Gaming system player identification device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12573263-B2
Application number	US-202318133298-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2023
Priority date	Sep 23, 2016
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods which utilize a player identification device to provide to electronic gaming machines certain gaming system functionality and features otherwise not associated with or available in association with the electronic gaming machines existing gaming establishment management systems.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1 . An electronic gaming machine retrofit device comprising:
a support structure; a first slot accounting system protocol interface supported by the support structure; a second slot accounting system protocol interface supported by the support structure; a processor supported by the support structure; a player identification card reader supported by the support structure and configured to read encoded data of a physical player identification card; and a memory device supported by the support structure and storing a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor when the support structure is supported by a cabinet of an electronic gaming machine such that the processor, the first slot accounting system protocol interface, the second slot accounting system protocol interface and the memory device are inaccessible from an exterior of the cabinet of the electronic gaming machine and a physical player identification card receiving end of the player identification card reader is accessible from the exterior of the cabinet of the electronic gaming machine, and the first slot accounting system protocol interface is connected to a slot machine interface board in communication with a computing component of a resident gaming establishment management system and the second slot accounting system protocol interface is connected to a computing component of a non-resident gaming establishment management system, cause the processor to:
serially communicate, via the second slot accounting system protocol interface, activity data to the computing component of the non-resident gaming establishment management system that is distinct from and operates independent of each of the processor and the computing component of the resident gaming establishment management system, wherein the activity data comprises at least first slot accounting system data communicated from an electronic gaming machine processor of an electronic gaming machine to the slot machine interface board, and
responsive to serially receiving, via the second slot accounting system protocol interface, second data of an event associated with the non-resident gaming establishment management system:
associate the event with the electronic gaming machine processor, wherein:
the electronic gaming machine processor is distinct from each of the computing component of the resident gaming establishment management system, the processor, and the computing component of the non-resident gaming establishment management system,
the computing component of the resident gaming establishment management system in communication with the slot machine interface board does not offer the event such that prior to the connection of the second slot accounting system protocol interface to the computing component of the non-resident gaming establishment management system, the electronic gaming machine did not offer the event, and
the event associated with the non-resident gaming establishment management system is determined based on the activity data serially communicated, via the second slot accounting system protocol interface, to the computing component of the non-resident gaming establishment management system, and

communicate data that result in a display device of the electronic gaming machine displaying an indication of the association of the event.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the event associated with the non-resident gaming establishment management system differs from any event associated with the resident gaming establishment management system.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the event associated with the non-resident gaming establishment management system comprises a feature offered by the non-resident gaming establishment management system.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the computing component of the non-resident gaming establishment management system comprises a cashless wagering server and the event comprises a modification of a credit balance of the electronic gaming machine responsive to a cashless wagering account being accessed via a mobile device and an amount of funds from the cashless wagering account being approved by the cashless wagering server.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the computing component of the non-resident gaming establishment management system comprises a progressive award server and the event comprises a progressive award being provided responsive to a determination that the activity data is associated with a designated outcome being generated during a play of a game of the electronic gaming machine.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the computing component of the non-resident gaming establishment management system comprises a mystery bonus award server and the event comprises a mystery bonus award being provided independent of any displayed event occurring during a play of a game of the electronic gaming machine.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the computing component of the non-resident gaming establishment management system comprises a content management server and the event comprises a display of an externally controlled interface by the display device of the electronic gaming machine.

8 . A player identification instrument reader comprising:
a first slot accounting system protocol interface supported by a housing of a player tracking unit of a resident gaming establishment management system, the player tracking unit being distinct from the player identification instrument reader; a second slot accounting system protocol interface supported by the housing of the player tracking unit of the resident gaming establishment management system; a processor supported by the housing of the player tracking unit of the resident gaming establishment management system; and a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor when the housing of the player tracking unit is supported by a cabinet of an electronic gaming machine such that the processor, the first slot accounting system protocol interface and the second slot accounting system protocol interface are inaccessible from an exterior of the cabinet of the electronic gaming machine and a receiving end of the player identification instrument reader is accessible from the exterior of the cabinet of the electronic gaming machine, and the first slot accounting system protocol interface is connected to a slot machine interface board of the player tracking unit of the resident gaming establishment management system and the second slot accounting system protocol interface is connected to a computing component of a non-resident gaming establishment management system, cause the processor to:
responsive to receipt, via the receiving end, of a physical player identification instrument, read encoded data of the physical player identification instrument,
serially communicate, via the second slot accounting system protocol interface, activity data to the computing component of the non-resident gaming establishment management system that is distinct from and operates independent of each of a computing component of the resident gaming establishment management system and the processor, wherein the activity data comprises at least first slot accounting system data communicated from an electronic gaming machine processor of an electronic gaming machine to the slot machine interface board of the player tracking unit, and
responsive to serially receiving, via the second slot accounting system protocol interface, second data of an event associated with the non-resident gaming establishment management system, associate the event with the electronic gaming machine processor, wherein:
the electronic gaming machine processor is distinct from

Assignees

• Igt Reno Nev

Inventors

• Petersen Erik B
• Higgins Kevin M
• Levin Matthew

Classifications

• G07F17/3258

  Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots · CPC title

• G07F17/3244

  Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes · CPC title

• G07F17/3241

  Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance (computer security G06F21/00) · CPC title

• G07F17/3218

  wherein at least part of the system is portable · CPC title

• G07F17/3213

  Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members · CPC title