Gaming Ticket Tracking With Virtual Wallet Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ticket management systems in the gaming industry are cumbersome, unreliable, and inefficient, leading to costly manual processes, loss of data, and difficulty in tracking and locating specific transactions, which is exacerbated by the use of non-uniform storage containers and lack of digital tracking options.
Innovation Solution
A ticket management system utilizing a gaming establishment management tool, mobile client device, gaming client device, and printer, connected through wired and wireless networks, that prints customer account information on tickets, enabling easy storage, tracking, and location, with features like QR codes and biometric authentication, and integrates with a secure statistical analysis system for transaction management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual ticket sorting and storage processes are used, then employees can handle tickets, but it results in loss of time, increased labor costs, and machine downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service through automated ticket sorting and storage. The ticket sorter automatically sorts tickets from multiple gaming machines and deposits them into designated storage containers without requiring employee intervention. The gaming machines automatically empty their hoppers into the ticket sorter, eliminating the need for manual emptying and reducing machine downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes with an automated mechanical system. The ticket sorter uses mechanical conveyors, sorters, and deposit mechanisms to automatically process tickets, replacing the manual actions of employees who previously had to collect, sort, and store tickets from gaming machines.
2Ease of manufacture
If tickets are stored in non-uniform containers like bags, then storage is simple, but tracking and locating specific transactions becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates digital copies of ticket information for tracking purposes. Each ticket is scanned and its data is copied into a digital database, maintaining a searchable record of all transactions. This allows the physical tickets to be stored simply while their information is preserved and trackable in digital form.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a digital dimension to ticket management. Physical tickets are stored in uniform containers, but their tracking and location information is maintained in a separate digital dimension through scanning and database recording. This allows simultaneous simple physical storage and sophisticated digital tracking.
3Ease of operation
If uniform storage containers are used, then transportation and storage are improved, but the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The uniform storage containers serve multiple functions: they standardize physical storage for easy handling and transportation, accommodate the ticket sorter's deposit mechanism, and work with the digital scanning system. This multi-functionality justifies the added standardization while providing comprehensive benefits across different operational areas.
4Productivity
If ticket sorting is automated, then labor costs are reduced, but the initial system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into an integrated system: the ticket sorter combines ticket collection, sorting, and deposit functions; the uniform containers integrate with both the sorter and storage infrastructure; the digital scanning system merges with the existing gaming machine network. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity while maintaining automated productivity benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
A ticket management system includes a gaming establishment management tool, a gaming device, and a virtual wallet stored on a mobile device. A printer is located in a back office of the gaming establishment to print, store, track, and easily locate tickets. The tickets include financial transactional data, such as a cashout transaction, including a cashout amount and a gaming machine associative identifier. An accounting management tool and the virtual wallet exchange financial transaction data to properly record and display gaming account balances, gaming credits, and identifiers. The gaming establishment management tool, the gaming device, and the printer each include scanners, configured as validators, to validate a ticket, a gaming machine transaction, or a virtual wallet transaction respectively. The virtual wallet may be linked to or stored on a player tracking card issued by the gaming establishment.