US20040214641A1 - Portable data unit for communicating with gaming machine over wireless link - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and arrangement for communicating with a gaming machine is disclosed. The gaming machine includes a first wireless transceiver. A portable data unit includes a second wireless transceiver. In response to positioning the portable data unit in proximity to the gaming machine, without inserting the portable data unit into any portion of the gaming machine, a wireless transmission link is established between the first and second wireless transceivers. The wireless transmission link may, for example, be a radio (RF) link or an infrared (IR) link. Information is transmitted between the portable data unit and the gaming machine via the wireless transmission link for such purposes as cashless gaming, player tracking, game customization, and data transfer.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates generally to gaming machines and, more particularly, to a portable data unit for communicating with a gaming machine over a wireless transmission link for such purposes as cashless gaming, player tracking, game customization, and data transfer.[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Cashless gaming systems and player tracking systems generally require a player to insert a portable data unit, such as a smart card, magnetic stripe card, ticket, or the like, into a data unit reader at a gaming machine. The portable data unit is first issued to the player by a gaming establishment or other registration authority. The portable data unit may carry monetary or player tracking information directly on the data unit. Alternatively, the gaming machine may be linked to a central host computer that administers accounts for a plurality of players. In this case, the portable data unit may only carry a personal identifier for accessing a player's account at the central host computer. The monetary or player tracking information may be encrypted or unencrypted, depending upon the level of security desired for the application involved.[0002]
• Heretofore, to communicate with gaming machines, portable data units of the above type have had to be manually inserted by players into data unit readers at the gaming machines. This arrangement suffers from numerous drawbacks. First, the process of retrieving the portable data unit and manually inserting it into a data unit reader can be inconvenient to a player especially if the player wishes to play numerous gaming machines in a relatively short period of time. Second, unless the portable data unit is somehow attached to the player by a string, chain, or the like, a player may forget to remove the portable data unit from a data unit reader upon completion of a gaming session, thereby possibly allowing a subsequent unscrupulous player at that gaming machine to use the data unit for his/her own benefit. Third, data unit readers are often disposed at peculiar locations on gaming machines, such as above a video or mechanical display. This, in turn, requires a player to awkwardly reach for the peculiar location to manually insert the portable data unit. If the portable data unit is attached to a string or the like, it is common for the string to hang over and partially obscure the machine display as the player plays the gaming machine.[0003]
• Accordingly, a need exists for a portable data unit that can communicate with a gaming machine without inserting the data unit into a data unit reader.[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• A method and arrangement for communicating with a gaming machine is disclosed. The gaming machine includes a first wireless transceiver. A portable data unit includes a second wireless transceiver. In response to positioning the portable data unit in proximity to the gaming machine, without inserting the portable data unit into any portion of the gaming machine, a wireless transmission link is established between the first and second wireless transceivers. The wireless transmission link may, for example, be a radio (RF) link or an infrared (IR) link. Information is transmitted between the portable data unit and the gaming machine via the wireless transmission link for such purposes as cashless gaming, player tracking, game customization, and data transfer.[0005]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings.[0006]
• FIG. 1 is a front view of an arrangement for communicating with a gaming machine in accordance with the present invention.[0007]
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the arrangement for communicating with a gaming machine in accordance with the present invention.[0008]
• FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an automated teller machine optionally employed in the arrangement.[0009]
• While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.[0010]
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
• Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a front view of an arrangement for communicating with a[0011]gaming machine10 in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the arrangement. The arrangement includes a firstwireless transceiver12 mounted at thegaming machine10, and aportable data unit14 including a second wireless transceiver16 (see FIG. 2). Thewireless transceiver12 is preferably mounted to a front center portion of thegaming machine10 at a height proximate to a height of a waist of an average standing person. An individual, such as a patron or employee of a gaming establishment, may carry theportable data unit14 in his or her pocket or on a key, neck, or wrist chain so that thedata unit14 is readily available when needed. A patron may acquire theportable data unit14 on site from a gaming establishment via an automated dispenser or an attendant station, or may have thedata unit14 shipped to the patron in response to an order placed by mail, telephone, the Internet, or the like. Theportable data unit14 may be shaped as a smart card, key, or the like or may be incorporated in a typical portable device such as a mobile (cell) telephone, watch, necklace, ring, belt buckle, or any other typical device carried by casino patrons.
• In response to positioning the[0012]portable data unit14 in proximity to thegaming machine10, but without inserting thedata unit14 into any portion (e.g., data unit reader) of thegaming machine10, a wireless transmission link is established (enabled) between thewireless transceivers12 and16. The wireless transmission link conveys information between theportable data unit14 and thegaming machine10. The wireless transmission link may be a radio (RF) link or an infrared (IR) link.
• In one embodiment, the[0013]transceivers12 and16 are respective radio microchips that communicate over short distances and through obstacles by means of radio waves. The radio microchips preferably conform to the Bluetooth™ standard detailed at www.bluetooth.com, which is incorporated herein by reference. The Bluetooth radio microchips operate in the unlicensed ISM band at 2.4 GHz and avoid interference from other signals by hopping to a new frequency after transmitting or receiving an information packet. Bluetooth is a term used to describe the protocol of a short range frequency-hopping radio link between devices containing the radio microchips. These devices, which in this case are theportable data unit14 and thegaming machine10, are then termed “Bluetooth-enabled.” The radio link replaces a data unit reader or cable that would otherwise be used to connect theportable data unit14 and thegaming machine10. The Bluetooth technology is designed to be fully functional even in very noisy radio environments. The Bluetooth technology provides a very high transmission rate and all information is protected by advanced error-correction methods, as well as encryption and authentication routines for the user's privacy. It should be noted, however, that wireless technologies other than Bluetooth may be used to communicate information between theportable data unit14 and thegaming machine10.
• To establish the wireless transmission link, the[0014]portable data unit14 must be positioned within a predetermined distance of thegaming machine10 for at least a predetermined period of time. The predetermined distance and period of time may be varied for such different purposes as an attract mode and a play mode. In an attract mode, the predetermined distance and period of time may be set to enable a wireless transmission link with individuals that casually walk by but do not stop at thegaming machine10. The predetermined distance may be several feet and the predetermined period of time may be less than one second. Upon establishing such an attract mode link, thegaming machine10 may learn the identity of a passer by through the information on the individual'sportable data unit14 and invite that individual to play thegaming machine10. In a play mode, the predetermined distance and period of time may be set to enable a wireless transmission link with individuals that demonstrate an intent to play thegaming machine10 and to disregard individuals who casually walk by thegaming machine10. In one embodiment, this predetermined distance is no greater than about two or three feet to detect theportable data units14 of individuals standing in front of thegaming machine10 but not in front of an adjacent gaming machine. The predetermined period of time is at least five seconds.
• As a contingency in the event the wireless transmission link fails, the[0015]portable data unit14 and thegaming machine10 may be outfitted with respective conventional serial I/O interfaces for establishing a conventional physical link between thedata unit14 and thegaming machine10. Specifically, instead of positioning theportable data unit14 in proximity to thegaming machine10 to attempt to establish a wireless transmission link, thedata unit14 may be inserted into adata unit reader58 on thegaming machine10 to establish the conventional physical link. If theportable data unit14 is a smart card, thedata unit reader58 may be a smart card reader including an entry slot for receiving the smart card.
• In one embodiment, the[0016]portable data unit14 is a smart card embedded with a microcontroller and is based on an eight-bit central processing unit (CPU)core20. Theportable data unit14 includes the following on-chip memories with the following capacities: 128 Bytes ofRAM22, 6 Kbytes ofUser ROM24, 1 Kbyte ofSystem ROM26, and 1088 Bytes of EEPROM28. If theportable data unit14 is used to store detailed information of different types (e.g., monetary information, player tracking information, player preferences, casino preferences, and machine data), the number of bytes of in the various memories can be increased to accommodate such information. Both theUser ROM24 andEEPROM28 can be configured into two sectors. Access rules from any memory section or sector to any other are set up by the User's Memory Access Control Matrix (MACM)30. This provides protection against interaction between multiple applications running on the portable data unit, or against fraudulent software execution. TheCPU20 is coupled to theMACM30 by aninternal bus32. TheEEPROM28 preferably employs highly reliable CMOS EEPROM technology with approximately 10 year data retention and 300,000 erase/write cycles endurance. Theportable data unit14 is fully compatible with the ISO standards for smart card applications. Although theportable data unit14 is illustrated as being in the shape of a card, thedata unit14 can have other shapes capable of housing a microcontroller.
• An important advantage of the[0017]portable data unit14 over some other data-carrying mediums, such as magnetic stripe cards, is that it is inherently more secure and therefore less susceptible to fraud. Theinternal bus32 is protected from fraudulent use bysecurity logic34, and theMACM30 sets up access rules from any memory section or sector. Furthermore, theCPU20 runs security software that encrypts/decrypts information transmitted between theportable data unit14 and thegaming machine10.
• The[0018]gaming machine10 is operable to play a game of chance such as mechanical slots, video slots, poker, blackjack, keno, bingo, or roulette. The game of chance may be any game that is played in response to a wager, randomly selects a game outcome from a plurality of possible outcomes, and awards a payoff if the selected game outcome matches predetermined criteria. Thegaming machine10 includes avisual display40 preferably in the form of a mechanical, dot matrix, CRT, LED, LCD, electro-luminescent, or other type of display known in the art. A touch screen may overlay thedisplay40. In the illustrated embodiment, thegaming machine10 is an “upright” version in which thedisplay40 is oriented vertically relative to a player. Alternatively, thegaming machine10 may be a “slant-top” version in which thedisplay40 is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle toward the player of thegaming machine10.
• Referring primarily to FIG. 2, the[0019]gaming machine10 includes a central processing unit (CPU)42 that executes game software stored in system memory44. The game of chance is depicted on thedisplay40. In a video slot game, for example, the player may select a number of pay lines52 (see FIG. 1) to play and a number of credits to wager via push-buttons46 or a touch screen48 overlaying thedisplay40. TheCPU42 decrements acredit meter50 by the number of wagered credits. The slot game commences in response to the player pressing a “spin” push-button or touch field or pulling a handle, causing theCPU42 to set animated reels54 (see FIG. 1) in motion, randomly select a game outcome using a random number generator (RNG), and then stop the reels to display symbols corresponding to the pre-selected game outcome. In one embodiment, certain of the game outcomes cause theCPU42 to enter a bonus mode causing thedisplay40 or a secondary display to show a bonus game.
• The system memory[0020]44 stores control software, operational instructions and data associated with thegaming machine10. In one embodiment, the system memory44 comprises a separate read-only memory (ROM) and battery-backed random-access memory (RAM). It will be appreciated, however, that the system memory44 may be implemented on any of several alternative types of memory structures or may be implemented on a single memory structure. In response to a winning outcome (e.g., winning combination of reel symbols along an active pay line) identified on a pay table stored in the system memory44, theCPU42 increments thecredit meter50 by a number of credits listed on the pay table for that winning outcome. If the game has a bonus mode, the payoff amounts corresponding to certain outcomes of the bonus game are also stored in the system memory44.
• When the[0021]portable data unit14 is positioned in proximity to thegaming machine10, thewireless transceivers12 and16 establish a wireless transmission link that allows theCPU20 on thedata unit14 to communicate with theCPU42 on thegaming machine10. Such communication may occur for such purposes as cashless gaming, player tracking, game customization, and data transfer.
• The amount of information stored on the[0022]portable data unit14 may vary depending upon the storage capacity of thedata unit14 and what is desired for the particular application involved. On the one hand, thegaming machine10 may be linked to aremote host computer18 that administers accounts for a plurality of players in an account database. In this case, theportable data unit14 may only store a personal identifier for accessing detailed information in a player's account at thehost computer18. The personal identifier is associated with the player's account. The detailed information in the player's account may, for example, include monetary information, player tracking information, player preferences, casino preferences, and verification information (e.g., verification code, biometric attribute, etc.). On the other hand, theportable data unit14 may store detailed information directly on thedata unit14 such that the player's “account” effectively resides on thedata unit14 itself. The detailed information may, for example, include monetary information, player tracking information, player preferences, casino preferences, machine data, and verification information.
• In another embodiment, both the[0023]portable data unit14 and thehost computer18 may store some common information as a technique for verifying the contents of thedata unit14. For example, both theportable data unit14 and thehost computer18 may store a current monetary balance and record of monetary transactions for a player's account identified by theportable data unit14. If the current monetary balance and transaction record on theportable data unit14 match the current balance and transaction record in the player's account at thehost computer18, the contents of theportable data unit14 are considered valid; otherwise, they are not.
• If the[0024]gaming machine10 is linked to ahost computer18, it is preferably part of a high-speed network linking thehost computer18 to a plurality of similar gaming machines. The network may encompass a single gaming establishment or multiple gaming establishments. If the network encompasses multiple gaming establishments and is therefore a wide-area network, the gaming machines at each gaming establishment are interconnected by a local-area network. Each local-area network may be an Ethernet using a bus or star topology and supporting data transfer rates of 10, 100, or 1000 megabits per second. Alternatively, each local-area network may be a slower legacy network of the type currently found in many casinos. Each local-area network includes a respective gateway that serves as an entrance to the network. Each gateway is associated with both a router, which knows where to direct a given packet of data that arrives at the gateway, and a switch, which furnishes the actual path in and out of the gateway for a given packet. Thegaming machine10, as well as the other gaming machines in the network, are each assigned a respective permanent identification number for identifying themachine10 to thehost computer18 and allowing thehost computer18 to address themachine10. Thehost computer18 may either be located in the same gaming establishment as one of the local-area networks or at an offsite location remote from the gaming establishment(s). If thehost computer18 is located in a gaming establishment, thehost computer18 is preferably located in a secure area that can only be accessed by authorized establishment personnel and not patrons.
• A player may modify the information associated with the[0025]portable data unit14 at an automated station or at a station operated by a live attendant. In an alternative embodiment, thegaming machine10 itself may be equipped to serve as an automated station permitting a player to modify the information while at thegaming machine10. For example, with respect to cashless gaming, to establish or modify the monetary information associated with theportable data unit14, the player goes to either an automated teller machine (ATM) or an attendant station. In the description below, it should be understood that the player's monetary account may reside on theportable data unit14 and/or at thecentral host computer18. If the player's monetary account resides at thehost computer18, then both the ATM and the attendant station are linked to thehost computer18.
• A cashless gaming system and method employing the[0026]portable data unit14 is described in detail below.
• Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a front view of an[0027]ATM60. TheATM60 includes adata unit dispenser62, acash acceptor64, acash dispenser66, aninstructional display68, and a push-button user interface70. In addition to or instead of theuser interface70, a touch screen may be mounted over theinstructional display68. Thedisplay68 initially offers three transaction options: (1) establish a new monetary account, (2) deposit money to an existing account, and (3) withdraw money from an existing account.
• In response to selecting option (1), the[0028]display68 instructs the player to insert cash (bills) into thecash acceptor64 and to press a vend button of theuser interface70 after the desired amount of cash has been inserted. In response to pressing the vend button, thedisplay68 may prompt the player to enter verification information such as a verification code (e.g., personal identification number (PIN)) and/or a biometric attribute. TheATM60 may include abiometric measurement device72 for measuring a biometric attribute of the player. The biometric attribute may, for example, be a fingerprint, a voice sample, or a retinal scan captured with a fingerprint reader, a voice recognition system, and a retinal scanner, respectively. A suitable fingerprint reader is commercially available from Identix Incorporated of Los Gatos, Calif. The fingerprint reader provides adjustable security thresholds so that it can be easily tuned to fit the exact security requirements of the desired application. The player inserts his or her finger into the fingerprint reader which, in turn, electronically or optically captures a forensic-quality fingerprint image directly from the player's finger.
• After entering the verification information, the[0029]ATM60 establishes a new monetary account for the player. The verification information is stored with the player's account. The player's account resides either on theportable data unit14 to be dispensed by theATM60 or in an account database at thehost computer18. The player's account initially holds an amount of money corresponding to the amount of cash deposited into theATM60 by the player. If the player's account is stored at thehost computer18, thehost computer18 assigns an account identifier to the new account and sends the account identifier to theATM60 for storage on theportable data unit14 to be dispensed. TheATM60 then dispenses theportable data unit14 from thedata unit dispenser62.
• Once the player's account is established, the player may also utilize the[0030]ATM60 to deposit money to, or withdraw money from, the existing account. Specifically, when theinstruction display68 initially offers the three transaction options noted above, the player selects either option (2) to deposit money or option (3) to withdraw money. In response to selecting either option (2) or (3), thedisplay68 instructs the player to position his or herportable data unit14 in proximity to theATM60 so that thedata unit14 can communicate with theATM60 over a wireless transmission link established between thetransceiver16 in thedata unit14 and a transceiver in theATM60. In response to establishing this wireless transmission link, thedisplay68 prompts the player to enter his or her verification information (e.g., verification code, biometric attribute, etc.).
• After receiving the verification information, the[0031]ATM60 verifies the existence of the player's account and the identity of the player. Specifically, if the player's account resides on theportable data unit14, theATM60 compares the entered verification information with the verification information stored with the player's account. If a match does not exist, theATM60 rejects use of theportable data unit14 and informs the player of the problem. If, however, a match exists, the player may proceed to deposit money to (option (2)), or withdraw money from (option (3)), the existing monetary account depending upon which transaction option was initially selected.
• If the player's account resides at the[0032]host computer18, theATM60 transmits the account identifier on theportable data unit14 and the entered verification information to thehost computer18. Thehost computer18 determines whether or not the account identifier is assigned to any open monetary accounts. If the account identifier is not assigned to any open monetary accounts, theATM60 rejects use of theportable data unit14 and informs the player of the problem. If, however, the account identifier is assigned to an open monetary account, thehost computer18 compares the entered verification information with the verification information stored with the player's account. If a match does not exist, theATM60 rejects use of theportable data unit14 and informs the player of the problem. If, however, a match exists, the player may proceed to deposit money to (option (2)), or withdraw money from (option (3)), the existing monetary account depending upon which transaction option was initially selected.
• For a “deposit” transaction (option (2)), the[0033]display68 on theATM60 instructs the player to insert cash (bills) into thecash acceptor64 and to press a vend button of theuser interface70 after the desired amount of cash has been inserted. In response to pressing the vend button, the amount of deposited cash is added to the player's account.
• For a “withdrawal” transaction (option (3)), the[0034]display68 on theATM60 informs the player as to the amount of money in the player's existing account and instructs the player to enter, via theuser interface70, the amount of money that the player wishes to withdraw from the player's account. TheATM60 dispenses the requested amount of money via thecash dispenser66. The amount of withdrawn cash is deducted from the player's account.
• The[0035]ATM60 may be designed to allow the player to withdraw any monetary amount (in dollars and cents) in the player's account up to the entire account balance, or to withdraw only a whole number dollar amount in prescribed increments (e.g., $5, $10, $20, etc.). If theATM60 allows the player to withdraw any monetary amount up to the entire account balance, theATM60 is then equipped with a coin dispenser in addition to thecash dispenser66. If, however, theATM60 allows the player to withdraw only a whole number dollar amount in prescribed increments, the cashless gaming system and method may require the player to obtain any residual amount of money from an attendant station.
• Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, after the player establishes a new monetary account and deposits money into that account, the player may proceed to play a[0036]gaming machine10 using the money in the player's account. Toward that end, in response to positioning theportable data unit14 in proximity to thegaming machine10 so that a wireless transmission link is established therebetween, themachine display40 prompts the player to enter his or her verification information. If the verification information includes a biometric attribute, thegaming machine10 may be outfitted with an appropriatebiometric measurement device56 for measuring the biometric attribute.
• After receiving the verification information, the[0037]gaming machine10 verifies the existence of the player's account and the identity of the player. Specifically, if the player's account resides on theportable data unit14, thegaming machine10 compares the entered verification information with the verification information stored with the player's account. If a match does not exist, thegaming machine10 rejects use of theportable data unit14 and informs the player of the problem. If, however, a match exists, thegaming machine10 accesses the money in the player's account so that the player may proceed to play a game at thegaming machine10.
• If the player's account resides at the[0038]host computer18, thegaming machine10 transmits the account identifier on theportable data unit14 and the entered verification information to thehost computer18. Thehost computer18 determines whether or not the account identifier is assigned to any open monetary accounts. If the account identifier is not assigned to any open monetary accounts, thegaming machine10 rejects use of theportable data unit14 and informs the player of the problem. If, however, the account identifier is assigned to an open monetary account, thehost computer18 compares the entered verification information with the verification information stored with the player's account. If a match does not exist, thegaming machine10 rejects use of theportable data unit14 and informs the player of the problem. If, however, a match exists, thegaming machine10 accesses the money in the player's account so that the player may proceed to play a game at thegaming machine10.
• To access the money in the player's account, the[0039]gaming machine10 may automatically download all the money in the player's account (whether it resides on theportable data unit14 or at the host computer18) to thegaming machine10. Alternatively, the machine display may instruct the player to select an amount of money, up to the entire account balance, to deduct from the player's account and electronically download to thegaming machine10. Thegaming machine10 converts the amount of downloaded money to an appropriate number of credits. For example, if each credit on thegaming machine10 is worth 25 cents, the number of credits is equal to the amount of downloaded money divided by 25 cents. The player may proceed to play a game on thegaming machine10 using the number of credits corresponding to the amount of downloaded money. Thegaming machine10 includes thecredit meter50 depicting the number of credits available for play. For each play, thecredit meter50 is decremented by the number of wagered credits and incremented by the number of credits awarded for a winning outcome.
• At the completion of a game session, the player may collect an amount of money corresponding to any credits remaining on the[0040]credit meter50 by pressing a “Collect” (or “Cash Out”) button. In response to pressing the “Collect” button, thegaming machine10 electronically uploads to the player's account (whether it resides on theportable data unit14 or at the host computer18) an amount of money corresponding to the number of credits remaining on thecredit meter50. Alternatively, the player may be given the option to have a portion of the money uploaded to the player's account and a remaining portion of the money dispensed as cash or coins from thegaming machine10. Toward that end, the machine display may instruct the player to select an amount of money, up to the number of credits on thecredit meter50, to upload to the player's account. Any remaining credits are dispensed as cash or coins from thegaming machine10.
• In an alternative embodiment, the actual money in the player's account is not electronically transferred to the[0041]gaming machine10. Rather, while a wireless transmission link exists between the player'sportable data unit14 and thegaming machine10, the money remains in the player's account but the amount of money is visually represented on the display of thegaming machine10. In this way, the player is aware of the amount of money in the player's account and available for game play. At the completion of a game session, the amount of money in the player's account is updated to reflect any wins and wagers during the game session. Alternatively, the amount of money in the player's account may be updated after each play, which may be defined as a single wager and an associated outcome.
• The wireless transmission link between the[0042]portable data unit14 and thegaming machine10 preferably must be maintained throughout the gaming session in order to wager with money from the player's monetary account. Alternatively, if the player's account is only accessed at the commencement and completion of a gaming session, the wireless transmission link may only need to be established at these times. If the wireless transmission link is interrupted at any time the link is suppose to exist, the player may be prompted to position theportable data unit14 in proximity to thegaming machine10 to re-establish the link. If the wireless transmission link cannot be established despite positioning theportable data unit14 in proximity to thegaming machine10, the player may instead establish a more conventional physical link by manually inserting theportable data unit14 into thedata unit reader58 on thegaming machine10.
• After completing a game session, the player may take the[0043]portable data unit14 to anATM60 or an attendant station and withdraw any money remaining in the player's account. The procedure for withdrawing money was described above in connection with theATM60. A similar procedure is followed at the attendant station except that the attendant station is operated by a live attendant that assists the player in executing the transaction. The live attendant may merely provide passive instruction or may actively handle the player'sportable data unit14 and money.
• As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the[0044]gaming machine10 includes at least atransceiver12 for communicating with theportable data unit14 and is optionally equipped with such traditional money handling devices as a bill validator, a coin acceptor, and a coin hopper. In a first embodiment, thegaming machine10 only permits cashless gaming and therefore contains none of these traditional money handling devices. If the player uses up all the money in the player's account, the player can take his or herportable data unit14 to an attendant station or anATM60 and deposit additional money into the player's account. In a second embodiment, thegaming machine10 can serve as anATM60 and include bill and/or coin acceptors for the sole purpose of depositing money into the player's account should the player use up the existing money. With this arrangement, the player need not leave thegaming machine10 to continue playing. In a third embodiment, the bill and/or coin acceptors can additionally be employed to directly load money onto thecredit meter50 of thegaming machine10.
• While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.[0045]
• For example, the player's account (whether it resides on the[0046]portable data unit14 or at the central host computer18) may also contain player tracking information, player preferences, and casino preferences.
• The player tracking information may include a personal identifier and game play data as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,517 to Sarbin et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The game play data may include an identification of last ten machines played, specific information relating to the games played, and the jackpots and other prizes won by the player. For each denomination (e.g., nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar, dollar, etc.), the game play data may include data fields for the number of coins played, the number of coins paid out, the number of games played, the number of coins paid by attendants, and the time of play in minutes. Of course, the amount and types of data stored in the player's account may be varied to suit a particular casino operating environment. Based on the player tracking information in the player's account, the[0047]central host computer18 performs calculations to compute bonuses to be awarded to the player when playing agaming machine10.
• The player preferences generally relate to the values of those parameters that players have selected in establishing their preferred gaming machine configuration. The player preferences may include the preferred game (game type), the preferred configuration of the gaming machine (language, sound options, speed of reel spins, number of coins played per handle pull), and the preferred distribution of awards (payout structure, payout options, form of complimentaries, currency). The casino preferences reflect certain parameters that casinos can adjust according to certain criteria, such as skill level or playing frequency, to maintain the interest of its players. The casino preferences may include hold percentage, complimentary award rate, complimentary award limits, game eligibility (lockout), and other information. Hold percentage indicates a range of hold percentages, such as high, medium, and low. Based on the player preferences and the casino preferences in the player's account, the[0048]gaming machine10 is adapted or configured to such data as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,041 to Walker et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• In addition, the[0049]portable data unit14 may be used by employees of a gaming establishment to collect data relating to gaming machine operation as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,517 to Sarbin et al. For each machine, the machine data may include a machine ID; the number of coins played; the number of coins in the machine's cash box; the number of coins paid out by the machine; the number of games played; the number of coins paid by attendants to players; and such security information as the number of machine door openings, the number of coin hopper jams, the number of blackouts (i.e., interruptions of electrical power to the machine), and the last ten security events such as tilts and illegal pays. Along with the data as described above, appropriate date-time information corresponding to the data may be recorded on theportable data unit14.
• Furthermore, if the[0050]portable data unit14 is incorporated in a portable device such as a mobile telephone or portable internet appliance, the device may link to a financial institution (e.g., bank or credit card company) where the player has an outside account to transfer money to the player's account (whether it resides on theportable data unit14 or at the central host computer18) or directly to thegaming machine10.
• Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.[0051]

Claims (6)

1-74. (canceled)

75. A cashless wagering game method, comprising:

storing on a personal data unit player tracking information associated with a player of a gaming machine; and

wirelessly communicating information, including the player tracking information, between the personal data unit and the gaming machine.

76. The method ofclaim 75, further comprising awarding a bonus outcome on the gaming machine based on the player tracking information.

77. The method ofclaim 75, wherein the player tracking information includes game play data.

78. The method ofclaim 77, wherein the game play data includes the identity of a predetermined number of last machines played by the player and prizes awarded to the player.

79. The method ofclaim 75, further comprising randomly selecting an outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager from the player.

Images