Method and apparatus for employee access to a gaming system
View Patent ↗Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a radio frequency identification system and method for facilitating access to a gaming environment. Certain embodiments include an employee identification device transmitting an identification signal in response to an interrogation signal, a gaming system including gaming functions and administrative functions, and a reader positioned with respect to the gaming system transmitting an interrogation signal and receiving the identification signal for access to the gaming system. The employee identification device may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, for example. The reader may include an RFID reader, for example. The gaming system may also prompt for at least one of a pass code and biometric identification for access to the gaming machine. In an embodiment, the reader facilitates an end to access to the gaming system after an interval without receiving an identification signal.
1. A system in a gaming environment of the type including a plurality of gaming terminals at which players may engage in gaming activity, at least one central processor linked to the terminals to receive, store and download data related to the operation of the terminal and/or the player and at least one workstation located remote from and linked to the central processor for communication therewith, said system comprising:
an electromagnetic signal transmitter in possession of a person authorized to operate the workstation to communicate with the central processor, said electromagnetic signal configured to be unique for each authorized person;
a receiver to receive an electromagnetic signal from a transmitter when an authorized person is proximate the workstation;
an interface for said person to input authorization data of at least one of a password and data corresponding to a unique biometric feature of the person, one of said central processor and workstation configured to, from the electromagnetic signal and input of one of said password and data corresponding to a unique biometric feature of the person, authorize said person to have access to said central processor;
a transceiver for periodically transmitting said signal to confirm that said authorized person remains proximate the workstation; and
said central processor configured to terminate authorization upon the failure to confirm that said authorized person remains proximate the workstation.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said receiver and said transceiver comprise a single transceiver.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said electromagnetic signal transmitter is a transponding tag in possession of the person and said receiver is configured to include means for periodically issuing an interrogation signal, said tag in response to said interrogation signal configured to send said electromagnetic signal.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said tag includes machine readable data corresponding to said password and said workstation includes a machine to read said data to authorize said person to have access to the central processor.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said workstation includes a biometric input device for said person to input biometric data.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein one of said workstation or host processor configured to, from the electromagnetic signal and input of one of said password or data corresponding to a unique biometric feature of the person, authorize a plurality of persons to have common access to said central processor; wherein said transceiver periodically transmits said signal to confirm that said authorized persons remain proximate the workstation; and wherein said central processor is configured to terminate authorization upon the failure to confirm that any confirmed authorized person remains proximate the workstation.