Patent Publication Number: US-2011057028-A1

Title: System and method for multi-ticket system redemption

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/239,834, filed Sep. 4, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to casino gaming, and more specifically, to a system and method for redeeming tickets in a casino environment in which gaming machines are supported by multiple backend systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In modern casino gaming, many casinos use gaming machines configured to operate using a slot accounting/management system to implement cashless gaming, otherwise known as “ticket in ticket out” (TITO) gaming. A casino patron obtains credits on a TITO gaming machine by inserting either cash or a voucher into a bill validator contained within the machine. In the case of the voucher, the bill validator reads the voucher and communicates with the slot accounting/management server to determine the value of the voucher and issue a credit in the machine. When the patron is finished playing the machine, the machine generates a voucher equal to the value of any remaining credits. 
     Currently, in some applications, each manufacturer of TITO gaming machines uses its own slot accounting/management server to manage TITO transactions for its own TITO gaming machines. Accordingly, in a casino in which TITO gaming machines from more than one manufacturer are in use, TITO gaming machines from one vendor often cannot accept or generate a voucher from other vendors&#39; slot accounting/management system. This incompatibility creates several challenges for patrons, as well as casino employees. For example, a patron having a voucher issue on one vendor&#39;s slot accounting/management system who wants to play another vendor&#39;s gaming machine must either go to a casino cage or find a casino employee to either cash the voucher or trade it for a new voucher. This requirement is time consuming and frustrating to the patron, and leads to potential revenue loss for the casino while the patron is walking to and from the cage or looking for an employee. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings certain embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are employed for designating the same elements throughout the several figures. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of a system for redeeming or generating vouchers from multiple casino game vendors, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for redeeming casino gaming vouchers, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating an alternative exemplary embodiment of a method for redeeming casino gaming vouchers, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating another alternative exemplary embodiment of a method for redeeming casino gaming vouchers, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing illustrating an alternative exemplary embodiment of a system for redeeming casino gaming vouchers, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic drawing of a bill validator connection to its associated gaming machine according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic drawing of a bill validator connection to its associated gaming machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating yet another alternative exemplary embodiment of a method for redeeming casino gaming vouchers, according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic drawing illustrating another alternative exemplary embodiment of a system for redeeming casino gaming vouchers, according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, it being understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents operating in similar manner to accomplish similar purpose. It is understood that the drawings are not drawn exactly to scale. In the drawings, similar reference numbers are used for designating similar elements throughout the several figures. 
     The following describes particular embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the embodiments detailed herein. Generally, the following disclosure refers to systems and methods for redeeming gaming vouchers in casinos that use machines from different vendors. The present system may be incorporated into existing gaming machines or, alternatively, the system may be incorporated into newly manufactured machines. The systems and methods of the present invention consolidate all casino cage processing functions into a central point to share hardware, ease staff training, and provide a common point of transaction processing for many casino functions, such as, for example, voucher processing (redemption and generation), cash access transactions, club enrollments, black list verification, Title 31 tracking, check cashing, game chip purchase and redemption, employee banking, reporting, auditing, password management, club promotions, point of sale, bill breaking, and valet processing. 
     Referring now to the drawings, a first embodiment of a multi-ticket redemption system  100  (“system  100 ”) according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention is shown. System  100  includes a regulated portion  110 , bounded by the dashed box in  FIG. 1 , which is regulated by a state gaming commission of the state in which the system is located. Exemplary machines that may be regulated by a state gaming commission include slot machines and video poker games. 
     System  100  also includes an unregulated portion  120 , outside of the dashed box in  FIG. 1 , which is not regulated by the state gaming commission. Exemplary machines that are not typically regulated by a state gaming commission may be automated teller machines (ATM) and bingo games. Regulated portion  110  may be separated from unregulated portion  120  by a firewall  112 , such as, for example, a model TZ  180  firewall manufactured by Sonicwall, Inc. of San Jose, Calif. 
     Regulated portion  110  includes an automatic ticket redemption (ATR) kiosk  114  that is used to redeem gaming vouchers from more than one machine vendor. For example,  FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment, wherein gaming machine servers  130 ,  132 ,  134  from three (3) different machine vendors are electronically coupled to kiosk  114 . The term “electronically coupled” means that one machine is able to transfer information to/from another machine. Electronic coupling may be performed by an actual hardwire connection, a wireless connection, or other suitable mechanism to provide for data transfer between the machines. A plurality of kiosks  114  may be strategically located around a casino floor to provide access for casino patrons. Kiosks  114  may also be located within casino cashier cages to allow casino employees access to system  100 . Kiosks  114  allow a patron to purchase/redeem game credits, sign up for the casino&#39;s player&#39;s club, act as an ATM to allow the patron to withdraw cash, and other features as will be described in more detail herein. 
     Kiosk  114  provides a backend system that allows communication among multiple servers  130 ,  132 ,  134 . In an exemplary embodiment, servers  130 ,  132 ,  134  may be associated with different vendors. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, servers  130 ,  132 ,  134  may not necessarily be associated with different vendors, but must each service different gaming machines for regulatory reasons. For example, for a casino that may cross state lines, one server may service gaming machines in one state, and another server may service gaming machines in the other state. 
     Kiosk  114  includes a monitor  116  that allows a user, such as a casino patron, to view options for using kiosk  114 , such as, for example, for purchasing/redeeming a casino voucher. Monitor  116  may be a touch screen to allow the user to interact with kiosk  114  through monitor  116 . 
     Kiosk  114  may include a separate network interface card (NIC)  135 ,  136 ,  137 ,  138  for each of gaming machine servers  130 ,  132 ,  134  and firewall  112 , respectively. Each server  130 ,  132 ,  134  has its own separate ticket-in/ticket-out (TITO) database  140 ,  142 ,  144 , respectively, and its own separate player&#39;s club database,  150 ,  152 ,  154 , respectively. TITO databases  140 ,  142 ,  144  store information about the usage of each machine coupled to its respective server  130 ,  132 ,  134 . Player&#39;s club databases  150 ,  152 ,  154  store information about casino patrons who have enrolled in a casino&#39;s gaming system. This patron information may include the patron&#39;s name, address, and gaming history, which allows a casino to provide services to the patrons, such as, for example, to offer discounts or incentives to gamble. For security reasons, servers  130 ,  132 ,  134  are typically each located on a different subnet. Accordingly, none of servers  130 ,  132 ,  134 , TITO databases  140 ,  142 ,  144 , or player&#39;s club databases  150 ,  152 ,  154  connect or communicate directly with servers or databases from other vendors, so kiosk  114  is used as a buffer and an interface to provide transactions between different vendor&#39;s machines. Kiosk  114  further includes a bill/ticket validator  156  that accepts currency, smart cards, or vouchers. A dispenser  157  in kiosk  114  dispenses cash or vouchers to the patron. A credit card reader  158  allows the patron to use a credit card to purchase gaming credits. 
     Unregulated portion  120  of system  100  may include a router  122  that couples non-regulated servers, such as, for example, a kiosk server  124 , an ATM processing server  126 , and a non-regulated gaming server  127  through firewall  112  to kiosk  114 . Non-regulated gaming server  127  may include a TITO database  128  and a player&#39;s club database  129 . 
     Read in conjunction with  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  provides a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method  200  of cashing in a gaming voucher. Method  200  may start with step  202 , when a casino patron inserts a voucher into bill/ticket validator  156  in kiosk  114 . In step  204 , kiosk  114  reads the voucher and, in step  206 , attempts to validate the voucher in a first vendor&#39;s voucher system (i.e., system A). If the voucher was generated by one of system A&#39;s machines, kiosk  114  will be able to read the voucher and, in step  208 , the voucher will be redeemed. In step  210 , kiosk  114  will log a redemption reference number for the transaction, which is used to track and record the redemption. Step  212  dispenses currency to the patron commensurate with a value on the voucher. In step  214 , the patron will be able to use the currency provided in step  212  in a commercial mode, such as, for example, to play another game. If the patron has more than one voucher to validate, in step  211 , the patron can insert additional vouchers into kiosk  114 , which can then be aggregated to a final total prior to dispensing currency in step  212 . 
     If, in step  206 , system A is unable to validate the voucher, such as, for example, if the voucher was generated by another vendor&#39;s machine, in step  220 , kiosk  114  attempts to validate the voucher in a second vendor&#39;s voucher system (i.e. system B). If the voucher was generated by one of system B&#39;s machines, kiosk  114  will be able to read the voucher and, step  208  will redeem the voucher. If, however, system B is unable to validate the voucher, in step  230 , kiosk  114  attempts to validate the voucher in a third vendor&#39;s voucher system (i.e. system C). If the voucher was generated by one of system C&#39;s machines, kiosk  114  will be able to read the voucher and step  208  will redeem the voucher. 
     Kiosk  114  will attempt to serially validate the voucher for all of the different systems that are electronically coupled to kiosk  114 . If, however, after unsuccessfully attempting to valid the voucher in all of the different vendors&#39; machines that are electronically coupled to kiosk  114 , step  232  will reject and return the voucher to the patron. The patron may then take the voucher to a casino employee to resolve redemption issues. 
     The patron may alternatively use kiosk  114  to cash out a voucher when he/she has finished playing the casino games. Upon validating the voucher and upon request for cash by the patron, kiosk  114  can dispense cash to the patron via dispenser  157 . 
     While three vendors are described with respect to method  200 , those skilled in the art will recognize that machines that are provided by more or less than three vendors may be electronically coupled to kiosk  114  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  provides a flowchart illustrating an alternative exemplary method  300  of cashing in a gaming voucher. Method  300  may start with step  302 , when a casino patron inserts a voucher into kiosk  114 . In step  304 , kiosk  114  reads the voucher and in step  306  searches for a vendor identification indicia printed on the voucher. Different indicia may be printed on each voucher to identify a particular vendor. For example, the indicia may be in the form of a multi-digit number on the voucher, wherein predetermined digits in that number are used to identify a particular vendor. For example, the voucher may include an 18-digit number, with the first two digits being used to identify the vendor. Alternatively, the indicia may be in the form of a barcode of other suitable indicia that can be used to distinguish between vouchers issued by different vendors&#39; machines. 
     If kiosk  114  identifies the vendor that issued the particular voucher, step  308  routes a payment request to that vendor to validate the voucher in step  310 . If the voucher is validated, in step  312 , kiosk  114  will log a redemption reference number for the transaction and in step  314  will dispense currency to the patron commensurate with a value on the voucher. In step  316 , the patron will be able to use the currency provided in step  314  in a commercial mode, such as, for example, to play another game. If the patron has more than one voucher to validate, in step  317 , the patron can insert additional vouchers into kiosk  114 , which can then be aggregated to a final total prior to dispensing currency in step  314 . 
     If, in step  306 , kiosk  114  is unable to identify the indicia as being associated with a particular vendor (i.e. system A, system B, system C), or in step  310  is otherwise unable to validate the voucher, step  318  rejects the voucher and returns the voucher to the patron. Optionally, the kiosk  114  may prompt the patron to take the voucher to a casino employee to resolve the redemption issue. 
       FIG. 4  provides a flowchart illustrating an alternative exemplary method  400  of cashing in a gaming voucher. Method  400  is similar to method  300  described above, but provides additional features, which are presently described. After step  306 , step  407  determines which vendor&#39;s system is associated with the voucher prior to step  308  routing a payment request to that particular system. 
     After step  310 , in step  411  the vendor redeems the voucher prior to step  312  logging the redemption reference number. After step  312 , step  413  allows the patron to select the form of payment for the voucher. This selection may be by touching monitor  116  on kiosk  114  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). In addition to step  314 , which dispenses currency to the patron, the patron may select system A, thereby debiting system A in step  418 . Step  420  dispenses a voucher to the patron for use with system A and step  422  logs a dispensation reference number for the transaction. 
     Alternatively, in step  413 , the patron may select a system B, thereby debiting system B in step  424 . Step  426  dispenses a voucher to the patron for use with system B and step  428  logs a dispensation reference number for the transaction. Still alternatively, in step  413 , the patron may select system C, thereby debiting system C in step  430 . Step  432  dispenses a voucher to the patron for use with system C and step  434  logs a dispensation reference number for the transaction. 
     While three vendors are described with respect to method  400 , those skilled in the art will recognize that machines that are provided by more or less than three vendors may be electronically coupled to kiosk  114  without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further, while step  314  discloses dispensing currency and steps  420 ,  426 , and  432  disclose dispensing vouchers for respective vendor machines, those skilled in the art will recognize that method  400  may also dispense casino chips, electronic chips, debit cards, or other cash-equivalent-type objects. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in an alternative embodiment of a system  500  according to the present invention, kiosk  114  may be electronically coupled to a plurality of gaming machines  160 ,  162 ,  164  that operate in a single gaming system (i.e. system B), as well as to servers  130 ,  132 ,  134 . Kiosk  114  may include a single NIC  166  that services all of machines  160 ,  162 ,  164 . Alternatively, although not shown, kiosk  114  may include a separate NIC for each of machines  160 ,  162 ,  164 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that, while three machines  160 ,  162 ,  164  are illustrated in  FIG. 5 , more or less than three machines may be used. Also, a regulated portion  510  of system  500  may be identical to regulated portion  110  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In addition, other suitable types of interfaces may be used to link the kiosk  114  to the gaming machines  160 , 162 , 164 . 
     Machine  160  includes a bill/voucher validator  167  that a patron uses to insert money or a voucher to add gaming credits to machine  160 . Machine  160  also includes a voucher dispenser  168  that prints a voucher for the patron when the patron is finished playing machine  160 . Machines  160 ,  162 ,  164  may be situated next to each other in a row on a casino floor, with kiosk  114  situated at an end of the row. Machines  160 ,  162 ,  164  may each be electronically coupled to server  132  as well as to kiosk  114  so that server  132  can monitor the use of machines  160 ,  162 ,  164 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a simplified block diagram showing a prior art gaming machine  260  having a validator  267  and being coupled to a gaming server  268 . When a patron inserts a voucher into validator  267 , the validator  267  reads indicia on the voucher and transmits information associated with the indicia to the machine  260  via a validator interface  269 . The gaming machine  260  then communicates with server  268  to determine whether the voucher is legitimate and, if so, calculates and provides the number of credits associated with the value of the voucher. Prior art validator  267  was limited in reading only vouchers generated by the system to which the machine  160  is connected (in this case system B). 
       FIG. 5B  is a simplified block diagram showing how the kiosk  114  of  FIG. 5  interfaces with the validator  167  of machine  160 . The output from validator  167  of gaming machine  160  is electronically coupled to the kiosk  114 , instead of a validator interface in the gaming machine  160 . Kiosk  114  then identifies the voucher (using one of the methods outlined in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , for example). If the voucher is associated with the system to which the machine  160  is connected (in this case, system B), the kiosk  114  transmits information associated with the indicia to the validator interface  169  of the machine  160  and the machine  160  further processes the voucher in the same way as machine  260 . If the voucher is not associated with the system to which the machine  160  is connected, the kiosk  114  redeems the voucher, issues a new voucher on the system associated with the gaming machine  160  (using the method outlined in  FIG. 4 , for example) and transmits the new voucher indicia to the gaming machine  160 . Accordingly, this configuration allows a patron to play machine  160  regardless of which vendor&#39;s system generated the voucher inserted by the patron. 
     Viewed in conjunction with  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  provides a flowchart illustrating an alternative exemplary method  600  of using in a gaming voucher issued by system A server  130  on a machine  160 , which is connected only to the system B server  132 . In step  602 , a casino patron inserts a voucher issued by system A into a bill/ticket validator  167  in system B&#39;s machine, such as, for example, machine  160 . In step  604 , the validator  167  reads the voucher and, in step  606  determines whether the voucher includes a recognizable identifier (such as a bar code having unique identification number). If the validator  167  does not detect a recognizable identifier on the voucher, the validator  167  rejects the voucher and returns it to the patron (step  607 ). Optionally, the gaming machine  160  may prompt the patron to take the voucher to a casino employee to resolve the redemption issue. 
     If the validator  167  detects a recognizable identifier on the voucher, the validator  167  transmits the identifier to the kiosk  114  (step  608 ). The kiosk  114  then routes a payment request to system A server  130  to “zero” the voucher (step  610 ). The system A server  130  then validates the voucher (step  612 ) and, if the identifier is determined to be valid, redeems the voucher (step  614 ) and the kiosk  114  logs a redemption reference number (step  616 ). 
     In step  618 , the kiosk  114  directs system B server  132  to issue a new system B voucher (in the same amount as the voucher redeemed on system A) and a logs the credit reference number (step  620 ). The kiosk  114  then transmits the identifier for the system B voucher to the gaming machine  160  (step  622 ). The gaming machine  160  then redeems the voucher (step  624 ), issues a credit in the amount of the voucher (step  626 ) and the gaming machine  160  returns to gaming mode (step  628 ). 
     As set forth above, the kiosk  114  “intercepts” the voucher identifier information from the validator  167  and, when necessary, redeems the voucher and obtains a new voucher on the gaming system associated with the gaming machine  160 —all in a manner that is transparent to the gaming machine  160 . Said another way, the steps located inside box  605  of  FIG. 6  are carried out via the kiosk  114  and not through the gaming machine  160 . Such transparency may enable the gaming machine  160  to accept vouchers issued on multiple gaming systems without having to be recertified by gaming commission authorities, which would likely be required if the gaming machine  160  was modified to carry out these steps internally. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of yet another alternative embodiment of a system  700  according to the present invention. Kiosk  114  may be electronically coupled to a plurality of gaming machines  160 ,  162 ,  164  from system A and a plurality of gaming machines  170 ,  172 ,  174  from system B, as well as to servers  130 ,  132 ,  134 . Kiosk  114  may include a single NIC  166  that services all of machines  160 ,  162 ,  164 ,  170 ,  172 ,  174 . Alternatively, although not shown, kiosk  114  may include a separate NIC for each of machines  160 ,  162 ,  164 ,  170 ,  172 ,  174 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that, while six machines  160 ,  162 ,  164 ,  170 ,  172 ,  174  are illustrated in  FIG. 7 , more or less than six machines may be used. 
     Machines  160 ,  162 ,  164 ,  170 ,  172 ,  174  may be situated next to or proximate to each other, such as in a row, or back-to-back on a casino floor, with kiosk  114  situated at an end of the row. Machines  160 ,  162 ,  164  may each be electronically coupled to server  132  as well as to kiosk  114  so that server  132  can monitor the use of machines  160 ,  162 ,  164 . Machines  170 ,  172 ,  174  may each be electronically coupled to server  130  as well as to kiosk  114  so that server  130  can monitor the use of machines  170 ,  172 ,  174 . Also, a regulated portion  710  of system  700  may be identical to regulated portion  110  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     Although the present invention has been described as including systems and methods for reading a gaming voucher generated by a first vendor&#39;s machine and providing a voucher for use on a second vendor&#39;s machine, the present invention also provides for converting the first machine&#39;s voucher into a standard voucher that can be used on any machine, as well as for converting the voucher to currency. Additionally, a standard voucher or a voucher for a particular vendor&#39;s machines may be purchased with currency through kiosk  114 . 
     The invention described above reduces the amount of hardware required to operate a casino that uses machines from more than one vendor and also simplifies reconciliation reports. The invention further provides a single point of redemption for a multitude of systems, which eases patron interaction with the machines, resulting in more gaming time for the patrons. The inventions also reduces the amount of cash transactions by allowing the patrons the ability to convert one vendor&#39;s voucher for use on another vendor&#39;s machines, thereby reducing the amount of cash that casino employees will be required to carry and exchange in return for vouchers. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments enclosed, but is intended to cover modifications within the sphere and scope of the present invention.