US 7611407 B1
A casino game is implemented on the basis of a wireless mobile player unit adapted to play poker, slots, bingo and other casino games. The unit obtains random game outcomes from a central computer over a radio channel utilizing a data encryption technique relying on an authentication key. The authentication key is downloaded into the unit from the central computer via a secure wired communication channel while the unit is stored, recharged and locked in a dispensing kiosk controlled by the central computer. A player rents the unit from the kiosk, plays it throughout the casino and returns the unit to the kiosk to obtain prizes and/or bonus points earned. The central computer tracks the inventory of the units in the kiosk and on the casino floor.
1. A self-service dispenser for dispensing multiple portable gaming devices comprising:
at least one self-service dispenser configured to accept consideration and dispense at least one remote gaming device upon acceptance of said consideration;
said at least one dispenser being controlled by a central game controller;
both said game controller and said at least one gaming device configured to communicate with each other via two distinct bi-directional communication channels;
the first of said two communication channels being secure and operating while said gaming device is located in, or in a close proximity to said dispenser;
the second of said two communication channels being a remote communication channel and operating at least following said dispensing of said gaming device from said dispenser;
said game controller configured to generate at least one random data encryption key utilizing a random number generating means responsive to each gaming device being dispensed;
said game controller configured to transmit said at least one data encryption key to said at least one gaming device via said first communication channel automatically and without involvement of personnel of a gaming establishment operating said dispenser;
a printer configured to print a receipt each time a gaming device is dispensed wherein said receipt includes reference to said random data encryption key, said printed random data encryption capable of being manually input into said remote gaming device in lieu of the transmission of said at least one data encryption key from said game controller to said gaming device;
said game controller and said at least one gaming device configured to utilize said at least one data encryption key to encrypt data communicated between said game controller and said at least one gaming device via said second communication channel, said data including at least one wagering request transmitted by said at least one gaming device to said game controller via said second communication channel, said data further including a random game outcome response to said wagering request transmitted by said game controller back to said at least one gaming device via said second communication channel; and
wherein said game controller utilizes a random number generating means separately and independently to generate each game outcome response to each said wagering request.
2. The system of
3. The system of
(a) maintain a current account balance for said at least one gaming device, said current account balance being linked with an identification of a user operating said gaming device;
(b) monitor inventory of said gaming devices currently located inside and outside of said dispenser, and
(c) credit a user's account upon a return of said gaming device to said dispenser.
4. The system of
5. The system of
6. The system of
7. The system of
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/011,648 filed on Dec. 4, 2001.
The present invention relates to gaming devices in general and, more specifically, to portable gaming devices suitable for use in gaming establishments such as casinos and bingo halls.
In recent years, radio-controlled hand-held or portable electronic bingo devices, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,455,025 and 4,624,462 both to Itkis and in bingo industry publications, including an article “Bingo Playing Enhanced With New Innovations”, Bingo Manager, July, 2001, gained substantial popularity in casinos. However, mobile electronic bingo devices have limited applications in a casino environment and are labor-intensive because of the need to download bingo cards at a point-of-sale terminal operated by a cashier.
Recently, portable remote gaming devices were proposed for playing “classic” casino games such as poker, slots and keno. In particular, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,012,983 and 6,001,016 both to Walker, et al., propose to utilize pager-like devices for remote monitoring of the progress of a slot game executed automatically on a player's behalf on an actual slot machine available at a “casino warehouse.” However, Walker limits play to a rather passive observation of the game and, therefore, diminishes a player's interest in the game. Besides, Walker's approach requires a costly investment in real slot machines located remotely at a “casino warehouse.” In addition, Walker does not provide any mechanism for facilitating the labor-intensive process of distributing gaming devices to players and does not assure security of the gaming devices. A commercial implementation of remote playing on a “warehoused” slot machine by GameCast Live as disclosed in “Expanding Casino Borders”, International Gaming and Wagering Business, September 2001, suffers from the same deficiencies as Walker's disclosures. Moreover, although GameCast Live offers players convincing video and audio data streams originating at video cameras aimed at actual slot machines, such implementation is labor intensive and requires costly hardware. In addition, such an approach cannot provide a casino with an adequate number (e.g., several hundred) of remote wagering devices since the overall radio frequency (RF) bandwidth available for a casino is severely limited.
On the other hand, a cellular telephone-based approach to remote gaming being promoted by companies, such as Motorola, Inc., TRIMON Systems, Inc. and NuvoStudios, Inc., as disclosed, for example, in “NuvoStudios, Inc., Corporate Profile”, NuvoStudios, Inc., October 2001 and “Mobile Casino Solution”, TRIMON Systems, Inc., October 2001, does alleviate the issue of available radio frequency bandwidth. Yet, remote gaming on cellular telephones is functionally indistinguishable from gaming on the Internet. Although casinos are tempted by the lucrative prospects of Internet gaming, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,800,268 to Molnick, 5,999,808 to La Due and 5,779,545 to Berg et al., the disclosed Internet wagering techniques cannot be directly transplanted into casino environment because of the vast differences between the security and integrity requirements of “brick-and-mortar” casinos and “click-and-mortar” casinos. While there is no conceivable motivation for an Internet player to sabotage his or her own personal computer (PC), telephone or mobile Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), an unscrupulous player will not hesitate to subvert a casino slot machine. In addition, a potentially unscrupulous player is thwarted from cheating on the Internet by the fear of violating a vast plethora of laws and regulations aimed to prevent wire fraud and credit card fraud. In comparison, the intra-casino operation of slot machines is typically outside of purview of such anti-fraud laws. Being functionally equivalent to gaming on stationary Internet terminals, wireless gaming on Internet-enabled phones and PDAs suffers from the same serious security and integrity deficiencies that are inherent in stationary Internet terminals.
It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a casino player with an opportunity to securely play casino games, such as poker, slots, keno and bingo “on the go” without the need for a stationary video and/or reel slot machine.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a casino player with a secure method of playing a mobile casino game on a small device convenient for carrying on the person.
It is a further objective of the present invention to automate the process of renting such mobile wagering devices to players.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to automatically track mobile player devices rented to players to encourage the return of the devices to the casino.
These and further objectives will become apparent from the attached drawings and the following description of the preferred embodiment.
The above objectives are achieved through the present invention by providing a casino player with a wireless wagering device akin to a wireless PDA or an Internet-enabled cellular telephone. The preferred embodiment of a mobile wagering device, programmed to play typical casino games, including poker, slots, keno and bingo, incorporates a radio frequency transceiver, an infrared downloading port and a rechargeable battery. A player rents such a mobile player unit from the casino at a self-service dispensing kiosk. In order to rent a mobile player unit, a player inserts a player club card into the kiosk's magnetic card reader and deposit money into the kiosk's bill validator The kiosk houses a number of mobile player units in its storage and recharging cells. Each of the cells are networked over a local area network with a central PC-compatible computer controlling the kiosk.
When a player buys a pack of electronic bingo cards at a kiosk, the kiosk's central computer downloads the purchased bingo cards into an available player unit plugged into the internal local area network of the kiosk while the unit is housed in the kiosk. A player can then take the downloaded unit out of the kiosk to any location of the casino floor. Over a radio channel, the unit receives bingo data, such as bingo patterns and pseudo-random bingo numbers from the kiosk's central computer, and plays downloaded bingo cards automatically. The central computer automatically verifies all bingo cards downloaded into all rented mobile player units, detects winning bingo cards, computes the prizes due to the winning players and stores the outcomes of the games in an internal database. When a player re-inserts the player unit into the kiosk, the kiosk automatically dispenses any winnings due the player through a bill dispenser and/or coin hopper.
The central computer also maintains a database of the rented units and may award bonus points to players returning the rented units to the kiosk. A complete self-service rent-and-return cycle yields substantial labor costs savings for casinos. The kiosk is also equipped with electronic latches controlled by the central computer. The latches lock the unit inside the kiosk and prevent a player from taking the unit out of the kiosk without first paying for the unit.
A player having a sufficient account balance can also purchase, by means of radio communications, bingo cards with the help of the mobile player unit located on the casino floor. In order to prevent fraud and make radio communication with the unit secure, the central computer downloads an encryption key to each unit being rented. The encryption key is downloaded over the kiosk's internal local area network while the unit remains locked inside of the kiosk. Even though a radio communication can be easily intercepted, such an internal downloading of the encryption key assures security of the subsequent communications between the central computer and the rented unit over the public radio channel. As a result, a player can confidently place an order for purchasing bingo cards right from the casino floor in real time.
Moreover, secure gaming over a public radio channel authenticated by an encryption key downloaded at a dispensing kiosk opens an opportunity for playing “classic” casino games, such as poker and slots, on the very same mobile player unit. In this case, the player unit transmits authenticated encoded game requests, such as “deal a poker hand”, “spin reels” and “draw keno balls”, to the central computer. In response, the central computer broadcasts authenticated outcomes of the games determined by a software random number generator running on the central computer. The response received by the player unit determines the outcome of the game including winnings, if any, and a new credit balance. Each such request and response thereto are authenticated by digital signatures based upon a secure authentication key downloaded into the player unit from the central computer while the player unit remains inside the dispensing kiosk.
The invention is illustrated by the following drawings:
As illustrated in
Being a combination kiosk-type dispenser of MPUs 1 with a central game controller, UDK 2 includes an assortment of conventional point-of-sale and automatic-teller-machine components, including a touchscreen video monitor 9, a receipt printer (PRT) 10, a magnetic card reader (MCR) 11, a bill validator/barcode-reader (BV) 12 a bill dispenser (BD) 13 and a coin dispenser CD 14. In addition, UDK 2 incorporates a RF antenna 15 being a part of an embedded RF transceiver 16 shown explicitly in
The internal design of an MPU 1 is illustrated in
The internal design of UDK 2 is detailed in
Via LAN 22, PC 21 periodically polls all cells 17 of UDK 2 to determine whether they are occupied and, if so, by which MPU 1. Note that each MPU 1 is characterized by its unique manufacturer's identification number 33 stored in its non-volatile memory and further etched on the top surface 34 of MPU 1 as shown in
Players rent MPUs 1 from UDK 2 and return MPUs 1 to UDK 2 once they complete playing. In order to rent an MPU 1 from UDK 2, a player is preferably required to first insert into MCR 11 a player tracking card 39 as illustrated in
Initially, in order to facilitate the description of the operation of the system, a simple case of a player renting an MPU 1 to play a prepackaged set of electronic bingo cards (“pack”) is considered. For example, it is assumed that a casino offers players only one type of bingo packs and allows players to buy only one pack. A specific bingo pack sold to a player 41 is identified on a rental receipt 44 issued by PRT 10 as illustrated in
The operations being performed by PC 21 of UDK 2 in this simplified case are illustrated in the flowchart of
Once player 41 removes MPU 1 from UDK 2, PC 21 transfers the identification number 33 of the removed MPU 1 from the first 30 rows 36 of table 35 to the group of records 70 that lists “homeless” MPUs 1 (i.e., units not housed in any specific cell 17 and, presumably, located somewhere on the casino floor). As illustrated in
Once removed from UDK 2, a player can carry a rented MPU 1 anywhere through a casino and, as long as MPU 1 receives bingo data over RF channel 31, it will play bingo automatically as illustrated in the flowchart of
The data broadcast by UDK 2 over antenna 15 originates at PC 21. PC 21 stores a schedule of bingo games or patterns to be played in its memory in a conventional way. PC 21 also utilizes a standard random number generation utility to generate randomly called bingo numbers. As an alternative, a conventional ball hopper or bingo rack may be used to generate random bingo numbers. PC 21 also automatically verifies all sold bingo cards (i.e., bingo cards downloaded in each rented MPUs 1), with each new called bingo number in order to detect a winning card as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,396 to Tawil and is further disclosed in applicants' co-pending U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/042,044 entitled “Fully Automated Bingo Session.” Once a winning card is detected, PC 21 algorithmically computes the identification number 100 of bingo pack 43 that the winning bingo card was downloaded to. Knowing the winning pack number 43, PC 21 finds the winning player corresponding to the manufacturer's identification number 33 by searching status table 35. Once the winning player is found, PC 21 updates the player's balance 57 to reflect the winning prize.
Meanwhile, the winning MPU 1 independently detects a winner as described above and starts blinking the winning card 66 on display 3 and optionally plays a winning tune through speaker 20. At this point, a winning player may approach UDK 2 and claim a prize by inserting the winning MPU 1 back into UDK 2. A player may insert MPU 1 into any empty cell 17. PC 21 detects the insertion of MPU 1 through cell 17 polling procedure described above. Upon learning the physical identification number 33 of the inserted MPU 1, PC 21 searches status table 35 and fetches the identification number 41 of the player who rented the unit and also fetches the player's account balance 57 from table 35. The account balance 57 includes the player's winnings as described above. Now PC 21 causes BD 13 and CD 14 to dispense the player's balance due. Specifically, BD 13 dispenses the dollar amount of the player's balance 57 and CD 14 dispenses the remaining amount, if any, of cents in coins. Once dispensing of the balance 57 is complete, PC 21 clears balance 57 in player's 41 record in table 35 and also clears MPU 1 manufacturer's identification field 33. The operation of clearing field 33 releases player 41 from any responsibility for the returned MPU 1. As a courtesy to the player, PC 21 also causes PRT 10 to issue a return receipt 67 illustrated in
Optionally, a player may also be required to insert the barcoded receipt 44 into BV 12 and/or insert the player card 39 into magnetic card reader 11. If such an option is selected, then BV 12 reads barcoded identification 59 of receipt 44 and/or magnetic card reader 11 reads-in player identification number 41 from card 39, and PC 21 compares read-in identifications 59 and/or 42 of receipt 44 and/or card 39 with the values stored in table 35. Assuming they match with the read-in identification 33 of MPU 1 stored in the player's 41 record in table 35, the validity of the winning claim is well-established. Some casinos may even elect to rely exclusively on the validation of receipt 44 and/or card 39 for purposes of paying winners without the requirement of returning the winning MPU 1 into UDK 2. However, the preferred requirement of returning the winning MPU 1 decreases the casino's labor costs since casino employees will not have to retrieve and return MPUs left all over the casino. Also, it insures that MPUs 1 are readily available for new players to rent. Moreover, it prevents a player from taking a MPU 1 home as a “souvenir” or the like. For all such reasons, it makes sense for a casino to require all players to return all rented MPUs 1 to UDK 2 once a player is finished. A casino is in a position to enforce the return of the MPUs 1 because status table 35 contains detailed records of MPUs 1 rented by players. However, instead of enforcing the return of MPU 1, a casino may encourage a voluntary return by, for example, awarding a player's account bonus points 68 upon the return of the rented MPU 1. A player may use the bonus points 68 as discounts for buffets, souvenirs, etc. Also, a casino may impose a deposit fee for renting MPU 1 and refund the deposit to the player through dispensers 13 and/or 14, once a player returns the MPU 1.
The primary reason the above-described MPU 1 is equipped with RF-channel 31 is to facilitate automatic playing of bingo on the casino floor. However, some players and some casinos prefer manual entry of all necessary bingo data into the MPUs 1 as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,940 to Gluz et al., and the article “Bingo Playing Enhanced With New Innovations”, Bingo Manager, July, 2001. If manual entry is required, the MPU 1 does not have to be equipped with transceiver 19 and antenna 4 resulting in a less expensive MPU 1. However, even in such a simplified case, the UDK 2 is still very useful since it completely automates the process of selling electronic bingo cards and yields substantial labor costs savings for casinos and bingo halls.
The aforementioned simple example of the system illustrated in
To this point, it was assumed that bingo packs 43 are to be purchased by the player at the UDK 2 when the player rents MPU 1. This is acceptable in the case of bingo games organized in sessions of one hour or more. However, in the case of so-called continuous bingo wherein players buy bingo cards for each game separately and may, for example, play some games while skipping other games, it is inconvenient for a player to buy bingo cards at UDK 2 separately for each game. It is therefore desirable to allow a player to purchase bingo packs on the casino floor, through MPU 1 that has an inherent capability of two-way radio communication via transceiver 19. For example, touchscreen 3 of MPU 1 can display the same menu 71 illustrated in
However, there is a serious concern with the direct two-way RF communication between MPU 1 and UDK 2. Specifically, such a communication over open RF channel 31 can be easily intercepted. The lack of security can be resolved by encrypting such communications with the help of a private encryption key that is generated by UDK 2 and downloaded into MPU 1 via a secure route formed by connectors 7 and 23. Specifically, in addition to, and/or instead of bingo cards, PC 21 can download MPU 1 with at least one random digital security key to secure the two-way radio communications between MPU 1 and UDK 2. Such a digital security key is typically known in the industry under a variety of names (e.g., a digital encryption key, DES key, an authentication key, a private key, a digital signature key, a hashing algorithm, etc.) Importantly, MPU 1 is downloaded with a new unique random encryption key each time MPU 1 is rented and, therefore, even if the same player 41 accidentally rents the same MPU 1 having the same identification number 33, the downloaded encryption key is different every time. Optionally, the downloaded security key may be printed on sale receipt as is illustrated in
A random encryption key 82 is generated by PC 21 with the help of random number generation software utility in a conventional way. The details of the generation and utilization of key 82 are omitted herein since techniques of data encryption are well known in the industry and are disclosed in numerous publications including, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,670,857 to Rackman, 5,643,086 to Alcorn et al., 6,071,190 to Weiss et al., and 6,149,522 to Alcorn et al. Instead, it is re-emphasized that PC 21 downloads MPU 1 with a security key 82 over a secure communication channel formed by cable 24 and connectors 7 and 23 and that the security key 82 changes with every downloading. Being downloaded with a security key 82, MPU 1 can send authenticated data blocks to UDK 2 over the public radio frequency channel 31. Specifically, each such data block is authenticated with the help of a digital signature based on the security key 82 as illustrated in
Each response block 87 transmitted by UDK 2 to MPU 1 is also protected by an embedded authentication field 88 as shown in
The above-described technique of secure two-way communication between MPU 1 and UDK 2 over public RF channel 31 with the help of an encryption key 82 downloaded by UDK 2 into MPU 1 over a secure wired channel is useful not only for playing bingo games but is also beneficial for playing “classic” casino games, such as poker, slots and keno. For example, a player can play a slot game on MPU 1 by simply touching touchbutton “SPIN” 92 displayed on touchscreen 3. Once a player touches button 92, MPU 1 causes the image of reels 93 on display 3 to spin and transmits an encoded request 83 having data field 86 structured as “spin request” data block 94 illustrated in
The above general outline of events involved in playing slots on MPU 1 is illustrated by flowcharts presented in
MPU 1 allows playing of a poker game in a similar manner. Specifically, a player touches a toggle touchbutton “DEAL/DRAW” 97 on touchscreen 3 requesting a new “deal.” In response, MPU 1 forms a player's request block 83 with the data field 86 structured in the form 98 of a “deal request” data block illustrated in
In a manner similar to that described above, MPU 1 may be adapted to play virtually any casino game, including black jack, keno, roulette, sports book and horse racing. In fact, MPU 1 can play several games concurrently. For example, slots and bingo can be played concurrently as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,787 to Itkis et al. Moreover, the preferred embodiment illustrated in
Moreover, the extended LAN 22 can be equipped with multiple connectors 23 installed throughout the casino, such as near lounge chairs, for convenient player access as illustrated in
Although connectors 7 and 23 are described as the primary LAN 22 channel for downloading to MPU 1 by UDK 2, their communication function can also be carried out by infrared communication ports built into MPU 1 and UDK 2 as is illustrated in
Similarly, an off-the-shelf programmable telephone equipped with a graphics display and menu-navigation keys 6 may serve as a MPU 1. A broad variety of downloadable “third generation” telephones is available on the market. In case of a telephone-based implementation, a player may use his or her own telephone for playing casino games in the above-described manner, provided of course, that the player's telephone is downloaded with a security key 82 as a precondition for playing casino games. Assuming connector 7 is compatible with the downloading and recharging connector of such a telephone, a player may insert a telephone into any available or reserved slot 17 of UDK 2 and wait a few seconds while PC 21 downloads key 82 into the memory of the player's telephone. In addition to key 82, PC 21 also downloads the above-described casino games into the player's telephone. The downloadable casino games are preferably written in JAVA language since many modern commercial telephones are capable of downloading and executing application programs written in JAVA language.
Infrared port 135 built into MPU 1 also allows for lateral communication between two MPUs 1 as illustrated in
A viable alternative to downloading files via communication ports 7 and 23 and/or ports 135 and 137 is utilization of smart cards for transporting files from PC 21 to MPU 1. Assuming card reader 11 is equipped with a smart-card reader/writer circuitry, the necessary files can be written onto a smart-card and subsequently read-in by MPU 1 that is also equipped with a smart card reader/writer peripheral. Since many modern PDA devices are equipped with smart-card readers/writers, the opportunity for a player to play casino games on his or her own PDA in a casino becomes even more feasible, assuming of course, the above-described security techniques are followed.
Another alternative for inputting encryption key 82 into MPU 1 includes a player reading key 82 from receipt 44 and manually entering key 82 into MPU 1 via a touch-pad on touchscreen 3. Although manual entry of key 82 is subject to error, it may be used as a substitute for the downloading of key 82 in an effort to save costs or in the case of a failure of downloading the key 82 via connectors 7 and 23.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
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