120.
[0081] The flow chart of FIG. 13 illustrates method steps of
opening and using a patron's gaming account. When a patron opens a
gaming account in step 130, a denomination for transactions is
selected and stored either in the gaming account database on the
gaming account server 120 or may be stored in the ID carrier 40. In
step 131 the patron arrives at a gaming machine or gaming table
where the ID carrier is presented for reading. Gaming tables
typically have a minimum wager limit, such as $5, $25, or $100.
Gaming machines also have a minimum wager amount which may vary
between 1 and $1,000. The read ID code and the minimum wager amount
are transmitted to the gaming account server 120 for approval. If
the preset denomination amount is stored in the ID carrier 40, it
too is transmitted to the gaming account server 120. In step 132 it
is determined if the minimum buy-in (or wager amount) is met. If it
is not met, step 133 is executed to indicate by color change in the
ID carrier reader 50 that the system is not able to complete the
transaction and ends the process in step 139. In the preferred
embodiment of the invention, the color yellow is used to indicate
the inability to complete a transaction for an otherwise valid ID
code. If the minimum buy-in is met, then in step 134 it is
determined if the preset denomination amount is available in the
patron's gaming account credit balance. If the preset denomination
amount is available, it is transferred from the gaming account to
the gaming machine or table. If it is not available, then the
maximum integer multiple of the minimum buy-in amount that is
available in the gaming account is transferred to the gaming
machine or table. If any amount is transferred, in step 137 the
color of the ID carrier reader 50 momentarily is preferably changed
to green to indicate acceptance of the transfer. Finally, in step
138 a record of the transaction is saved in the player tracking
portion of the gaming account.
[0082] The flow chart of FIG. 14 illustrates the method steps of
transitioning a gaming machine from an Idle State to either an
Anonymous Credit State or an Identified Credit State. An Idle State
is defined as a gaming machine having zero credit balance and no
remaining links to any patron's gaming account. In step 150
starting with the Idle State the gaming machine loops through steps
152 and 154 checking to see if an ID code has been read or if a
bill has been validated. If an ID code has been read, the gaming
account server 120 is checked for an existing gaming account
associated with the ID code. If no account currently exists, an
anonymous one is instantly opened for the patron and a denomination
for transactions is assigned either by default or by patron
selection from a menu presented on the gaming machine 70. A default
denomination may be determined by a preselected value stored in the
gaming account server 120 for all new anonymous accounts, or it may
be a preselected value related to the class of gaming machine that
read the ID code. No credit value exists, so none is transferred to
the gaming machine. However, the credit balance on the gaming
machine 70 is at least temporarily linked to the new gaming account
and the ID carrier reader color is momentarily changed to green to
indicate acceptance, and then the color changes to white to
indicate that tracking is enabled. If the account is not new and
there is no current credit balance on the gaming machine 70, then
in step 155 the gaming account balance is checked for a credit
balance of at least the preset denomination amount. If sufficient
credit is available, step 157 transfers the preset denomination
amount to the gaming machine 70, records the transaction in the
player tracking database, links the credit balance on the gaming
machine 70 to the gaming account, momentarily changes the color of
the ID carrier reader 50 to green to indicate acceptance, and then
changes the color to white to indicate that tracking is enabled.
Finally in step 165, whether the account was new or already
existed, the gaming machine state is set to the Identified Credit
State.
[0083] At step 156 of the flow chart of FIG. 14 a bill has been
validated and the value of the currency is added to the gaming
machine's credit balance. A timer is set to a Timeout value after
the validation of the bill. If additional bills are validated prior
to the Timeout period elapsing, the currency value is again added
to the gaming machine's credit balance and the timer is reset to
the Timeout value. If game play commences in step 161 or the
Timeout period is reached in step 162 the gaming machine state is
set to the Anonymous Credit State in step 166. This state indicates
that the patron is a cash player and no link exists to any gaming
account. If an ID code is read subsequent to bill validation, but
prior to the Timeout period elapsing, the credit balance
accumulated on the gaming machine 70 is recorded in the player
tracking account, credit balance on the gaming machine 70 is linked
to the gaming account, the color of the ID carrier reader 50
momentarily changes to green to indicate acceptance, and then
changes the color to white to indicate that tracking is enabled.
Finally in step 165, whether the account was new or already
existed, the gaming machine state is set to the Identified Credit
State. If the ID code read did not have an existing gaming account,
one is first automatically created for the patron in step 153.
[0084] The flow chart of FIG. 15 illustrates the method steps of
transitioning a gaming machine 70 from an Identified Credit State
to either an Anonymous Credit State or an Idle State. An Identified
Credit State is defined as the state of a gaming machine 70 wherein
the credit balance is linked to a gaming account associated with an
ID code read from and patron's ID carrier 40. If a bill has been
validated during the Identified Credit State in step 171, the
gaming machine 70 will simply add the bill value to the gaming
machine credit balance in step 173 if there has been recent machine
activity indicating that the patron is still actively involved with
the gaming machine. However, if there has been no activity on the
gaming machine for some lengthy period of time, preferably in the
range of at lest one to five minutes, there becomes doubt that the
patron who's ID code and gaming account are linked to the gaming
machine is still involved with the gaming machine. To ensure that
anonymous cash from a second patron is not erroneously linked to
the first patron's gaming account after having abandoning the
gaming machine, the remaining credit balance on the gaming machine
is transferred to the patron's gaming account in step 175 along
with the associated player tracking information accumulated, then
the color of the ID carrier reader 50 is changed from the white
tracking color to the blue color. The gaming machine credit balance
is then set to the value of the validated bill and the gaming
machine state is then set to the Anonymous Credit state.
[0085] While in the Identified Credit state of FIG. 15, the gaming
machine 70 is checked in step 174 to determine if the credit
balance on the gaming machine has been zero for a while, perhaps 15
seconds to a minute. This can occur if game play on the gaming
machine has consumed the credit balance, or if it was the reading
of and ID code from an ID carrier in the Idle State that brought
the gaming machine to step 181 where the color of the ID carrier
reader is changed from the white tracking color back to the idle
blue color and the gaming machine state is set to the Idle State.
Similarly, if the patron presses the cash-out button, the reaming
credit balance on the gaming machine is transferred back to the
patron's gaming account, the color of the ID carrier reader 50 is
changed from the white tracking color back to the idle blue color
and the gaming machine state is set to the Idle State.
[0086] Additionally, in the Identified Credit State of FIG. 15, the
ID carrier reader 50 may read an ID code from a patron's ID carrier
40 in step 176. If the ID code is the same one associated with the
linked gaming account, the preset denominated amount is transferred
from the gaming account to the gaming machine 70, and the ID
carrier reader color momentarily preferably turns green to indicate
acceptance. Although not detailed in this flowchart, steps 132
through 138 of FIG. 13 are incorporated herein into the meaning of
step 178. If the ID code read is different from the one associated
with the linked gaming account, the action taken is dependent on
whether there has been recent activity on the gaming machine. If
so, the ID code is rejected, the ID carrier reader preferably turns
red momentarily to indicate the rejection, and the Identified
Credit State and account linkage remain. If it appears that the
gaming machine has been abandoned, the credit balance on the gaming
machine is transferred back to the gaming account to which it is
linked in step 182, then the denominated amount associated with the
new ID code and gaming account is transferred to the gaming machine
70, and the gaming machine's credit balance is linked to the new
gaming account. Although not detailed in this flowchart, steps 132
through 138 of FIG. 13 are incorporated herein into the meaning of
step 184. The gaming machine 70 remains in the Identified Credit
State.
[0087] The flow chart of FIG. 16 illustrates the method steps of
transitioning a gaming machine 70 from an Anonymous Credit State to
either an Idle State or an Identified Credit State. An Anonymous
Credit State is defined as the state of a gaming machine wherein
there is a credit balance but it is not linked to any patron's
gaming account. In the Anonymous Credit State, the value of any
bill validated in step 202 is simply added to the credit balance of
the gaming machine in step 203. If the cash-out button is pressed
void of having read an ID code at about the same time, then in step
212 the ID code of the next ID carrier in an ID carrier dispenser
is read, the ID code and the credit balance are transferred to the
remote gaming account server, a new anonymous account is created to
save the credit balance, the ID carrier is dispensed to the patron,
and gaming machine state is set to the Idle State.
[0088] If an ID code is read in step 204 or 208 and the cash-out
button is not pressed within a short period of time, such as two
seconds, the ID code is rejected, the color of the ID carrier
reader 50 is momentarily changed to a red color to indicate
rejection in step 209, and then returned to the blue color. The
gaming machine 70 remains in the Anonymous Credit State. If the
cash-out button is pushed and an ID code is simultaneously read
within that short period of time, the credit balance on the gaming
machine is transferred to the gaming account associated with the ID
code in step 215 and the ID carrier reader color is momentarily
changed to green to indicate acceptance and then to blue. The
gaming machine then is set to the Idle State. If a gaming account
did not previously exist for this ID code, an anonymous gaming
account is first created in step 213.
[0089] The flow chart of FIG. 17 illustrates the method steps of
merging two gaming accounts and displaying a gaming account
balance. When a first ID code is read in step 222, credit value is
transferred from the associated gaming account to the gaming
machine 70. If the same ID code is continuously read for more than
about 2 seconds, the credit transfer to the gaming machine is
reversed in step 228 and the gaming account balance is displayed
for the patron in step 230. If a second ID code is then
simultaneously read the gaming account balance and player tracking
information from the second gaming account is transferred to the
first gaming account in step 237 if both ID codes are registered to
the same person, or if at least the second gaming account is an
anonymous gaming account. This provides a patron with a method of
combining various fragmented accounts into a single gaming account
anywhere there is an ID carrier reader without the need to wait in
line at a cashier cage.
[0090] The flow chart of FIG. 18 illustrates the method steps of a
cash-out procedure at a gaming table. The patron first gives his
table chips to the dealer for reimbursement in step 242. The dealer
counts the table chips in full view of the patrons and the overhead
security camera in step 244, and then enters the amount to credit
the patron into a keypad with the seating position of the patron
(FIG. 9). Both the amount to credit the patron and the seating
number of the patron are displayed for each of the patron, the
dealer, and overhead security camera to see in step 246. If the
amount is greater than the approval limit of the dealer, then an ID
carrier 40 of a pit supervisor (having appropriate graphics
imprinted thereon) must be read at step 247 by ID carrier reader 98
to authorize the transaction. The ID carrier reader 50 at the
patron's seating location then begins to blink a white color to
indicate that a pending transaction needs approval using the
patron's ID carrier 40. In step 248 the patron confirms the
transaction by placing his ID carrier in sufficient proximity to
the ID carrier reader for it to read the ID code. The credit amount
and the ID code are then transmitted to a remote gaming account
server. If there is no account associated with the ID code read,
then an anonymous gaming account is immediately opened for the ID
code. In step 254 the amount is credited to the gaming account and
a record of the transaction is stored in the player tracking
portion of the gaming account. In step 256 the display indicates to
the patron, the dealer and the overhead security camera that the
transaction has been completed. Likewise, the ID carrier at the
patron's seating position first momentarily is changed to a green
color to indicate acceptance, and then back to the idle blue
color.
[0091] The flow chart of FIG. 19 illustrates the method steps for
cashless operation of a gaming machine where no funds are
transferred to the gaming machine. When an ID code is read from an
ID carrier 50 in step 272, the validity of the account and its
balance are verified with the remote network connected account
server 120 (FIG. 12) to ensure the patron has sufficient funds with
which to play the games of a gaming machine 70. If sufficient funds
are available to authorize game play with the denominated amount of
the ID carrier, the gaming machine credit balance display 75 is
incremented by the denominated amount to indicate the game play
amount authorized. When the cash-out button 76 is pressed in step
274, the gaming machine simply resets the authorized game play
amount shown on the credit balance display 75 and there is no
further need to adjust the gaming account balance on the remote
network connected account server 120. When game play has been
requested by the patron in step 276 and the remaining authorization
amount is sufficient for the wager amount selected, the game is
played and a game outcome is generated as a result. If the patron
has won the game, the credit balance meter is incremented in step
294 by the net amount won and a credit memo is transmitted to the
remote network connected gaming account server 120 to credit the
patron's account balance by the net amount won. If the patron has
lost the game, the credit balance meter is decremented in step 284
by the net amount lost and a debit memo is transmitted to the
remote network connected gaming account server 120 to debit the
patron's account balance by the net amount lost.
[0092] One other important kind of gaming transaction is the
payment of tips or gratuities to beverage servers from a patron's
gaming money or gaming credit. As previously noted, the advent of
TITO for coinless gaming has had an adverse effect on the beverage
service level around gaming machines because those patrons now
rarely have any coins at hand for tipping the server. Thus the
beverage servers have developed a natural bias against spending
time servicing the gaming machine areas and a correspondingly
opposite bias in favor of spending time servicing the gaming tables
where table chips are readily at hand for the patron to use for
tipping. However, a denominated tip ID carrier 302 (FIG. 20) having
an ID code recognizable as being associated with a gratuity account
on the same remote network connected gaming account server 120 can
likewise be used to manage cashless gratuity transactions between
patrons and beverage servers.
[0093] A beverage serving tray 301 of FIG. 20 holds beverages 300
and denominated tip ID carriers 302. When a beverage server
delivers an ordered beverage to a patron at a gaming machine 70
(FIG. 7), the patron may provide the beverage server a gratuity by
selecting one of the denominated tip ID carriers 302 and reading
its ID code at the ID carrier reader 50 of gaming machine 70 that
is currently associated with the patron's ID code and gaming
account. Each time the denominated tip ID carrier 302 is read, the
gratuity amount is increment by the denominated amount. For
example, if the patron used the $1 tip ID carrier and read it three
times, the gratuity amount would be $3. The gratuity amount may
optionally be displayed on a numerical display such as credit
display 75 (FIG. 7) or a touchscreen display 301 (FIG. 22) that may
be present on the gaming machine for purposes of actual play or for
other amenity display functions. When the tip ID carrier 302 is
read at the ID carrier reader 50, the ID carrier reader 50 begins
to blink a white color to indicate that a pending transaction needs
approval using the patron's ID carrier 40. If the patron provides
the approval, then a gratuity account associated with the ID code
of the tip ID carrier is credited with the gratuity amount, and
either the patron's gaming account or the patron's credit balance
on the gaming machine is debited by the gratuity amount. If there
is no approval within a predetermined period of time, say 30
seconds, then the pending transaction is canceled and the color of
the ID carrier reader returns to its former steady white tracking
color. The block diagram of FIG. 23 further details the flow of the
transaction just described.
[0094] An alternative embodiment to the foregoing utilizes the
reading of a non-denominated tip ID carrier (not shown) to cause
the display of menu 304 (FIG. 21) on touchscreen 303 for the patron
to select a gratuity amount from among those displayed. LCD
touchscreens have become almost ubiquitous on new gaming machines,
either for purposes of game play or for other amenity functions.
When the patron has selected a gratuity amount, the patron is then
prompted 305 (FIG. 22) to authorize the transaction by re-reading
the patron's ID carrier 40. If the patron provides the approval,
then the gratuity account associated with the ID code of the tip ID
carrier is credited with the gratuity amount, and either the
patron's gaming account or the patron's credit balance on the
gaming machine is debited by the gratuity amount. Beverage servers
thus may now be provided a cashless tip by patrons playing a
cashless gaming machine.
[0095] It is to be understood that the above described embodiments
of the invention are illustrative only, and many variations and
modifications will become apparent to one skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
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