Biometric broadband gaming system and method

Abstract

The present invention is a biometric broadband gaming system and method that comprises a verification system, a broadband gaming system and a transactional system. The verification system operations include receiving a biometric input to ensure that a user is a registered player. The broadband gaming system operations include providing a game of skill or game of chance to a plurality of players communicating via different network access devices. The transactional system operations include managing transactions conducted by the verification system and the broadband gaming system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gaming system, comprising; 
 a verification system in communication with a network, said verification system configured to receive a user biometric and compare said user biometric to a plurality of registered player biometrics;    a broadband gaming module that is enabled when said user biometric matches one of said plurality of registered players, said gaming module configured to provide a game that is played by said registered player; and    a transactional system in communication with said verification system and said broadband gaming module, said transactional system configured to monitor transactions conducted by said verification system and said broadband gaming system.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein said verification system is in communication with a network access device operatively coupled to a network, said network access device having a biometric input module configured to receive said user biometric.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein said broadband gaming system is configured to communicate with a first network access devices having a first protocol and a second network device having a second protocol.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 3  wherein said first protocol is an IP communications protocol.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 3  wherein said first protocol is an MPEG communications protocol.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 3  wherein said first protocol is an IP communications protocol and said second protocol is an MPEG communications protocol.  
     
     
         7 . A gaming system, comprising; 
 a verification system configured to communication with a network, said verification system configured to receive a user biometric and compare said user biometric to a plurality of registered player biometrics; and    a gaming module that is enabled when said user biometric matches one of said plurality of registered players, said gaming module including a random number generator that is used to determine whether a prize is awarded to a player.    
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 7  wherein said verification system is configured to communicate with a network access device having a biometric input module that receives said user biometric.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 7  wherein said gaming module is resident in a broadband gaming system, said broadband gaming system configured to communicate with a plurality of network access devices.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 9  wherein at least one of said plurality of network access devices comprises a biometric input module.  
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 7  further comprising a paytable module in communication with said random number generator, said paytable module configured to determine whether said player is awarded said prize.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 11  further comprising a memory module in communications with said paytable module, said memory module configured to store a plurality of images that are displayed on said plurality of network access devices.  
     
     
         13 . A gaming method, comprising: 
 providing a network that permits communications between a network access device and a gaming system;    inputting a user biometric into said network access device;    comparing said user biometric to a plurality of registered player biometrics;    permitting a player access to a game when said user biometric matches one of said plurality of registered player biometrics;    playing said game; and    viewing results from said game on said network access device.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising causing said user biometric to be communicated from said network access device to a verification system, said verification system comparing said user biometric to said plurality of registered player biometrics.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising comparing said user biometric to one of said plurality of registered player biometrics at said network access device.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising requesting a personal identification code from a user that is providing said user biometric and using said personal identification code to identify said registered player biometric.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising permitting a plurality of registered players to access said game when a plurality of users submit a plurality of user biometrics that identify said plurality of users as said plurality of registered players.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein playing said game comprises generating at least one random number.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising determining whether a prize is awarded to said player based on said at least one random number.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising generating a plurality of images that communicate said prize awarded to said player.