Secure smart card operations

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to facilitating cashless digital transactions. In one embodiment, a gaming machine includes: (1) a memory storing a first credit balance representing an amount of credit available for wagering; (2) a communication interface configured to communicate with a portable electronic device storing a second credit balance representing a second amount of credit available on the portable electronic device; and (3) a secure transaction device configured to: (a) transmit to the portable electronic device a request to update the second credit balance, the request including security authorization information, (b) receive from the portable electronic device an indication that the second amount of credit has been updated in accordance with the request when it is determined that the security authorization information complies with one or more security authorization requirements, and (c) update the first credit balance stored in the first memory device in accordance with the request.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a gaming device, the method comprising:
 (a) establishing communications, by a communication interface, with a portable electronic device that stores a portable electronic device credit balance;   (b) establishing, by at least one processor, a gaming device credit balance;   (c) enabling play of a wagering game on the gaming device using the gaming device credit balance;   (d) monitoring, by the at least one processor, the gaming device credit balance with respect to an auto-transfer threshold; and   (e) if the gaming device credit balance falls below the auto-transfer threshold:
 (1) automatically transmitting, by the communication interface and to the portable electronic device, a request for a transfer of a designated quantity of credits, the request including security authorization information; and 
 (2) if the portable electronic device determines that the request complies with one or more security authorization requirements: (i) receiving, by the communication interface and from the portable electronic device, an indication that the portable electronic device credit balance has been decreased by the designated quantity of credits; and (ii) increasing, by the at least one processor, the gaming device credit balance by the designated quantity of credits. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the designated quantity of credits is predetermined. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile phone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication interface includes a card reader and the portable electronic device includes a card. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , which includes, if the gaming device credit balance falls below the auto-transfer threshold, receiving, by an input device, an identification code, the security authorization information including the identification code. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing communications with the portable electronic device includes establishing wireless communications, by the communication interface, with the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing the gaming device credit balance includes:
 receiving, by an input device, a credit transfer request;   transmitting, by the communication interface and to the portable electronic device, a request for a transfer of an initial quantity of credits, the request including second security authorization information; and   if the portable electronic device determines that the request complies with one or more second security authorization requirements: (i) receiving, by the communication interface and from the portable electronic device, an indication that the portable electronic device credit balance has been decreased by the initial quantity of credits; and (ii) increasing, by the at least one processor, the gaming device credit balance by the initial quantity of credits.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , which includes:
 (f) receiving, by the communication interface and from the portable electronic device, authentication information;   (g) transmitting, by the communication interface and to an authentication server, the authentication information; and   (h) receiving, by the communication interface and from the authentication server, an indication of whether the portable electronic device is authentic.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , which includes performing (f) to (h) after establishing communications with the portable electronic device and before establishing the gaming device credit balance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , which includes:
 receiving, by an input device, a cash out input;   transmitting, by the communication interface and to the portable electronic device, a request to transfer the gaming device credit balance to the portable electronic device; and   if the portable electronic device determines that the request complies with one or more second security authorization requirements: (i) receiving, by the communication interface and from the portable electronic device, an indication that the portable electronic device credit balance has been increased by the quantity of credits in the gaming device credit balance; and (ii) decreasing, by the at least one processor, the gaming device credit balance by the quantity of credits in the gaming device credit balance.   
     
     
         11 . A gaming device comprising:
 a housing;   a communication interface supported by the housing;   a plurality of input devices supported by the housing and including an acceptor configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value;   at least one display device supported by the housing;   at least one processor; and   at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the communication interface, the plurality of input devices, and the at least one display device to:   (a) establish communications with a portable electronic device that stores a portable electronic device credit balance;   (b) establish a gaming device credit balance;   (c) enable play of a wagering game on the gaming device using the gaming device credit balance;   (d) monitor the gaming device credit balance with respect to an auto-transfer threshold; and   (e) if the gaming device credit balance falls below the auto-transfer threshold:
 (1) automatically transmit, to the portable electronic device, a request for a transfer of a designated quantity of credits, the request including security authorization information; and 
 (2) if the portable electronic device determines that the request complies with one or more security authorization requirements: (i) receive, from the portable electronic device, an indication that the portable electronic device credit balance has been decreased by the designated quantity of credits; and (ii) increase the gaming device credit balance by the designated quantity of credits. 
   
     
     
         12 . The gaming device of  claim 11 , wherein the designated quantity of credits is predetermined. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming device of  claim 11 , wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile phone. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming device of  claim 11 , wherein the communication interface includes a card reader and the portable electronic device includes a card. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming device of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with one of the plurality of input devices to, if the gaming device credit balance falls below the auto-transfer threshold, receive an identification code, the security authorization information including the identification code. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming device of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to establish communications with the portable electronic device by establishing wireless communications with the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming device of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the communication interface and one of the plurality of input devices to establish the gaming device credit balance by:
 receiving, by said one of the plurality of input devices, a credit transfer request;   transmitting, by the communication interface and to the portable electronic device, a request for a transfer of an initial quantity of credits, the request including second security authorization information; and   if the portable electronic device determines that the request complies with one or more second security authorization requirements: (i) receiving, by the communication interface and from the portable electronic device, an indication that the portable electronic device credit balance has been decreased by the initial quantity of credits; and (ii) increasing, by the at least one processor, the gaming device credit balance by the initial quantity of credits.   
     
     
         18 . The gaming device of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the communication interface to:
 (f) receive, from the portable electronic device, authentication information;   (g) transmit, to an authentication server, the authentication information; and   (h) receive, from the authentication server, an indication of whether the portable electronic device is authentic.   
     
     
         19 . The gaming device of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform (f) to (h) after establishing communications with the portable electronic device and before establishing the gaming device credit balance. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming device of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the communication interface and one of the plurality of input devices to:
 receive a cash out input;   transmit, to the portable electronic device, a request to transfer the gaming device credit balance to the portable electronic device; and   if the portable electronic device determines that the request complies with one or more second security authorization requirements: (i) receive, from the portable electronic device, an indication that the portable electronic device credit balance has been increased by the quantity of credits in the gaming device credit balance; and (ii) decrease the gaming device credit balance by the quantity of credits in the gaming device credit balance.