Ticket manufacturing device for distribution of virtual tickets into a gaming environment

Abstract

The invention consists to a ticket manufacturing device to create populations of virtual tickets for a use into a gaming environment. It records these populations on removable updateable cartridges that will be used in the gaming environment. Further, it provides a secure method of managing the use of the ticket manufacturing device. Further, the ticket manufacturing device permits to collect and archive information about the played, redeemed and non-played tickets, therefore having a game that meets the North American Gaming Regulations Association requirements for the class II games. Furthermore, the ticket manufacturing device archives additional information that can be analyzed to increase knowledge of gaming facilities managers about these games.

wWat is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A ticket manufacturing device (TMD) for recording a population of virtual tickets for use in a gaming environment, said TMD comprising: 
 an internal memory to keep prize distribution schedules used for the creation of said population of virtual tickets;    a creation program to transform information from said prize distribution schedule into a said population of virtual tickets; and    a communication port allowing to record said population of virtual tickets in a non-volatile data recording medium.    
     
     
         2 . The TMD of  claim 1  further comprising a user interface allowing operators to make choices regarding said prize distribution schedule.  
     
     
         3 . The user interface of  claim 2  further comprising a display allowing display of said choices and controls communicating said choices to said TMD.  
     
     
         4 . The TMD of  claim 1  further comprising a security communications module with encryption capability to communicate said population of said virtual tickets to a said non-volatile data recording medium comprising also a compatible said security communication module.  
     
     
         5 . The TMD of  claim 4  for which said security communications module is a micro-controller with internal EEPROM memory, further said internal EEPROM memory comprising a security program controlling all communications through said micro-controller, therefore rendering communications through said micro-controllers exclusive and secure.  
     
     
         6 . The TMD of  claim 1  further comprising a non-volatile memory module archiving data regarding said TMD components and use of said TMD, further allowing verification of said data in said non-volatile memory module before authorizing operation of said TMD.  
     
     
         7 . The TMD of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a communications port to transmit information regarding use of said TMD to a archiving device; and  
 a communication program to control communication between said TMD and said archiving device.  
 
     
     
         8 . The TMD of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a communications port to transmit information contained in said non-volatile recording medium to a archiving device; and  
 a communication program to control communication between said non-volatile recording medium and said archiving device via said TMD.  
 
     
     
         9 . The TMD of  claim 7  for which said archiving device is in a remote location.  
     
     
         10 . The TMD of  claim 1 , wherein said creation program comprises steps of: 
 using a random number generator to determine the order of said virtual tickets; and    identifying each of said virtual tickets with a unique identification number.    
     
     
         11 . The TMD of  claim 3  wherein said controls comprises touch screen controls.  
     
     
         12 . The TMD of  claim 7  for which communications with said archiving device use a local area network.  
     
     
         13 . The TMD of  claim 7  for which communications with said archiving device use an Internet connection.  
     
     
         14 . The TMD of  claim 7  for which said archiving device consists of a computer connected to said TMD via an Ethernet cable.  
     
     
         15 . The TMD of  claim 1  further comprising a keyhole wherein a key must be inserted to authorize operation of said TMD.  
     
     
         16 . The TMD of  claim 1  further comprising a magnetic key that must be applied on a receiving disk to authorize operation of said TMD.  
     
     
         17 . The TMD of  claim 1  for which a unique identification code corresponding to said TMD is transmitted to said non-volatile data recording mediums while recording said populations of virtual tickets rendering the said non-volatile data recording mediums unreadable by another said TMD.  
     
     
         18 . The TMD of  claim 6  for which the changing a principal component of said TMD and verification of said non-volatile memory module conducts to an automatic refusal of operation of said TMD.  
     
     
         19 . The TMD of  claim 3  for which a pin number is entered with said controls to authorize operation of said TMD.  
     
     
         20 . The TMD of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a communications port to transmit information contained in said non-volatile data recording medium to a updateable memory; and  
 a communication program to automatically transmit said information in said updateable memory to a said archiving device afterwards when a predetermined number of said non-volatile data recording mediums transmitted information to said updateable memory.  
 
     
     
         21 . A method of managing gaming devices using virtual tickets, said method comprising steps of: 
 generating a population of said virtual tickets at a data recording station;    recording said population of virtual tickets on a non-volatile data recording medium at said data recording station; and    distributing individually each said virtual tickets via said non-volatile data recording medium to said gaming devices, further each said virtual tickets being used to determine the outcome of one play of a said gaming device.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising steps of recording complementary data on said non-volatile data recording medium regarding the play of said virtual tickets on said gaming devices, said complementary data being determined by said gaming devices.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising step of transmitting data contained in said non-volatile data recording medium to said data recording station before step of recording a new said population of virtual tickets on said non-volatile data recording medium.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising step of transmitting to an archiving device data of said non-volatile data recording mediums.  
     
     
         25 .The method of  claim 24  further comprising step of analyzing said data to increase knowledge about play of said virtual tickets on said gaming devices.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising steps of: 
 archiving outside information regarding gaming devices coming from an outside source other than said non-volatile data recording medium; and  
 analyzing together said outside information and said data to increase knowledge regarding about play of said virtual tickets on said gaming devices.  
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  within said complementary data comprise data regarding players via a player tracking system in said gaming devices.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein a smart card, a pin number entered before play, or a VIP card takes part of said player tracking system.  
     
     
         29 . A method of managing gaming devices using virtual tickets, said method comprising steps of: 
 generating a population of said virtual tickets;    distributing individually each said virtual tickets to said gaming devices, further each said virtual tickets being used to determine the outcome of a play of a said gaming device;    recording data regarding the play of said virtual tickets on said gaming devices and said complementary data determined by said gaming devices on a non-volatile data recording medium.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising step of transmitting data contained in said non-volatile data recording medium to a data recording station.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising step of transmitting to an archiving device data of said non-volatile data recording mediums.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising step of analyzing said data to increase knowledge about play of said virtual tickets on said gaming devices.  
     
     
         33 . A method of distribution of ticket manufacturing devices (TMD's) and non-volatile data recording mediums for their use in a gaming environment, said method comprising steps of: 
 manufacturer selling said TMD's and said and non-volatile data recording mediums to a distributor;    said distributor selling said TMD's and said and non-volatile data recording mediums to gaming facilities;    said gaming facility recording with a said TMD up to a limited number of populations of virtual tickets successively onto said and non-volatile data recording mediums;    said gaming facility communicating a report of use of the said TMD comprising a report code to said distributor after recording said limited number of said and non-volatile data recording mediums on the said TMD;    said distributor communicating said report code to said manufacturer;    said manufacturer communicating a response code in regards to said report code to said distributor;    said distributor communicating said response code to said gaming facility;    said gaming facility entering said response code in the said TMD, said response code therefore unlocking the said TMD for an additional recording of said limited number of said and non-volatile data recording mediums; and    repeating the precedent steps until a predetermined total number of said and non-volatile data recording mediums corresponding to the life of the said TMD has been recorded.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  for which said report of use comprises information regarding the value of said populations of virtual tickets distributed by said non-volatile data recording mediums.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising the step of automatically locking the said TMD when a number of recordings overshooting a predetermined number of recordings of said non-volatile data recording mediums corresponds to said limited number without entering a said response code.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising steps of certification of said TMD's by regulation authorities or a certified laboratory.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising steps of certification of said and non-volatile data recording mediums by regulation authorities or a certified laboratory after the recording of data by said TMD.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33  for which said report of use comprises information regarding the value of said populations of virtual tickets distributed by said non-volatile data recording mediums from last said report of use to the present said report of use, therefore the profits generated by these said populations of virtual tickets.  
     
     
         39 . A method of distribution of ticket manufacturing devices (TMD's) and non-volatile data recording mediums for their use in a gaming environment, said method comprising steps of: 
 manufacturer selling said TMD's and said and non-volatile data recording mediums to a distributor;    said distributor selling said TMD's and said and non-volatile data recording mediums to gaming facilities;    said gaming facility linking said TMD to a distributor monitoring system;    said distributor monitoring system unlocking from a remote location said TMD;    said gaming facility recording with a said TMD up to a limited number of populations of virtual tickets successively onto said and non-volatile data recording mediums;    said TMD transmitting to said distributor monitoring system a report of use after recording said limited number of said and non-volatile data recording mediums on the said TMD;    said distributor monitoring system transmitting a response code to said TMD, otherwise said TMD being unable to operate properly; and    repeating the precedent steps until a predetermined total number of said and non-volatile data recording mediums corresponding to the life of the said TMD has been recorded.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising step of distributor monitoring system archiving information contained in said reports of use.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39  for which said report of use comprises information regarding the value of said populations of virtual tickets distributed by said non-volatile data recording mediums from last said report of use to the present said report of use, therefore the profits generated by these said populations of virtual tickets.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising the step of automatically locking a said TMD when a number of recordings overshooting a predetermined number of recordings of said non-volatile data recording mediums corresponds to a said limited number is recorded without receiving information from said distributor monitoring system.