Anonymous Player Tracking via Voluntary Biometric Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current casino gaming systems lack a voluntary biometric identification system that allows anonymous players to track their gaming activities and receive rewards without the need for formal registration.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where players can voluntarily provide biometric information, such as facial images, using integrated cameras in gaming machines or personal devices, to create a player tracking record, enabling anonymous player tracking and reward systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If players are required to formally register for player tracking programs, then player tracking accuracy and reward system reliability are improved, but player privacy is compromised and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification function from the complex formal registration process by using biometric templates (facial recognition) as a standalone identification mechanism. Players can be tracked and rewarded without completing full registration forms, as the biometric template serves as sufficient identification for tracking purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces biometric templates as an intermediary between player identification and the reward system. Instead of directly linking players to rewards through complex registration data, the biometric template acts as a mediator that enables tracking and reward distribution while preserving player anonymity and reducing system complexity.
2Loss of information
If biometric data is collected for player tracking, then player engagement and data accuracy are improved, but player privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential biometric information needed for identification (facial features) while excluding personal identifiable information. The system uses anonymized biometric templates rather than storing full facial images or linking them to personal data, thereby reducing privacy concerns while maintaining data accuracy for tracking purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates anonymized biometric templates that copy only the necessary identifying features without storing or transmitting the actual biometric data in a recognizable form. These templates serve as surrogate identifiers that enable tracking while protecting player privacy by decoupling identification from personal information.
3Ease of operation
If voluntary biometric identification is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but system complexity increases due to integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the camera system multi-functional by using it for both game play monitoring and biometric identification purposes. The same camera hardware serves dual functions, eliminating the need for separate biometric scanning devices and reducing overall system complexity despite the added identification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables players to voluntarily provide biometric data through the camera at their own convenience without requiring staff intervention or complex setup procedures. Players can opt-in to biometric tracking during normal game play, making the identification process as convenient as the game itself while the system handles the technical integration automatically.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods of operating a casino gaming system to establish a play session for an anonymous player in which the player voluntarily provides biometric information to link the player to a player tracking record in a database of the system. In some embodiments, the player grants permission for a camera integrated into an electronic gaming machine to capture a facial image to assist in the location of the record or creation of a new record associated with the player's biometric signature. In other embodiments, the player voluntarily uses a camera integrated into a personal electronic device, such as the player's smartphone, to capture the facial image. Once the player record to be used has been identified, the record is linked to the electronic gaming machine to create a play session from which player tracking data is collected and integrated into the database record associated with the anonymous player.