Wireless Communicator Money Balance Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Casinos face issues with paper tickets, including loss, damage, and high costs for replenishment and maintenance, necessitating a more efficient method for managing casino patron money balances.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing a self-service computer and wireless communicator to manage casino patron money balances, allowing for transactions, promotions, and security features like PIN or biometric verification, with options for cash deposits, withdrawals, and electronic transfers, using RFID or NFC devices as tokens for value representation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If paper tickets are used to carry money balances, then players can easily understand and use the system, but players may lose tickets, tickets can become destroyed or damaged, and casinos incur costs for replenishment and maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoidticket security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical paper tickets with digital copies stored on players' mobile devices. The ticket system is copied from physical form to electronic form, eliminating the risks of loss, damage, and theft associated with paper tickets while maintaining the same functionality for carrying and redeeming money balances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical paper ticket system with an electronic/digital system. Instead of using physical tickets that can be lost or damaged, the system uses digital representations of money balances stored on mobile devices, replaced by electronic verification through the casino's system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If paper tickets are used to carry money balances, then the system is simple to implement, but casinos incur costs for replenishing tickets and maintaining ticket printers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidoperational cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the need for physical ticket production and distribution by using digital copies of money balances on mobile devices. This removes the ongoing costs of printing, replenishing tickets, and maintaining ticket printing infrastructure, while the system remains simple to implement through existing mobile device compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This system reduces the risks associated with paper tickets by providing secure, efficient, and cost-effective management of patron money balances, enabling seamless transactions and promotions while minimizing the risk of loss or theft.

Implementation Method 1

using RFID or NFC devices as tokens for value representation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRFID (Radio Frequency Identification):

Implementation Method 2

using RFID or NFC devices as tokens for value representation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNFC (Near Field Communication):

Data Source

PatentUS9251642B2System and method of managing casino patron money balances
Publication Date: 2016.02.02 NCR ATLEOS CORP

AI summary

A system and method of managing casino patron money balances which stores patron money balances in electronic form. The system includes an interrogator, and a self-service computer coupled to the interrogator for interrogating a wireless communicator associated with a casino patron to determine a money balance associated with the wireless communicator and for processing a selection by the casino patron to produce a change in the money balance.