DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] In the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, a touch screen display 16 may be used as an interface to provide player tracking services and to provide other game services to a player playing a game on a gaming machine. More specifically, the touch screen display 16 may be used as an interface by a player to: 1) input player tracking identification information, 2) view account information and perform account transactions for accounts such as player tracking accounts and bank accounts, 3) receive operating instructions related to the player tracking unit and the gaming machine, 4) redeem prizes or comps including using player tracking points to redeem the prize or comp, 5) make entertainment service reservations, 6) transfer credits to cashless instruments and other player accounts, 7) participate in casino promotions, 8) select entertainment choices for output via video and audio output mechanisms on the player tracking unit and the gaming machine, 9) play games and bonus games, 10) request gaming services such as a drink orders, 11) communicate with other players or casino service personnel and 12) register a player for a loyalty program such as a player tracking program. In addition, the touch screen display 16 may be used as an interface by casino service personnel to: a) access diagnostic menus, b) display player tracking unit status information and gaming machine status information, c) access gaming machine metering information and d) display player status information.

[0037] In the present invention, to provide the game services described above, game service interfaces are used that may be implemented with the touch screen display 16 . Concepts important to many embodiments of this invention include “loyalty points,” “loyalty programs,” “loyalty point sessions,” and “loyalty program instruments.” For instance, many of the described game service interfaces are utilized to provide game services associated with a loyalty program.

[0038] Loyalty points refers to any type of points accrued for participating in designated activities at a gaming establishment. Establishments where loyalty points may be accrued include casinos, hotels where gaming activities are provided, stores where gaming activities are permitted, Internet-based gaming activities, and the like. Designated activities include, but are not limited to, gaming activities such as playing gaming machines, card games such as black jack, pai gow poker, baccarat and poker, betting on public event outcomes, table games such as roulette, craps, keno and lotteries, etc. Other patronage activities at gaming establishments may accrue loyalty points. As indicated above, loyalty points represent a form of credit accrued for patronage. The points can be redeemed for a variety of goods or services (or translated to other forms of credit) within a gaming establishment or affiliated establishment. Player tracking points are a typical example of “loyalty points.”

[0039] The administration and tracking of loyalty points is usually provided in a loyalty program. As described above, the primary goal of a loyalty program is to generate “brand” loyalty for a particular casino or group of casinos. A player tracking program or slot club are examples of loyalty programs. A participant in a loyalty program may be awarded with “comps” such as free drinks, free meals, free entertainment and other game services according to their level of participation in the loyalty program.

[0040] To participate in a loyalty program, a participant is generally required to join the program. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is described that allows a player to join a loyalty program at a gaming machine. After joining, the participant is usually presented with a loyalty program instrument. The loyalty program instrument typically contains information that allows a member to accrue loyalty points during designated program activities. For example, for most slot clubs, a player is required to insert a magnetic striped card (i.e. a player tracking card) into the gaming machine before player tracking point points are accrued for the player. Examples of loyalty program instruments include a magnetic striped card, a smart card and a portable wireless device. However, in general, a loyalty program instrument may be any device that carries the information necessary for a player to participate in a loyalty program. For instance, a printed ticket with a bar code, plastic card with a bar code or a room key encoding player tracking information may be used as loyalty program instrument. The bar-coded ticket may be read when inserted into a bill validator on the gaming machine to obtain the necessary player tracking information or from a bar-code scanner located on the gaming machine.

[0041] Loyalty point sessions are sessions during which a person is performing the designated activity and during which loyalty points accrue. Loyalty point sessions may be delineated by a first event and a second event. The events are usually dependent on the type of loyalty point instrument employed and the designated loyalty program activity. For instance, in a loyalty program session on a gaming machine where a magnetic-striped player tracking card is used for the loyalty program instrument, the insertion of the card into a card reader on the gaming machine and the removal of the card from the card reader may delineate the beginning and end of the loyalty program session. As another example, in a loyalty program session on a gaming machine where a bar-coded ticket is used for the loyalty program instrument, the insertion of the ticket into a bill-validator and a “cash-out” on the gaming machine may delineate the beginning and end of the loyalty program session.

[0042] In FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a player tracking system which may be used as part of loyalty program is described. In FIGS. 2 A- 2 D, 3 A- 3 E and 4 A and 4 B, display and touch screen devices (FIGS. 2 A- 2 D), examples of game service interfaces that may be implemented with touch screen devices (FIGS. 3 A- 3 D) and player tracking units incorporating the display and touch screen devices ( 4 A- 4 D) are described. In FIGS. 5 and 6 block diagrams of player tracking units incorporating the display and touch screen devices of the present invention are described. In FIG. 7 , the operation of a gaming machine with the present invention is described. Finally, in FIG. 8, a method of using game service interfaces on the gaming machine is described. In FIG. 9, a method of registering a player for a loyalty program at a gaming machine is described. In FIG. 10, a method, implemented on a player tracking server, of registering a player for loyalty program is described.

[0043] Returning to FIG. 1 , an example of a player tracking system using an embodiment of the present invention is described. However, the example is presented for illustrated purposes only as the present invention is not limited to the following example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a number of gaming machines with player tracking units connected to servers providing player tracking services and servers providing other gaming services. In casino 150 , gaming machines 90 , 92 , 94 and 96 are connected, via the data collection unit (DCU) 60 to the player tracking/accounting server 62 . The DCU 60 , which may be connected to up to 32 player tracking units as part of a local network in a particular example, consolidates the information gathered from player tracking units in gaming machines 90 , 92 , 94 and 96 and forwards the information to the player tracking account server 62 . The player tracking account server is designed 1) to store player tracking account information, such as information regarding a player's previous game play, and 2) to calculate player tracking points based on a player's game play. The player tracking points may be used as basis for providing rewards to the player.

[0044] In gaming machine 92 of casino 150 , a player tracking unit 56 and slot machine interface board (SMIB) 53 are mounted within a main cabinet 8 of the gaming machine. A top box 130 is mounted on top of the main cabinet 8 of the gaming machine. In many types of gaming machines, the player tracking unit is mounted within the top box 6 . The player tracking unit 56 may also be mounted on the side of a gaming machine such as on the side of main cabinet 8 . Usually, player tracking units, such as 56 , and SMIBs, such as 53 , are manufactured as separate units before installation into a gaming machine, such as 92 .

[0045] The player tracking unit 56 includes three peripheral devices, a card reader 24 , a speaker and microphone 58 , and the touch screen display 16 , all mounted within the unit. In some embodiments of the present invention, the peripheral devices within the player tracking unit are controlled by a processor (see FIG. 5 ) located within the player tracking unit. In other embodiments, one or more peripheral devices may be directly controlled by the master gaming controller 54 . In yet other embodiments, the processor in the player tracking unit 56 may be used as a slave controller by the master gaming controller 54 to operate one or more peripheral devices in the player tracking unit 56 . Details of player tracking units with peripheral devices operated by a master gaming controller are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/838,033, filed Apr. 19, 2001, by Criss-Puskiewicz, et al, titled “Universal Player Tracking System,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/642,192, filed Aug. 18, 2000, by LeMay, et al, titled “Gaming Machine Virtual Player Tracking Services,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes.

[0046] The player tracking devices are used to input player tracking information that is needed to implement the player tracking program. The player tracking devices may be mounted in many different arrangements depending upon design constraints such as accessibility to the player, packaging constraints of a gaming machine and a configuration of a gaming machine. For instance, the player tracking devices may be mounted flush with a vertical surface in an upright gaming machine and may mounted flush with a horizontal surface in a table top gaming machine.

[0047] In one embodiment, the player tracking unit 56 may communicate with the player tracking server 60 via the SMIB 53 , a main communication board 55 and the data collection unit 60 . The SMIB 53 allows the player tracking unit 56 to gather metering information from the gaming machine 92 such as an amount a player has wagered during a game play session. This information may be used by the player tracking server to calculate player tracking points for the player. In another embodiment, the master gaming controller 54 may communicate with the player tracking and accounting server via the communication board 55 and the DCU 60 to send metering information to the server 62 .

[0048] The player tracking unit 56 is usually connected to the master gaming controller 54 via a serial connection using a wire serial connector and communicates with the master gaming controller 54 using a serial communication protocol. The serial connection between the SMIB 53 and the master gaming controller 54 may be through the main communication board 55 (e.g. through connections 72 ), through another intermediate device or through a direct connection 70 to the master gaming controller 54 . As an example of a serial communication protocol, the master gaming controller 54 may employ a subset of the proprietary Slot Accounting System (SAS protocol) developed by International Game Technology of Reno, Nev. to communicate with the player tracking unit 56 .

[0049] In some embodiments, proprietary serial connector hardware and proprietary communication protocols may be used for communication between gaming devices within the gaming machine. For instance, Netplex, a proprietary serial communication protocol developed by International Game Technology (IGT, Reno, Nev.), may be used for communication between the peripheral devices, including the speaker/microphone 56 , the display w/touch screen 16 and the card reader 24 , and a processor on the player tracking unit 56 or communication between the master gaming controller 54 and the peripheral devices. In other embodiments, serial communication between the peripheral devices and a processor on the player tracking unit 56 or the master gaming controller 54 may be provided using non-proprietary industry standard connection hardware and standard communication protocols such as USB, IEEE 1394, Firewire, RS-232, PS/2, IrDA and the like.

[0050] In other embodiments of the present invention, serial communication between various gaming devices may be provided using wireless communication hardware and protocols or combinations of wire and wireless communication hardware and communication protocols. For example, the player tracking unit 56 may communicate with the master gaming controller 54 and a local area network connected to the player tracking and accounting server 62 using a wireless communication protocol such as a Bluetooth, IrDA, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11x (e.g. other IEEE 802.11 standards such as IEEE 802.11c, IEEE 802.11d, IEEE 802.11e, etc.), hiperlan/2, and HomeRF. Thus, a player tracking unit, such as 56 , may be installed in gaming machines 90 , 92 , 94 and 96 without having to wire it to the gaming machine. In other embodiments, the master gaming controller 54 may communicate with a slave processor on the player tracking unit 56 or directly with peripheral devices such as the display with touch screen 16 , the card reader 24 and the speaker/microphone 58 using a wireless communication system such as Bluetooth, IrDA, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11x (e.g. other IEEE 802.11 standards such as IEEE 802.11c, IEEE 802.11d, IEEE 802.11e, etc.), hiperlan/2, and HomeRF. In yet another embodiment, the peripheral devices, such as the touch screen display 16 , may communicate with a processor on the player tracking unit 56 via a wire communication system such as USB but may also communicate with the master gaming controller 54 via a wireless communication protocol such as Bluetooth, IrDA, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11x (e.g. other IEEE 802.11 standards such as IEEE 802.11c, IEEE 802.11d, IEEE 802.11e, etc.), hiperlan/2, and HomeRF.

[0051] Typically, when a game player wants to play a game on a gaming machine and utilize the player tracking services available through the player tracking unit, a game player inserts a player tracking card, such as a magnetic striped card, into the card reader 24 . After the magnetic striped card has been so inserted, the player tracking unit 56 may detect this event and receive certain identification information contained on the card. For example, a player's name, address, and player tracking account number encoded on the magnetic striped card, may be received by the player tracking unit 56 . In general, a player must provide identification information of some type to utilize player tracking services available on a gaming machine. For current player tracking programs, the most common approach for providing identification information is to issue a magnetic-striped card storing the necessary identification information to each player that wishes to participate in a given player tracking program. In FIGS. 3E, 9 and 10 , a method of allowing a new player without a player tracking card to register for a player tracking program, using a “blank” magnetic striped card or other loyalty program instrument at a gaming machine is described.

[0052] After a player has inserted her or his player tracking card into the card reader 24 , the player tracking unit 56 may command the touch screen display 16 to display the game player's name on the touch screen display 16 and also, may optionally display a message requesting the game player to validate their identity by entering an identification code using a game service interface with an alpha-numeric key pad displayed on touch screen display 16 . The player may use their finger, a stylus or combinations thereof to enter their identification information using the touch screen sensor. Once the game player's identity has been validated, the player tracking information is relayed to the player tracking server 62 . Typically, the player tracking server 62 stores player tracking account records including the number of player tracking points previously accumulated by the player.

[0053] During game play on the gaming machine, the player tracking unit 56 may poll the master gaming controller 54 for game play information such as how much money the player has wagered on each game, the time when each game was initiated and the location of the gaming machine. The game play information is sent by the player tracking unit 56 to the player tracking server 62 . While a player tracking card is inserted in the card reader 24 , the player tracking server 62 may use the game play information provided by the player tracking unit 56 to generate player tracking points and add the points to a player tracking account identified by the player tracking card. The player tracking points generated by the player tracking server 62 are stored in a memory of some type on the player tracking server.

[0054] To provide additional services to a game player the player tracking unit 56 and/or the master gaming controller may communicate with other remote servers, such as the prize server 64 , a reservation server 65 , a bonus server (not shown). The servers may reside on a local area network or may reside on remote networks that are accessible to the gaming machine 90 via the Internet. Information from these remote servers may be used to provide gaming services to a player playing a game on the gaming machine 90 using the touch screen display 16 as a peripheral interface device. For example, a prize server, such as 64 , may be used to redeem a prize won by the player on the gaming machine, i.e. to have the prize shipped to the player's address. As another example, the reservation server 65 may be used by the player to make a dinner or entertainment reservation using the touch screen display 16 . An embodiment of a game service interface for making an entertainment reservation that may be used with the touch screen display 16 is described in more detail with respect to FIG. 3C . An embodiment of a game service interface for redeeming a prize that may be used with the touch screen display is described with respect to FIG. 3D . Additional details of providing prizes and prize redemption on a gaming machine are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/515,717, filed Feb. 29, 2000 and entitled “Name Your Prize Game Playing Methodology,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes.

[0055] FIGS. 2 A- 2 D are block diagrams of touch screens and displays for some embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 2 A, two display screens are shown, a narrow display screen 105 and a display screen 110 with a length to height ratio of about 4 to 3. Traditionally, display screens on player tracking units have used LED's to display a single row of alphanumeric text such as a 16 character display resulting in a narrow display such as 105 . A touch screen may be used with an LED display screen to eliminate a key pad on the player tracking unit. However, a color LCD display screen may be preferred over an LED screen to allow for the display of symbols as well as alphanumeric characters. In one embodiment of the present invention, a color LCD display screen with a 3.5 inch diagonal and a resolution of 320 pixels by 240 may be used with a touch screen as a touch screen display. In addition to LCD's and LED's, a touch screen may be used with a plasma display screen, a CRT display as well as with other conventional display technology.

[0056] In FIGS. 2 B- 2 D, three embodiments of different types of touch screens, a resistive based touch screen ( FIG. 2B ), a capacitive based touch screen ( FIG. 2C ) and a surface acoustic wave touch screen ( FIG. 2D ) are described. In FIG. 2 B, an embodiment of a resistive touch screen 111 integrated with a display 110 is shown. In a resistive touch screen 111 , a glass panel 120 is coated with a clear conductive material 118 . Polyester spacer dots 116 are used to separate a polyester cover sheet 112 from the glass panel 120 with the conductive material coating 118 . An inner surface of the polyester cover sheet 120 in contact with the polyester spacer dots 116 is coated with a conductive metal coating 114 . An outer surface of the polyester cover sheet may be covered with a scratch resistant coating (not shown). The glass panel 120 and other layers may be integrated into a touch screen assembly that may be mounted to the display 110 using an adhesive epoxy or some other mounting means.

[0057] A touch screen controller (not shown) is used to apply a small voltage gradient across the x-axis 111 of the glass panel 120 and across y-axis 113 of the cover sheet 112 which produces a small current in the panel and the cover sheet. With a voltage applied to the glass panel 120 and cover sheet 112 , the layers of the resistive touch screen may be used as a sensor. When a stylus or other implement is used to press the conductive layers, 114 and 118 , together, the current flowing across the panel 120 and the cover sheet is altered. Based on the change in current, the touch screen controller determines the x and y coordinates of the stylus contact.

[0058] In FIG. 2 C, an embodiment of a capacitive touch screen 130 integrated with a display 110 is shown. In a capacitive touch screen 130 , a glass panel 136 is coated on both sides with a clear conductive material, 134 and 138 . The inner conductive layer 138 may be primarily used for shielding. The outer surface of the touch screen may be a scratch resistant coating 132 . Electrodes 139 are uniformly distributed around the edge of the touch screen 130 to apply a low-voltage field uniformly across the outer conductive layer 134 . When a finger or a conductive stylus contacts the screen 132 , a capacitive coupling occurs with voltage field which causes a small current to be drawn into the finger or the stylus. The current flow from the corners of the touch screen electrodes 139 are measured. The measured current flow is used by the touch screen controller (not shown) to determine the location of the contact on the screen.

[0059] In FIG. 2 D, an embodiment of a wave touch screen mounted to a display 110 is shown. The screen 144 is an uncoated glass panel. In one type of wave touch screen, transducers 142 in the corners produce ultrasonic waves on the glass panel. The reflectors 145 are used to create a standing wave pattern on the glass panel 144 . When a soft-tipped stylus is touched to the surface of the panel 144 , the transducers detect the attenuation of the wave, which may be used by a touch screen controller to determine the coordinates of the stylus. In an infrared touch screen, LED's and photoresistors on the edge of the screen are used to create a grid of infrared beams. A stylus or finger may be used to obstruct the beams and the touch screen controller determines the coordinates of the obstruction.

[0060] For most embodiments of the present invention, a capacitive based touch screen is preferred but the present invention is not limited to capacitive based touch screens. Capacitive touch screens are very clear, durable and have a high resolution. However, capacitive touch screen are generally more expensive than resistive touch screens. Further, when a finger is used as a stylus on a capacitive touch screen, a small amount of current is drawn into to the finger which some game players may find annoying. Thus, in some embodiments, other touch screen types, such as a resistive touch screen or a wave touch screen, may be employed with the present invention.

[0061] The touch screen controller processes signals from the touch screen sensor and passes touch screen event data to one or more gaming devices that utilize the touch screen event data. For instance, the x and y coordinates of a contact point on the touch screen may be used be a processor on a player tracking unit, a master gaming controller or combinations thereof, to allow a user to navigate through a game service interface (see FIGS. 3 A- 3 D) and to enter gaming information. In general, a logic device in communication with the touch screen, such as the processor on the player tracking unit or the master gaming controller, uses a device driver to receive touch screen event data from the touch screen controller. The touch screen controller may be a component separate from the touch screen assembly. The touch screen assembly includes the layers of the touch screen sensor and is mounted onto a display. In one embodiment of the present invention, the touch screen controller is integrated into the touch screen assembly.

[0062] FIGS. 3 A- 3 E are block diagram of game service interfaces for some embodiments of the present invention. In each of the figures, a single “page” of the game service interface that may be displayed on a touch screen display of the present invention is shown. However, the game service interfaces are not limited to a single page. Multiple pages may be used with each game service interface to provide a particular game service. Thus, in some embodiments, to utilize a game service interface to receive a game service, a user may be required to navigate through multiple pages.

[0063] A component layout for each game service interface is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not limited to the layout in each of the figures. Thus, layout parameters including but not limited to: 1) types of components (i.e., “buttons” and other input areas) included on each page, 2) a size of buttons on each page, 3) a shape of the button on each page (e.g. square, oval, rectangular, star-shaped, n-sided polygon, etc), 4) a color scheme for the buttons, 5) alpha-numeric text or symbols on each button and 6) background color scheme for the interface, may be varied. The input buttons maybe rendered in 2-D. In some embodiments, the layout of pages for a particular game service interface may be customized according to the preferences of an individual player.

[0064] In particular embodiments, the buttons may be rendered with surface shading and textures to appear three-dimensional and may be animated. As example of an 3-D animation, when a button is touched on the touch screen, it may appear to move into the screen. Further, the symbols on the buttons may be appear to be animated in 2-D or 3-d. For instance, text on the buttons may appear to flash or move or characters and symbols on the buttons may appear to move. The characters and symbols may be selected according to a theme of a game played on the gaming machine. For instance, for a “little green man” game, an animation of a little green man taking a drink may be used to request a drink on the gaming machine.

[0065] An audio layout may also be included with each interface. For example, when a player touches a particular button on a game service interface displayed on the touch screen peripheral device or completes a particular task, a corresponding sound may be projected from an audio device located on the player tracking unit or a gaming machine. The sounds may include but are not limited to music, voice messages (e.g. “welcome” or “thank you”) and noises (e.g. buzzing or beeping). In some embodiments, the audio layout may be customized according to the preferences of the user. For instance, voice message may be in a language selected by the player.

[0066] In FIG. 3A, a metering game service interface 200 that may be displayed on a touch screen display 201 is shown. The metering game service interface allows a casino operator to view metering information on the gaming machine. After logging into to the system using metering interface 200 or another interface, the casino operator may use the hopper button 202 to obtain metering information about a hopper on the gaming machine or a printer button 204 to obtain metering information about a printer on the gaming machine that issues printed tickets that may be used to obtain gaming credits on other gaming machines or redeemed for cash. The metering information may be displayed on the display area 216 . The casino operator may use calculator buttons 208 , 210 , 212 , 214 to perform arithmetic operations on the metering data. For example, “back” button 208 and “enter” button 210 maybe used to enter data. The arithmetic function buttons 212 and numeric buttons 214 may be used to perform various arithmetic operations. The interface 200 may also include gaming specific function keys. For instance, the function keys 206 may allow the user to convert the metering information to different gaming machine denominations such as a nickel, quarter or dollar machine.

[0067] In FIG. 3B, a credit game service 225 that may be displayed on the touch screen display is shown. The credit interface 225 may be used by a player to transfer credits or cash winning to various account accessible to the player. For instance, a player may be able to transfer a portion of their credits or cash to a smart card, a printed ticket or a bank account using the card button 220 , the ticket button 222 or the bank button 224 . The numeric buttons 214 may be used to enter account information and PIN numbers as well as to perform arithmetic operations. The function keys 226 may be used for currency conversion such as between dollars, pounds and yen. To transfer money to bank account, the player tracking unit or the gaming machine may communicate with the bank via a network connection available to the player tracking unit or gaming machine as described with respect to FIG. 1 .

[0068] In FIG. 3C, a reservation interface 230 that may be displayed on the touch screen display is shown. The reservation interface may be used by the player to make reservations for food and entertainment at a gaming establishment such as a casino. When the entertainment button 236 or the restaurant button 236 is pressed, different selections in each category may be displayed. When the restaurant button 236 is pressed, three restaurant selections 238 are displayed. When the info button 232 is pressed, information about the entertainment selections or restaurant selections may be displayed in display area 216 . For example, the info button 232 may be used to determine one of the restaurant selections serves “Asian Cuisine.” Using the date button 242 , date selection buttons 244 , time button 246 and time selection buttons, a player may select a time and date for a reservation. Then, when the reserve button 240 is pressed, a request for a reservation may be sent to a remote reservation server 65 or another remote device as described with reference to FIG. 1 . When the reservation has been confirmed by the remote server, a confirmation message may be displayed on the reservation interface. In some embodiments, when the gaming machine includes a printer, a printed receipt with the reservation may be issued to the player.

[0069] The reservation interface 230 as well as other game service interfaces described herein may be not available to all players using the touch screen interface. For example, in some embodiments, only players with a special “status” according to criteria determined by the gaming establishment may be able to access a particular game service interface. For instance, after a certain amount of game play by the player, the player may be presented access to the reservation interface 230 to obtain a free dinner or a show as compensation (e.g. comp) for the amount of their game play.

[0070] In FIG. 3D, a prize game service interface 225 that may be displayed on a touch screen peripheral device is shown. The prize interface may be used by the player to make redeem prizes awarded on a gaming machine. For instance, prizes may be awarded as: 1) a “jack pot” on a gaming machine, 2) based upon game play history that is tracked as part of a loyalty program or 3) part of a promotion at the gaming establishment. The prize buttons 258 may be pressed to select one of the prizes. When the info button 232 is pressed, information about the prize selection may be displayed in display area 216 . Using the credits button 252 , points button 254 and EFT (electronic finds transfer) button, a player may used a combination of credits available on the gaming machine, loyalty points and cash from a bank account to redeem a particular prize. The player may use an additional page of the prize redemption interface 250 to enter additional information such as a shipping address.

[0071] In FIG. 3E, a loyalty program registration interface 260 that may be displayed on a touch screen peripheral device is shown of the present invention. Using the loyalty program registration interface 260 , a player that is not a member of a loyalty program, such as player tracking program, may use the interface 260 to join the program at the gaming machine as part of a “point of play” registration. In one embodiment, the player may obtain a “blank” magnetic striped card or another type of loyalty program instrument excepted by the card reader on the gaming machine such as a smart card. Next at the gaming machine, the player may request a “point of play” registration on the gaming machine from a menu of game services available on the gaming machine. A “point of play” registration on the gaming machine may be initiated before game play session has begun on the gaming machine (e.g. the player registers and then plays one or more games on the gaming machine), during a game play session on the gaming machine (e.g. game play by the player occurs prior to the registration and after the registration) and at the end of a game play session (e.g. the player registers but does not continue to play).

[0072] After the “point of play” registration has been initiated on the gaming machine, a logic device on the player tracking unit or the gaming machine may instruct the player to insert the “blank” magnetic striped card into the card reader and display the loyalty program registration interface 260 on the touch screen display. Using a finger or stylus, a player may enter their name, address and other identification information required for registration. Different combinations of registration information may be used and are not limited to a name and address. The required identification information may be entered using the numeric input buttons 214 and the alphabetic input buttons 266 . The required information may be input in different languages and is not limited to English or other Romance languages. Thus, the input buttons 266 may be adapted for languages using alphabets other than a Roman alphabet.

[0073] In some embodiments, the touch screen display may be used with hand writing recognition software located on a logic device on the player tracking unit, player tracking server or the gaming machine to allow a player to write information on the display screen, such as their name and address, as a means of inputting this information. The “written” information may be converted to text by the hand-writing recognition software and stored electronically. For example, a player name, “JOE” 264 is written in a writing template area 262 . The name may be recognized using hand-writing recognition software and converted to text. The required registration information may be written in languages other than English and using an alphabet different than the Roman alphabet such as a Kanji alphabet which is used in Japan.

[0074] In addition, the player may sign their name in the writing template area 262 . The player's signature may be recorded and stored so that it may be later used for identification purposes. For example, prior to the initiation of a player tracking session or another game service, a signature recorded from the writing template area 262 may be compared with a stored signature using comparison software. When the signatures compare, the player tracking session or other game service is allowed to proceed. When the signatures do not compare, the player tracking session or game service may be terminated or additional identification information may be required from the player before the player tracking session is allowed. Alphabetic input buttons and writing template areas with hand writing recognition and feature recognition software are not limited to the loyalty program registration interface 260 and may be used with any of the other game service interfaces of the present invention.

[0075] Besides a signature, other biometric information may be recorded from the player as part of the registration process. For instance, a camera may be used to record a picture of player's face or a retinal scanner may be used to scan an image of a player's retina. As another example, a finger print reader may be used to record a player's finger print. A microphone may be used to record a player's voice. In one embodiment, the biometric information may be used for auditing purposes to identify that a player has actually registered. In another embodiment, the biometric information entered during the registration process may be used to validate a player's identity to initiate a loyalty program session. For instance, a recorded player's finger print may be used to validate the player's identity when they initiate a loyalty program session using a loyalty program instrument. The biometric input devices used in the registration process, such as a camera, finger print reader, a microphone may be located on a player tracking unit, a gaming machine, a casino kiosk or any other gaming device used to register a player.

[0076] After the player has entered the required information using the game service interface, the player may touch the register button 268 and a registration request message is sent to the player tracking server. The registration request message contains the information necessary to register the player to the loyalty program such as the identification information entered by the player and identification information from the loyalty point instrument used in the registration process such as a serial number recorded from the magnetic striped card or other identification information recorded on the loyalty point instrument. The registration request message may be generated by a logic device located in the player tracking unit or in the gaming machine such as the master gaming controller. After receiving a confirmation of the registration from the player tracking server, any additional game play on the gaming machine by the player may be recorded on the gaming machine and sent to the player tracking server as part of a player tracking session. In one embodiment, the gaming machine may issue a printed receipt to the player to confirm the registration process.

[0077] After registration, the magnetic striped card, or other loyalty point instrument used in the registration process, may be used by the player to initiate a player tracking session on other gaming machines or participate in other loyalty program activities available to the player through the loyal program using the magnetic striped card. Additional details of the point of play registration method of the present invention are described with respect to FIGS. 9 and 10 .

[0078] The “point of play” registration method, described above, is not limited to touch screen displays located on a player tracking unit. The method may be implemented on a touch screen display used as the main display on the gaming machine or as a secondary display on the gaming machine. In addition, the method may be implemented on a touch screen display located on a casino kiosk. The casino kiosk may include a card reader and baskets containing blank magnetic striped cards or other gaming devices used as a loyalty program instruments. For instance, a smart card or a room key may be used as loyalty program instruments. At the kiosk, the player may use the blank magnetic striped cards and the touch screen display interface to register for a loyalty program such as a player tracking program as described above with respect to the gaming machine.

[0079] The “point of play” registration may also be implemented using many different input mechanisms or combinations of input mechanisms to enter a required set of registration information for a loyalty program. The input mechanisms may be located on a gaming machine or other gaming devices (e.g. casino kiosks and handheld wireless devices) used to perform a “point of play” registration. For instance, a user may enter some of the registration information using a microphone and voice recognition software. In another examples, a user may enter registration information using alpha-numeric characters displayed on a display screen and a selection mechanism on the gaming machine to select the characters on the display screen. The selection mechanism may be one or more of the following but is not limited to input buttons, a joystick, a track-ball and a mouse. In yet another example, loyalty program information used in the registration process may be read into the gaming machine from a registration sheet inserted into the bill validator (see FIG. 7 ).

[0080] In one embodiment of the present invention, the player may enter loyalty program registration information for a “point of play” registration using a cell phone carried by the player. The cell phone may be used to communicate directly with the player tracking unit, directly with the gaming machine, with a loyalty program server via a local network or combinations thereof. The player tracking unit or gaming machine may contain an cellular interface for communicating with a player's cell phone. Information stored on the cell phone such as the cell phone number and the owner of the cell phone may be downloaded to the player tracking unit as a means of identifying a player for a player for a “point of play” registration in a loyalty program. The cell phone may also be used as an interface to enter additional gaming information required to perform a point of play registration. In addition, after registration, an individual loyalty program registration phone number may be provided to the player. The player may store loyalty program registration phone number on their cell phone. Later, the player may use their cell phone to implement a loyalty program session on a gaming machine by dialing their loyalty program registration number. After establishing a loyalty program session using their cell phone, the player may also use their cell phone to access loyalty program information such as a loyalty program account balance. Thus, the cell phone may be used as a loyalty program instrument.

[0081] As another method of entering loyalty program information and loyalty program instrument information on the gaming machine, a bill validator or ticket reader (see FIG. 7 ) may be used to read information from a registration sheet filled out by the player. In one embodiment, the registration sheet may be a Scantron sheet™ (Scantron Corporation, Tustin, Calif.). The Scantron sheet may have blanks and bubbles that are filled in by the player. Then, the player may feed the Scantron sheet into a bill acceptor on a gaming machine which reads the information recorded on the Scantron sheet.

[0082] The Scantron sheet may be read by bill acceptors and ticket readers that are part of a cashless gaming system. In a cashless gaming system, a cashless instrument, such as a printed ticket, may be used to record game credits or a cash amount. The credits or cash amount recorded on the ticket may be used for game play in a gaming machine or redeemed for cash after validation by the cashless gaming system. In general, a cashless gaming system includes a cashless system server connected to a number of gaming devices that are used to issue and validate cashless instruments. Thus, when a cashless system is used in the registration process, a player may be able to perform a “point of play registration” at any location in the cashless gaming system that accepts and validates cashless instruments, such as printed tickets, that are used as part of the cashless system. Details of cashless gaming system are described in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/648,382, filed Aug. 25, 2000, by Rowe, titled “An Award Ticket Clearinghouse,” which is incorporated in its entirety and for all purposes.

[0083] After the bill acceptor or the ticket reader scans the data from the registration sheet, the gaming device connected to the bill acceptor or ticket reader may generate a registration request message with the loyalty program information obtained from the registration sheet and send the registration request message to a loyalty program server. In a cashless system, the gaming device may be a gaming machine, a clerk validation terminal or a cashier station connected to the cashless system server. The cashless system server may also be used as a loyalty program server or may be in communication with a loyalty program server. The loyalty program server stores the loyalty program information to a loyalty program database. Then, the loyalty program server may generate and return a temporary user ID/password to the gaming device.

[0084] After receiving the temporary user ID and password, the gaming device, such as a gaming machine or a clerk validation terminal, then may print out a transaction receipt that is used a “temporary card”. (A permanent card can be mailed to the patron's home address at a later date.) The temporary card may be used as a loyalty point instrument. The temporary card may use a bar-code to represent the player's loyalty program account information or another information format may be used to record this information. The temporary card may be used to initiate a loyalty program session by inserting it into the bill acceptor or ticket reader on a gaming machine. The bill acceptor pulls the temporary card in, reads the loyalty program information, and returns it to the player. The gaming machine then establishes a loyalty program session using the information obtained from the temporary card.

[0085] In one embodiment of the present invention, a permanent loyalty program card later issued to the player may be compatible with the bill validator or ticket reader on a gaming machine. The permanent loyalty program card may have information recorded in a format that is readable by the card reader or the ticket reader on a gaming machine. For instance, account information may be recorded in a bar code format or a text format depending on the capabilities of the bill validator. In another example, a bar-code scanner may be included on the gaming machine. The bar code scanner may be used to read account information from the player tracking card. When a bill validator or bar-code reader is used to initiate a loyalty program session, an advantage of the present invention is that the card reader and associated hardware on the gaming machine may be eliminated.

[0086] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the point of play registration may be initiated by a casino service representative. When a player is playing a game on the gaming machine and has not initiated a player tracking session, a light (see FIGS. 4A and 4B ) on the player tracking unit may indicate that the player may be a valuable to the casino as a member of their loyalty program such as their player tracking program. For example, when the player has bet an amount of money over some amount of time determined by the casino, the light on the player tracking unit may be activated. As another example, a player may press a function button on the player tracking unit to request a “point of play” registration which activates a light or another signaling device on the gaming machine. A passing casino service representative may notice the light or another signaling device and inquire whether the player would like to enroll in a player tracking program.

[0087] In some embodiments, the casino service representative may enter the player's registration information on a touch screen display located on a hand-held wireless device, such as a PDA (personal digital assistant) carried by the casino service representative. Using the hand-held wireless device, the casino service representative may enter “point of play” registration information such as a player's name, address, signature, finger-print, preference information and combinations thereof. The handheld wireless device may include a touch pad for recording a player's signature and a platen for recording a player's finger print. Preference information may include but is not limited to types of drinks a player's like, types of games that they prefer and wagering preferences. In other embodiments of the present invention, a hand-held wireless device, such as a PDA, carried by the player may be player may be used to enter “point of play” registration information without assistance from a casino service representative.

[0088] When a loyalty program instrument is issued during the registration process, after receiving the loyalty program information from the player (also can be prior to receiving the loyalty program information), the casino service representative may obtain loyalty program instrument information from a loyalty program instrument that will be issued to the player. For instance, when magnetic striped card is issued to a player as a loyalty program instrument such as a player tracking card. The casino service representative may insert swipe the card through a card reader attached to their hand-held wireless computing device (e.g. a PDA) to obtain the loyalty program instrument information such as a card serial number. The magnetic striped card may also have the card serial number encoded as a bar code on the card. In this case, the casino service representative may read the bar code with a scanner attached to the hand-held wireless device. The loyalty program information and the loyalty program instrument information may be included in a registration request message sent to a loyalty program server.

[0089] The hand-held wireless device may communicate with player tracking unit, the gaming machine or directly with the loyalty program server using a wireless communication standard such as but not limited to Bluetooth, IrDA (Infrared Direct Access), IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11x, hiperlan/2, and HomeRF. After entering the required information, a registration request message may be sent through a wire interface or a wireless interface on the player tracking unit to the player tracking server (see FIG. 4B ), through a wireless interface on the gaming machine to the player tracking server or directly to the player tracking server from the hand held-device. After receiving a registration confirmation from the player tracking server, the player may be presented with an activated player tracking card which may be used to initiate a player tracking session on the gaming machine. An example of hand-held wireless device that may be used to provide the “point of play” player tracking registration is described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/544,844, by Rowe, filed Apr. 7, 2000, tilted “Wireless Gaming Environment,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes.

[0090] IrDA is a standard for devices to communicate using infrared light pulses. A hand-held device, such as a PDA may communicate with the player tracking unit and the gaming machine using infrared light pulses using the IrDA communication standard or some other infrared communication standard. An infrared interface on the player tracking unit or located on the gaming machine may be used to receive the infrared pulses from a device communicating using infrared pulses. Generally, infrared communications using IrDA requires line of sight communications.

[0091] The game service interfaces described above have been presented for illustrative purposes only as many other types of game service interfaces may be used with the touch screen displays of the present invention. For example, game service interfaces may be used that allow a player to specify various game playing preferences. As described above, some of these preferences may be recorded when a “point of play” loyalty program registration is performed. Additional details of these interfaces, which may be used in the present invention, are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/819,152, by Paulsen, filed Mar. 27, 2001, titled “Interactive Game Playing Preferences”, which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes. As another example, a player may use the touch screen display and a game service interface to select different entertainment content sources, such as video programs, audio programs and Internet based services. The display screen may be used to display entertainment content such as a movie, a sporting event, advertising and other promotions. For Internet based services, the display with a touch screen may be used to operate a web-browser and other web-based applications. A few examples of entertainment content sources and interfaces, including Internet-based entertainment content sources, that may be provided with the touch screen display of the present invention are described in co-pending U.S. patent application no. 09/665,526, by Nelson, et al, filed on Sep. 9, 2000, and titled “Play Per View,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes. In yet another example, a player may use a game service interface to select promotions available to the player and receive a printed coupon used to obtain the promotion.

[0092] FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective diagrams of different embodiments of player tracking units of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a front diagram for a housing or chassis 300 enclosing a number of interface peripherals. The interface peripherals may be used to provide input and output (I/O) to a player tracking system or may be used to provide I/O to other gaming systems such as a gaming machine. The device housing 300 may enclose a logic device (see FIG. 5 ) and other electronics configured to execute player tracking functions or the logic device may be enclosed in a logic device housing separate from the device housing 300 .

[0093] Using the player tracking interface devices enclosed in the housing 300 , gaming information, such as player tracking information, may be input to the player tracking unit and gaming information may be visually and aurally communicated to various individuals that may use the player tracking unit, such as game players, casino service representatives and maintenance technicians. The device housing 300 encloses a touch screen display 315 , a key pad 320 , a speaker/microphone 56 , a card reader 325 , a light 311 adjacent to the card reader 325 and a light 316 adjacent to the touch screen display 315 . In other embodiments, the housing 300 may enclose many different combinations of player tracking interface devices. For instance, additional gaming devices, such as biometric input devices, wireless interface devices cameras and bonus buttons, may also be enclosed in the device housing (see FIG. 4B ). In one embodiment, face plate 330 surrounds the display 315 , the key pad 320 , the card reader 325 , the light 316 , the light 311 and the speaker 56 . The face plate 330 may include mounting holes, such as 312 , for mounting various player tracking interface devices to the face plate 330 such as the touch screen display 315 .

[0094] The face plate 330 includes cut-outs (not shown) that may allow access to the player tracking interface devices. For instance, a front portion of the light 316 , a front portion of the touch screen display 315 , and a front portion of the key pad are visible through the face plate 330 . Each of the key pad buttons, such as 321 , 322 and 323 , may be back-lit by illumination devices of some type. The illumination devices, behind the key pad buttons, may be independently controlled to display various light and color patterns. The light and color patterns may be used to represent game information.

[0095] The dimensions of the device housing 300 , (e.g. 305 , 308 and 310 ) are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C . The device housing 300 i