US 10,102,714 C1 (13,197th)
Virtual players card
Timothy Allan Page, Reno, NV (US); Christopher T. Lundy, Reno, NV (US); and William R. Wells, Reno, NV (US)
Filed by IGT, Las Vegas, NV (US)
Assigned to IGT, Las Vegas, NV (US)
Reexamination Request No. 90/015,131, Oct. 4, 2022.
Reexamination Certificate for Patent 10,102,714, issued Oct. 16, 2018, Appl. No. 15/424,471, Feb. 3, 2017.
Application 90/015,131 is a continuation of application No. 14/970,332, filed on Dec. 15, 2015, granted, now 9,564,010.
Application 14/970,332 is a continuation of application No. 14/043,724, filed on Oct. 1, 2013, granted, now 9,240,100.
Application 14/970,332 is a continuation of application No. 13/327,584, filed on Dec. 15, 2011, granted, now 8,814,681.
Application 14/043,724 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/943,789, filed on Nov. 10, 2010, granted, now 8,088,014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/708,495, filed on Oct. 1, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/801,122, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/303,106, filed on Feb. 10, 2010.
Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate issued on Mar. 2, 2026.
Int. Cl. G06F 17/00 (2019.01); G06Q 20/32 (2012.01); G06Q 30/02 (2023.01); G06Q 30/0226 (2023.01); G07F 9/00 (2006.01); G07F 9/02 (2006.01); G07F 17/32 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 17/3255 (2013.01) [G06Q 20/327 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0226 (2013.01); G07F 9/001 (2020.05); G07F 9/026 (2013.01); G07F 17/32 (2013.01); G07F 17/3202 (2013.01); G07F 17/3211 (2013.01); G07F 17/3223 (2013.01); G07F 17/3225 (2013.01); G07F 17/323 (2013.01); G07F 17/3239 (2013.01); G07F 17/3241 (2013.01); G07F 17/3246 (2013.01); G07F 17/3251 (2013.01)]
OG exemplary drawing
AS A RESULT OF REEXAMINATION, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT:
The patentability of claims 1-10 is confirmed.
New claims 11-34 are added and determined to be patentable.
1. A device comprising:
a processor; and
a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
responsive to a wireless receipt, from a mobile device, of data associated with a mobile player tracking card associated with a player tracking account being virtually inserted:
block data communicated from a card reader of a gaming machine to a component of a player tracking system, the blocked data being associated with an indication that no physical player tracking card is inserted into the card reader of the gaming machine, and
send data to the component of the player tracking system which results in the component of the player tracking system interfacing with a processor of the gaming machine to cause an association of a gaming session with the player tracking account, and
responsive to an activity reporting event occurring prior to the mobile player tracking card being virtually removed, interface with the component of the player tracking system to report data associated with the gaming session.
[ 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the report to be sent to the mobile device.]
[ 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the component of the player tracking system comprises a player tracking communication interface.]
[ 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to determine that the mobile player tracking card is virtually removed based on cashing out of the gaming machine.]
[ 14. The device of claim 1, wherein blocking data comprises interrupting a communication from the card reader.]
[ 15. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to detect an input received by the mobile device indicating a selection to virtually insert the mobile player tracking card.]
[ 16. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to detect an input received by the gaming machine indicating a selection to virtually insert the mobile player tracking card.]
[ 17. The device of claim 15, wherein the input comprises a code.]
[ 18. The device of claim 1, wherein the card reader comprises a retrofit card reader.]
[ 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the device directly connects to a built-in port of the retrofit card reader.]
[ 20. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to cause an advertisement to be presented by the mobile device.]
[ 21. The method of claim 5, wherein the device sends the report to the mobile device.]
[ 22. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting, to the mobile device, data representing points associated with the player tracking account.]
[ 23. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting to the mobile device, data representing free play credits associated with the player tracking account.]
[ 24. The method of claim 5, wherein the component of the player tracking system comprises a player tracking communication interface.]
[ 25. The method of claim 5, wherein the player tracking communication device comprises a slot machine interface board (“SMIB”).]
[ 26. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining that the mobile player tracking card is virtually removed based on cashing out of the gaming machine.]
[ 27. The method of claim 5, wherein blocking data comprises interrupting a communication from the card reader.]
[ 28. The method of claim 5, further comprising detecting an input received by the mobile device indicating a selection to virtually insert the mobile player tracking card.]
[ 29. The method of claim 5, further comprising detecting an input received by the gaming machine indicating a selection to virtually insert the mobile player tracking card.]
[ 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the input comprises a code.]
[ 31. The method of claim 5, wherein the card reader comprises a retrofit card reader.]
[ 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the device directly connects to a built-in port of the retrofit card reader.]
[ 33. The method of claim 5, further comprising, causing an advertisement to be presented by the mobile device.]
[ 34. The method of claim 5, further comprising detecting, by the device and prior to the wirelessly receiving the data associated with the mobile player tracking card, a presence of the mobile device.]