US20130012302A1

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Info

Publication number: US20130012302A1
Application number: US13/465,843
Authority: US
Inventors: Danielle Rayner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-07-10
Filing date: 2012-05-07
Publication date: 2013-01-10
Also published as: AU2012282235A1; WO2013008101A3; WO2013008101A2

Abstract

The present invention is a club and casino money and exchange system to transfer a plurality of a user's casino or club rewards points and promotional winnings. The system includes a kiosk or a first computer with a magnetic card reader affiliated with the user's casino or club, an admin software application that is utilized by the kiosk or the computer to control, operate and monitor the system and a second computer to control, monitor and distribute the rewards points and promotional winnings. The system also includes a prepaid card owned by the user and a user membership card that is swiped into the magnetic card reader or entered into the kiosk that is in communication with the system. There are also two corresponding methods of using the system.

Description

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/506,124 filed on Jul. 10, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

For many years, members of rewards programs in the club and casino industry (and many other industries) have been limited as to how they can spend their rewards points. For example, in the Australian club and casino industry, members rewards points that have been accrued by utilizing the bar, bistro and gaming machines have only been able to spend their membership points in one of three ways; internally at the club or casino, with a shopping voucher (e.g. a Westfield gift card, Coles or Woolworths grocery voucher) or with a participating retail outlet near the club or the casino.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a club and casino money and exchange system and methods of use that can transfer reward points and promotional wins to a prepaid EFTPOS or a VISA card, or to any type of prepaid card by visiting a kiosk in the club or casino or swiping their card in a promotion.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a club and casino money and exchange system and methods of use that links a membership card to a user's prepaid card and performs a transfer of reward points into cash spent via a kiosk and software provided by the system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a club and casino money and exchange system and methods of use that can also load membership points back onto a membership card for internal spending.

What is really needed is a club and casino money and exchange system and methods of use that can transfer reward points and promotional wins to a prepaid electronic funds transfer at point of sale or EFTPOS or a VISA card, or to any type of prepaid card by visiting a kiosk in the club or casino or swiping their card in a promotion that links a membership card to a user's prepaid card and performs a transfer of reward points into cash spent via a kiosk and software provided by the system that can also load membership points back onto a membership card for internal spending.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system overview of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates a card swipe portion of a kiosk screen of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B illustrates a keypad portion of a kiosk screen of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2C illustrates a keypad portion to transfer funds from a kiosk screen of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2D illustrates a language selection listing from a kiosk screen of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2E illustrates a keypad portion of a language selection portion from a pair of a kiosk screen of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2F illustrates a keypad portion to transfer funds from a pair of kiosk screens of a club and casino money and exchange system in a chosen language, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A illustrates a log-in screen to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates a member's search screen to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3C illustrates a member's search home page screen to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3D illustrates a member's detail's page screen to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3E illustrates a promotions screen to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrates a flowchart of a method for transferring a plurality of casino rewards points and promotional winnings at a kiosk or a computer with a card swipe reader, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.

The phrase in one embodiment is utilized repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms comprising, having and including are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system overview of a club and casino money andexchange system100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Thesystem100 includes akiosk110, a first computer120, asecond computer130, anadmin software application140, a Visa or eftpos card or any other type ofprepaid card150, a communications network160 and a user'smembership card170. Thekiosk110 can be any suitable kiosk associated with a club or casino. The first computer120 includes a magnetic card reader122 affiliated with the user's casino or club with adatabase124. Thesecond computer130 is a third party computer to control rewards points associated with thesystem100. Theadmin software application140 is utilized by thekiosk110 and the first computer120 to control, operate and monitor thesystem100. Theprepaid card150 is owned by the user affiliated with the user's casino or club and so is the membership card that is swiped into the magnetic card reader122 or entered into thekiosk110 that is in communication with thesystem100. Both the prepaid card and the membership card are linked so that inside the club or casino the kiosk application can recognize when a member swipes their membership card that it is requesting to transfer points to the prepaid card. The communications network160 is typically the Internet162 or a club network164 within the casino or club. The user'smembership card170 is swiped into the magnetic card reader122 or entered into thekiosk110 that is in communication with thesystem100 through the communications network160.

FIG. 2A illustrates a card swipe portion of akiosk screen210 of a club and casino money andexchange system100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Thekiosk screen210 includes acard swipe portion212 to allow a user to swipe theirmembership card150. If the user'smembership card150 is valid, the user is prompted with aPIN number214. Theadmin software application140 transfers the casino rewards points and promotional winnings to the VISA or eftpos or any type ofprepaid card150. Theprepaid card150 receives the transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings when the user swipes the club or casino membership card at thekiosk110 or the first computer120. The received casino rewards points and promotional winnings can be converted into cash at thekiosk110 or the first computer120.

FIG. 2B illustrates a keypad portion of akiosk screen210 of a club and casino money andexchange system100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Thekiosk screen210 includes a keypad220, a greeting and aninstruction222 and anentry field224. The keypad220 includesstandard numbers 0 to 9 buttons221 and a clear andOK button223 to enter the givenPIN number214. ThePIN number214 is entered into theentry field224 by the user with the keypad220.

FIG. 2C illustrates a keypad portion to transfer funds from akiosk screen210 of a club and casino money andexchange system100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Thekiosk screen210 includes a similar keypad220, a currentavailable amount230, a request to enter an amount to be transferred232, a minimum amount that can be transferred234 and a maximum amount that can be transferred236. The keypad220 is similar to the previous figures and includesstandard numbers 0 to 9 buttons221 and a clear andOK button223 to enter the givenPIN number214. The amount of money to be transferred238 is entered into theentry field224 by the user with the keypad220. If thePIN Number214 is entered correctly, user is directed to thekiosk screen210, where the user can enter the amount to be transferred236. On successful completion a receipt is printed and a point balance update is initiated instantly via interfacing with thesystem100 back-end.

FIG. 2D illustrates a language selection listing from akiosk screen210 of a club and casino money andexchange system100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Thelanguage240 is selected from the group of English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese or Korean and can also be any suitable language as well. The user simply selects thelanguage240 they would like to use and thesystem100 will translate all of the elements of thesystem100 into that language.

FIG. 2E illustrates a keypad portion of a language selection portion from a pair ofkiosk screens210 of a club and casino money andexchange system100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The pair of kiosk screens210 is similar to the illustrations and information inFIG. 2A andFIG. 2B, but is in Chinese.

FIG. 2F illustrates a keypad portion to transfer funds from a pair ofkiosk screens210 of a club and casino money andexchange system100 in a chosen language, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The pair of kiosk screens210 is similar to the illustrations and information inFIG. 2C and is in Chinese. There is an additional field to provide a decimal pointplacement clarification field242, aconfirmation button246 and a back tomain menu field244 and a return to thekiosk screen110 to return the user toFIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A illustrates a log-in screen310 to utilize a loyalty and rewards program300 of a club and casino money andexchange system100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The log-in screen310 includes a user entering a username entry field312, apassword entry field314, a remember me field316 and a sign-inbutton318. All information for the log-in screen310 can be entered by a standard keypad (FIG. 2C,220).

FIG. 3B illustrates a member'ssearch screen320 to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money andexchange system100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The member'ssearch screen320 includes a club pull-down menu321, a member'sID322, afirst name323, alast name324, a date joined325, asearch button326, aclear button327 and anew member button328. The club or casino members membership card should also be swiped before entering the previously described information.

FIG. 3C illustrates a member's searchhome page screen330 to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money andexchange system100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The member's searchhome page screen330 simply shows the results of the data entered and processed by thesystem100 entered on the member'ssearch screen320 inFIG. 3B. The searchhome page screen330 include one or more member'sID numbers332, one ormore titles334, one ormore names336 and one or more dates joined338. All of the previous information described and illustrated inFIG. 3B and the member'ssearch screen320.

FIG. 3D illustrates a member's detail'spage screen340 to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money andexchange system100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The member's detail'spage screen340 includes anoptional photo341, amember ID number342, atitle343, a plurality ofpoints344, afirst name345, amiddle name346, alast name347, akiosk PIN348, a date ofbirth349, agender350, asave button351, aclear button352, a pair of information buttons indicating if aEFTPOS card353 or acredit card354 is used, anaccount name355, acard number356, anaccount number357, aBSB number358, anexpiration date359, acard status360, asave button361, a activatebutton362, aclear button363, aback button364, aprint button365, a date joined366, a date created367 and a date modified368.

FIG. 3E illustrates apromotions screen370 to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money andexchange system100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The promotions screen370 includes a club pull-down menu371, a category pull-down menu372, a subcategory pull-down menu373, apromotion name374, apromotion code375, apromotion date376, a total ofpromotional payments377 and a total ofpromotional prizes378.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrates a flowchart of amethod400 for transferring a plurality of casino rewards points and promotional winnings at a kiosk or a computer with a card swipe reader, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Themethod400 steps include a member swiping a membership card at the kiosk or thecomputer410, the member entering a kiosk PIN or acomputer PIN420, a membership points balance being displayed on the kiosk or thecomputer430, the member enters a quantity amount of a plurality of membership points from the membership points balance and a request to deduct the points from a gaming points system that is sent440, the points and the gaming points system deducts the points from themembership card450, the gaming points system automatically transmits the request into an Australian Banking Association file460 and a finance department logs into the system and downloads the ABA file from an exterior computer in communication the memberInternet banking account470.

The step of swiping a membership card at the kiosk or thecomputer410 can be done at any member kiosk or computer. The step of the member entering a kiosk PIN or acomputer PIN420 can be done where the PINs are created when the member signs-up. The step of a membership point balance being displayed on the kiosk or thecomputer430 can be done at any available kiosk or suitable computer as previously described. The step of a member enters a quantity amount of a plurality of membership points from the membership point balance and a request to deduct the points from a gaming points system that is sent440 can be done at any available kiosk or suitable computer as previously described. The step of the points and the gaming points system deducts the points from themembership card450 is performed by the system and any an admin software application. The step of the gaming points system automatically transmits the request into an Australian Banking Association file460 can be done for any banking association file. The step of a finance department logs into the system and downloads the ABA file from an exterior computer in communication the memberInternet banking account470 can be done for any banking association file.

The club and casino money and exchange system and methods of use can transfer reward points and promotional wins to a prepaid electronic funds transfer at point of sale or EFTPOS or a VISA card, or to any type of prepaid card by visiting a kiosk in the club or casino or swiping their card in a promotion that links a membership card to a user's prepaid card and performs a transfer of reward points into cash spent via a kiosk and software provided by the system that can also load membership points back onto a membership card for internal spending.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

Claims

1. A club and casino money and exchange system to transfer a plurality of a user's casino or club rewards points and promotional winnings, comprising:

a kiosk or a first computer with a magnetic card reader affiliated with said user's casino or club;

an admin software application that is utilized by said kiosk or said computer to control, operate and monitor said system;

a second computer to control, monitor and distribute said rewards points and promotional winnings;

a membership card owned by said user affiliated with said user's casino or club that is swiped into said magnetic card reader or entered into said kiosk that is in communication with said system; and

a user prepaid card.

2. The system according toclaim 1, wherein said software application transfers said casino rewards points and promotional winnings to said eftpos or VISA or any type of prepaid card.

3. The system according toclaim 2, wherein said prepaid card receives said transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings when said user swipes said members club or casino membership card at said kiosk or said computer.

4. The system according toclaim 3, wherein said received casino rewards points and promotional winnings are converted into cash at said kiosk or said computer.

5. The system according toclaim 3, wherein said received casino rewards points and promotional winnings are utilized by said eftpos, visa or any type of prepaid card to purchase goods and services.

6. The system according toclaim 1, wherein software application transfers said casino rewards points and promotional winnings to said prepaid card.

7. The system according toclaim 6, wherein said prepaid card receives said transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings when said user swipes said linked membership card at said kiosk or said computer.

8. The system according toclaim 7, wherein said transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings are converted into cash at said kiosk or said computer.

9. The system according toclaim 7, wherein said transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings are utilized by said prepaid card to purchase goods and services.

10. The system according toclaim 1, wherein said software application language is selected from the group of English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese or Korean.

11. The system according toclaim 1, wherein said prepaid card is a major prepaid, debit or credit card selected from the group consisting of a Visa card, China Union Pay Card, a MasterCard or an American Express card.

12. The system according toclaim 1, wherein said prepaid card is an EFTPOS card.

13. The system according toclaim 1, wherein said software application can transfer said casino rewards points and promotional winnings from said membership card to said prepaid card.

14. A method for transferring a plurality of casino rewards points and promotional winnings at a kiosk or a computer with a card swipe reader, comprising:

a member swiping a membership card at said kiosk or said computer;

said member entering a kiosk PIN or a computer PIN;

a membership points balance is displayed on said kiosk or said computer;

said member enters a quantity amount of a plurality of membership points from said membership points balance and a request to deduct said points from a gaming points system is sent;

said points and said gaming points system deducts said points from said membership card;

said gaming points system automatically transmits said request into an Australian Banking Association file; and

a finance department logs into said system and downloads said ABA file from an exterior computer in communication said member Internet banking account.

15. The method according toclaim 14, wherein said gaming points system automatically transmits said request into any banking association file.

16. The method according toclaim 14, wherein said PINs are created when said member signs-up.

17. The method according toclaim 14, wherein said prepaid cards are paid from said club or casino Internet banking account on a next business day.

18. The method according toclaim 14, wherein said points and said gaming points system deducts said points from an admin software application.

19. A method for linking a membership card to a prepaid bank card, comprising:

a member has decides to join a rewards program;

said member consults with a staff member with a computer that has a card swipe reader;

said members membership card is swiped and said member's profile is retrieved; and

said members bank card is swiped and data from said bank card that includes an account number is stored in said computer.

20. The method according toclaim 19, wherein said membership card and said member's profile and said bank card and said data are saved on said computer together.