Method and apparatus using geographical position and universal time determination means to provide authenticated, secure, on-line communication between remote gaming locations

Abstract

Method and apparatus for providing authenticated, secure, on-line communication between remote locations including a user terminal adapted to enable a player in one location to remotely communicate via a communications medium such as the Internet with a gaming host in another location. Location of the remote user terminal, the host server and universal time are determined using means for accessing signals generated by geostationary navigational transmitters, such as in the global positioning satellite (GPS) system. Player authentication (identity verification) is determined by use of a personal identification number (PIN) and an electronic signature verification service. Security of communication is accomplished through use of a public-key/private-key encryption system. The remote user terminal may be comprised of one or more discreet components adapted to be used with a laptop or desktop personal computer (PC), or may be embodied in a stand alone or self-contained single unit that is portable and communicates via radio waves, telephone lines or the Internet to a host server.

1. An electronic gaming system for enabling one or more player terminals, disposed at locations remote from a host server, to communicate with the host server in a secured transactional mode wherein the host server is informed as to the location of the player terminals so that it can permit or deny game play based in part on geopolitical or geographical restrictions, comprising:
 a communications medium;  
 at least one player terminal apparatus disposed at a first location and including  
 electronic game playing means for enabling a player to enter player identification data, to make a wager by inputting wager data, to commence game play by causing a start play signal to be generated, and to receive an indication of the game play results in the form of a response signal,  
 electronic locating means for generating location data indicating the present geographical location of said player terminal apparatus and for generating time data evidencing universal time,  
 first encryption means for encoding said player identification data, said wager data, said location data and said time data, and for decoding said response signal, and  
 first communication means responsive to said start play signal and operative to transmit the encoded data to said communications medium; and  
 host server means disposed at a second location remote from said first location and including second communication means for receiving the encoded data transmitted through said communication medium,  
 second encryption means for decoding the transmitted encoded data and for encoding a response signal, and  
 means for using the decoded identification data, wager data, location data and time data to determine the eligibility of the player based in part upon the player's geographical position, and if the player is qualified, to generate a response signal to be encoded and returned to said player terminal apparatus through said communications medium.  
 
     
     
       2. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said game playing means includes a microprocessor, operating system software, and game software which, when processed by said microprocessor, develops electronic data for driving a display means that generates graphical images depicting game play. 
     
     
       3. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 2  and further comprising read only memory (ROM) means for storing said operating system software and encryption software for execution by said microprocessor to implement said first encryption means. 
     
     
       4. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 3  wherein said terminal apparatus further includes authentication means for authenticating software to be executed by said microprocessor. 
     
     
       5. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said player identifier data corresponds to a unique personal identification number (PIN) assigned to a particular player. 
     
     
       6. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said electronic locating means includes a radio navigation means responsive to input signals broadcast from multiple geostationary transmitting sources and operative to calculate position coordinates constituting said location data. 
     
     
       7. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 6  wherein said game playing means includes a microprocessor, operating system software, and game software which, when processed by said microprocessor, develops electronic data for driving a display means that generates graphical images depicting game play. 
     
     
       8. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 7  and further comprising read only memory (ROM) means for storing said operating system software and encryption software for execution by said microprocessor to implement said first encryption means. 
     
     
       9. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 8  wherein said terminal apparatus further includes authentication means for authenticating all software executed by said microprocessor. 
     
     
       10. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 6  wherein said radio navigation means is a global positioning satellite (GPS) location system. 
     
     
       11. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first encryption means and said second encryption means are remotely disposed components, implementing a public-key/private-key crypto system. 
     
     
       12. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 11  wherein said first and second communication means include modems for transmitting and receiving said encoded data to and from said communication medium via telephone lines. 
     
     
       13. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said communications medium includes the Internet. 
     
     
       14. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 4  wherein said first encryption means and said second encryption means implement a public-key/private-key crypto system to encode and decode data communicated between said player terminal apparatus and said host server means. 
     
     
       15. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 14  wherein said electronic location means includes a radio navigation means responsive to input signals broadcast by multiple geostationary transmitting sources and operation to calculate position coordinates constituting said location data. 
     
     
       16. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 15  wherein said host server means further includes an electronic locating means for generating location data indicating the location of said host server means and for generating time data evidencing universal time for synchronizing with said player terminal apparatus, and wherein the location data is communicated to said player terminal apparatus to confirm receipt of wager data. 
     
     
       17. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said host server means further includes a remote user public-key library containing public-key of authorized players for use in encoding and decoding data communicated between said player terminal apparatus and said host server means. 
     
     
       18. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 17  wherein said player terminal apparatus further includes CD ROM means for containing gaming software to be executed by said microprocessor means to develop gaming signals for driving said display screen to present a graphical description of the game to a player. 
     
     
       19. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 18  wherein said terminal apparatus further includes authentication means for authenticating software to be executed by said microprocessor. 
     
     
       20. An electronic gameing system as recited in  claim 13  wherein said electronic locating means includes a radio navigation means responsive to input signals braodcast from multiple geostationary transmitting sources and operative to calculate position coordinates constituting said location data. 
     
     
       21. An electronic gaming terminal for disposition at a location remote from a host server and for communicating with the host server in a secured transactional mode, over an unsecured communications medium, informing the host server as to the geographical location of the gaming terminal so that the host server can permit or deny game play by the player based in part on predetermined geopolitical or geographical restrictions, comprising:
 electronic game playing means for enabling a player to enter player identification data, to make a wager by inputting wager data, to commence game play by causing a start play signal to be generated, and for receiving an indication of game play results in the form of a response signal;  
 electronic locating means for generating location data indicating the present geographical location of said gaming terminal and for generating time data evidencing universal time;  
 encrypting means for encoding said player identification data, said wager data, said location data and said time data, and for decoding a response signal; and  
 communication means responsive to said start play signal and operative to transmit the encoded data to a host server via a communications medium.  
 
     
     
       22. An electronic gaming terminal as recited in  claim 21  wherein said game playing means includes a microprocessor, operating software, and game software which, when processed by said microprocessor, develops electronic data for driving a display means that generates graphical images depicting game play. 
     
     
       23. An electronic gaming terminal as recited in  claim 22  and further comprising read only memory (ROM) means for storing said operating system software, and encryption software for execution by said microprocessor to implement said first encryption means. 
     
     
       24. An electronic gaming terminal as recited in  claim 23  and further comprising authentication means for authenticating all software executed by said microprocessor. 
     
     
       25. An electronic gaming terminal as recited in  claim 24  wherein said player identification data corresponds to a unique personal identification number (PIN) assigned to a particular player. 
     
     
       26. An electronic gaming terminal as recited in  claim 24  wherein said electronic locating means includes a radio navigation means responsive to input signals broadcast from multiple geostationary transmitting sources and operative to calculate position coordinates constituting said location data. 
     
     
       27. An electronic gaming terminal system as recited in  claim 21  wherein said game playing means includes a microprocessor, operating software, and game software which, when processed by said microprocessor, develops electronic data for driving a display means that generates graphical images depicting game play. 
     
     
       28. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 27  and further comprising read only (ROM) means for storing said operating system software and encryption software for execution by said microprocessor to implement said first encryption means. 
     
     
       29. An electronic gaming terminal as recited in  claim 26  wherein said radio navigation means is a global positioning satellite (GPS) location system. 
     
     
       30. An electronic gaming terminal as recited in  claim 28  wherein said encryption means is a public-key/private-key crypto system. 
     
     
       31. An electronic gaming terminal as recited in  claim 21  wherein said communication means includes a modem for transmitting and receiving said encoded data to and from said communications medium via a telephone line. 
     
     
       32. An electronic gaming apparatus as recited in  claim 31  wherein said communications medium includes the Internet. 
     
     
       33. An electronic gaming terminal as recited in  claim 32  wherein said game player means includes microprocessor means, and further comprising CD ROM means for containing gaming software to be executed by said microprocessor means to develop gaming signals for driving a display screen to present a graphical depiction of the game to a player. 
     
     
       34. An electronic terminal for disposition at a location remote from a host server and for communicating with the host server in a secured transactional mode over an unsecured communications medium informing the host server as to the location of the terminal so that the host server can permit or deny remote user access to the host server via said terminal based at least in part on predetermined geopolitical or geographical restrictions, comprising:
 electronic transaction entry means for enabling a user to enter user identification data, to enter transactional data, to commence transitional communication by causing a start signal to be generated, and for receiving an indication of completion of the transaction in the form of a response signal;  
 electronic locating means for generating geographical location data indicating the present geographical location of said terminal and for generating time data evidencing universal time;  
 encryption means for encoding said user identification data, said transactional data, said geographical location data and said time data; and  
 communication means responsive to said start signal and operative to transmit the encoded data to a communications medium for communication to a host server.  
 
     
     
       35. A gaming method for enabling one or more players, disposed at locations remote from a gambling  casino, to communicate over on  an unsecured communications medium with the casino in a secured transactional mode wherein the casino is informed as to the location of the player terminals so that it can permit or deny  game play may be commenced or not based in part on geopolitical or geographical restrictions, comprising the steps :
 generating player identification data;  
 generating wager data;  
 generating geographical location data indicating the present geographical location of said player;  
 generating universal  time data;  
 encoding said player identification data, said wager data, said location data, and said time data;  
 transmitting the encoded data to the casino through a communications medium;  
 receiving the encoded data at said casino;  
 decoding the transmitted encoded data and  
 using the decoded identification data, wager data, geographical location data and time data to determine the eligibility of the player, and if the player is qualified, generating  receiving a response from the casino notifying the player that he  the player may commence gaming play if the player is eligible on the basis of at least the identification data, geographical location data and time data.  
 
     
     
       36. A gaming method as recited in  claim 35  and further comprising the steps of :
 commencing game play by extracting graphics data from a storage medium and sending a notice of play commencement to the casino;  
 using the extracted graphics data to generate graphical images of the game play for display to the player;  
 using random number generating means at the casino to generate a game result and forwarding the said game result to the playerreceiving a forwarded result generated by a random number from the casino; and  
 using the forwarded result to indicate to the player the result of his wager.  
 
     
     
       37. A gaming method as recited in  claim 36  wherein said location data is obtained by accessing radio signals transmitted by geostationary navigational transmitters, and by using the radio signals to compute player position coordinate information corresponding to said location data. 
     
     
       38. A gaming method as recited in  claim 37  wherein said time data is also obtained by accessing said geostationary transmitters. 
     
     
       39. A gaming method as recited in  claim 38  wherein said identification data, said wager data, said location data and said time data are encoded using a public-key/private-key crypto system. 
     
     
       40. A gaming method as recited in  claim 36  and further comprising the steps of:
 opening a player account with the casino prior to commencing game play; and    following each generation of a game result, crediting the player account in the event of a positive result, and debiting the player account in the event of a negative result.    
     
     
       41. A gaming method for enabling one or more players, disposed at locations remote from a casino, to communicate over an unsecured communications medium with the casino in a secured transactional mode wherein the casino is informed as to the location of the player terminals so that game play may be permitted or denied based in part on geopolitical or geographical restrictions, comprising:
   receiving encoded data including player identification data, wager data, geographical location data indicating the present geographical location of the player associated with the player identification data, and time data transmitted from a player disposed at a location remote from a casino;        decoding the transmitted encoded data; and        using at least the decoded identification data, geographical location data and time data to determine the eligibility of the player, and if the player is qualified, generating a response notifying the player that the player may commence game play.     
     
     
       42. A gaming method as recited in  claim 41  further comprising decoding the transmitted encoded data using a public- key/private - key crypto system.   
     
     
       43. A gaming method as recited in  claim 41  further comprising:
   using a random number generator to generate a game result; and        forwarding the game result to the player.     
     
     
       44. A gaming method as recited in  claim 41  further comprising:
   opening a player account with the casino prior to commencing game play; and        following each use of the random number generator to generate a game result, crediting the player account in the event of a positive result.     
     
     
       45. An electronic gaming terminal to be disposed at a location remote from a server and to communicate over an unsecured communications medium with the server in a secured transactional mode wherein the server is informed as to the location of the player terminals so that game play may be commenced or not based in part on geopolitical or geographical restrictions, the terminal comprising:
   a player identification input device;        a wager input device;        a player tracking module capable of providing geographical location data indicating the present geographical location of said player and time data;        a communications interface capable of communication with a communications medium; and        a controller operatively coupled to the player identification input device, the wager input device, the player tracking module, and the communications interface, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor,      the controller being programmed to generate player identification data;        the controller being programmed to generate wager data;        the controller being programmed to generate geographical location data indicating the present geographical location of said player;        the controller being programmed to generate time data;        the controller being programmed to encode the player identification data, the wager data, the location data, and the time data;        the controller being programmed to transmit the encoded data to the casino through a communications medium;        the controller being programmed to receive a response from the casino notifying the player that the player may commence game play if the player is eligible on the basis of at least the identification data, geographical location data and time data.       
     
     
       46. An electronic gaming system to be disposed at a location remote from a player terminal and to communicate over an unsecured communications medium with the player terminal in a secured transactional mode wherein the server is informed as to the location of the player terminal so that game play may be permitted or denied based in part on geopolitical or geographical restrictions, the server comprising:
   a communications interface capable of communication with a communications medium; and        a controller operatively coupled to the communications interface, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor,      the controller being programmed to receive encoded data including player identification date, wager data, geographical location data indicating the present geographical location of the player associated with the player identification data, and time data transmitted from a player disposed at a location remote from a casino;        the controller being programmed to decode the transmitted encoded data; and        the controller being programmed to determine the eligibility of the player using at least the decoded identification data, geographical location data and time data, and, if the player is qualified, to generate a response notifying the player that the player may commence game play.