التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
| العنوان: |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCING A WAGERING EXPERIENCE USING A WAGERING TERMINAL ADAPTABLE TO A SELF-SERVICE MODE |
| Document Number: |
20100279763 |
| تاريخ النشر: |
November 4, 2010 |
| Appl. No: |
12/778814 |
| Application Filed: |
May 12, 2010 |
| مستخلص: |
A method and apparatus for use in a wagering environment are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a wagering terminal including a processor, a memory, a primary display, and a secondary display. The primary display is configured for displaying visual messages. These visual messages are displayed as part of a graphical user interface and include at least one wagering transaction message. The secondary display is configured for displaying additional visual messages associated with the visual messages of the primary display. These additional visual messages are displayed as part of an additional graphical user interface. The wagering terminal may further include a proximity detector configured for detecting the presence of a gaming patron, a user identification unit configured for sampling a unique physical attribute of a user, and an image capture unit configured for capturing at least one image in a vicinity of the wagering terminal. |
| Inventors: |
Pfennighausen, Scott B. (San Diego, CA, US); Baker, Jim (San Diego, CA, US); Burgess, Brendan (Poway, CA, US); Vlazny, Kenneth A. (York, PA, US) |
| Assignees: |
UNITED TOTE COMPANY (Glen Port, PA, US) |
| Claim: |
1. A method for engaging in a wagering transaction, comprising: providing a wagering terminal selectively configurable for one of a self-service mode and a teller-assisted mode, the wagering terminal comprising a processor, a primary display, and a secondary display; configuring the wagering terminal in the self-service mode, the self-service mode configured for enabling a gaming patron to place a wager on the wagering terminal without assistance from a teller; and engaging in the wagering transaction at the wagering terminal by responding to visual messages displayed on the primary display, the visual messages configured for prompting the gaming patron for information pertinent to placing a wager. |
| Claim: |
2. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the wagering terminal further comprises configuring the wagering terminal in at least one operational environment selected from the group consisting of a pari-mutuel wagering environment and a lottery ticket sales environment. |
| Claim: |
3. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the wagering terminal in the self-service mode comprises folding the primary display to a substantially upright position, the substantially upright position enabling the processor to configure the wagering terminal in the self-service mode. |
| Claim: |
4. A method of engaging in a wagering transaction, comprising: providing a wagering terminal selectively configurable for one of a self-service mode and a teller-assisted mode, the wagering terminal comprising a processor, a primary display, and a secondary display; configuring the wagering terminal in the teller-assisted mode, the teller-assisted mode configured for enabling a teller to place a wager on the wagering terminal; and engaging in the wagering transaction at the wagering terminal by the teller responding to visual messages displayed on the primary display, the visual messages configured for prompting the teller to input information pertinent to placing a wager. |
| Claim: |
5. The method of claim 4, wherein configuring the wagering terminal further comprises configuring the wagering terminal in at least one operational environment selected from the group consisting of a pari-mutuel wagering environment and a lottery ticket sales environment. |
| Claim: |
6. The method of claim 4, wherein configuring the wagering terminal in the teller-assisted mode comprises folding the primary display to a substantially closed position, the substantially closed position enabling the processor to configure the wagering terminal in the teller-assisted mode. |
| Claim: |
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the wagering terminal further comprises a user identification unit, the method further comprising engaging in a user authentication process comprising prompting the teller, to verify the teller's identity by submitting to a user identification process on the user identification unit. |
| Claim: |
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user identification unit comprises a fingerprint reader, and submitting to the user identification process comprises placing a finger on the fingerprint reader. |
| Claim: |
9. The method of claim 8, wherein submitting to the user identification process further comprises entering a secondary identifier on an input device of the wagering terminal. |
| Claim: |
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising enabling protected features on the wagering terminal if the user authentication process is successful. |
| Claim: |
11. A method of authenticating a user of a wagering terminal, comprising: providing the wagering terminal, the wagering terminal comprising a processor, and a user identification unit, the method comprising: sampling a unique physical attribute of a user of the wagering terminal using the user identification unit; generating a user unique data element representative of the unique physical attribute; comparing the user unique data element to a user database comprising a plurality of authorized users and at least one user unique database element for each authorized user of the plurality; and enabling at least one protected feature on the wagering terminal if the user unique data element matches the at least one user unique database element for one authorized user of the plurality of authorized users. |
| Claim: |
12. A method of enhancing a wagering transaction, comprising: providing a wagering terminal comprising a processor, an image capture unit, and a computer readable medium, the method comprising: detecting an event of interest on the wagering terminal; generating a capture event notification to the image capture unit temporally correlated to the event of interest; capturing at least one image in response to the event of interest; and storing the at least one image on the computer readable medium. |
| Claim: |
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting the at least one image to a remote device. |
| Claim: |
14. The method of claim 12, wherein capturing at least one image comprises capturing a plurality of images, relating the plurality of images temporally to form a series of frames over a predetermined time window, each frame of the series of frames separated in time by a time period defined by at least one frame rate. |
| Claim: |
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising continually capturing the plurality of images until receiving a capture event notification indicating a stop of capturing the plurality of images after a predetermined time interval. |
| Claim: |
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined time interval is substantially near zero. |
| Claim: |
17. A method of enhancing a wagering transaction, comprising: providing a wagering terminal comprising a processor, a primary display, a speaker assembly and a proximity detector, the method comprising: enabling the proximity detector to detect the presence of a gaming patron in an area of proximity to the wagering terminal; enabling the primary display to display at least one visual message upon detection of the presence of the gaming patron in proximity to the wagering terminal; and facilitating the speaker assembly to broadcast at least one audio message upon detection of the presence of the gaming patron in proximity to the wagering terminal. |
| Claim: |
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising enabling the proximity detector to detect the gaming patron leaving the area of proximity to the wagering terminal and to initiate a check of the area in proximity to the wagering terminal for at least one predefined condition. |
| Claim: |
19. The method of claim 18, wherein if the proximity detector detects the at least one predefined condition, a corrective action audio message is broadcast through the speaker assembly and a corrective action visual message is displayed on the primary display. |
| Claim: |
20. A method of enhancing a wagering transaction, comprising: providing a wagering terminal, the wagering terminal comprising a processor, a primary display, a speaker assembly, and a proximity detector; configuring the wagering terminal to display visual messages on the primary display; configuring the wagering terminal to broadcast audio messages through the speaker assembly; and configuring the proximity detector to detect the presence of a gaming patron in proximity to the wagering terminal. |
| Current U.S. Class: |
463/25 |
| Current International Class: |
63; 63 |
| رقم الانضمام: |
edspap.20100279763 |
| قاعدة البيانات: |
USPTO Patent Applications |