Patent US6019283A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6019283A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gaming machine system operable with general purpose charge cards
Assignee: Scotch Twist Inc
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Filing: 1996-09-20
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Granted: 2000-02-01
•
Expires: 2016-09-20
Abstract
Abstract In a gaming establishment, a player feeds a general purpose charge card such as a VISA, MasterCard or AMERICAN EXPRESS card to a reader at a gaming machine or enters on a keyboard or other input device, information relating to the general purpose charge card, and keys in a desired amount of playing credit and optionally, a PIN (personal identification number) for automatic transmission to a remote financial institution (VISA or other charge card facility) either directly or through an intermediate transaction processing facility. Also transmitted are an identification of the gaming machine and the gaming operator. Upon approval of the requested playing credit, the gaming machine is enabled and thereafter a running net (balance) is kept for the player and/or each machine and/or the gaming operator by accounting for win-lose-draws. After the playing session is over, net playing credit information is automatically transmitted to the financial institution either directly or through an intermediate transaction processing facility so that the entire playing sessions can be a single line item on the player's regular statement from that financial institution. Provisions are made to allow a player to use the same playing credit to play on more than one machine at the same time, to quit a machine and quickly move to another and still keep the same running balance, and to move from one gaming establishment to another on the same running balance.
Inventors
- 👤 James L. Lucero
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:20
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G06; G06Q; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/10; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/04; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/10; G06Q20/12; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/342; G06Q20/346; G06Q20/36; G06Q20/363; G07F17/00; G07F17/0014; G07F17/32; G07F17/3244; G07F17/3251; G07F17/326; G07F17/3272; G07F17/3281; G07F7/02; G07F7/025; G07F7/0866
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of using a general purpose charge card to obtain and use playing credit for games of chance played on a first gaming machine at a first location which is remote from and is different from a financial institution which maintains an account for said general purpose charge card and bills the person to whom said charge card is issued, comprising the steps of: causing information from said general purpose charge card to be received by said first gaming machine; requesting a playing credit through said first gaming machine based on said charge card; determining whether to grant the requested playing credit and, in case of a determination to grant, transmitting a credit approval to said first gaming machine; conditioning said first gaming machine in response to said credit approval to permit plays thereon using said playing credit as payment for the plays; maintaining a net playing credit which accounts for said credit approval and for plays on said first gaming machine; and selectively causing said first gaming machine to transmit information respecting said net playing credit to a processing facility for use in maintaining said account for said general purpose charge card.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of using a general purpose charge card to obtain and use playing credit for games of chance played on a first gaming machine at a first location which is remote from and is different from a financial institution which maintains an account for said general purpose charge card and bills the person to whom said charge card is issued, comprising the steps of: causing information from said general purpose charge card to be received by said first gaming machine; requesting a playing credit through said first gaming machine based on said charge card; determining whether to grant the requested playing credit and, in case of a determination to grant, transmitting a credit approval to said first gaming machine; conditioning said first gaming machine in response to said credit approval to permit plays thereon using said playing credit as payment for the plays; maintaining a net playing credit which accounts for said credit approval and for plays on said first gaming machine; and selectively causing said first gaming machine to transmit information respecting said net playing credit to a processing facility for use in maintaining said account for said general purpose charge card.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as in claim 1 in which the step of maintaining a net playing credit further comprises the step of communicating information respecting each win/lose/draw play on said first gaming machine to said processing facility for calculation therein of said net playing credit, said processing facility being different from and remote from said financial institution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as in claim 2 including the step of selectively causing said processing facility to convey to said financial institution, net playing credit information pertaining to the integrated effect on said net playing credit of a number of plays on said first gaming machine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as in claim 2 in which said step of selectively causing said processing facility to convey to said financial institution information pertaining to the integrated effect on said net playing credit of a number of plays on said first gaming machine further comprises the step of causing said conveying of integrated information in response to an end of a playing session communication from said first gaming machine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as in claim 4 including the step of communicating an end of a playing session in response to at least one of: a decrease of the net playing credit to a level below a threshold, an indication by the player of ending the playing session at said first gaming machine, and the end of a selected time period.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 4 including the step of preparing a periodic bill to the person to whom said general purpose credit card is issued in which the credit or debit for a playing session appears as a single line item.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as in claim 1 including the step of contacting said financial institution only for said request of a playing credit and for transmitting thereto information pertaining to said net playing credit at the end of a playing session, with any intermediate communications pertaining to said net playing credit being only between said first gaming machine and said processing facility.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 1 including the step of causing said first gaming machine to respond to a pay-out request to effect a payment to the player in accordance with said net playing credit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 8 in which said payment to the player comprises a selected part of said net playing credit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 9 in which said payment is in the form of coins or tokens delivered to the player at said machine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 9 in which said payment is in the form of an addition to said account maintained for said general purpose charge card for said financial institution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
A method as in claim 1 including the step of requesting the use of said net playing credit as payment for plays on a second gaming machine, determining whether to grant the request pertaining to said second gaming machine and, in case of a determination to grant the request pertaining to said second gaming machine, conditioning said second gaming machine to permit plays thereon using said net playing credit as payment for the plays, and causing the step of maintaining a net playing credit to account for said plays on said second gaming machine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 12 in which said second gaming machine is at said first location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 12 in which said payment is made at a second location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as in claim 12 including the step of causing a selected one of said first and second gaming machines to discontinue the use of said net playing credit as payment for plays thereon while permitting continued use of said net playing credit as payment for plays on the other one of said first and second gaming machines.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 1 including the step of maintaining an account for a gaming operator of said first gaming machine which is selectively credited or debited in accordance with said net playing credit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 16 in which said selective crediting or debiting is in response to events other than a single play at said first gaming machine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 16 in which said selective crediting or debiting is in response to an end of play signal generated by user action at said first gaming machine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as in claim 1 including the step of computing periodic balances for said first gaming machine, for said charge card and for a gaming operator of said first gaming machine in accordance with said net playing credit and using said periodic balances for billing the credit card and for crediting an account for said gaming operator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 1, in which said net playing credit is displayed at said gaming machine in wagering units.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as in claim 1, including the step of contacting said financial institution only for transmitting thereto information pertaining to said net playing credit after the end of a playing session, with all other communications pertaining to said net playing credit, including the determination to grant said playing credit, being only between said first gaming machine and said processing facility.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said credit approval and said playing credit are neither credits nor debits to said account of said general purpose charge card.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
207 words
A method comprising the steps of: supplying a general purpose charge card to a gaming machine at a location; causing the gaming machine to read selected information from the charge card and to validate the card and to request a personal identification number (PIN) for a validated card; entering a PIN in the machine in response to said request; causing the gaming machine to validate said PIN and, upon validation thereof, to prompt a player to enter an amount of requested playing credit; entering an amount of requested credit; determining whether to grant the requested credit on the basis of selected criteria; displaying the amount of granted playing credit available for play or pay-out at said gaming machine, and enabling the gaming machine to use said playing credit; detecting plays and win/lose/draw results therefrom, any pay-out requests and any end-of-play requests and updating credit balances for the gaming machine, for the player and for a gaming operator of said gaming machine and displaying at least the updated balance for the player; posting a daily balance for at least the player to a credit process facility; and processing the balances posted to the credit process facility to update accounts for the player and for said gaming operator therein.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
207 words
A method comprising the steps of: supplying a general purpose charge card to a gaming machine at a location; causing the gaming machine to read selected information from the charge card and to validate the card and to request a personal identification number (PIN) for a validated card; entering a PIN in the machine in response to said request; causing the gaming machine to validate said PIN and, upon validation thereof, to prompt a player to enter an amount of requested playing credit; entering an amount of requested credit; determining whether to grant the requested credit on the basis of selected criteria; displaying the amount of granted playing credit available for play or pay-out at said gaming machine, and enabling the gaming machine to use said playing credit; detecting plays and win/lose/draw results therefrom, any pay-out requests and any end-of-play requests and updating credit balances for the gaming machine, for the player and for a gaming operator of said gaming machine and displaying at least the updated balance for the player; posting a daily balance for at least the player to a credit process facility; and processing the balances posted to the credit process facility to update accounts for the player and for said gaming operator therein.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 23 including the step of determining if any playing credit remains for the player from a previous transaction and taking such remaining credit into account in the step of determining whether to grant the requested playing credit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method as in claim 23 including the steps of making a request for playing credit at one or more additional gaming machines and determining whether to grant said request for additional machines and, in the case of a grant, enabling said one or more additional machines for play and taking into account plays thereon in the step of updating said credit balances.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for enabling a general purpose charge card to obtain playing credit for use in games of chance played on a first gaming machine at a first location which is remote from and is different from a financial institution which maintains an account for said general purpose charge card and bills a person to whom said general purpose charge card is issued, comprising: means for causing information from said general purpose charge card to be received by said first gaming machine; means for requesting playing credit through said first gaming machine based on said general purpose charge card; means for determining whether to grant said playing credit; means for transmitting a credit approval to said first gaming machine; means for conditioning said first gaming machine in response to said credit approval to permit plays thereon using said playing credit as payment for said plays; means for maintaining a net playing credit which accounts for said credit approval, said playing credit and said plays on said first gaming machine; and means for selectively causing said first gaming machine to transmit information respecting said net playing credit to a processing facility for use in maintaining said account for said general purpose charge card.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
202 words
An apparatus for enabling a general purpose charge card to obtain playing credit for use in games of chance played on a first gaming machine at a first location which is remote from and is different from a financial institution which maintains an account for said general purpose charge card and bills a person to whom said general purpose charge card is issued, comprising: means for causing information from said general purpose charge card to be received by said first gaming machine; means for requesting playing credit through said first gaming machine based on said general purpose charge card; means for determining whether to grant said playing credit; means for transmitting a credit approval to said first gaming machine; means for conditioning said first gaming machine in response to said credit approval to permit plays thereon using said playing credit as payment for said plays; means for maintaining a net playing credit which accounts for said credit approval, said playing credit and said plays on said first gaming machine; and means for selectively causing said first gaming machine to transmit information respecting said net playing credit to a processing facility for use in maintaining said account for said general purpose charge card.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as in claim 26 in which the means for maintaining a net playing credit further comprises: means for communicating information respecting each win/lose/draw play on said first gaming machine to said processing facility for calculation therein of said net playing credit, said processing facility being different from and remote from said financial institution.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as in claim 27 further comprising: means for selectively causing said processing facility to convey to said financial institution, net playing credit information pertaining to an integrated effect on said net playing credit of a number of said plays on said first gaming machine.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as in claim 28 in which said means for selectively causing said processing facility to convey to said financial institution information is responsive to an end of playing session communication from said first gaming machine.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as in claim 29 further comprising: means for communicating said end of playing session communication in response to at least one of: a decrease of said net playing credit to a level below a threshold; an indication by a player to end a playing session at said first gaming machine; and an end of a selected time period.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as in claim 26 further comprising: means for preparing a periodic bill to said person in which a credit or a debit for a playing session appears as a single line item.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as in claim 26 further comprising: means for contacting said financial institution only for said credit approval and to convey information pertaining to said net playing credit at an end of a playing session, any intermediate communications pertaining to said net playing credit being only between said first gaming machine and said processing facility.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as in claim 26 further comprising: means for causing said first gaming machine to respond to a pay-out request to effect a payment to a player in accordance with said net playing credit.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as in claim 33 in which said payment to said player comprises a selected part of said net playing credit.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as in claim 34 in which said payment is in the form of coins or tokens delivered to said player at said first gaming machine.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 34 in which said payment is in the form of an addition to said account for said general purpose charge card.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
81 words
An apparatus as in claim 26 further comprising: means for requesting use of said net playing credit as payment for plays on a second gaming machine; means for determining whether to grant a request pertaining to said second gaming machine; means for conditioning said second gaming machine to permit said plays thereon using said net playing credit as payment for said plays; and wherein said means for maintaining said net playing credit accounts for said plays on said second gaming machine.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in claim 37 in which said second gaming machine is at said first location.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 37 in which said payment is made at a second location.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as in claim 37 further comprising: means for causing a selected one of said first and second gaming machines to discontinue use of said net playing credit as payment for said plays thereon while permitting continued use of said net playing credit as payment for said plays on the other one of said first and second gaming machines.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as in claim 26 further comprising: means for maintaining an account for a gaming operator of said first gaming machine which is selectively credited or debited in accordance with said net playing credit.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as in claim 41 in which said means for maintaining an account for a gaming operator of said first gaming machine is responsive to events other than a single one of said plays at said first gaming machine.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as in claim 41 in which said means for maintaining an account for a gaming operator of said first gaming machine is responsive to an end of play signal generated by player action at said first gaming machine.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus as in claim 26 further comprising: means for computing periodic balances for said first gaming machine, for said general purpose charge card and for a gaming operator of said first gaming machine in accordance with said net playing credit; means for using said periodic balances for billing said account of said general purpose credit card; and means for crediting an account of said gaming operator.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as in claim 26, in which said net playing credit is displayed at said gaming machine in wagering units.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as in claim 26, including: means for contacting said financial institution only to convey information pertaining to said net playing credit after an end of a playing session, all other communications pertaining to said net playing credit, including the determination to grant said playing credit, being only between said first gaming machine and said processing facility.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as in claim 26, wherein said credit approval and said playing credit are neither credits nor debits to said account of said general purpose charge card.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
234 words
An apparatus comprising: means for supplying a general purpose charge card to a gaming machine at a location; means for causing said gaming machine to read selected information from said general purpose charge card; means to validate said general purpose charge card; means to request a personal identification number (PIN) for a validated general purpose charge card; means for entering said PIN in said gaming machine in response to said request; means for causing said gaming machine to validate said PIN; means for validating said PIN; means for prompting a player to enter an amount of requested playing credit; means for entering said amount of requested playing credit; means for determining whether to grant said requested playing credit on the basis of selected criteria; means for displaying an amount of granted playing credit available for play or pay-out at said gaming machine; means for enabling said gaming machine to use said granted playing credit; means for detecting plays and win/lose/draw results, any pay-out requests and any end-of-play requests; means for updating credit balances for said gaming machine, for said player and for a gaming operator of said gaming machine; means for displaying at least said credit balance for said player; means for posting a daily balance for at least said player to a credit process facility; and means for processing said daily balance to update accounts for said player and for said gaming operator.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
234 words
An apparatus comprising: means for supplying a general purpose charge card to a gaming machine at a location; means for causing said gaming machine to read selected information from said general purpose charge card; means to validate said general purpose charge card; means to request a personal identification number (PIN) for a validated general purpose charge card; means for entering said PIN in said gaming machine in response to said request; means for causing said gaming machine to validate said PIN; means for validating said PIN; means for prompting a player to enter an amount of requested playing credit; means for entering said amount of requested playing credit; means for determining whether to grant said requested playing credit on the basis of selected criteria; means for displaying an amount of granted playing credit available for play or pay-out at said gaming machine; means for enabling said gaming machine to use said granted playing credit; means for detecting plays and win/lose/draw results, any pay-out requests and any end-of-play requests; means for updating credit balances for said gaming machine, for said player and for a gaming operator of said gaming machine; means for displaying at least said credit balance for said player; means for posting a daily balance for at least said player to a credit process facility; and means for processing said daily balance to update accounts for said player and for said gaming operator.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as in claim 48 further comprising: means for determining if said credit balance includes any remaining playing credit for said player from a previous transaction; and means for taking such playing credit into account when determining whether to grant said requested playing credit.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as in claim 48 further comprising: means for requesting playing credits at one or more additional gaming machines; means for determining whether to grant said requested playing credits for additional machines; means for enabling said one or more additional machines for plays; and means for taking into account said plays when updating said credit balances.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-31 | 2003-08-02 | 2004-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-31 | 2007-08-02 | 2008-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-31 | 2011-08-02 | 2012-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |