Methods and apparatus for providing secure logon to a gaming machine using a mobile device

Abstract

Disclosed herein are techniques for communicating between an electronic gaming machine and a mobile computing device. In some implementations, a first communication session with a mobile computing device may be provided at an electronic gaming machine. The first communication session may be conducted via a first wireless communication protocol at a first range proximate the electronic gaming machine. A communication session initiation identifier for initiating a second communication session may be transmitted from the electronic gaming machine to the mobile computing device via the first communication session. Based on the communication session initiation identifier, a second communication session with the mobile computing device may be provided at an electronic gaming machine. The second communication session may be conducted via a second wireless communication protocol at a second range. The second range may be wider than the first range.

1 . An electronic gaming machine comprising:
 an input device configured to receive an indication of value for play of a wager-based game in which one or more game outcomes can be provided responsive to a wager;   an output device configured to output an indication of value in association with play of the wager-based game;   a display screen configured to display video data associated with the wager-based game; and   one or more processors configured to cause the electronic gaming machine to:
 provide a first communication session with a mobile computing device, the first communication session being conducted via a first wireless communication protocol at a first range proximate the electronic gaming machine; 
 transmit, to the mobile computing device via the first communication session, a communication session initiation identifier for initiating a second communication session; 
 determine, when the communication session initiation identifier is transmitted to the mobile computing device, whether the mobile computing device has installed thereon an application for initiating the second communication session; 
 when the mobile computing device does not have installed thereon the application for initiating the second communication session, direct the mobile computing device to install the application for initiating the second communication session; and 
 based on the communication session initiation identifier, provide the second communication session between the mobile computing device and the electronic gaming machine, the second communication session being conducted via a second wireless communication protocol at a second range, the second range being wider than the first range. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic gaming machine recited in  claim 1 , wherein the communication session initiation identifier specifies a network endpoint for use in conducting wireless communications with the electronic gaming machine via the second wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The electronic gaming machine recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first communication session is conducted via near-field radio, and wherein the second communication session is conducted via a wireless local area network. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic gaming machine recited in  claim 1 , the one or more processors further configured to cause the electronic gaming machine to:
 determine whether the mobile computing device is within a designated distance from the electronic gaming machine; and   when the mobile computing device is not within the designated distance, terminate the second communication session.   
     
     
         7 . The electronic gaming machine recited in  claim 1 , the one or more processors further configured to cause the electronic gaming machine to:
 terminate the first communication session after the communication session creation information is transmitted.   
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 providing, at an electronic gaming machine, a first communication session with a mobile computing device, the first communication session being conducted via a first wireless communication protocol at a first range proximate the electronic gaming machine;   transmitting, from the electronic gaming machine to the mobile computing device via the first communication session, a communication session initiation identifier for initiating a second communication session;   determining, when the communication session initiation identifier is transmitted to the mobile computing device, whether the mobile computing device has installed thereon an application for initiating the second communication session;   when the mobile computing device does not have installed thereon the application for initiating the second communication session, directing the mobile computing device to install the application for initiating the second communication session; and   based on the communication session initiation identifier, providing, at the electronic gaming machine, the second communication session between the mobile computing device and the electronic gaming machine, the second communication session being conducted via a second wireless communication protocol at a second range, the second range being wider than the first range.   
     
     
         9 . The method recited in  claim 8 , wherein the communication session initiation identifier specifies a network endpoint for use in conducting wireless communications with the electronic gaming machine via the second wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method recited in  claim 8 , wherein the first communication session is conducted via near-field radio, and wherein the second communication session is conducted via a wireless local area network. 
     
     
         13 . The method recited in  claim 8 , the method further comprising:
 determining whether the mobile computing device is within a designated distance from the electronic gaming machine; and   when the mobile computing device is not within the designated distance, terminating the second communication session.   
     
     
         14 . The method recited in  claim 8 , the method further comprising:
 terminating the first communication session after the communication session creation information is transmitted.   
     
     
         15 . One or more computer readable non-transitory media having instructions stored thereon for performing a method, the method comprising:
 providing, at an electronic gaming machine, a first communication session with a mobile computing device, the first communication session being conducted via a first wireless communication protocol at a first range proximate the electronic gaming machine;   transmitting, from the electronic gaming machine to the mobile computing device via the first communication session, a communication session initiation identifier for initiating a second communication session;   determining, when the communication session initiation identifier is transmitted to the mobile computing device, whether the mobile computing device has installed thereon an application for initiating the second communication session;   when the mobile computing device does not have installed thereon the application for initiating the second communication session, directing the mobile computing device to install the application for initiating the second communication session; and   based on the communication session initiation identifier, providing, at the electronic gaming machine, the second communication session between the mobile computing device and the electronic gaming machine, the second communication session being conducted via a second wireless communication protocol at a second range, the second range being wider than the first range.   
     
     
         16 . The one or more computer readable non-transitory media recited in  claim 15 , wherein the communication session initiation identifier specifies a network endpoint for use in conducting wireless communications with the electronic gaming machine via the second wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The one or more computer readable non-transitory media recited in  claim 15 , wherein the first communication session is conducted via near-field radio, and wherein the second communication session is conducted via a wireless local area network. 
     
     
         20 . The one or more computer readable non-transitory media recited in  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 determining whether the mobile computing device is within a designated distance from the electronic gaming machine; and   when the mobile computing device is not within the designated distance, terminating the second communication session.