Method for retrieving an identity card associated with an electronic gaming machine
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for creating an electronic log for documenting entries into electronic gaming machines on a network. The network is monitored by a network computing device. People who enter the machines carry mobile computing devices that communicate over a normally operating wireless network. Cooperating among the network computing device and the wireless network results in creating an entry that includes the identify of a person entering one of the gaming machines, the identity of the gaming machine entered, and the reason for entry. The entry is stored in an electronic log.
1. A method for dispatching a person to retrieve a machine access card that is received in a card reader associated with one of a plurality of electronic gaming devices on a network of electronic gaming devices, the method comprising:
defining a plurality of floor areas in the casino, each floor area including a predefined number of electronic gaming machines;
storing the plurality of floor areas in a database;
creating a list of persons each having at least one associated floor area and who is qualified to enter the electronic gaming device;
storing the list in a memory connected to the network;
associating a machine access card with each of at least some of the persons on the list;
monitoring the network of electronic gaming devices via a network computing device;
detecting a communication on the network indicating that an identified electronic gaming device needs service that requires entering the identified electronic gaming device;
automatically assigning a first person qualified to enter the identified electronic gaming devices to provide the service;
generating a call to provide the required service to the identified electronic gaming device;
automatically sending a call signal via a wireless network to a mobile computing device carried by the first person, the signal including data indicating the identified electronic gaming device;
receiving a call-acceptance signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the first person indicating that he or she has accepted the call;
determining that the first person has inserted his or her machine access card into a card reader associated with the identified electronic gaming device;
determining that the machine access card is received in the card reader for longer than a predefined length of time;
automatically assigning a second person to retrieve the machine access card;
generating a call to retrieve the machine access card;
automatically sending a call signal via a wireless network to a mobile computing device carried by the second person, the signal including data indicating the identified electronic gaming device;
receiving a call-acceptance signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the second person indicating that he or she has accepted the call; and
determining that the machine access card is removed from the card reader.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a signal at the network computing device in response to removing the card from the card reader.
3. A method for dispatching a person to retrieve a player tracking card that is received in a card reader associated with one of a plurality of electronic gaming devices on a network of electronic gaming devices, the method comprising:
defining a plurality of floor areas in the casino, each floor area including a predefined number of electronic gaming machines;
storing the plurality of floor areas in a database;
creating a list of persons each having at least one associated floor area and who is qualified to enter the electronic gaming device;
storing the list in a memory connected to the network;
monitoring the network of electronic gaming devices via a network computing device;
determining that a player has inserted his or her player tracking card into a card reader associated with one of the electronic gaming device;
determining that the player tracking card is received in the card reader for longer than a predefined length of time;
automatically assigning a person to retrieve the player tracking card;
generating a call to retrieve the player tracking card;
automatically sending a call signal via a wireless network to a mobile computing device carried by the person, the signal including data indicating the one electronic gaming device;
receiving a call-acceptance signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the person indicating that he or she has accepted the call; and
determining that the player tracking card is removed from the card reader.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein receiving the call-acceptance signal is in response to a signal generated on the wireless network as a result of the input on the mobile computing device.
5. The method of clam 3 wherein the method further comprises determining that the player tracking card is received in the card reader for longer than a predefined length of time during which the network detects no activity on the one electronic gaming machine.
6. A method for dispatching a person to retrieve an identity card received in a card reader that is associated with an electronic gaming device on a network of electronic gaming devices, the method comprising:
defining a plurality of floor areas in the casino, each floor area including a predefined number of electronic gaming machines and a card reader associated with each electronic gaming machine;
storing the plurality of floor areas in a database;
creating a list of persons each having at least one associated floor area;
storing the list in a memory connected to the network;
monitoring the network of electronic gaming devices via a network computing device;
determining that a card reader associated with one of the electronic gaming devices has an identity card received therein for longer than a predefined length of time;
automatically assigning a person to retrieve the card;
generating a call to retrieve the card;
automatically sending a call signal via a wireless network to a mobile computing device carried by the assigned person, the signal including data indicating the one electronic gaming device;
receiving a call-acceptance signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the assigned person indicating that he or she has accepted the call; and
determining that the card is removed from the card reader.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the identity card is a player tracking card issued to a player of the electronic gaming devices.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the person is an agent of an operator of the electronic gaming devices and the identity card is a machine access card issued to the agent.