Secure smart card operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9123204-B2
Application number	US-75639610-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2010
Priority date	Feb 27, 2007
Publication date	Sep 1, 2015
Grant date	Sep 1, 2015

Abstract

Various embodiments described or referenced herein are directed to different devices, methods, systems, and computer program products for facilitating cashless digital transactions (e.g., in a casino environment). A wager-based gaming machine may include a memory device capable of storing a first credit balance representing an amount of credit available for wagering. The wager-based gaming machine may include a communication interface configured to communicate with a portable electronic device capable of storing a second credit balance representing a second amount of credit available on the portable electronic device. The wager-based gaming machine may include a secure transaction device. The secure transaction device may be operable to transmit to the portable electronic device a request to update the second credit balance, the request including security authorization information. The secure transaction device may also be operable to receive from the portable electronic device an indication that the second amount of credit has been updated in accordance with the request, when it is determined that the security authorization information complies with one or more security authorization requirements. The secure transaction device may also be operable to update the first credit balance stored in the first memory device in accordance with the request.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for performing cashless wager-based gaming on a wager-based gaming machine, the method comprising:
storing, in a first memory device on the wager-based gaming machine, a first credit balance representing a first amount of credit available for wagering to play one or more games of chance available on the wager-based gaming machine;
receiving by a secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine from a processor of the wager-based gaming machine a first request, the first request representing a request to update a second credit balance stored on a portable electronic device in communication with the wager-based gaming machine, the second credit balance representing a second amount of credit available on the portable electronic device, the second credit balance being one of a number of different credit types;
transmitting from the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine, via a communication interface, the first request to the portable electronic device in communication with the wager-based gaming machine, the first request including security authorization information;
receiving, by a security module of the portable electronic device, the first request from the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine via the communication interface;
determining, by the security module of the portable electronic device, whether the first request complies with one or more security authorization requirements, the determination including a determination whether the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine is authorized to make the first request to update the second credit balance stored on the portable electronic device based on the credit type of the second credit balance;
updating, by the security module of the portable electronic device, the second amount of credit in accordance with the first request in response to the determination that the first request complies with the one or more security authorization requirements including that the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine is authorized to make the first request;
transmitting, from the portable electronic device to the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine, a confirmation indication that the second amount of credit has been updated by the portable electronic device in accordance with the first request via the communication interface; and
updating, by the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine, the first credit balance stored in the first memory device in accordance with the first request in response to receiving the confirmation indication.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first request further includes a request to transfer a designated credit amount from the portable electronic device to the wager-based gaming machine.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first request is transmitted responsive to a determination that the first credit balance has reached a first credit threshold.

4. The method of claim 3 , the method further comprising:
determining, by a processor of the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine, the designated credit amount based on a predetermined auto-transfer amount and the first credit threshold.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first request is transmitted in response to a request received from a user of the wager-based gaming machine.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first request further includes a request to transfer a designated credit amount from the wager-based gaming machine to the portable electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6 , the method further comprising:
determining, by the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine, in response to receiving a request to cash out, whether the communication interface is in communication with the portable electronic device;
transferring, in response to a determination that the communication interface is not in communication with the portable electronic device, the first credit balance from the first memory device to a second memory device of the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine;
transmitting a request, from the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine to a master gaming controller of the wager-based gaming machine, indicating that the wager-based gaming machine should be temporarily placed in an out-of-service state; and
transmitting a request, from the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine to the master gaming controller, to perform a no-card cash out operation to communicate with a new portable electronic device via the communication interface.

8. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
determining, by the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine, a first offline window for the portable electronic device, the first offline window representing a time period in which the portable electronic device may be used for cashless gaming without authenticating with one or more cashless gaming servers;
determining, by the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine, a first on-line use of the portable electronic device, the first on-line use corresponding to a most recent time in which the portable electronic device was authenticated with the one or more cashless gaming servers;
determining, by the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine, whether the first offline use is within the first offline window based on the first offline window and the first offline use; and
permitting, by the secure transaction module of the wager-based gaming machine, use of the portable electronic device without the portable electronic device authenticating with the one or more cashless gaming servers when the first offline use is within the first offline window.

9. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
receiving from the portable electronic device, via the communication interface, identification information associated with the portable electronic device;
transmitting, to a cashless gaming server, a first message including the received identification information;
receiving, from the cashless gaming server, a second message including an indication that the portable electronic device has been blocked; and
outputting a notification that further use of the portable electronic device has been at least partially blocked.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the credit type of the second credit balance is at least one of: a gambling balance, a non-gambling balance, promotional dollars, loyalty points, and player tracking points.

11. A system for cashless gaming, the system comprising:
a wager-based gaming machine configured to present one or more games of chance, the wager-based gaming machine comprising:
a master gaming controller,
a wager input device configured to receive an indication of a wager to play the one or more games of chance,
a value output device configured to output an indication of value including an award based on play of the one or more games of chance,
a first memory device configured to store a first credit balance representing a first amount of credit available for wagering to play the one or more games of chance controlled by the master gaming controller,
one or more communication interfaces, and
a secure transaction module;

a portable electronic device in communication with the wager-based gaming machine via the one or more communication interfaces, the portable electronic device comprising:
a first processor,
a second memory device configured to store a second credit balance representing a second amount

Assignees

• Rader Richard
• Petersen Erik B
• Bartholomew Robert P
• Espin Marc
• Cunningham Ii William R
• Macmillan Scott J
• Igt Reno Nev

Inventors

• Rader Richard
• Petersen Erik B
• Bartholomew Robert P
• Espin Marc
• Cunningham Ii William R
• Macmillan Scott J

Classifications

• G07F17/32

  for games, toys, sports, or amusements · CPC title

• G06Q2220/10

  Usage protection of distributed data files · CPC title

• G06F2221/2109

  Game systems · CPC title

• G06Q20/382 Primary

  insuring higher security of transaction · CPC title

• G07F17/3281

  wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars · CPC title