Patent Application
20140274346
The present invention relates generally to gaming devices, and more particularly, to a system and method for providing a list of the monetary instruments associated with gaming devices.
The growth and competition in the casino gaming market in recent years and the increasingly sophisticated and complex technology being integrated into the gaming environment, at the individual game, casino management, and auditing levels, presents both challenges and opportunities to game manufacturers, gaming establishment operators, and regulatory agencies. The technological capabilities and requirements of, for example, advanced electronic games, multi-site gaming operations, detailed player tracking, wide area progressive jackpots, and various alternatives to the use of currency and coins by players, all present a potentially huge pool of ever-changing data which can be of great value to casino operators, from a management standpoint, and to regulators from an auditing and compliance standpoint.
Casinos now have a wide range of gaming devices, including gaming machines such as slot machines, video slot machines, poker machines, video poker machines, arcade games, and video arcade games. There are also a wide variety of other devices associated with the business of the casino, virtual gaming machine, an electronic interface for use with table games, a vending machine, a token dispensing machine, a credit dispensing machine, or a ticket redemption machine, player tracking units, card readers, coin-bill management devices, ticket readers, display devices, and key pads.
Typically, the gaming machine controls various combinations of the associated devices to facilitate playing the games. For example, a player would generally input a monetary instrument, such as currency, or present a ticket or voucher into the gaming machine, indicate a wager, and initiate the game to be played. This process would require a transaction reading device such as coin-bill management devices and ticket readers, as well as for players to communicate instructions to the gaming device, for instance through a key pad or touchscreen display. After the playing of the game has been initiated by the player, the gaming machine determines a game outcome, presents the game outcome to the player, and may dispense an award of some type depending on the outcome of the game.
It is also important to encourage players to maintain interest in playing the games. A common approach is to offer incentives such as through player tracking or loyalty programs. These programs reward players based on a number of criteria, for example, the frequency of playing the games. In order to track the player, a player is identified during play by a player tracking identification card and/or a player identification number (“PIN”). The player tracking system tracks the player's play and awards player tracking points according to established criteria. The player tracking points may be redeemed for prizes, such as complimentary meals or merchandise.
As was briefly discussed, players may enter or access funds to play the gaming machine in various ways. For example, a player may add money to a gaming device by inputting currency, such as a bill, into the coin-bill management device, and the authenticity of the bill is determined. The value of the authenticated bill is converted into the credits for play on the gaming machine, which are then added to the gaming machine's credit meter.
Alternately, and in addition, the player may utilize a ticket or a voucher. The ticket or voucher may have an associated number of credits or a monetary amount. The ticket or voucher may be read by a reader. For example, the coin-bill management device may also be adapted to read tickets. If the ticket has an associated monetary amount, the monetary amount is converted into credits, which are then added to the gaming machine's credit meter. If the ticket has an associated number of credits, the credits are directly added to the credit meter.
Typically, after the player has inserted the monetary instrument into the transaction reading device, it is read and stored in a secure cash box. As can be appreciated, the cash box can only be handled using strict security protocols, and opened in a secure location, generally some distance from the gaming device.
Issues can arise regarding the inputting monetary instruments. A common problem occurs when a player disagrees with the monetary amount or the number of credits that the gaming device credits him with. As often happens, this comes about when, having inserted currency and/or a ticket/voucher into a gaming machine, the player forgets the monetary amount or number of credits. When this occurs, the player may suggest that the transaction reading device “misread” the monetary instrument. Currently, in order to address and investigate such an issue, the player must stop playing, get the attention of a member of the casino staff, who in turn must make arrangements for the cash box to be removed and transported to a secure location where the contents of the cash box can be viewed to determine if the player is correct. This process is inherently time-consuming for the player and casino staff, requires that the gaming device be unavailable for a significant period of time, and raises issues of security.
A system for accessing information regarding monetary instruments which were deposited into and/or withdrawn from a gaming machine along with other information pertaining to the machine is disclosed at U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0002386 A1 to Wolfe, et al. (the “Wolfe '386 Patent Application”). The monetary instruments described in the Wolfe '386 Patent Application are restricted to bills and coins. The system displays a list of the quantity of monetary instruments contained within the machine, sorted by denomination. The display is viewable on either the gaming machine or on a remote device wirelessly linked to the gaming machine. The remote device is a handheld computer or a personal data assistant (“PDA”). Additionally, information pertaining to drops performed at the machine is viewable on the machine. The Wolfe '386 Patent Application restricts the monetary instruments included in the list, not including cashless tickets, vouchers, or magnetic cards. Further, the display does not include the date and time of the deposit or withdrawal of monetary instruments from the gaming machine, and thus makes it impossible to verify specific transactions related to the monetary instruments.
Accordingly, there exists an opportunity to improve the availability of transaction specific lists of monetary instruments and to include a wider range of types of monetary instruments listed. In addition, casino staff must have the ability to resolve issues related to specific transactions more efficiently.
The present invention is aimed at one or more of the problems identified above.
In a first aspect of the present invention, a system with a gaming device is provided. A transaction reading device is coupled to the gaming device and is configured to read information associated with monetary instruments. A host computer is operatively coupled to the transaction reading device and is configured to receive the information associated with the monetary instruments. A database is associated with the host computer and is configured to retrievably store the information associated with the monetary instruments. A data display device is operatively coupled to the host computer and is configured to retrieve and display a list of the monetary instruments read by the transaction reading device coupled to the gaming device in response to input from a user. The list of the monetary instruments includes the information associated with each of the monetary instruments.
In a second aspect of the present invention, a system with a plurality of gaming devices is provided. A plurality of transaction reading devices are coupled to each of the plurality of gaming devices and are configured to read information associated with monetary instruments associated with a corresponding gaming device. A host computer is operatively coupled to the plurality of transaction reading devices and is configured to receive the information associated with the monetary instruments. A database is associated with the host computer and is configured to retrievably store the information associated with the monetary instruments. A data display device is operatively coupled to the host computer and is configured to retrieve and display a list of the monetary instruments read by the plurality of transaction reading devices coupled to at least one of the plurality of gaming devices, in response to input from a user, and the list of the monetary instruments includes the information associated with each of the monetary instruments.
In a third aspect of the present invention, a method is provided. The method includes the steps of reading information associated with monetary instruments associated with a gaming device; storing the information associated with the monetary instruments in a database; retrieving the information associated with the monetary instruments from the database in response to input from a user; and displaying lists of the monetary instruments in response to the input from the user, the lists of the monetary instruments including the information associated with each of the monetary instruments.
In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method is provided. The method includes the steps of reading information associated with monetary instruments associated with a plurality of gaming devices; storing the information associated with the monetary instruments in a database; retrieving the information associated with the monetary instruments from the database in response to input from a user; and displaying lists of the monetary instruments in response to the input from the user, the lists of the monetary instruments including the information associated with each of the monetary instruments.
The methods and systems allow casino staff to identify detailed information about specific transactions related to a range of monetary instruments including not only bills and coins, but also including cashless tickets and vouchers. The result is that when a player raises a question about whether or not the gaming device has properly read the monetary instrument, casino staff have the ability to access a list of the monetary instruments input into a specific gaming device, the list including detailed information about each transaction. This allows casino staff to provide a player with immediate feedback regarding whether or not a monetary instrument was misread. The result is an increase in casino staff efficiency, the player will not waste time, the gaming device is not unavailable for use for any significant period of time, and security risks are minimized.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
With reference to the drawings and in operation, a system is generally shown at 10 in
The present invention includes one or more gaming devices 12. The gaming devices 12 may be gaming machines 12A-H, such as slot machines, video slot machines, poker machines, video poker machines, arcade games, or video arcade games. In addition, the gaming devices 12 may also include other devices 12I, such as virtual gaming machines, electronic interfaces for use with table games, vending machines, token dispensing machines, credit dispensing machines, and ticket redemption machines. Although the example described above, and illustrated in
The gaming devices 12 are playable by a player 24 who initiates play by inserting a monetary instrument (not shown) into the selected gaming machine 12A-H or other device 12I. The monetary instrument may be at least one of a plurality of types, including, but not limited to, currency (including bills or coins), tokens, cashless tickets, vouchers, magnet strip cards, player tracking cards, transfer of funds cards, input from a keypad, input from a touchscreen, and wired or wireless memory devices (not shown).
A transaction reading device 13 is coupled to at least one of the gaming devices 12. The transaction reading device 13 is configured to read information associated with the monetary instruments. An example of a common transaction reading device 13 is a coin-bill management device 28, and is illustrated in
Returning to
At least one database 22 is configured to retrievably store the information associated with the monetary instruments. The computer program application 20 and databases 22 may be used to record, track, and report accounting information regarding the gaming devices 12 and/or users of the other devices 12I or players 24 of the gaming machines 12A-H. Additionally, the computer program application 20 and databases 22 may be used to maintain information related to player tracking accounts, which will be discussed later.
A network 16 connects the gaming devices 12 to one or more host computers 18. It can be appreciated that the network 16 can be configured in any reasonable way, for instance using either wired or wireless technology.
A remote system 50 may also be included. The remote system 50 provides access to various features or functions of the system 10 by one or more remote devices 50A-D. The remote devices 50A-D are connected to the network 16 through a network link 52. Although four remote devices 50A-D are illustrated, it can be appreciated that any number of remote devices 50A-D may be included.
The remote devices 50A-D may be carried by authorized employees to allow them to offer or administer specific gaming services. Suitable remote devices are described in the following US patent documents which are hereby incorporated by reference:
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0113360 published Jun. 17, 2004 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors;
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0092303 published May 13, 2004 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors;
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0092314 published May 13, 2004 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors;
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0092306 published May 13, 2004 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors;
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0092305 published May 13, 2004 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors;
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0092304 published May 13, 2004 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors;
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0082386 published Apr. 29, 2004 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors;
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0116185 published Jun. 17, 2004 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors;
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0116184 published Jun. 17, 2004 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors;
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0127291 published Jul. 1, 2004 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors;
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0132531 published Jul. 8, 2004 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors;
US Patent Application Publication 2004-0092307 published May 13, 2004 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors;
US Patent Application Publication 2005/0027381 published Feb. 3, 2005 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors; and,
US Patent Application Publication 2005/0075165 published Apr. 7, 2005 listing Jeffrey George et al. as the inventors.
A data display device 46 is operatively coupled to the host computer 18. The data display device 46 may be a component of a handheld computer, a terminal, a player tracking device or the gaming device 12. The data display device 46 is configured to retrieve and display a list of the monetary instruments 92 read by the transaction reading device 13 in response to input from a user 54. Lists of information associated with the monetary instruments 92 can be displayed on one or more data display devices 46. For example, a data display device 46 associated with a remote device 50A-D can display a list of the monetary instruments 92 associated with one or more gaming devices 12 anywhere in the system 10. Similarly, a data display device 46 associated with a first gaming device 12, may display a list of the monetary instruments 92 associated with a second gaming device 12. Further, a data display device 12 directly wired to the host computer 18 can view a list of the monetary instruments 92 associated with any of the gaming devices 12.
Referring to
Input to the gaming machine 12A-H may be accomplished via mechanical switches or buttons (not shown) or via an interface (not shown). Such gaming machines 12A-H are well known in the art and are therefore not discussed further.
Referring again to
The player 24 may be identified by the player tracking device 38 in several ways. A player 24 can insert player tracking card into the player identification card reader 62. Alternatively, the player 24 can enter a player identification number (PIN) on the keypad 44. The player tracking device 38 may also be used to communicate information between the host computer 18 and the corresponding gaming machine 12A-H. The player tracking device 38 may also be used to track bonus points, e.g., incentive points or credits, downloaded from the host computer 18.
Player tracking accounts may be used, generally, to provide bonuses to a player 24, in addition to the award designated by, in the case of a video slot or poker machine, the pay table associated with the specific gaming machine 12A-H. In one aspect of the present invention, the bonuses are awarded as bonus points. In another embodiment, the bonus points are incentive points. In yet another embodiment, the bonus points are credits. The bonuses may be awarded to the player 24 based on set of criteria, including, but not limited to the following: a) the player's 24 play on the machine; b) the player's 24 overall play; c) the player's 24 play during a predetermined period of time; and d) the player's 24 birthday or anniversary; or e) any other definable criteria. Additionally, bonuses may be awarded on a random basis, for example, to a randomly chosen player 24 or by randomly chosen game. Bonuses may also be awarded in a discretionary manner or based on other criteria, such as, purchases made at a gift shop or other affiliated location.
The incentive points may be converted to credits using a predetermined ratio or any other desired ratio. The predetermined ratio may also be varied based on determined criteria, for example, the identification of the gaming machine 12A-H being played, the player 24, or the time of day. Incentive points may be designated as cashable or non-cashable. The incentive points in a player's 24 account may be downloaded to any one of the gaming machines 12A-H for play.
Referring to
In one aspect, the user 54 is an employee of the gaming establishment where the system 10 is operating. Typically, the user 54 has an assigned role, sometimes referred to as a type, based on their job description. Typical roles may include, but are not limited to, system administrator, supervisor, pit boss, pit manager, slot floor employee, patron host, player's club, security, security supervisor, slot attendant, slot director, slot shift supervisor, slot technician, sports and racebook, surveillance, and table supervisor.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the remote devices 50A-D provide access to one or more types of data and/or one or more functions based on the assigned role of the user 54. The remote device 50A-D may provide access to one or more of the following functions: remote patron signup, remote patron information, remote device information, remote cash ticket processing, remote jackpot ticket processing, remote hopper fill ticket processing, remote table rating interface, remote attendance, remote surveillance, adjusting a player's 24 bonus or comp points, issuing comp vouchers to a player 24, redeeming printed vouchers, listing and redeeming outstanding vouchers assigned to a player 24, and retrieving and displaying information related to a specific remote device 50A-D.
The remote device 50A-D includes a processor 40, a memory 60 for storing applications and data, and a touchscreen display 64. A bar code reader 66 may be used to read a player identification card number from the player identification card or to read a device identification number from a gaming device 12. One such mobile computer is available from Symbol Technologies, Inc. of Holtsville, N.Y. as model number SPT. Alternatively, the remote device 50A-D may include a card reader 62 capable of reading magnetic stripe identification cards. The remote device 50A-D may be a mobile computer based on the PALM® operating system 10 or Microsoft Windows® operating system 10. Alternatively, the remote device 50A-D may be desktop, laptop, notebook, and/or sub-notebook computers. It can be readily appreciated that the remote devices 50A-D are not limited to any particular technology or functionality.
The remote device 50A-D includes a web client 56 which is stored in the memory 60 and which runs on the remote processor 58. The web client 56 is connected to the computer program application 20 running on the host computer 18 through the network link 52.
In one aspect of the present invention, all interaction with the user 54, including the display of data and queries and the input of data, is handled by the web client 56. The web client 56 is responsible for acquiring user input, for example, through forms, and formatting and presenting information to the user 54. The web client 56 is a computer application which is accessed via a web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer®, available from Microsoft Corp., of Redmond Calif. The web client 56 may be written in Hypertext Mark-Up Language (“HTML”) and include one or more servlets, discussed, later, which may be written in a computer programming language, such as Java™.
As shown in
The remote network interface 68 may be coupled to the database 22 by one or more data objects 70. In one embodiment, data is stored in the database 22 in data tables. The data objects 70 handle requests from the remote network interface 68, abstract the required data from the database 22 tables and/or input data into the database tables.
The data objects 70 include at least a first data object (“DB OBJECT”) 76, at least one second data object (“VDBOBJECT”) 74, and at least one third data object (“BUSINESS OBJECT”) 72. The first data object is coupled to the database tables and abstract specific database tables for the at least one second data object 74. The first data object 76 handles retrieving and inputting data into specific database 22 tables. At least one second data object 74 is coupled to the first data object and assembles multiple first data objects 76 into a single third data object 72. At least one second data object 74 abstracts the third data object 72 from the database 22 tables. The third data object 72 is coupled to the at least one second data object 74. The third data object 72 receives queries from the remote network interface 68, retrieves responsive data from the database 22 through the first and second data objects 76, 74, formats the responsive data and returns the responsive data to the remote network interface 68.
Referring to
The menu layer 80 allows the user 54, once logged on, to navigate to and between servlets. The servlets are downloaded to the remote device 50A-D from the host computer 18 as needed. The menu layer 80 also handles providing access to those servlets to which the user 54 has access, typically based on an assigned role, previously discussed. The form and servlet layers 84 provides common functionality for the servlets.
Referring back to
The list of the monetary instruments 92 may include a predetermined number of the monetary instruments, for example, the most recent twenty transactions may display as a default based on user input. A user may then have the ability to scroll beyond the initial display to view more transactions.
The information associated with each of the monetary instruments includes a number of values, such as date. A user 54 may input a range of values, to include monetary devices desiring the list of the monetary instruments including the monetary instruments whose value falls within, or outside of, the range of values. For example, if the user wanted the list of the monetary devices to include monetary devices input into the gaming devices for a particular week. Values may include a date, a time, a gaming device location, a gaming device zone, a type of the monetary instrument, a currency denomination, or a number of credits. Further, the list of the monetary instruments can be sorted by any of the values. For example, a list of the monetary instruments associated with a first and second gaming device 12 can be sorted by the identifier associated with each of the first and second gaming device 12.
As discussed above, the ability to view the list of the monetary instruments 92 may be provided in a variety of ways. A user 54 may view the list of the monetary instruments 92 using the player tracking device 38 and/or one of the remote devices 50A-D. Similarly, the list of the monetary instruments 92 may also be viewed at a remote workstation. Typically, only authorized users 54 will be able to view the list of the monetary instruments 92. The system may be configured to require the user 54 to log on or otherwise identify and verify their identity before viewing the list of the monetary transactions 92.
Lists of information associated with the monetary instruments 92 can include information from one or more gaming devices 12. A unique identifier may be associated with each of the plurality of gaming devices 12. The user 54 may select specific gaming devices 12 for which the list of the monetary instruments 92 will be displayed. The input from the user 54 can be in the form of a magnet strip card, entering a number from a keypad, selecting values from a menu, a barcode reader, a menu, or a wired or wireless memory device.
The superior report capabilities of the present invention are illustrated in
The bill information display 90 also provides a plurality of buttons 94, which may be implemented on the touchscreen display 64 of the player interface device or the user interface 86 of one of the remote devices 50A-D. In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of buttons 94 include a previous button (“PREV”) 94A, a top button (“TOP”) 94B, a next button (“NEXT”) 94C, and a back button (“BACK”) 94D, which may be used to navigate through the bill information display 90A.
Referring to
It should also be noted that any list of the monetary instruments 92 may also be exported for viewing and/or analysis within another computer program application 20.
The present invention also provides a method related to a system with a single gaming device, which having been largely discussed previously, will be summarized here. The method includes the step of reading information associated with monetary instruments associated with a gaming device. The information associated with the monetary instruments can be read by a transaction reading device 13 coupled to the gaming device 12. The gaming device 12 is generally one of a gaming machine 12A-H or other device 12I. The gaming machine 12A-H may be a slot machine, a video slot machine, a poker machine, a video poker machine, an arcade game, or a video arcade game. The other device 12I may be a virtual gaming machine 12A-H, an electronic interface for use with table games, a vending machine, a token dispensing machine, a credit dispensing machine, or a ticket redemption machine. The method includes the step of storing the information associated with the monetary instruments in a database. The database can be associated with a host computer 18. The method further includes the step of retrieving the information associated with the monetary instruments from the database in response to input from a user. The method further includes the step of displaying lists of the monetary instruments in response to the input from the user, the lists of the monetary instruments including the information associated with each of the monetary instruments.
The lists of the monetary instruments can be displayed on a data display device 46. The data display device 46 may be a component of a handheld computer, terminal, player tracking device or the gaming device 12. The information associated with the monetary instrument includes one or more of a date, a time, a monetary value, a type of the monetary instrument, a transaction type, or an identification associated with the monetary instrument. The information associated with the monetary instruments includes a date, a time, a monetary value, a type of the monetary instrument, a transaction type, and an identification associated with the monetary instruments. The list of the monetary instruments includes information associated with a predetermined number of the monetary instruments. The information associated with the monetary instruments includes values and the input from the user 54 includes a selection of the values, with the list of the monetary instruments including information associated with the selected values. A second gaming device 12 may be coupled to a second transaction reading device 13, with the data display device 46 being configured to display a list of the monetary instruments 92 read by one of the transaction reading devices 13 of at least one of the gaming devices 12. The gaming devices 12 may be coupled to a host computer 18 through a wired or wireless network 16.
The present invention also provides a method related to a system with a plurality of gaming devices, which having been largely discussed previously, will be summarized here. The method includes the step of reading information associated with monetary instruments associated with a plurality of gaming devices. The plurality of gaming devices 12 may be one of a gaming machine 12A-H and other device 12I. The gaming machine 12A-H may be a slot machine, a video slot machine, a poker machine, a video poker machine, an arcade game, and a video arcade game. The other device 12I may be a virtual gaming machine 12A-H, an electronic interface for use with table games, a vending machine, a token dispensing machine, a credit dispensing machine, and a ticket redemption machine. The information associated with the monetary instruments can be read by a plurality of transaction reading devices 13 coupled to each of the plurality of gaming devices 12 and being configured to read the information associated with the monetary instruments associated with a corresponding gaming device 12. The information can be associated with the monetary instruments in a database. The database 22 can be associated with a host computer 18. associated with the monetary instruments from the database in response to input from a user. The input can include a unique identifier associated with each of the plurality of gaming devices 12 wherein the input from the user 54 includes the unique identifier associated with selected gaming devices 12 to retrieve the information associated with the selected gaming devices 12, the input from the user 54 being by a magnet strip card, entering a number from a keypad 44, selecting values from a menu, a barcode reader 66, or a wired or wireless memory 60 device.
The lists of the monetary instruments can be displayed in response to the input from the user, the lists of the monetary instruments including the information associated with each of the monetary instruments. The lists of the monetary instruments are displayed on a plurality of data display devices 46. The plurality of data display devices 46 may be components of a handheld computer, a terminal, a player tracking device and the plurality of gaming devices 12. The information associated with the monetary instruments may include one or more of a date, a time, a monetary value, a type of the monetary instrument, an identification associated with the monetary instrument, and a transaction type. The information associated with the monetary instruments includes a date, a time, a monetary value, a type of the monetary instrument, an identification associated with the monetary instrument, and a transaction type. The lists of the monetary instruments include the information associated with a predetermined number of the monetary instruments. The information associated with the monetary instruments includes values and the input from the user 54 includes a selection of the values, with the list of the monetary instruments including the information associated with the selected values, in response to the input from the user 54. The values may include a date, a time, a gaming device zone, a type of the monetary instrument, a currency denomination, and a number of credits. The list of the monetary instruments may include the information associated with the monetary instruments associated with more than one of the plurality of gaming devices 12.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/561,074, filed Nov. 17, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/737,540 filed Nov. 17, 2005, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60737540 | Nov 2005 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11561074 | Nov 2006 | US |
| Child | 14292350 | US |
