Electronic value-operated and battery powered portable amusement device

Abstract

A portable amusement device has a display and is configured to operate at least one electronic game. The portable amusement device is operated by a touchscreen and includes a battery and a currency input. The portable amusement device is operable by a user upon receipt by the currency input of at least one of coins, currency, a credit card/debit card, and a Personal Identification Number (PIN). An amusement system includes a portable amusement device configured to operate at least one electronic game and having a display, a touchscreen, and a battery. The system also includes a docking station configured to receive the portable amusement device. The docking station includes a currency input. The portable amusement device is removable from the docking station only upon receipt by the currency input of at least one of coins, currency, a credit card/debit card, and a PIN.

1 . A portable amusement device having a display and being configured to operate at least one electronic game, the amusement device comprising:
 (a) a touchscreen on the display for operating the portable amusement device;   (b) a battery; and   (c) a currency input, the portable amusement device being operable by a user upon receipt by the currency input of at least one of coins, currency, a credit card/debit card, and a Personal Identification Number (PIN).   
   
   
       2 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , further comprising an anti-theft system. 
   
   
       3 . The portable amusement device of  claim 2 , wherein the anti-theft system sounds an alert when the device is outside of a predefined area. 
   
   
       4 . The portable amusement device of  claim 2 , wherein the anti-theft system deactivates the device when the device is outside of a predefined area. 
   
   
       5 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one communication port. 
   
   
       6 . The portable amusement device of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one communication port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB). 
   
   
       7 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the currency input is one of a magnetic stripe reader, a paper money slot, a coin slot, and a keypad. 
   
   
       8 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a thin client communicating to at least one of a local server and an internet server. 
   
   
       9 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the device has Global Postitioning System (GPS) location capability. 
   
   
       10 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the device communicates wirelessly. 
   
   
       11 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to select music to be played on a local music system. 
   
   
       12 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of music and video is selectable and playable on the device. 
   
   
       13 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to order food. 
   
   
       14 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to browse the internet. 
   
   
       15 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader, a bar code reader, and a digital camera. 
   
   
       16 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured for at least one of messaging and voice communication. 
   
   
       17 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured for at least one of head-to-head, cooperative, and tournament play. 
   
   
       18 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to alert the user that a table is available for seating. 
   
   
       19 . The portable amusement device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to provide to the user information regarding at least one of a position of the user in a queue for being seated at a table and an estimated time before a table will be available for seating. 
   
   
       20 . A system for providing entertainment to a user, the system comprising:
 (a) a portable amusement device configured to operate at least one electronic game, the device including a display, a touchscreen, and a battery; and   (b) a docking station configured to receive the portable device, the docking station including a currency input, the device being removable from the docking station only upon receipt by the currency input of at least one of coins, currency, a credit card/debit card, and a Personal Identification Number (PIN).   
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the currency input is one of a magnetic stripe reader, a paper money slot, a coin slot, and a keypad.