U.S. patent application number 13/386897 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-17 for gaming system bill validator.
This patent application is currently assigned to JCM AMERICAN CORPORATIONS. Invention is credited to Kunal Mishra.
Application Number | 20120122565 13/386897 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43499290 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120122565 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mishra; Kunal |
May 17, 2012 |
Gaming System Bill Validator
Abstract
A method and system for player payment management In a multiple
electronic gaming machine (EGM) environment is described. Multiple
bin validators (BVs] throughout a casino receive payments of
various fund types. A central computer system (CCS) associates
these payments with a given adjacent EGM1 though there Is no direct
electronic communication between EGM and BV. In this method and
system, the BV only directly communicates with the CCS. The CCS in
turn provides the sole and complete management function for
crediting BV player payments to appropriate EGMs. The BV Is
preferably not housed within the EGM, but alternatively can be In
the same housing. This advantageous method eliminates the need for
EGMs to communicate with or manage the operation of a BV or other
payment device. This system also allows existing casino systems to
be upgraded with local BVs, without the need to rewire or reprogram
existing EGMs.
Inventors: |
Mishra; Kunal; (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Assignee: |
JCM AMERICAN CORPORATIONS
Las Vegas
NV
|
Family ID: |
43499290 |
Appl. No.: |
13/386897 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
July 24, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2009/004314 |
371 Date: |
January 24, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
G07F 17/3246 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/25 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method for obtaining credits to play a gaming machine in a
multi game establishment comprising the steps of: (A) providing a
central computer system within the multi game establishment; (B)
providing a plurality of electronic gaming machines where each of
said plurality of electronic gaming machines is in exclusive
communicative connection with said central computer system; (C)
providing a plurality of payment accepting devices where each of
said plurality of payment accepting devices is in exclusive
communicative connection with said central computer system; (D)
locating each of said plurality of payment accepting devices
operatively close to at least one corresponding electronic game
machine of said plurality of electronic gaming machines; (E)
accepting a payment for credits at one of said plurality of payment
accepting devices; (F) said one of said plurality of payment
accepting devices exclusively communicating a payment acceptance
message for credits to said central computer system and an
identification of a designated electronic game machine to which a
credit is requested; (G) said central computer system exclusively
communicating a credit message to said electronic game machine
designated by said payment accepting device, said electronic gaming
machine operatively close to said payment accepting device; and (H)
registering the additional credits corresponding to the credit
message on the game credit meter of the designated electronic game
machine operatively close to said payment accepting device at which
the payment for credits was accepted.
2. The method of claim 1 with a further step of validating said
payment acceptance message for credits at said central computer
system.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said payment acceptance message
includes payment acceptance device asset identification
information.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said central computer system is
preprogrammed to identify the at least one corresponding electronic
game machine which is operatively close to said one of said
plurality of payment accepting devices at which the payment for
credits was accepted based on said payment acceptance device asset
identification information.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said payment acceptance message
includes an optional designation of the selection between multiple
electronic game machines to which the central computer system
should direct said credit message.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the payment acceptance message
includes an optional designation that the central computer system
credit the validated payment to a designated player account on the
central computer system for later use.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein a player provides a funds request
from a specific electronic game machine to the central computer
system to initiate exclusively communicating a credit message from
said central computer system to the at least one corresponding
electronic game machine.
8. The method of claim 1 with a further step of designating that
said at least one corresponding electronic game machine transmit a
credit return message to the central computer which initiates the
transfer of remaining game credit value back to a designated player
account.
9. A System for obtaining credits to play an electronic gaming
machine in a multi game establishment comprising: (A) a central
computer system; (B) multiple electronic gaming machines, each of
said multiple electronic gaming machines in exclusive communicative
connection with said central computer system; (C) multiple payment
accepting devices, each of said multiple payment accepting devices
in exclusive communicative connection with said central computer
system, each of said multiple payment accepting devices is
operatively close to at least one corresponding electronic game
machine of said multiple electronic gaming machines; and (D)
control programming in said central computer system to receive
valid payment communications from said payment accepting devices
designating one of said multiple electronic game machines for which
credits are issued by said central computer system.
10. The System of claim 9, said central computer system further
comprising a memory means for storing information regarding player
accounts, asset identification, and ticket validation
information.
11. The System of claim 10 wherein one or more of said multiple
payment accepting devices can optionally designate to said central
computer system a selection between one or more of said multiple
electronic gaming machines to which the central computer system
should issue purchased credits.
12. The System of claim 10 where the plurality of payment accepting
devices include bill validators.
13. The System of claim 10 where the plurality of payment accepting
devices include devices equipped to accept bills, tickets, and
credit card payments.
14. The System of claim 10 where the plurality of payment accepting
devices include at least one device equipped to accept payments
from mobile wireless means.
15. A method for obtaining credits to play a gaming machine in a
multi game establishment comprising the steps of: (A) providing a
central computer system within the multi game establishment; (B)
providing electronic gaming machines each in exclusive
communicative connection with said central computer system; (C)
providing payment accepting devices each in exclusive communicative
connection with said central computer system, said payment
accepting devices operatively close to at least one corresponding
electronic game machine; (D) accepting a payment for credits at one
of said payment accepting devices and exclusively communicating a
payment acceptance message for credits to said central computer
system, the payment acceptance message including a designation to
cause the central computer system to credit the validated payment
to a designated player account on the central computer system for
later use.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein a funds request from a specific
electronic game machine to the central computer system initiates a
credit message from a designated account maintained on said central
computer system to the specific electronic game machine issuing the
funds request, the amount of which is deducted from the designated
player account.
17. The method of claim 15 with a further step of designating that
said at least one corresponding electronic game machine transmit a
credit return message to the central computer which initiates the
transfer of remaining game credit value back to said designated
player account.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to an electronic game machine (EGM)
management system for user friendly acceptance of articles of value
within a casino or other multiple electronic game machine
environments. In particular, the present invention relates to a
system and method for managing payments made through multiple local
Bill Validators (BVs) at a system level.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] The present invention is generally directed to a system and
method of providing multiple bill validation devices in a casino or
other gaming establishment having numerous electronic gaming
machines such as slot machines and a central computer system for
managing the accounts into which payments are deposited.
[0003] It is generally known that the playing of games on
electronic gaming machines is increased by simplifying the ways in
which the perspective players can make payments for credit on the
respective gaming machines. When a player has played a given gaming
machine for a period of time and depleted his credits on that
machine, he is more likely to continue playing the game if it is
easy to make a payment for additional credits without leaving that
specific gaming machine.
[0004] Currently in some countries and locations it is common to
include inside the housing of an electronic gaming machine a bill
validator which can easily accept and validate payments made with
multiple denominations and types of currency as well as other value
bearing instruments like tickets. Such a captive bill validator
will determine whether a received note or ticket is valid and its
denomination or value then electronically communicate the payment
information to the host electronic gaming machine's processing unit
for registration on the game credit meter. Installations of such
systems of hundreds of gaming machine and bill validator
combinations in casinos have been proven to increase the volume of
credits played on each machine.
[0005] One problem with such systems is that each host gaming
device must also contain independent copies of proprietary software
to manage the interface with various types and brands of bill
validators. Such software must be maintained and updated at various
times to provide for improvements and replacements of the resident
bill validator. Significant amounts of labor and down time are
required to maintain each independent game/validator unit. The
electronic gaming machine must also maintain communications with
both the bill validator and the central computer system which
monitors gaming activity and provides updates to game software.
[0006] Another problem exists in some countries, locations or
jurisdictions where the installations of slot machines which
directly communicate with bill validators are not allowed by law.
In such cases it has been customary to provide only a means to make
payments at a few centralized locations within the casino for
application to the player's account in the central computer
database. When such deposits are made the player can then play any
given slot machine in communication with the casino's central
computer system. This system has the inherent inability to increase
game play by allowing a player to continue play without leaving the
specific gaming machine in order to make a deposit to his
account.
[0007] In view of the above difficulties it would therefore be
beneficial to provide a system and method which provides for a
player's convenient localized payment to a central account or a
specific electronic game machine without leaving the gaming machine
said player is currently playing.
[0008] It would be a further benefit to provide such a convenience
without the requirement that each electronic gaming machine need
communicate or interface with a bill validator.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0009] A method and system for obtaining credits to play a gaming
machine in a casino environment is provided.
[0010] The system may be effectively utilized by a casino or other
gaming establishment with multiple electronic gaming machines which
all can be electronically connected to the casino's central
computer system. The electronic gaming machines (EGMs) can be slot
machines or other electronic gaming devices. The central computer
comprises the ability to communicate with numerous electronic
gaming machines as well as numerous bill validators either by wired
or wireless connection. This computer system also comprises
sufficient memory to maintain the continuous status of all current
player accounts and information regarding all valid value tickets
issued by the casino. The central computer system can accept and
validate value and ticket information transmitted from any bill
validator as well as information to identify the electronic game
machine with which the value information is to be associated. The
central computer system can transmit to any of the networked
electronic game machines the account information required to
register additional credits on the electronic game machine. The
central computer system can also transmit information/instructions
to the bill validator for disposition and management of accepted
and/or rejected notes and tickets.
[0011] The method contemplates accepting a player's payment at a
bill validator adjacent to the electronic game machine he is
currently playing such that said payment can be credited directly
to a designated electronic game machine with which the BV is
associated or optionally accumulated into the player's personal
account in the central computer system of the casino. The method
also contemplates directly communicating information between the
bill validators and the central computer system. Further the method
provides for the independent communication between the central
computer system and a multiplicity of the electronic gaming
machines in the casino.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] The invention will be described in conjunction with the
following drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating the components of an
embodiment of the inventive gaming system;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a simplified flow diagram showing the basic steps
of an embodiment of the inventive method;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a simplified flow diagram showing the basic steps
of a current state-of-the-art method;
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Exemplary preferred embodiments are discussed below with
respect to the figures and diagrams.
[0017] In some countries and locations gaming laws or regulations
do not permit the direct communication between a bill validator and
an electronic game machine. In these areas credits are maintained
in a player's account on a central computer system but can only be
purchased at certain centralized or secure locations within the
casino. The player can then go to any electronic game machine
within the casino to play those credits until depleted. Then the
player must suspend play until he can go to one of these payment
locations to replenish his account. By the time he returns to the
electronic game machine he was previously playing it may be
occupied by another player. This frequently happens since it is a
common practice for some players to watch for and quickly move to
electronic game machines that have been played for a long period of
time without a payout once the unsuccessful player leaves. It would
not be uncommon for a player who has depleted his credits after a
long period of playing time to leave the casino instead of
purchasing more credits since there is no guarantee of being able
to continue play on the same electronic game machine until a payout
occurs.
[0018] One embodiment of a gaming system (100) of the present
invention as shown in FIG. 1 would typically be used in a casino
where multiple electronic gaming machines would be provided for
use. The term casino can be taken to mean any classic casino or
alternatively any other facility or gaming establishment which
manages multiple electronic gaming machines. This gaming system
(100) and the gaming method (200) below are of particular value for
use in casinos located in the countries mentioned above where
restrictions exist.
[0019] The gaming system (100) includes a central computer system
(110) that can be of any size with sufficient processing capacity
to service the number of electronic gaming machines and bill
validators present in the networked system. This central computer
system (110) must also have significant memory to store all the
information required to support the number of devices networked
with the system as well as all transaction, ticket, and player
information for the volume of gaming handled in the casino. This
memory can be integral with the central computer system (110) or
alternatively comprised of a separate memory device (115) as shown
in FIG. 1.
[0020] The configuration shown in FIG. 1 depicts a number of
corresponding or associated electronic game machine and Bill
Validator combinations (120) which are all networked to the central
computer system (110) by wired or wireless connection (130) to
provide for high speed simultaneous communications between the
central computer system (110) and each respective electronic game
machine (140) and Bill Validator (150) as detailed in N+4. There
are N+N numbers of associated electronic game machine and Bill
Validator combinations (120) shown in FIG. 1 where each would be
comprised of an electronic game machine (140) and a Bill Validator
(150).
[0021] Each Bill Validator (150) or other payment acceptance device
has its own direct communication channel or connection (155) to the
central computer system (110) and in turn each electronic gaming
machine (140) has its own direct communication channel or
connection (145) to the central computer system. These connections
are communicatively exclusive since there is no communication or
information passed directly between a payment acceptance device or
Bill Validator (150) and an electronic game machine (140). There is
an obvious advantage in this configuration since each electronic
game machine (140) will no longer require the proprietary protocols
or software to communicate with any of the payment acceptance
devices or Bill Validators (150). It should be understood that the
various specific communication connections, boards, switches, and
routers which may be required to achieve the network communication
functions for the invention are not shown but are commonly known in
the art.
[0022] It should also be noted that the embodiment of associated
pairs of an electronic game machine (140) and corresponding or
associated Bill Validator (150) are shown. These associated pairs
should be operatively close to one another or adjacent to one
another and may even be housed in the same cabinet to facilitate
easy player recognition of the Bill Validator to be used to obtain
additional credits for play on his current electronic game machine
(140). The fact that no direct communication exists between the
Bill Validator and the electronic game machine (140) to which it
corresponds would be transparent to the player's operation of the
invention. In an alternative embodiment one can appreciate that a
Bill Validator (150) can be operatively close to more than one
electronic game machine (140). For example a single Bill Validator
(150) could be placed between two electronic game machines (140)
and provide a switch or selection method by which the player can
indicate the electronic game machine (140) to which the payment
should be directed.
[0023] This system and method is described in terms specific to the
preferred payment acceptance device being a standard Bill Validator
such as Japan Cash Machine's UBA.TM. bill validator which may be
programmed to accept multiple denominations as well as different
counties' currencies. These bill validators also routinely accept
various bar coded Ticket-in-Ticket-out or "TITO" tickets and other
casino value coupons. However, while Bill Validators (150) are
preferred, it should be obvious that any payment accepting device
falls within the scope intended herein. Such payment acceptance
devices could accept other forms of payment like credit cards or
even wireless mobile devices with the ability to communicate valid
payment information to the payment accepting device through any
wireless cell or internet means known in the art.
[0024] The inventive gaming method (200) depicted by FIG. 2 shows
the principle steps to process payments made to a specific game or
electronic gaming machine from a payment acceptance device which is
operatively close enough to the electronic game machine currently
being used by a player thus enabling the player to make payment to
add credits to his game without leaving or suspending play on that
game as described previously in some countries.
[0025] When the credits registered on the player's game displayed
on the electronic game machine (140) have been depleted, he would
be able to insert currency, tickets or other means of payment to
the Bill Validator (150) associated with the electronic game
machine (140) which then in S210 validates the accepted payment.
When the means of payment are in the form of currency, this
validation comprises a determination of the monetary value and that
it is not a counterfeit document. For other non-currency means of
payment, this validation may comprise determining the monetary
value and some form of validating identification information. When
the means of payment is in the form of a TITO ticket, this
validation comprises a determination that it contains a valid bar
coded number sequence.
[0026] The bill validator (150) in S220 directly and exclusively
transmits a payment acceptance message to the central computer
system (110) which is simply referred to as the "system" in these
method steps. It is exclusively transmitted to the central computer
system (110) since there is no direct communication between the
Bill Validator (150) and any of the electronic game machines (140).
This payment acceptance message is comprised of the information
required for the system to make a gaming system decision in S230 to
accept or reject the payment. This information may include such
components as monetary value, validity identification, bar code
number, and asset number of the Bill Validator and/or electronic
game machine to which the payment is to be directed. Each Bill
Validator (150) and electronic game machine (140) has a unique
asset number which identifies it to the central computer system
(110) within the casino. The central computer system (110) can be
preprogrammed with the corresponding electronic game machine (140)
asset number for any payment acceptance message sending Bill
Validator (150) asset number. Alternatively the payment acceptance
message may contain a specific selected electronic game machine
(140) asset number indicating the electronic game machine (140) to
which the purchased credits are to be directed.
[0027] If the system rejects the payment at this point (S230), it
sends a reject message to the Bill Validator (150) in S234. One of
the various reasons for rejection by the system could be that the
TITO ticket bar code number identifies a ticket that has already
been redeemed. In S236 the Bill Validator (150) would then return
the rejected note or ticket to the player.
[0028] If the system accepts the payment at this point (S230), in
S240 the system then, based on information in the payment
acceptance message, either credits the player's account on the
gaming system or on the designated specific electronic game machine
(140). If the electronic game machine (140) is to be credited the
central computer system (110) directly and exclusively transmits a
credit message to that specific electronic game machine (140) in
step S245.
[0029] The electronic game machine (140) that receives the credit
message now makes the final decision to accept or reject the
credits in step S250. If it rejects the new credits the electronic
game machine (140) would then in S254 send a no-credit message back
to the central computer system (110), and the process of steps of
S234 and S236 would then be executed. Some possible reasons for a
rejection by the electronic game machine (140) would be technical
malfunctions of the electronic game machine (140) itself or an
inability to handle the volume of new credits requested.
[0030] If the electronic game machine (140) accepts the new credits
then as shown in step S260 the electronic game machine (140) adds
the new credits to its game credit meter and the player can then
continue to play those credits in step S270 as he continues his
current gaming session.
[0031] In S264 the electronic game machine (140) also acknowledges
acceptance to the system and the system sends a stack message back
to the Bill Validator (150) at step S266 which, if the payment was
a currency note or ticket, then stacks the note or ticket in the
security cash box in step S268. Such security cash boxes are
standard on most gaming bill validators currently used in US
casinos.
[0032] It should be noted that some modifications and/or additions
could be made to the system and method shown without significantly
changing the major advantages of the invention's intent.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0033] Additional industrial applicability and advantages will now
be discussed. A major advantage has been explained previously for
providing a convenient system and method for adding credits to a
game in progress without leaving the electronic game machine.
[0034] In areas where it is legal systems currently exist with bill
validators directly connected to electronic game machine and each
electronic game machine must be able to communicate with its bill
validator and provide operative direction to the bill validator.
The flow diagram for such prior art systems is shown in FIG. 3 and
will be briefly described hereafter. The discussion will be focused
on those comparisons that differentiate the advantages of the
inventive system over this prior art.
[0035] The prior art depicted includes step S310 of FIG. 3 which is
similar to S210 of FIG. 2 of the inventive method which provides
that the processing of the new system is essentially transparent to
the typical player.
[0036] However in step S320 of FIG. 3 the bill validators'
determination of the payment being from a ticket or other monetary
source causes a significant difference in the process flow. If the
payment is in the form of a ticket the bill validator must send the
ticket number to the central computer system (S325) in order to get
a validation (S330) from the system. With that validation the bill
validator can then send the monetary value to the electronic game
machine (S340) as it would for any other monetary payment without
such system validation. While a bill validator in the inventive
system would also internally determine if the payment was in the
form of a ticket, the processing there after would be the same as
for any other form of payment with the bill validator merely
sending all required information to the central computer system
(S220) in all cases.
[0037] It is important to note that in these current systems not
only the system but all the electronic game machines must be
programmed with the proprietary protocol software or firmware
required for recognizing the communications from the bill
validator. In some cases a given casino may have a mixture of
different brand bill validators and electronic game machines
throughout the gaming floor and then would require licenses and
installations of multiple types of such software throughout the
casino. In caparison since the inventive system and method
described earlier such license and software installation need only
be maintained in the central computer system.
[0038] In the gaming industry the costs relative to licensing
proprietary software and other intellectual properties are
significant. Additionally, due to the substantial volumes of
revenues collected from the play of each electronic game machine on
a gaming floor, there is a significant down time cost associated
with the installation and maintenance of different software or
firmware in each electronic game machine. Since a large casino can
have hundreds of electronic game machines on its gaming floor the
labor costs associated with such maintenance are also substantial.
The installation and maintenance of all required protocols and
software in one central computer can result therefore in a great
benefit to a large casino.
[0039] In steps S334, S336, S354 of FIG. 3 it shows that both the
electronic game machine and the central computer system sends
instructions to the bill validator to return or reject a note or
ticket respectively. This then requires that the bill validators
also be licensed and provided with the proprietary software and/or
firmware to recognize instructions from different electronic game
machines. A casino can therefore advantageously purchase all
electronic game machines and bill validators with the ability to
only communicate with the central computer system in the new
proposed method and system.
[0040] The above comparison of the inventive method to the prior
art method demonstrates the industrial applicability and advantage
of such a method where all electronic game machines and bill
validators exclusively communicate with the central computer
system.
* * * * *