Gaming device docking station for authorized game play

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9811973-B2
Application number	US-201615270333-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system to authorize a mobile electronic device to play games of chance includes a gaming system manager and a docking station. The docking station can be configured to: (i) detect whether the mobile electronic device is connected to a receiver of the docking station; (ii) receive device information from the mobile electronic device if it is detected that the mobile electronic device is connected to the receiver; (iii) determine whether a game of chance can be played on the mobile electronic device based on the received device information; (iv) authorize the mobile electronic device to play the game of chance; and (v) transmit gaming data to the mobile electronic device if it is determined that the game of chance can be played on the mobile electronic device and if the mobile electronic device is authorized.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system to authorize a mobile electronic device to play games of chance, comprising:
a gaming system manager providing management of games of chance at a gaming establishment; and
a docking station configured to communicate with the gaming system manager and the mobile electronic device, the docking station configured to:
detect whether the mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station;
receive device information from the mobile electronic device after it is detected that the mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station;
determine, after the device information is received, whether at least one game of chance is permitted to be played on the mobile electronic device based on the received device information;
authorize the mobile electronic device to play the at least one game of chance after it is determined that the at least one game of chance is permitted to be played on the mobile electronic device; and
transmit gaming data pertaining to the at least one game of chance to the mobile electronic device after it is determined that the mobile electronic device is authorized play the at least one game of chance,

wherein once the mobile electronic device is authorized to play the game of chance, the mobile electronic device is deemed a trusted gaming device for use with the gaming system manager providing management of games of chance at the gaming establishment.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the docking station comprises:
at least one user control configured to allow a user to play the at least one game of chance presented on a display of the mobile electronic device while the mobile electronic device is authorized to play the at least one game of chance.

3. The system claim 1 , wherein the docking station comprises:
a card reader, a printer, a scanner or a near-field communication device.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the docking station configured to permits a funds transfer using at least one of the card reader, the printer, the scanner or the near-field communication device, and wherein the funds transfer renders funds available for use in playing the at least one game of chance using the mobile electronic device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the docking station configured to facilitate funds transfer, and wherein the funds transfer renders funds available for use in playing the at least one game of chance using the mobile electronic device.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein while the mobile electronic device is deemed a trusted gaming device, the mobile electronic device is permitted to transfer funds into a user account for use in playing the at least one game of chance.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gaming system manager further comprises at least one gaming server configured to store at least one of game of chance data, player information and data, or mobile electronic device data.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gaming system manager further comprises a gaming database to store at least one of game state data, game history data, or game session data received from the docking station.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the docking station is further configured to:
receive user information from the mobile electronic device;
receive player information from the gaming system manager; and
compare the user information to the player information to authorize the mobile electronic device to play the games of chance.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second portable docking station configured to:
detect whether the mobile electronic device is connected to the second portable docking station;
receive device information from the mobile electronic device if it is detected that the mobile electronic device is coupled to the second portable docking station; and
transmit the device information to the gaming system manager,

wherein the gaming system manager is configured to determine whether the mobile electronic device was previously connected to another portable docking station based on the received device information.

11. A docking station configured to authorize a mobile electronic device to play one or more games of chance, comprising:
a detector configured to detect whether the mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station; and
a processor operatively coupled to the detector and configured to:
detect whether the mobile electronic device has been detected via the detector;
receive device information from the mobile electronic device if it is detected that the mobile electronic device is detected by the detector;
determine whether the one or more games of chance are permitted to be played on the mobile electronic device based on the received device information;
authorize the mobile electronic device to play the one or more games of chance after it is determined that the one or more games of chance are permitted to be played on the mobile electronic device; and
transmit gaming data to the mobile electronic device if it is determined that the one or more games of chance are permitted to be played on the mobile electronic device and if the mobile electronic device is authorized,

wherein once the mobile electronic device is authorized to play the one or more games of chance, the mobile electronic device is deemed a trusted gaming device for use within a gaming system manager of a gaming establishment.

12. The docking station of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of user gaming controls, at least one of the plurality of user controls configured to allow a user to play the games of chance presented on a display of the mobile electronic device while the mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station.

13. The docking station of claim 11 , further comprising a display configured to present text, images, or graphics.

14. The docking station of claim 11 , further comprises a plurality of peripheral devices, wherein the plurality of peripheral devices includes at least one of a card reader, wireless communication interface, printer, haptic transducer, and optical scanner.

15. The docking station of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
after the mobile electronic device has been authorized, detect, via the detector, whether the mobile electronic device is no longer in a detection range of the portable docking station.

16. The docking station of claim 11 , wherein the device information includes a type of mobile electronic device.

17. The docking station of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine if the gaming session had ended; and
end the gaming session if it is determined that the gaming session has ended.

18. The docking station of claim 11 , wherein the docking station further comprises:
a card reader or a near-field communication interface operatively coupled to the processor and configured to facilitate transfer funds to or from the mobile electronic device.

19. The docking station of claim 11 , wherein the docking station further comprises:
a user interface control operatively coupled to the processor and configured to provide user input for use in playing the one or more games of chance.

20. The docking station of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the one or more games of chance uses one or more reels, and
wherein the user interface control is configured to be moved from a first position to a second position to signal a request by the user to cause the one or more reels to spin.

2

Assignees

• Nguyen Gaming Llc

Inventors

• Nguyen Binh T

Classifications

• G07F17/3218

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

• H04W4/02

  Services making use of location information · CPC title

• G07F17/3209

  Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen · CPC title

• G07F17/3225

  Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users · CPC title

• G07F17/34

  depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines · CPC title