United States Patent (19)
`Lucer0
`
`USOO581,1772A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,811,772
`*Sep. 22, 1998
`
`54) GAMING MACHINE SYSTEM OPERABLE
`WITH GENERAL PURPOSE CHARGE
`CARDS
`
`75 Inventor: James L. Lucero, Arcadia, Calif.
`73 Assignee: Scotch Twist, Inc., New York, N.Y.
`*
`Notice:
`The term of this patent shall not extend
`beyond the expiration date of Pat. No.
`5,457,306.
`
`21 Appl. No.:717,259
`22 Filed:
`Sep. 20, 1996
`Related U.S. Application Data
`63 Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 430,354, Apr. 28, 1995, Pat.
`No. 5,559,312, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.
`60,277, May 11, 1993, Pat. No. 5,457,306, which is a
`continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 950,980, Sep. 23, 1992,
`abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 740,814,
`Aug. 6, 1991, abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No.
`453,991, Dec. 19, 1989, Pat. No. 5,038,022.
`51 Int. Cl. ...
`... G06F 15/44; G06F 15/21
`52 U.S. Cl. ............................ 235/380; 364/1.12; 902/23;
`463/25
`58 Field of Search ..................................... 235/375, 380;
`902/23; 273/138.1; 364/412; 463/25, 29,
`41
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3/1982 Lange.
`4,322,612
`4,335,809
`6/1982 Wain.
`4,339,798 7/1982 Hedges et al..
`4,467,424 8/1984 Hedges et al..
`4.575,622 3/1986 Pelligrini.
`4,594,663 6/1986 Nagata et al..
`4,636,951
`1/1987 Harlick.
`4,639,889
`1/1987 Matsumoto et al..
`
`4,648,600 3/1987 Olliges.
`4,652,998 3/1987 Koza et al..
`4,669,596 6/1987 Capers et al. .
`4,669,730 6/1987 Small.
`4,674,055 6/1987 Ogaki et al..
`4,674,618 6/1987 Eglise et al..
`4.675,515 6/1987 Lucero.
`4,689,742 8/1987 Troy et al..
`4,812,805 3/1989 Lachat et al..
`4,815,741
`3/1989 Small.
`4,842.278 6/1989 Markowicz .
`4,884.212 11/1989 Stutsman.
`5,457,306
`10/1995 Lucero .
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`“New Australian Gaming Complexes Usher In Era of Cash
`less Card-Based Wagering”, Card News, p. 3, Jun. 6, 1988.
`Ringer, R., “Casino Machines to Accept Debit Cards”,
`American Banker, vol. 148, May 3, 1983.
`“Legislation Takes Cash Out of Casinos' Las Vegas Sun,
`Apr. 2, 1985.
`Primary Examiner F. L. Evans
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cooper & Dunham LLP
`57
`ABSTRACT
`A player feeds a general purpose charge card, Such as a
`VISA, MasterCard or AMERICAN EXPRESS card, or an
`account identification to a reader at a gaming machine or
`enters on a keyboard or other input device, information
`relating to the general purpose charge card or account
`identification for transmission to a transaction processing
`facility. The processing facility associates the account infor
`mation with a gaming account and determines whether to
`grant a user request. If the request is granted, the gaming
`machine is enabled and thereafter one or more running net
`credit balances are kept by accounting for win-lose-draws.
`After the playing Session is over, net playing credit infor
`mation is automatically transmitted to the transaction pro
`cessing facility.
`
`8 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`Receive card identification
`and player request
`
`40
`
`does card identification
`correspond to an existing
`gaming account?
`
`YES
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`144
`is player request for
`tinkage?
`
`Open new gaming
`account
`
`150
`identify existing
`gaming account
`
`link new card
`identification to
`existing gaming
`account
`
`
`
`Continue user request 148
`transaction wia gaming
`account
`
`EVERI EX. 1022; Page 1
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
`
`5,811,772
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`REMOTE
`C/C
`APPROVAL
`
`
`
`FIG. 2
`
`
`
`SLOT MACHINE
`OPERATING
`MECHANISM
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`10
`
`--------------
`
`48
`
`46
`TRANSCEIVER
`CODENO
`
`
`
`O
`
`L - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`REMOTE
`
`C/C
`APPROVAL
`
`
`
`
`
`INTERFACE
`UNIT
`
`41
`
`40
`
`
`
`42
`
`TRANSCEIVER
`
`CODE
`
`EVERI EX. 1022; Page 2
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
`
`5,811,772
`
`ENTER
`
`
`
`54
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`
`NSERT
`CREDT
`CARD
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PLAYER
`INSERTS
`CREDIT CARD
`
`56
`
`PLAYER
`ENTERS
`PIN NUMBER
`
`60
`
`PLAYERENTERS
`CREDIT
`DES RED
`
`PLAYER
`PRESSES
`"ENTER"
`
`68
`
`SLOT MACHINE
`OPERATING
`MECHANISM
`ACTIVATED
`
`72
`
`DISPLAY
`
`ENTER
`PN
`NUMBER
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`
`ENTER
`CREDIT
`DESRED
`
`DISPLAY
`FAMOUNT
`ENTEREDIS
`CORRECT
`PRESS"ENTER"
`
`70
`
`
`
`
`
`DSPLAY
`CREDIT
`BALANCE
`SHOWNAS
`MACHINES
`PLAYED
`
`FIG. 4
`
`EVERI EX. 1022; Page 3
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
`
`5,811,772
`
`CREDIT PLAY AT MACHINE N, CASNOM?
`Y
`
`80
`
`82
`
`READ PLAYER'S CARD
`VALID CARD?
`Y
`ENTER PIN (OPTIONAL)-1
`VALID Pin- 84
`86
`Y
`ENTERAMOUNT OF REGUESTED PLAYING CREDIT / 88
`CREDIT REMAINS FROM PREVIOUS TRANSACTION? ?
`Y
`PROCESS REMAINING PLAYING CREDIT'
`PLAYERAPPROVAL?-19?
`Y
`4
`PLAYER OF CREDIT GRANTED? / 9
`96
`Y
`DISPLAY BALANCE AVAILABLE FOR PLAY OR PAYOUTAT MACHINE N-1
`PLAY ENABLE/98
`100
`CREDIT REO UESTAT ADDITIONAL MACHINEP
`Y
`102
`PLAYER'S CREDITBALANCE POSTIVE2/
`Y
`-1 04
`ENABLE ADDITIONAL MACHINE
`DETECT PLAY WIN OR LOSE, PAY-OUT REQUESTS,
`ADDITIONAL CREDIT REQUESTS, END PLAY REQUESTS
`UPDATE BALANCES (MACHINE, CASINO, PLAYER)-1108
`1-1 10
`DISPLAY UPDATED BALANCE
`CLOSE OUT REQUESTS FOR MACHINE, CASINO, DAY-1'''
`COMPUTE DALY BALANCE 1'''
`6
`11
`PROCESS CLOSE OUT REQUESTS PER MACHINE, CASINO, PLAYERM
`POST DAILY BALANCE TO CREDIT CARD PROCESS FACILITY-1118
`PROCESS BALANCE AT CREDIT CARD PROCESS FACILITY-'
`
`106
`
`F.G. 5
`
`EVERI EX. 1022; Page 4
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`5,811,772
`
`122
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Casino M
`
`126
`
`Intermediate
`Processor
`
`Billing
`Processor
`
`AmEx
`
`MasterCard
`
`FIG. 6
`
`EVERI EX. 1022; Page 5
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`5,811,772
`
`
`
`FIG. 7
`
`EVERI EX. 1022; Page 6
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
`
`5,811,772
`
`Receive card identification
`and player request
`
`Does card identification
`correspond to an existing
`gaming account?
`
`YES
`
`140
`
`142
`
`144
`ls player request for
`linkage?
`
`Open new gaming
`a CCO unt
`
`
`
`150
`Identify existing
`gaming account
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Link new card
`identification to
`existing gaming
`a CCO unt
`
`Continue user request
`transaction via gaming
`a CCount
`
`148
`
`FG. 8
`
`EVERI EX. 1022; Page 7
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`Sheet 7 of 7
`
`5,811,772
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`178
`18O
`
`182
`
`184
`
`186
`
`GAMING ACCOUNT DENTIFICATION
`LINKED ACCOUNT #1 IDENTIFICATION
`LINKED ACCOUNT #2 IDENTIFICATION
`
`LINKED ACCOUNT EN IDENTIFICATION
`GAMING ACCOUNT STATUS
`REDT LIMIT
`ALANCES
`DOLARS
`BONUS POINTS
`WAGERING TIME
`
`
`
`
`
`PLAYER DENTIFICATION, IF ANY
`OTHER INFORMATION IF ANY
`LINKED ACCOUNT #1 STATUS
`
`LINKED ACCOUNT #N STATUS
`
`
`
`
`
`FG. 9
`
`EVERI EX. 1022; Page 8
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`

`

`5,811,772
`
`1
`GAMING MACHINE SYSTEM OPERABLE
`WITH GENERAL PURPOSE CHARGE
`CARDS
`
`REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
`This application is a continuation-in-part application of
`Ser. No. 08/430,354 filed on Apr. 28, 1995, now U.S. Pat.
`No. 5,559,312 which in turn is continuation-in-part appli
`cation of Ser. No. 08/060,277 filed on May 11, 1993, now
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,306 which in turn is a continuation-in
`part of Ser. No. 07/950,980 filed on Sep. 23, 1992, now
`abandoned, which in turn is a continuation of Ser. No.
`07/740,814 filed on Aug. 6, 1991 and now abandoned, which
`in turn is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/453,991 filed on Dec.
`19, 1989 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,022. Said parent
`applications are hereby incorporated by reference in this
`application in their entirety as though fully Set forth herein.
`
`5
`
`15
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`The invention relates to gaming in general and in par
`ticular to using charge cards Such as, for example and
`without limitation, VISA, MasterCard or American Express
`charge cards, and bank account acceSS cards, to operate
`gaming machines Such as, for example, slot machines. A
`25
`Visual display, a keyboard, and a card reader (or a device
`Such as a keyboard, touch Screen or the like for entering card
`and personal identification information) are associated with
`the gaming machine to provide playing credit to the player
`upon approval of the player's charge card. The terms general
`purpose charge card, or charge card for Short, are used herein
`to distinguish from a prior art “house card” of the type issued
`for use only in a specified gaming establishment. A charge
`card can be a credit card (the card owner is given credit and
`is billed later) or a debit card (the card owner's account is
`debited), or Some other billing and/or paying arrangement
`can be made between the issuer and the owner of the general
`purpose credit card.
`
`35
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`40
`
`2
`restriction on use peculiar to that establishment. Such house
`cards would avoid the need to get coins or tokens from the
`cashier or to cash in coins and tokens but still would require
`a player who does not have Such a house card to go through
`the procedures for obtaining one, and would tend to limit a
`player to the one or more establishments that have already
`provided that particular player with a house card.
`In addition, the player would have to comply with the
`restriction imposed on house card use by the issuing casino,
`e.g., would have Settle the account for each house card
`according to the rules of the particular establishment that
`issued the card.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The invention relates to gaming machines and Systems
`and particularly to a System and a method that make it
`possible for a player to participate in games of chance at
`casinos and other gaming establishments by using a general
`purpose charge card rather than a house card, and to a System
`and a method that provide a particularly efficient way for the
`player to obtain playing credit with a general purpose charge
`card, to use the playing credit and have it updated to account
`for wins, losses and draws from games of chance played at
`one or more machines at one or more casinos, and to
`ultimately have the player's account at a remote financial
`institution credited or debited and the account of the playing
`establishment or establishments credited or debited during
`and/or after a playing Session.
`In a particular example of the invention, which is not a
`limitation on the Scope of the invention, a player Supplies a
`general purpose charge card to a gaming machine at a
`casino, e.g., by feeding the card to a conventional magnetic
`card reader. The card reader reads Selected information from
`the charge card, transmits it over a data link for validation,
`e.g., to the card issuer and, upon receiving back a validation
`over the data link, requests a personal identification number
`(PIN) from the player. The player enters the PIN, e.g.,
`through a keypad, a touch Screen or a keyboard at the
`gaming machine, which in an alternative embodiment can
`also be used to manually enter information that would
`otherwise be read from the card by the card reader. If the PIN
`is similarly validated, the gaming machine prompts the
`player to enter an amount of requested playing credit, e.g.,
`through a display or by a voice message. The player enters
`an amount of requested credit, and the System determines
`whether to grant that requested credit on the basis of Selected
`criteria. The determination may be made through another
`communication with the card issuer, or it can be made on the
`basis of Some other criterion, Such as whether the requested
`amount conforms to a Selected threshold. Upon approval of
`the requested credit, or of Some other amount of playing
`credit, the gaming machine displays to the player the amount
`of granted playing credit available for play or pay-out at that
`gaming machine and enables the gaming machine to use Said
`playing credit for playS. The player then plays on that
`machine, and the System detects those plays and win/lose/
`draw results therefrom, as well as any pay-out requests by
`the player and any end-of-play requests by the player. The
`System maintains and updates credit balances for the gaming
`machine, for the player and for the casino in response to the
`detected play results, pay-out requests and end-of-play
`requests, and displays at least the updated balance for the
`player at the gaming machine. The System posts a daily
`balance for at least the player to a credit process facility, and
`processes the balances to update accounts for the player and
`for the casino with the card issuer.
`In addition, the System determines if any playing credit
`remains for the player from a previous transaction, and takes
`
`45
`
`55
`
`Casinos and certain other busineSS establishments have
`gaming machines Such as, for example only and without
`limitation, Slot machines in which a player can insert coins,
`pull a handle, and hope for a winning combination of
`elements on Spinning wheels to allow him or her to win
`money from the machine. These are games of chance that
`Some individuals play for entertainment and others with the
`hope of receiving winnings.
`CasinoS typically have cashiers at Windows where patrons
`50
`can obtain coins or tokens to play the gaming machines. A
`player who runs out of coins or tokens while at a gaming
`machine must walk away from the machine and find a
`cashier to get more coins or tokens, and the player may or
`may not resume playing. Even if wishing to resume, the
`player may lose his or her place at the previously chosen
`machine, and Some playerS find this annoying, e.g., because
`a player feels that a machine was ready for “payoff or that
`the player was on a “roll' on that machine but had to
`discontinue play to go replenish the Supply of coins or
`tokens. These prior Systems therefore disrupt the playing of
`the machine in a manner which is undesirable for the casino
`and may also be undesirable from the Standpoint of the
`player.
`It has been proposed to use house charge cards which
`differ from general purpose charge cards in that they are
`issued by a particular gaming establishment and have
`
`60
`
`65
`
`EVERI EX. 1022; Page 9
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`3
`Such remaining credit into account in the Step of determining
`whether to grant the requested playing credit. Still in
`addition, the player can request additional playing credit, in
`which case the System goes through a similar validation
`process, and the player can request the use of playing credit
`at one or more additional gaming machines. If the request
`for Such additional machines is granted, the System takes
`playS or requests for pay-outs and end-of-play requests at
`Such additional gaming machines into account in maintain
`ing Said balances.
`One object of this invention is to provide a method, and
`apparatus for performing the method, of using information
`concerning an account maintained at an institution for use in
`playing games of chance played on a gaming machine at a
`location which is remote from and is different from the
`institution, having the steps of: (1) causing information
`concerning the account to be received by the gaming
`machine; (2) accessing a gaming account at a processing
`facility based on information concerning the account; (3)
`conditioning the gaming machine in accordance with the
`gaming account to permit plays; (4) maintaining information
`about the plays on the gaming machine; and (5) Selectively
`causing the gaming machine to transmit information respect
`ing the plays to the processing facility for maintaining the
`gaming account.
`This invention also includes a method having one or more
`of the following additional Steps, and apparatus for perform
`ing the steps of: (a) requesting a playing credit through the
`gaming machine based on the account, determining whether
`to grant the playing credit, and only permitting playS on the
`gaming machine if the playing credit is granted; (b) crediting
`or debiting monetary or non-monetary units to gaming
`Subaccounts of the gaming account for each play on the
`gaming machine; (c) exchanging one or more units of one
`Subaccount for one or more units of another Subaccount; (d)
`determining, and crediting to a Subaccount, the amount of
`time the gaming machine is accessed or the amount of
`money Wagered on the gaming machine; (e) opening a
`gaming account by accessing the gaming account, (f) linking
`one or more accounts maintained with the gaming account
`by causing information concerning the account and one or
`more Second accounts to be received by the gaming
`machine; (g) Selectively causing the gaming machine to
`transmit information respecting Said net playing credit to the
`processing facility for use in maintaining the account at the
`institution; (h) selecting an option for accessing the gaming
`account, the option being a request for: credit, account
`linkage, monetary or non-monetary wagering unit, activity
`monitoring or gaming account information change; and (i)
`Selecting a default accessing option automatically when
`plays are performed on Said gaming machine without an
`explicit Selection. The wagering units can be frequent flyer
`miles, credit card bonus points, customer bonus points, and
`free Sample gaming points.
`Another object of the invention is to provide a gaming
`account having: a gaming account identification, one or
`more linked account identifications, gaming account Status
`information, and linked account Status information. The
`gaming account Status information and the linked account
`Status information may include: a credit limit, one or more
`Subaccounts, a player identification, and other information.
`Also, the Subaccounts may have denominations of different
`monetary and non-monetary wagering units.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`Features of the invention are illustrated in the accompa
`nying drawings in which like numerals represent like ele
`ments and in which:
`
`1O
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,811,772
`
`4
`FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a gaming machine, Such as
`a slot machine, operating in accordance with the invention
`for a player to obtain and use playing credit,
`FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a circuit used
`in obtaining playing credit,
`FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of an alternate
`circuit for remotely communicating with the credit obtaining
`circuitry at the gaming machine;
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating steps taken by the player
`to obtain credit at the gaming machine without having to
`leave the machine,
`FIG. 5 is another flow chart illustrating processing Steps
`in obtaining and using playing credit in a gaming System and
`proceSS,
`FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a circuit for
`obtaining credit through an intermediate processor,
`FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a multiple player gaming
`machine table;
`FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating processing Steps in
`obtaining and using playing credit through a gaming account
`in a gaming System and process, and
`FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a variable
`length record for a gaming account.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`Gambling casinos and gaming parlors typically include a
`variety of gaming machines Such as slot machines, poker
`machines which play a card game and other types of
`machines. Some of these machines dispense coins or tokens
`as the player obtains a winning combination while in others
`credit is obtained and indicated on the machine. The player
`can use the credit to continue to play the machine or the
`credit can be converted to cash by a cashier in the casino. In
`Such cases, a display of Some type, Such as a liquid crystal
`display, may indicate the credit available on that particular
`machine. However, when the credit has been used and none
`remains, the player must then insert more coins or tokens in
`order to continue playing. If that occurs, the player must
`leave the machine, find a cashier and then obtain more coins
`or tokens with which to operate the machine. In Such case,
`the player returning to the machine may find it occupied by
`another player. This may be particularly frustrating to a
`player who believes that a particular machine is about ready
`for a "payoff or that the player is on a particular lucky
`Streak with that machine.
`The gaming machine 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes
`features of the invention which enable a player to obtain
`credit, without having to leave the machine, with the use of
`a general purpose charge card Such as, without limitation, a
`VISA, American Express or MasterCard card, or a bank
`account access card. In addition, other cards of the type
`having a prearranged amount of credit (or available debit)
`from a remote financial institution may be used. Each time
`Such a charge card is used, the amount of credit available is
`reduced by the amount used until the granted credit is totally
`depleted. Such a charge card is discussed in, e.g., U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,575,622.
`The machine 10 has indicators 14 which indicate to the
`player certain patterns or indicia. Particular combinations of
`these patterns are designated as winning combinations. The
`player inserts coins or tokens in a slot Such as a slot 19,
`activates the machine by pulling the handle 12, pushing
`buttons or taking Some other action, and observes the
`indicators in the displayS 14 to determine if a winning
`combination is obtained. If so, the display 18 may indicate
`
`EVERI EX. 1022; Page 10
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`

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`S
`the amount won as a credit which the player may use to
`continue playing the machine without inserting additional
`coins or tokens. A player can elect to receive cash or tokens
`for the credit available, and the appropriate value is obtained
`either by coins or tokens dropped or dispensed into a Slot or
`tray 16 or the credit is redeemed from a cashier.
`If the player has used all of the available coins, tokens or
`credit won by playing the machine, or if the player wishes
`not to use coins or tokens at all, the present invention enables
`the player to obtain playing credit, or further playing credit,
`without leaving the machine by inserting a general purpose
`charge card 24 into a Slot 22 or by keying in information
`similar in effect to that which would be read from the card
`by the card reading device, Such as the card number. The
`charge card may be Swiped through a groove instead of
`being inserted in a slot, as is known in the pertinent
`technology. The amount of playing credit desired is entered
`through the keyboard 20. The reader 26 associated with the
`machine 10 transmits from the card the information con
`cerning the player to a remote location Such as, for example,
`the player's financial institution, along with a first code 27
`identifying the gaming machine and, if necessary, a Second
`code 29 identifying the establishment where the machine is
`located, and any further information that may be desired.
`The financial institution may then credit the establishment's
`account and debit the player's account in the amount entered
`into the keyboard. In an alternative System, the gaming
`machine 10 may issue a credit Slip indicating the amount of
`credit obtained and which may be signed by the player,
`given to a casino employee and kept by the casino for return
`to the player's financial institution for proper credit. Of
`course, the playing credit can be a prearranged amount, or an
`amount that is Subject to Selected restrictions and conditions.
`AS shown in block diagram form in FIG. 2, the gaming
`machine 10 includes a card reader 26 having a slot or groove
`in which the charge card 24 is inserted as illustrated in FIG.
`1 or through which the charge card may be Swiped. The
`reader 26 is coupled with a remote card approval financial
`institution 28 where it is determined if the charge card is
`entitled to the credit requested and, optionally, if the perSon
`requesting playing credit is the rightful user of the card and
`meets any other conditions for the grant of the requested
`playing credit. Status of the card is returned over line 30 to
`reader 26 where status information is Supplied to the liquid
`crystal display 18 on line 32. If the card is invalid, or the
`perSon requesting the playing credit is not entitled to it, the
`display So indicates. If the card is acceptable for the amount
`of credit desired, the liquid crystal display 18 gives instruc
`tions on making use of the credit through the use of the
`keyboard 20. The information generated through the key
`board 20 is coupled on line 21 to reader 26 which provides
`the necessary Signals on line 34 to the gaming machine
`operating mechanism 36 to allow the player to use the credit
`by operating the gaming machine. AS indicated earlier, the
`gaming machine operating mechanism 36 is already in
`existence and is used by players where credit is accumulated
`from winnings on the machine and the player simply con
`tinues to play the machine using the available credit that has
`been previously won.
`In this case, the credit approved by the remote financial
`institution is transferred to the machine and the machine
`operates in a well known manner to allow the player to
`continue to use the credit indicated, or the approved credit
`is transferred to an intermediate processing System where
`information pertaining to that credit is Stored and can be
`accessed and updated as the player uses the credit So that the
`intermediate processing System can keep the updated Status
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,811,772
`
`6
`of the credit for Some period of time, thus reducing the
`number of times the remote financial institution would be
`accessed in connection with the approved credit. Thus, with
`the novel features of the invention forming part of the
`gaming machine as illustrated in FIG. 1, the player does not
`need to leave the machine to obtain further credit, but simply
`inserts the charge card in Slot 22 or Swipes the card in the
`appropriate slot, enters the desired credit amount through
`keyboard 20 and when the remote institution has approved
`the credit, the machine indicates the amount of credit
`obtained and allows the player to continue to play the
`machine with the credit that was so obtained. When an
`intermediate processing System is used, located functionally
`between the gaming machine and the remote financial
`institution, that intermediate System maintains a net playing
`credit by initially receiving and recording in memory infor
`mation regarding the approved credit, then communicating
`with the gaming machine to receive therefrom information
`respecting the win/lose/draw playS to keep track of a net
`playing credit, and communicating information respecting
`the net playing credit as needed to the remote financial
`institution. In this embodiment, the intermediate processing
`System Serves as a processing facility which is different from
`and typically is remote from Said financial institution.
`AS Stated previously, a card reading device may be used
`which allows the card to be swiped through a slot 22 where
`it is automatically read and the same procedure is followed
`to obtain the credit. Further, where a debit-type charge card
`is used, it would not be necessary to Sign any credit slip Since
`the unique code identifying the establishment and the unique
`code identifying the gaming machine are transmitted to the
`remote institution along with the player's identification and
`the proper debits and credits take place automatically. Still
`further, the player may be asked through the display to
`provide further identification Such as, by way of an example
`only and without limitation, a PIN (personal identification
`number) code through keyboard 20.
`In order for features of the invention to be used with the
`machine shown in FIG. 1, the necessary cabling or other
`communications link must be connected to the machine. If
`cabling is used, the machine has a fixed location and it
`cannot be moved conveniently because a move would
`involve disconnecting all of the cables and reconnecting
`them at a new location. In order to make the machine more
`easily movable, the invention may be modified as illustrated
`in FIG. 3 which is a block diagram representation of an
`alternate version in which a transceiver 46 is associated with
`the reader 26 shown in FIG. 2. The machine 10, in this case,
`need not be located in any particular fixed location, but can
`be conveniently moved as necessary to any desired location.
`In Such case, the incoming Signals from the financial insti
`tution Such as those approving the card are coupled on line
`30, which may be, for example, a telephone line, to an
`interface unit 38 in the casino. The interface unit couples the
`incoming Signals to transceiver 42 on line 40. Transceiver 42
`Sends the Signals through the air into a corresponding
`transceiver 46 in the gaming machine. The output of the
`transceiver is then coupled to reader 26 shown in FIG.2, and
`the system operates as described previously. A code unit 50
`Storing a unique code is associated with each transceiver 46
`identifying the particular gaming machine 10 that is to
`receive the Signal. Thus, only that particular gaming
`machine 10 will be addressed from transceiver 42 when
`multiple gaming machines are being Serviced in the same
`establishment. Such coding techniques are well known in
`the art. The unique codes may be assigned Such that not only
`is the particular gaming machine 10 identified with its own
`
`EVERI EX. 1022; Page 11
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`7
`code, but the establishment in which the machine is located
`may also be identified by a particular code 41 at transceiver
`42, So that the remote financial institution approving the
`credit card has a record of not only the gambling institution,
`but also the particular gaming machine receiving the credit.
`FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of the operation of the
`reader 26 and associated circuits in the gaming machine 10.
`The system is entered at 52 by the player observing the
`display at 54 which may indicate, for example only,
`“INSERT CREDIT CARD". At step 56, the card is inserted
`in slot 22, or is Swiped through a slot, and the display is
`observed at step 58. The display may show, for example
`only, a request for the entry of a PIN number. At step 60 the
`player enters the PIN number through the keyboard, and the
`display may indicate at 62 “ENTER CREDIT DESIRED".
`The player then enters the credit desired through the key
`board at Step 62 and the display may indicate the amount
`entered and state “IFAMOUNT ENTERED IS CORRECT,
`PRESSENTER”. That is indicated at step 66. At step 68, the
`player presses the enter key and the display, at Step 70
`indicates the credit balance that was approved. AS the
`machine is played the credit balance is reduced or increased.
`Thus if S10.00 is indicated as the credit obtained, and each
`play of the machine costs S1.00, the credit balance as shown
`will decrease by S1.00 each time the machine is played until
`the credit balance is Zero or is altered by winnings obtained
`by the player. At Step 72, the slot machine operating mecha
`nism is activated So that the player can continue playing the
`machine. Actuators 17 enable the player to accept odds in a
`well-known manner. The player can Select patterns diago
`nally or acroSS or bet variable amounts of credit with each
`play with the use of the actuators 17 in a well-known
`C.
`Thus, there has been disclosed a novel apparatus and
`method of enabling a gaming machine to provide credit to a
`player operating the machine without leaving the machine.
`The player Simply inserts or Swipes a general purpose charge
`card in or through the reader and enters through the key
`board the amount of credit desired, and the financial insti
`tution at a remote distance from the machine approves or
`denies the credit which is indicated on the display on the
`machine itself. When the credit is obtained, the machine
`allows the player to use that credit in playing the machine
`without the player having to leave the machine to obtain the
`credit. The play transactions are processed and the ultimate
`debit or credit to the player's account in the financial
`institution and billing to the player are made in accordance
`with the invention.
`Referring to FIG. 5, at step 80 a player Supplies a general
`purpose charge card to a gaming machine at a casino, e.g.,
`by feeding the card to a conventional magnetic card reader.
`The card reader reads S