Patent Publication Number: US-2015087402-A1

Title: System and method for performing a financial transaction within a casino

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/417,639, entitled “System and Method for Performing a Financial Transaction within a Casino” filed on Apr. 17, 2003, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/378,306, entitled “System and Method for Performing a Financial Transaction within a Casino” filed on May 7, 2002. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a system and method for facilitating a convenient, on-demand financial card transaction by a casino patron. More particularly, it relates to a system and method for providing a casino customer, otherwise located at a gaming station (e.g., gaming machine or table), the ability to quickly obtain cash, chips, etc., via a financial card transaction without requiring the customer to leave the gaming station. 
     A number of aspects related to casino gaming and operation are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Casino patrons enjoy playing the plethora of unique video slot, poker, and other electronic games of chance. Other technological advancements, such as card shuffling machines, chip handling devices, etc., enhance the customer&#39;s perception of casino security and fairness. Each of these factors contribute to a heightened desire to visit and participate in gaming activities at a particular casino, a result clearly desired by casino operators. 
     One aspect of the casino gaming experience that has, however, remained essentially unchanged is the method by which casino customers are able to access off-site financial accounts and obtain currency for use in the casino. Typically, a customer brings currency with him/her to the casino that can be exchanged for negotiable items (e.g., chips or casino-issued gaming cards) and/or used with various gaming machines. Invariably, a customer may forget to bring a desired amount of currency with him/her to the casino, and/or depletes the supply of currency brought to the casino before he/she is ready for their gaming experience to end. Under these circumstances, the customer will desire to access additional monies otherwise available through one or more financial institutions at which the customer maintains an account. For example, the customer can utilize an automatic teller machine (“ATM”), cash a check, receive a cash advance from a credit card account, etc. 
     The ability to obtain funds within a casino from a variety of different resources is clearly appealing to patrons and the casino itself. Regardless of the particular technique, however, certain drawbacks remain. In particular, casino customers are presently unable to perform a monetary advance transaction directly from the gaming station at which the customer is located. Instead, the casino customer is required to walk away from the gaming activity in which he/she is engaged, locate an appropriate transaction machine/station, and perform the desired financial transaction. For example, while convenient, ATMs are typically dispersed at various locations within the casino, away from individual gaming stations. Alternatively, a credit card-type transaction can be performed through a casino teller (or other designated individual) otherwise residing at a central “cage” station. Even further, while cash advance kiosks have recently become highly popular and present certain conveniences to customers, the customer is still required to leave the gaming station to perform the desired financial transaction. 
     Casino customers can be frustrated when having to leave a gaming station to perform a monetary advance transaction. A popular gaming strategy is to continue playing a particular gaming activity after successive losses based upon a belief that the customer is “due” to win in the near future. For example, slot machine players often enjoy remaining at a particular slot machine for an extended length of time, theorizing that the slot machine will produce a large jackpot after a certain number of plays. Similarly, black jack, roulette, craps, etc., players often desire to stay at a particular gaming table to “ride out” a losing streak, assuming that one or more winning wagers are soon to occur. Being forced to leave the gaming station to obtain additional funds undermines this gaming strategy, and is thus disconcerting to the casino customer. The casino also has a vested interest in not only keeping customers happy, but also encouraging customers to continue playing at a particular gaming station. 
     Casino customers can access outside financial accounts to obtain money at a casino in a variety of fashions. However, all existing techniques require the customer to stop a particular gaming activity, and leave the gaming station at which the customer is located. This requirement is undesirable to both the customer and the casino. Therefore, a need exists for a system and method of performing a financial transaction at a gaming station in a manner that satisfies prescribed security regimens. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of performing a financial transaction within a casino, and in particular by a casino customer located at a casino gaming station. The method includes providing a portable, remote control unit (RCU) to the casino customer at the casino gaming station. Transaction information is entered into the RCU relating to a financial transaction desired by the casino customer from an account owned by the customer. The transaction information is signaled from the RCU to a base processor via a wireless transmission. The RCU is operated to electronically capture a signature of the casino customer, with this electronically captured signature being signaled from the RCU to the base processor via a wireless transmission. Finally, the base processor is operated to print, via a printer electronically connected to the base processor, a negotiable financial document based upon the transaction information. In this regard, the printed negotiable financial document includes the customer&#39;s signature, generated by the base processor based upon the electronically captured signature. In one preferred embodiment, the RCU designates to the base processor a location of the gaming station, and a negotiable instrument is delivered to the casino customer following printing of the negotiable financial document based upon the designated gaming station location. In this regard, and in yet another preferred embodiment, the delivered negotiable instrument includes at least one of cash, casino-issued chips, casino-issued gaming card, a check, or the printed negotiable financial document. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a system for performing a financial transaction within a casino by a casino customer located at a casino gaming station. The system includes a remote control unit (RCU), a base processor, and a printer. The RCU is deliverable to the gaming station, and is adapted to receive transaction information relating to a financial transaction desired by the casino customer from an account owned by the customer. Further, the RCU is adapted to electronically capture a signature of the casino customer, and wirelessly signal the transaction information and the electronically captured signature. The base processor is adapted to receive wireless signals from the RCU and generate negotiable financial document formatting information based upon the transaction information and the electronically captured signature. Finally, the printer is electronically connected to the base processor. The printer utilizes the negotiable financial document formatting information to print a negotiable financial document that includes the customer&#39;s signature. With this system, a casino customer can perform a desired financial transaction without leaving the gaming station at which he or she is participating in a gaming activity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a casino transaction system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a simplified plan view of an embodiment of a portable remote control unit useful with the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is a block diagram of the portable remote control unit of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified plan view of a base processor useful with the system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  is a flow diagram, illustrating one embodiment of a method of performing a casino financial transaction in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     One embodiment of a casino financial transaction system  10  in accordance with the present invention is shown in block form in  FIG. 1 . The system  10  includes a portable remote control unit (RCU)  12 , a base processor module  14 , and a printer  16 . The components are described in greater detail below. In general terms, however, the system  10  is adapted for use within a casino  18  having at least one gaming station  20 . The gaming station  20  can assume a wide variety of forms, including, for example, a gaming machine (e.g., slot machine, video poker, keno terminal, etc.) or a gaming table (e.g., black jack, poker, craps, roulette, etc.). Regardless, the RCU  12  is adapted to facilitate a financial card-type transaction (e.g., credit card, bank card, debit card, etc.), and is presented to a customer  22  otherwise located at the gaming station  20 . Information relating to the desired financial transaction is entered into the RCU  12 , that in turn signals the information to the base processor module  14  via wireless transmission. In one preferred embodiment, a terminal transceiver (not shown) is provided for receiving the wireless transmission. The base processor module  14 , in turn, is operated to obtain approval for the desired financial transaction. Upon receiving approval for the desired transaction, the customer  22  enters his/her signature into the RCU  12  that in turn forwards an electronic copy of the customer&#39;s signature to the base processor module  14 . The base processor module  14  then operates the printer  16  to print a negotiable financial document that includes the customer&#39;s signature. Finally, a financial instrument (e.g., chips, cash, check, etc.) is presented to the customer  22  at the gaming station  20 . Thus, the entire financial transaction occurs without the customer  22  ever leaving the gaming station  20 . 
     One preferred embodiment of the portable RCU  12  is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . As a point of reference,  FIG. 2A  provides a top plan view of the RCU  12 , whereas the internal components are shown in block form in  FIG. 2B . With this in mind, the RCU  12  preferably includes a microprocessor  30 , a power source  32 , a touch-screen display  34 , a keypad  36 , RAM  38 , ROM  40 , a magnetic card swipe reader  42 , a decode logic module  44 , and an IR transmitter  46 . Construction and connection of the various components  30 - 46  are known in the art, and their interrelationship is described as follows. 
     The power source  32  is adapted to supply requisite power to other components of the portable RCU  12  (e.g., the microprocessor), and renders the RCU  12  truly portable. Thus, in one preferred embodiment, the power source  12  is a battery, although other types of self-contained power supply devices are acceptable. Alternatively, the RCU  12  can be adapted to be powered by a separate power supply provided within the casino  18  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     The touch-screen display  34  and the keypad  36  provide a means for interaction between the customer  22  ( FIG. 1 ) and the RCU  12 . For example, the touch-screen display  34  can be operated to display various instructions and selection options to the customer  22  related to a desired financial transaction, with the displayed information/selections changing throughout a transaction operation. The keypad  36  preferably presents “standard” selection options to the customer  22 , such as a “cancel” key  48 , a “clear” key  50 , and a “enter” key  52 . The microprocessor  30  is adapted to perform a desired operation in response to depression of one of these keys  48 - 52 . For example, pressing the “cancel” key  48  causes the microprocessor  30  to immediately end a particular transaction operation. The “clear” key  50  prompts the microprocessor  32  to clear previously entered information. Finally, the “enter” key  52  confirms that certain entered information is correct. 
     The touch-screen display  34  is further preferably formatted to provide a signature-capturing feature. In particular, the touch-screen display  34  in conjunction with the microprocessor  30  is preferably adapted to designate a signature box (shown generally at  54  in  FIG. 2A ) at a desired time during a financial transaction procedure within which the customer  22  can write his/her signature, such as via an electronic pen  56 . The so-entered signature is electronically stored in an analog or digital format by the microprocessor  30  such as in the RAM  38 . Alternatively, other techniques for electronically storing a signature can be incorporated into the RCU  12 . 
     The software used to control operation of the microprocessor  30  is stored in the ROM  40 . Conversely, information entered via the touch-screen display  34 , the keypad  36 , and/or the magnetic card swipe reader  42  is stored by the microprocessor  30  in the RAM  38  for further processing. In particular, the microprocessor  30  formats the data and signals information via the IR transmitter  46 . 
     The magnetic card swipe reader  42  reads and decodes information on a magnetic stripe provided by a financial card (not shown) otherwise swiped through the reader  42 . The swipe reader  42  sends information to the decode logic module  44  that converts the serial bit stream from the reader  42  into a byte-wide stream for input to the microprocessor  30 . Alternatively, other configurations for converting information provided by a financial card otherwise swiped (or dipped) through the reader  42  can be incorporated. 
     Finally, in one embodiment, the RCU  12  includes a printer module  58  that is otherwise connected to the microprocessor  30 . As described in greater detail below, the microprocessor  30  is adapted to operate the printer module  58  to print a transaction receipt that in turn is provided to the customer  22  ( FIG. 1 ) upon completion of a financial transaction. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the RCU  12  is a remote control unit available under the trade name “ICE 4000” from Hypercom Corp., of Phoenix, Ariz. Alternatively, other forms are equally acceptable. 
     One preferred embodiment of the base processor module  14  is provided in  FIG. 3 . In this regard, the base processor module  14  preferably includes a base processor  70  and a wireless transmitting/receiving device  72 . The base processor  70  is a microprocessor-based device, capable of storing information and performing desired operations. In one embodiment, the base processor  70  includes a display screen  74 , a keypad  76 , a phone line port  78 , a printer port  80 , and a power supply receptacle  82 . In one preferred embodiment, the base processor  70  is a processor device available under the trade name “ICE 5500” from Hypercom Corp., of Phoenix, Ariz., although other configurations are equally acceptable. In a further preferred embodiment, the base processor  70  further includes, or has access to, a memory (not shown) in which customer information is stored in a designated database. As described below, this database can be periodically referenced to retrieve previously entered identification information for a repeat user of the system  10  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     The display  74  is adapted to inform a user of a particular operational status, whereas the keypad  76  affords the ability to enter desired information. 
     The transmitting/receiving device  72  is adapted to transmit and receive wireless signaled information to and from the RCU  12  ( FIG. 2A ) for subsequent processing. In one embodiment, the transmitting/receiving device  72  includes a terminal transceiver  84  and an antenna  86 . An appropriate terminal transceiver interface device is available from Hypercom Corp., of Phoenix, Ariz. Alternatively, the transmitting/receiving device  72  can be incorporated directly into a housing  88  otherwise provided by the base processor  70 . Regardless, the transmitting/receiving device  72  is adapted to wirelessly transmit information to, and receive information from, the portable RCU  12 . 
     A preferred method of operating the system  10  in accordance with the present invention is provided in flow diagram form in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . Beginning at step  100 , the customer  22  is located at the gaming station  20  within the casino  18 . Once again, the gaming station  20  can be one of many gaming activities typically found at a casino, such as a gaming machine (e.g., slot machine, a video poker machine, keno machine, etc.), or a gaming table (e.g., card table, roulette table, craps table, bingo table, etc.). 
     The customer  22  then desires to obtain cash or other negotiable instrument to continue playing at the gaming station  20 . With this in mind, at step  102 , the portable RCU  12  is provided to the customer  22  at the gaming station  20 . For example, where the gaming station  20  is a card table, the portable RCU  12  can be located on the table itself, or can be stored within arm&#39;s reach of an attendant (e.g., dealer, pit boss, etc.) who then provides the portable RCU  12  to the customer  22 . Alternatively, casino “runners” are normally dispersed throughout the casino  18  who constantly walk about the casino  18 , and are available to assist customers. With this in mind, where the customer  22  is located at a discrete gaming station (e.g., slot machine, video poker, etc.), the runner or other casino personnel can hand deliver the portable RCU  12  to the customer  22 . Regardless, the customer  22  is not required to exit or otherwise leave the gaming station  20  to access or interact with the portable RCU  12 . 
     In one preferred embodiment, the RCU  12  then prompts the customer  22  (or casino attendant) to enter location identification information indicative of the particular casino location (or gaming station) at which the RCU  12  and the customer  22  are currently located at step  103 . As described in greater detail below, documentation and/or a negotiable instrument may be delivered from a location of the base processor module  14  to the customer  22  upon completion of the financial transaction. To ensure that the document(s) and/or instrument is correctly delivered to the customer  22  (and not to a different customer using a separate RCU), an indication is preferably provided to the base processor module  14  (and thus a casino attendant otherwise responsible for delivering document(s)/instruments from the base processor module  14 ) of the casino location at which the financial transaction is being performed. The location identification information can assume a wide variety of forms, such as cashier number/designation, table number/designation, gaming machine number/designation, etc. Alternatively, the RCU  12  can be programmed to automatically provide pre-determined location identification information (e.g., where the RCU  12  is permanently located at a specific gaming table, the corresponding table number/designation information can be entered into, and saved by, the RCU  12 ). Where appropriate, the proper location identification information is entered at step  104 . Alternatively, where identifying a specific location of the RCU  12  and/or the customer  22  is of little or no concern, steps  103  and  104  can be omitted. 
     The customer  22  enters information derived from a financial institution-issued card otherwise owned by the customer  22  at step  105 . As is known, various financial institutions issue cards to their customers that include account information based upon which the customer can utilize to access funds otherwise maintained in that account. Examples of available financial institution cards include credit cards, debit cards, bank cards, etc. The account information can be manually entered by the customer  22  (and/or an attendant) via the touch-screen display  34 , or by simply swiping (or dipping) the card through the magnetic card swipe reader  42  ( FIG. 2A ). 
     The RCU  12  then prompts the customer  22  to enter transaction information into the RCU  12  at step  106 . In particular, the customer  22  is requested to enter a desired amount of the proposed financial transaction. At step  108 , the customer  22  provides the transaction information to the RCU  12 , such as by the touch-screen display  34 . 
     In one preferred embodiment, the RCU  12  is adapted to determine a transaction fee to be paid by the customer  22  based upon the previously-entered desired amount (e.g., 7% of the desired amount). Alternatively, a predetermined “standard” transaction fee can be stored by the RCU 12 (e.g., $25). Regardless, the determined transaction fee is displayed to the customer in conjunction with the desired transaction amount at step  109 , along with a request that the customer  22  confirm that the desired transaction amount is correct and that he or she agrees to pay the transaction fee (e.g., pressing a designated key on the RCU  12 ). Alternatively, the financial transaction of the present invention can be performed without a transaction fee. 
     The financial card information and transaction information (including the transaction fee where applicable) are signaled from the RCU  12  to the base processor module  14  via wireless transmission at step  110 . In a preferred embodiment, the previously entered location identification information is also signaled from the RCU  12  to the base processor module  14 , and in particular the transmitting/receiving device  72 , at step  110 . The base processor  70  is then operated to obtain approval for the desired financial transaction (including the transaction fee where applicable) from the financial institution that otherwise issued the particular financial card at step  112 . For example, the base processor  70  can be connected (such as via a phone line) to a financial transaction processing service provider. One such service provider is Vital Processing Services of Tempe, Ariz. In general terms, the requested transaction amount (including the transaction fee where applicable) is either authorized or denied by the service, with this decision then being provided to the base processor  70 . The base processor  70 , in turn, signals (via the transmitting/receiving device  72 ) the approval or denial of the transaction request to the portable RCU  12  at step  114 . 
     Assuming the requested transaction amount (including the transaction fee where applicable) has been approved, the portable RCU  12  then prompts the customer  22 , at step  116 , to enter personal identification information, such as the customer&#39;s  22  name, address, zip code, etc. In one preferred embodiment, the base processor module  14  maintains a personal identification database. In the event the customer  22  has previously performed a financial transaction through the system  10  (as indicated, for example, by previously processing a financial institution card matching the financial card information previously provided at step  104 ), the base processor module  14  can signal saved personal identification information to the RCU  12  that in turn displays it to the customer  22 . The customer  22  need only confirm the accuracy of the displayed information. Regardless, at step  118 , the requested information is entered (or confirmed or updated if necessary), either manually via the touch-screen  34  and/or the keypad  36 , or by swiping an appropriate identification card (e.g., a driver&#39;s license formatted to include a magnetic strip). Regardless, and in one preferred embodiment, an attendant, at step  120 , verifies the entered information. 
     At step  122 , the RCU  12  prompts the customer  22  to enter his/her signature into the RCU  12 . The customer  22  personally provides this signature at step  124 . Once again, the customer  22  can enter his/her signature into the RCU  12  in a variety of fashions, but is preferably accomplished via the electronic pen  56  and the designated box  58  provided on the touch-screen display  34 . Regardless, at step  126 , the RCU  12  electronically captures and stores the entered signature. The RCU  12  then signals the identification information and the electronically captured signature to the base processor module  14  via a wireless transmission, as previously described, at step  128 . 
     With the relevant identification and electronically captured signature information in hand, the base processor  70  is operated, at step  130 , to print a negotiable financial document via the attached printer  16 . The negotiable financial document can assume a variety of forms, such as a check or money order, but will include the customer&#39;s  22  signature (reproducing in ink on the printed document the electronically captured signature). In one preferred embodiment, the printed negotiable document is a financial note issued by a providers of the system  10 , that, when cashed by the casino, is drawn upon the system provider&#39;s bank account. With this approach, the customer&#39;s signature is necessary to satisfy draft completion requirements set forth by most, if not all, financial institutions that issue financial cards. Thus, the customer&#39;s signature ensures that the system provider (or other third party provider) will not be held liable in the event the customer  22  later disputes the transaction. 
     The printed negotiable financial document will have a negotiable monetary value equivalent to a value of the desired financial transaction. In one preferred embodiment, where the financial transaction includes a transaction fee, the negotiable financial document will have a monetary value equal to the desired amount, along with a notation that the financial transaction fee has been charged against the customer&#39;s  22  designated account, with this transaction fee having been transferred to a separate designated financial account (e.g., the provider of the system  10 ) by the base processor module  14 . Notably, this type of financial transaction processing is normally carried out through an automated clearing house (ACH) as is known in the art. In a further preferred embodiment, the printed negotiable financial document includes the previously provided location identification information for reasons described below. 
     Regardless of the exact content, once printed, the casino  18  can process the negotiable financial document in accordance with its internal procedures. In one preferred embodiment, multiple copies of the negotiable financial document are printed, with only one of the printed documents be validly negotiable. For example, the document can be printed in triplicate, with two of the three versions being denoted as “non-negotiable”. In any event, at step  132 , a negotiable instrument is delivered to the customer  22  having a monetary value equal to the monetary value of the printed negotiable financial document. The negotiable instrument delivered to the customer can assume a variety of forms, and can include for example cash, chips, a separately prepared money order, or the previously printed financial document. Delivery of the negotiable instrument can take a variety of forms. For example, the attendant or runner (or other casino personnel) can review the approved information provided by the portable RCU  12  and provide the customer  22  with an amount of cash or chips equivalent to the approved amount or a casino-issued gaming card programmed to provide an account with the casino having a balance equivalent to the approved amount. Alternatively, an operator of the base processor module  14  can, after reviewing and processing the printed negotiable financial document, personally deliver, or direct another casino employee or other designee to deliver, chips, cash, or a casino-issued gaming card to the customer  22 . In one preferred embodiment, the portable RCU  12  is further operated to print a transaction receipt that is given to the customer  22 . In addition, or alternatively, a copy of the previously printed negotiable document is provided to the customer  22 . In this regard, the location identification information, otherwise preferably printed on the document, provides a clear indication to the casino employee of where in the casino the document (and/or negotiable instrument) is to be delivered. This is especially useful in a casino having multiple RCUs  12  in operation. 
     The system and method of the present invention provides a marked improvement over previous designs. In particular, casino customers are able to conveniently obtain additional monetary funds via an off-site financial institution account without ever having to leave the gaming station at which the customer is located. The all-to-common frustration of prematurely terminating a gaming activity is avoided and casinos are better able to keep a customer engaged in a gaming activity.