Combination fingerprint reader and i/o devices for gaming machines

Abstract

User interfaces replacing a bill acceptor in a gaming machine are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the user interface includes a bill acceptor, fingerprint reader, and a wireless interface. These components of the user interface communicate with a gaming machine motherboard via a preexisting game machine connection.

1 . A user interface retrofitted to a gaming machine, the user interface comprising: 
 a face plate assembly including a fingerprint reader, a bill acceptor, and a wireless interface;    a preexisting gaming machine connection to communicate with a gaming machine motherboard, wherein the preexisting gaming machine connection is originally configured to communicate with a bill acceptor or a voucher printer/reader; and    a user interface controller in communication with the fingerprint reader, bill acceptor, and the wireless interface, wherein the user interface controller is retrofitted to the gaming machine via the preexisting gaming machine connection.    
   
   
       2 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless interface is an infrared transceiver or a radiofrequency interface.  
   
   
       3 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the face plate assembly is mounted to a main door of the gaming machine.  
   
   
       4 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the face plate assembly is mounted to the main enclosure.  
   
   
       5 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the face plate assembly further includes a magnetic stripe reader.  
   
   
       6 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the face plate assembly further includes a smart card reader.  
   
   
       7 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the face plate assembly further includes a voucher printer/reader.  
   
   
       8 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the face plate assembly further includes a liquid crystal display.  
   
   
       9 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the preexisting game machine connection is a serial connection or an Ethernet connection.  
   
   
       10 . A gaming machine, comprising: 
 a processor board in communication with one or more components via one or more preexisting game machine connections; and    a user interface comprising a fingerprint reader, bill acceptor, and a user interface controller, wherein the user interface controller is in communication with the fingerprint reader and the bill acceptor, and wherein the user interface controller is retrofitted to the gaming machine and utilizes a preexisting bill acceptor connection to communicate with the processor board.    
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 10 , wherein the preexisting game machine connection is a serial connection or an Ethernet connection.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface further comprises a liquid crystal display.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface further comprises an infrared transceiver or a radiofrequency interface.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface further comprises a magnetic stripe reader.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface further comprises a smart card reader.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 10 , wherein components of the user interface system are mounted to a main door of the gaming machine.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface further comprises a main enclosure positioned within a gaming machine cabinet, wherein the main enclosure stores paper currency or vouchers received from the bill acceptor.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming machine of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface is mounted to the main enclosure, and wherein the fingerprint reader and the bill acceptor are accessible to a player through an opening on a main door of the gaming machine.  
   
   
       19 . A method for verifying an identity of a patron, the method comprising: 
 receiving fingerprint data from a fingerprint reader, wherein the fingerprint reader is in communication with a user interface controller, and wherein the user interface controller is retrofitted to a gaming machine and utilizes a preexisting bill acceptor connection to communicate with a processor board;    receiving data received from a secondary source, wherein the secondary source is in communication with the user interface controller;    comparing the fingerprint data to data received from the secondary source; and    transmitting a verification message from the user interface controller to the processor board after the comparison of the fingerprint data to the data received from the secondary source.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the secondary source is a smart card reader, magnetic card reader, or a wireless interface.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the wireless interface is an infrared transceiver or a radiofrequency interface.  
   
   
       22 . A method for verifying an identity of a patron, the method comprising: 
 receiving fingerprint data from a fingerprint reader, wherein the fingerprint reader is in communication with a user interface controller, and wherein the user interface controller is retrofitted to a gaming machine and utilizes a preexisting bill acceptor connection to communicate with a processor board;    transmitting the fingerprint data to a central server via an Ethernet port on the processor board;    comparing the fingerprint data to data contained on the central server; and    transmitting a verification message from the central system to the processor board after the comparison of the fingerprint data.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the comparison of the fingerprint data to the data contained on the central server occurs at the processor board.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 receiving player input requesting electronic fund transfers from the central system; and    transferring electronic funds to the gaming machine subsequent to the receipt of the verification message.