Method and apparatus for entering sensitive data for an electronic gaming machine from a portable electronic device

Abstract

A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. When a transaction is initiated on an EGM that requires the input of Sensitive Information data, such data can be input directly from the Player/Patrons Portable Electronic Device. Hence, such input of their Sensitive Information data is more discrete, and generally out of plain view from the other Player/Patrons.

1 . A method in a wager-based electronic gaming machine (EGM) including a processor and a memory, the method comprising:
 receiving an input from a player at the EGM, wherein the input corresponds to an initiation of a transaction;   determining, by the processor of the EGM, that the initiation of the transaction on the EGM requires input of Sensitive Information (SI) for continuance of the transaction;   establishing communications with a Portable Electronic Device (PED);   formatting, by the processor of the EGM, a user interface having a request for SI;   outputting, by the processor of the EGM, the user interface having the request for SI to the PED;   receiving, through the outputted user interface, SI data input from the PED; and   validating the received input SI data in order to allow the player to continue the transaction through player interaction with the EGM through an input on the EGM.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the establishing communications with the EGM is performed through a wireless interface for direct communications with the PED. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the establishing communications establishes a secure pairing with the PED. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communications with the PED are via a remote server in communication with the PED. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 sending a request to the remote server to enable communications between the PED and the EGM.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein validating the input SI data includes comparing the input SI data with stored SI data in one of the EGM and a remote server. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further including:
 in the event that the input SI data is determined valid, communicating with the PED informing of the validation of input SI data; and   in the event that the input SI data is determined invalid, communicating with the PED informing of the invalidation of the input SI data.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein upon determination of valid SI data, sending data to the PED causing an application on the PED to be launched. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said SI data is selected from the group consisting of a wager, PIN, a password, an account number, biometric input, game play input, social security, a name, a phone number, and an address. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transaction is selected from the group consisting of an account login, a player tracking transaction, a cash-out, game play, a cash transfer, account settings, and a password or pass code recover. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving player tracking information from the PED and instantiating a player tracking session based upon the received player tracking information.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input SI data is input from a touch screen associated with the PED. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the event of a broken communication session between the PED and the EGM, accepting only SI data input directly from the EGM. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the input SI data from a stored location on the PED. 
     
     
         15 . A computer readable medium for executing computer code on a processor in a wager-based electronic gaming machine (EGM) comprising:
 computer code for receiving an input from a player at the EGM, wherein the input corresponds to an initiation of a transaction;   computer code for determining that the initiation of the transaction on the EGM requires input of Sensitive Information (SI) for continuance of the transaction;   computer code for establishing communications with a Portable Electronic Device (PED);   computer code for formatting a user interface having a request for SI;   computer code for outputting the user interface having the request for SI to the PED;   computer coded for receiving, through the outputted user interface, the input SI data input from the PED; and   computer coded for validating the input SI data in order to allow the player to continue the transaction through player interaction with the EGM through an imput on the EGM.   
     
     
         16 . A method in server including a processor and a memory configured to communicate with a plurality of wager-based electronic gaming machines (EGMs), the method comprising:
 receiving an initiation of a transaction from an EGM that requires input of Sensitive Information (SI) for continuance of the transaction;   establishing communications with a Portable Electronic Device (PED);   formatting, by the processor of the server, a user interface having a request for SI;   outputting, by the processor of the server, the user interface having the request for SI to the PED;   receiving, through the outputted user interface, input SI data from a player of the EGM via the PED;   
       validating the input SI data in order to allow the player to continue the transaction through player interaction the EGM. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising commencing a start of a timer in response to outputting the PED screen content to the PED. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising causing the EGM to timeout and end the transaction after the timer exceeds a predetermined response time period. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is formatted according to a determined screen property of the PED.