Methods and apparatus for providing secure logon to a gaming machine using a mobile device

Abstract

Disclosed herein are techniques for communicating between an electronic gaming machine and a mobile computing device. In some implementations, a login code may be transmitted from an electronic gaming machine to a mobile computing device via wireless communication. An account authentication message transmitted from the mobile computing via wireless communication may be received at the electronic gaming machine. The account authentication message may include (a) the login code, (b) an account identification portion that identifies a user account, and (c) an account authentication portion capable of being used to authenticate the user account. Based on the account authentication message, the user account may be authenticated at the electronic gaming machine.

1 . An electronic gaming machine comprising:
 an input device configured to receive an indication of value for play of a wager-based game in which one or more game outcomes can be provided responsive to a wager;   an output device configured to output an indication of value in association with play of the wager-based game;   a display screen configured to display video data associated with the wager-based game; and   one or more processors configured to cause the electronic gaming machine to:
 transmit a login code from the electronic gaming machine to a mobile computing device via wireless communication; 
 receive an account authentication message transmitted from the mobile computing via wireless communication, the account authentication message comprising:
 (a) the login code, 
 (b) an account identification portion that identifies a user account, and 
 (c) an account authentication portion capable of being used to authenticate the user account; and 
 
 based on the account authentication message, authenticate the user account at the electronic gaming machine. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electronic gaming machine recited in  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the login code from the electronic gaming machine to the mobile computing device comprises:
 presenting indicia on a display screen associated with the electronic gaming machine, the indicia encoding the login code, the indicia capable of being read by a camera at the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic gaming machine recited in  claim 1 , wherein the indicia comprises a barcode. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic gaming machine recited in  claim 1 , the one or more processors further configured to cause the electronic gaming machine to:
 determine whether the login code included in the account authentication message matches the login code transmitted from the electronic gaming machine to the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic gaming machine recited in  claim 1 , the one or more processors further configured to cause the electronic gaming machine to:
 determine whether the account authentication portion matches account authentication information associated with the user account identified by the account identification portion.   
     
     
         6 . The electronic gaming machine recited in  claim 1 , wherein the login code comprises a gaming machine identification portion that identifies the electronic gaming machine and a random portion that is randomly generated. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic gaming machine recited in  claim 1 , wherein the login code includes the account identification portion. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic gaming machine recited in  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the login code from the electronic gaming machine to the mobile device comprises:
 emitting near-field radio waves from the electronic gaming machine.   
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 transmitting a login code from an electronic gaming machine to a mobile computing device via wireless communication;   receiving, at the electronic gaming machine, an account authentication message transmitted from the mobile computing via wireless communication, the account authentication message comprising:
 (a) the login code, 
 (b) an account identification portion that identifies a user account, and 
 (c) an account authentication portion capable of being used to authenticate the user account; and 
   based on the account authentication message, authenticating the user account at the electronic gaming machine.   
     
     
         10 . The method recited in  claim 9 , wherein transmitting the login code from the electronic gaming machine to the mobile computing device comprises:
 presenting indicia on a display screen associated with the electronic gaming machine, the indicia encoding the login code, the indicia capable of being read by a camera at the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         11 . The method recited in  claim 9 , wherein the indicia comprises a barcode. 
     
     
         12 . The method recited in  claim 9 , the method further comprising:
 determining whether the login code included in the account authentication message matches the login code transmitted from the electronic gaming machine to the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         13 . The method recited in  claim 9 , the method further comprising:
 determining whether the account authentication portion matches account authentication information associated with the user account identified by the account identification portion.   
     
     
         14 . The method recited in  claim 9 , wherein the login code comprises a gaming machine identification portion that identifies the electronic gaming machine and a random portion that is randomly generated. 
     
     
         15 . The method recited in  claim 9 , wherein the login code includes the account identification portion. 
     
     
         16 . The method recited in  claim 9 , wherein transmitting the login code from the electronic gaming machine to the mobile device comprises:
 emitting near-field radio waves from the electronic gaming machine.   
     
     
         17 . One or more computer readable media having instructions stored thereon for performing a method, the method comprising:
 transmitting a login code from an electronic gaming machine to a mobile computing device via wireless communication;   receiving, at the electronic gaming machine, an account authentication message transmitted from the mobile computing via wireless communication, the account authentication message comprising:
 (a) the login code, 
 (b) an account identification portion that identifies a user account, and 
 (c) an account authentication portion capable of being used to authenticate the user account; and 
   based on the account authentication message, authenticating the user account at the electronic gaming machine.   
     
     
         18 . The one or more computer readable media recited in  claim 17 , wherein transmitting the login code from the electronic gaming machine to the mobile computing device comprises:
 presenting indicia on a display screen associated with the electronic gaming machine, the indicia encoding the login code, the indicia capable of being read by a camera at the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         19 . The method recited in  claim 17 , wherein the indicia comprises a barcode. 
     
     
         20 . The method recited in  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 determining whether the login code included in the account authentication message matches the login code transmitted from the electronic gaming machine to the mobile computing device.