Method for operating private payment means and device for operating private payment means and uses thereof

p0001Operating method of private means of payment and operating system of private payment systems and their applications

p0002The present invention relates to a private payment means operating method. It also relates to an operating device of private payment means. It also relates to their applications to the operation of casinos, amusement parks and attractions, shopping and hotel complexes.

p0003In the state of the art it is known to operate casino games that require the handling of coins using alternatives such as chips or other objects. However, some games operating devices called "slots" require the use of coins for their execution. As a result, the operation of a casino is subject to the vagaries of currency manipulation and the following main disadvantages: - difficult accounting of currency exchange between a central fund and stores each of the slot machines;

p0004- The need for the player to carry inside the casino a quantity of coins which can be significant;

p0005- Control and protection of players and the safety of supply chains slot machines shops.

p0006In the prior art, there are already known methods for identifying an individual using the recognition of fingerprints. Forming a cut features image naturally on the skin surface, it is possible to get information having a high probability of uniquely characterize an individual.

p0007Specifically, the problems encountered during the operation of a casino with slot machines can be divided into two categories:

p0008- The problems encountered at the casino operators; - The problems encountered at the client of a casino.

p0009The present invention allows to remedy these drawbacks of the prior art. In other areas, we encounter a similar problem to run private payments in large public projects like shopping malls, amusement and leisure parks, hotel complexes, or fairs or exhibitions which are places where trading posts used to buy products or services in exchange for a payment by a user. In these various applications, the art will apply the teachings of the present application.

p0010It is understood that the invention is not directly a business method as such, but rather it concerns a technical means that can be used during the operation of a business method and / or in a game.

p0011Indeed, the present invention relates to a private payment means operating method in at least one assembly comprising means for performing transactions. The method comprises: at least during a configuration phase:

p0012- A reference step of recording at least one way to make transactions;

p0013- A step of registering at least one user comprising at least a step of acquiring a biometric characterization file, a step of opening an account assigned to the user associated with the biometric characterization file; then, during an operation phase of said means of private payment:

p0014- A user identification step of a means for performing transactions using a means for acquiring an authentication data as a biometric characterization file to the user of said means for conduct transactions directly on the basis of an immediate acquisition of a biometric reader or characterization based on an earlier acquisition directly or after a predetermined calculation and recorded previously in a controlled-card access; - A step for detecting whether the authentication data such as biometric characterization file to the user of said means for conducting transactions and / or registered identification data in said electronic card is the file biometric characterization of a previously registered user and to produce a response in detection signal;

p0015- A means of validation step to perform matching transactions; so that a transaction on said medium on which the user has been identified for transactions can be performed without using currency.

p0016According to another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises:

p0017- An update step of operating data relating to at least one of means for performing transactions used by the identified user and recognized; and - a step to exchange currency are among at least a registered user and a manager, said step corresponding to at least a committed transaction.

p0018According to another aspect of the invention, the type in which the identifying step is carried out in particular on the basis of the fingerprint of a user, the method further comprises a fifth step for acquiring fingerprint image digitalis, followed by a step to identify the coordinates of notable points in the image of the fingerprint based on branching and breaking points itself followed by a step to construct a biometric characterization file a user on the basis of said coordinates remarkable points.

p0019According to another aspect of the invention, the method comprises detecting distinctive points in a number between 30 and 80.

p0020According to another aspect of the invention, said step for detecting whether the biometric characterization file to the user of said means for performing transactions is the biometric characterization file of a previously registered user, comprises a step to load a file registered biometric characterization, followed by a step of comparing the latest audit file biometric characterization of the user of said means for conducting transactions and repeating the comparison operation as a biometric characterization file is not registered found close enough, and if a registered biometric characterization file is found close enough, said method comprising a step of generating an enable signal that allows to identify the user at least at said means for performing transactions.

p0021The invention also relates to a private payment means operating device for implementing the method according to the invention. The inventive device comprises at least:

p0022- A user's recording station having means for generating a biometric characterization file to a user;

p0023- A server validation and management of previously recorded user accounts;

p0024- Means for performing transactions, including at least one means for generating a biometric characterization file of a user and at least one means for forming validation and management requests;

p0025- A computer TV network to communicate and centrally manage a user of the recording station, the validation server and account management and said at least one way to make transactions.

p0026According to another aspect of the invention, the recording station cooperates with a wiring board to a transmission channel and a network management device with a biometric characteristic recognition device such as a fingerprint reader, and with at least a touch screen or a screen and a keyboard, allowing the visualization of instructions for execution of the user registration and for entering personal data such as name, and bank data, and with a program memory which stores a program for controlling a new user registration operation.

p0027According to another aspect of the invention, said means for performing transactions and to perform validation and management requests cooperates with a connection board to the transmission channel and to a network management device, and cooperates with a device recognition as a biometric fingerprint reader, and at least with a touch screen or a monitor and keyboard, enabling the visualization of instructions for execution of transactions, and with a memory which stores a program to be run to perform validation and query management or when a user attempts to perform a transaction on the said medium. According to another aspect of the invention, said validation server and user account management previously recorded cooperates with a connection board to the transmission channel and to a network management device, and cooperates with at least a touchscreen or a screen and a keyboard enabling the display instructions to the intervention of the operator, and a memory of a program which is executed in the device startup to enable validation and management of user accounts registered in a database.

p0028The invention then relates to an application of the method and apparatus of the invention, operation of casinos, casino games by implementing means of private payment, especially slot machines.

p0029The invention then relates to an application of the method and apparatus of the invention, operation of theme parks and attractions, including the operation of arrangements using currency and other means of private payment equivalents.

p0030The invention then relates to an application of the method and apparatus of the invention, operation of commercial and hotel complexes, including terminal operations using money and other means of private payment.

p0031Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood using the description and the accompanying drawings in which:

p0032- Figure 1 is a diagram showing a preferred embodiment of an operating device according to the invention;

p0033- Figure 2 is a flowchart of the block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the operating method according to the invention; and

p0034- Figure 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of an operating device according to the invention.

p0035In Figure 1, a diagram is shown of a preferred embodiment of the operating device according to the invention. A recording station 1 of a user is equipped a biometric reader not shown. 1 The recording station is connected by a suitable transmission channel 5 to a computer communication network managed by a network management device 4. A server 2 validation and account management is also connected to the transmission channel 5. Finally a means 3 for transactions and to issue validation and management requests is also connected to the transmission channel 5.

p0036The transmission channel 5 can be realized by a wire or coaxial link or by a wireless network using radio frequency, infrared or another. It is then controlled by a transmission control module that manages access of messages flowing on the link.

p0037The recording station 1 can be performed on the basis of a computer with a connection board to the transmission channel 5 and to the network management device 4, a biometric characteristic recognition device (not shown) such as a fingerprint reader, and at least a touch screen or a monitor and keyboard, enabling the visualization of instruction for the execution of the user registration and for entering personal data such as the name, and bank data. The recording station 1 includes a program memory which stores a program for controlling a new user registration operation. An embodiment will be explained later.

p0038The means 3 for performing transactions and for querying validation and management can also be realized based on a computer with a connection board to the transmission channel 5 and to the network management device 4, a biometric recognition device (not shown) in particular as a fingerprint reader, and at least a touch screen or a monitor and keyboard, enabling the visualization of instructions for the execution of transactions for which a private means of payment should be related to the recognition of previously registered user on the recording station 1. However, preferably, the average 3 to complete transactions and to perform validation and management applications is integrated into a usual device in the application for which the invention is implemented as a slot machine if the invention is applied to the operation of a casino. In this case, the measures necessary for this part of the invention and which have been described in connection with a computer are integrated directly into the device as usual so-called slot machine. In both cases, the average 3 also includes a memory in which is stored a program to be executed as soon as the operating device of the invention is to perform validation and query management or when a user tries perform a transaction on the said means 3.

p0039Finally, the operating device of the invention comprises a validation server 2 and user account management previously saved and which is also carried out on the basis of a computer with a connection board to the channel transmission 5 and the network management device 4, and at least one touch screen a display and a keyboard that permits visualization of instructions for operator intervention of the operating device of the invention. Server 2 has a memory for this purpose at least one program that is executed at the start of the operating system to enable validation and management of user accounts stored in a database which will be described later .

p0040It is understood that the device of the present invention includes a network management device 4 which is freely designed by the skilled person for use of exchanges on the transmission channel 5 based on well-known communication protocols the art. It will not be described further here.

p0041Similarly, it is clear that the present Inventi can be performed on multiple transmission channels or more separate communications networks connected to each other by a long distance computer TV network like the Internet network, or a telephone network, or a mobile telephony network.

p0042Similarly, it is clear that the present invention can be achieved using several recording stations, and several ways to make transactions and validation and management requests. Specifically, this is the case in the application in the operation of a casino, application in which several slots each play the role of a means for performing transactions and to exchange validation and management requests as the means 3 of Figure 1, and wherein a plurality of recording stations as Station 1, can record in parallel several new users to limit queues.

p0043In a particular embodiment, when a new user registration step, the biometric characterization file is also used to produce an electronic card equipped with a secure access to memory in which is recorded a data validation who can be :

p0044"" Directly biometric characterization file;

p0045* Indirectly calculated data based on said biometric characterization file so that this calculated data is a personal identification data.

p0046Subsequently, during an authentication phase where the electronic cardholder user appears before an authentication station, the electronic card is inserted over an electronic card reader to access and secure the work described above or later in this description is then made to recognize the authorization of the user.

p0047This calculated data is then compared with a biometric characterization file and / or a registered reference data when the user registration step. During the authentication phase, this data is first read on the card, if any decrypted if it is encrypted based on an additional code as a public encryption key, if necessary adjusted to locate the file biometric characterization and baseline data is also adjusted where appropriate to be compared with the authentication data read from the electronic card in the electronic card reader for secure access. If the comparison result is positive, the rest of the process is performed as has been described and will be described below. If the result of the comparison is negative, the result of the process is performed as has been described and will be described below.

p0048This security measure can be combined with the use of a biometric characteristic drive or independently or in competition, the two comparison would then be executed and combined to ensure greater reliability. In Figure 2, a flowchart of the operating process is shown according to the invention.

p0049After an initialization phase 6, the method of the invention to provide asynchronously - a step 7 for recording in the management system and operating as a management system and casino operations, an average 3 (Figure 1) for transactions, such as a slot machine when it is installed on the casino's operating system;

p0050- A step 8 for recording in the management system and operation 1 a user who is present at a recording station 1, for example to a central body of a casino; these steps 7 and 8 can run independently of the other steps of the inventive method. They constitute a configuration phase that can be activated:

p0051- Each time a new user is presented for registration in the network; - Each time an already registered user wants to change the data stored in the database managed by the server;

p0052- Every time a new way to conduct transactions is added or changed on the network.

p0053Step 8 for registering a new user uses biometrics resources as will be explained. To this end, as will be described in more detail using Figure 3, the method of the invention consists in acquiring an image of biometric characteristics of a body part of the user, then performing search biometric characteristic and finally to be a record in a user database, managed by the operating device of the invention, biometric characteristics associated with a user's personal identifier such as the name and address and if any bank details.

p0054Once consisting operating network, as will be described more precisely in the following, with at least one means for performing transactions such as a slot machine in the case of a casino and at least one registered user, the process of the invention consists in performing an actual operation phase. When the user tries to obtain on the transaction means for performing transactions 3, the method consists in performing an examination of the user's record in the user database. To this end, using a biometric data reader is transferred biometric characteristics of the user in a manner analogous to that of the registration phase of step 8 above. The file detected biometric characteristics is then transmitted to the management device to the validation server running a procedure to detect the identity of the file detected and transmitted biometric characteristics of the files of biometric features stored in the database users. When the identity is established, the validation server and account management 2 valid way to conduct transactions 3 on which the user has to be authenticated and the operating device can then perform its function. Otherwise, the validation server and management accounts 2 prevents the use of the medium for transactions 3, the user is not registered.

p0055In a step 10, the validation server and account management manages the execution of the transaction. It debits the account of the user identified by the amount of the transaction. Especially in the case of a slot machine, it saves the credit represented by the gain of the game played on the slot machine.

p0056In a step 11, the validation server and account management 2 handles the change of the account associated with the user that has evolved during the execution of various transactions. It is then for example made a remittance of cash to the user's benefit, to reload the user's account for the benefit of the operator of the operating system like a casino, or any other banking operations using a credit card for example. In particular, in the case where step 11 is performed on an automatic cash dispenser type, automatic machine which allows to perform step 11 is also equipped with a device for acquiring biometric characteristic user who is present and means to query the server for validation before making the above financial exchanges.

p0057In Figure 3, an example of operating device is shown in a particular embodiment of the invention. The inventive operating device will be explained in the framework of an application to manage a casino equipped with several slots which are considered herein as means for performing transactions such as the means 3 of Figure 1 and at least one recording station record player that provides the management device at least biometric information or characteristics and personal information of each player being written to a recording station as the recording station 2 of Figure 1, so that the database contains account registration it is possible to operate during transactions performed on each of the slot machines connected in a network.

p0058There is shown schematically a registration station 27 and station operating transactions 36, 37 as a slot machine consisting of a fingerprint reader module 36 and part 37 of slot machine itself . The recording station 27 essentially comprises a fingerprint reader 21 is designed to detect fingerprint images A finger of a user being registered. The image thus acquired and optionally treated and filtered in the right way, is transmitted to a module 22 for creating a file of biometric characteristics extracted from the image thus acquired relative coordinates of characteristic points in the image as the point 25 which corresponds to a bifurcation or the point 26 which corresponds to a cut, or more generally a point or a feature vector that, in the state of the art, is called a minutia. In the encoding process developed in conjunction with the invention, it was found that a number between 30 and 80 feature points was enough to correctly identify an individual by recognizing the fingerprint of a finger A. the biometric file therefore contains mainly a list of biometric characteristics on different issues identified through the creation of file biometric module. Depending on the communication protocol between the registration station 27 and a validation server 39 and network management which it is connected, the file biometric characteristic, produced following the detection of the finger A, is transmitted to a memory 28 database in which we just write the file biometric product. This file is transmitted by a transmission module 23. The recording station 27 is preferably also equipped with a combination of a screen and a keyboard 24 which, using a program recorded on the recording station 27, validated and activated by a sequence recording controller and operation of recording stations such as Station 27 and slots as the machine 36, 37 which allows you to enter personal identification data to especially manage the account associated with the current player registration, giving it a payable before the start of her game.

p0059To this end, the recording program to capture personal data can be loaded into the recording station by a communications link 47 and the order to execute the recording program to capture personal data is transmitted by the communication link 47.

p0060The slot machine modified by the present invention is therefore essentially a part of slot 37 and a fingerprint reader module 36 associated therewith. The fingerprint reader module 36 is substantially identical to the recording station 27 which itself comprises a fingerprint reader 21 that was used during registration of a new player. The fingerprint reader module 36 thus essentially comprises:

p0061- A detection portion 40 to form the image of the fingerprint of the finger B player who appears on the slot machine;

p0062- A module 42 for creating a file of biometric characteristics extracted from the image acquired with the detection part 40 the different biometric characteristics which are a player identification means;

p0063- A transmission module 42 which, based on a prerecorded sequence, is capable of emitting the said biometric characteristics file produced using the module 41 to create a biometric file by a link teleinformatics 45 to 39 convenable29 device server validation and network management.

p0064To complete the fingerprint reader module 36 internal or integrated with the gaming machine in the invention, also uses a data display device and instructions of the validation server and network management and / or by a pre-recorded program related to the slot, and if necessary input data or command from the player. We will now describe an essential part of the 39 validation server and network management that is exploited when a file biometrics is transmitted by the link teleinformatics 45 of the slot 3, 37 to said server 39. Upon receipt said file, it is routed to a first input of a comparison circuit 29 files biometric characteristic. The circuit 29 is controlled by a suitable program for browsing the various file biometric features stored in the database at registration of each new player, and compare biometric characteristics. Depending on the pre-recorded program commands and whose writing is within the reach of the art, according to an accepted rate differences between the characteristics of file data fingerprint, admitted rate differences was previously registered in the circuit 29, circuit 29 delivers on an internal connection 46 to the validation server 39 and network management an acknowledgment recognition signal that is activated only if recognition is performed. With the acknowledgment of signal recognition, is transmitted to a circuit 32 enable management of information regarding available data related to the registered player who has been recognized. For example, become available information regarding the identity of the player, as the name under which it will be known on the network, and the amount of his player account. This information can be returned by including suitable binding by management workflow to a device 43 display module fingerprint reader 36 associated with the slot 36, 37.

p0065In the embodiment of Figure 3, player B has a fingerprint minutiae with two or dots Points 30 and 31. The circuit 29 for comparing biometric files then traverses the memory database 28 and determines that the imprint of the registered player A, which has two similar minutiae 25 and 26, is the closest and determines that the player B who comes before the 36 sub machine 37 is actually the player registered A. the circuit 32 validation management then produced by a connection 50 a in the machine activation message 36, 37 to a circuit 33 for locking and unlocking of the machine.

p0066Through a connection 51 suitable, the circuit 33 for locking and unlocking the machine has activated the classic circuits 37 of the slot machine 36, 37. Depending on the execution of the transaction process on the slot machine 36, 37, a circuit 34 returns to the 39 validation server and network management information intended in particular to credit or debit the account of the player A. the circuit 34 is connected by a link 48 to the latch circuit 33 which returns the information from the circuit 34 and that describe the transaction on the slot machine 36, 37 according to locking data and / or unlocking via a link 49 in the validation management circuit 32.

p0067When Player A wants to get paid his winnings, or wants to recharge his player account, he appears before an accounts management station that may be identical to the registration station 27 described with fingerprint reader . Monetary exchanges, including currency, are then performed on this account management station, to the exclusion of any other point of currency manipulation that are unnecessary in the invention. It is thus possible to reduce the currency manipulation charge both by the user by network operators.

p0068The present invention can be applied to casino operations, casino games by implementing means of private payment, especially slot machines, operation of theme parks and attraction, especially in the operating arrangements using currency other means of private payment and operation of commercial and hotel complexes, including terminal operations using money and other means of private payment.