Verifying whether a device is communicating with a server

Abstract

A server provides activities and/or services to a player through a device. In response to a request from the device, information known to a player is determined and sent to the device via the server. In this fashion, verification can be made that the device is communicating with the server.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method in a verification server, comprising:
 transmitting, by a communication module of the verification server to a verification device, an interface by which a user can request a verification service from the verification server;   receiving, by the communication module, from the verification device, a request for the verification server generated from the interface provided to the verification device;   based on at least a part of the request for the verification service, identifying, by at least one processor of the verification server, a gaming device for which verification is to be executed,   transmitting, by the communication module to the verification device, an instruction to display a prompt for the user to enter a verification identifier via the verification device;   receiving, by the communication module from the verification device, the verification identifier as entered by the user at the verification device; and   transmitting, by the at least one processor, the received verification identifier to a gaming server, so as to cause the gaming server to transmit the received verification identifier to the identified gaming device,   in which the gaming device displays the received verification identifier for viewing by the user, to facilitate visual confirmation by the user that the gaming device is in communication with the gaming server.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , in which the verification device comprises at least one of:
 a cellular phone, an IP phone, a personal computing device, a pocket personal computer, a PDA, a kiosk, and a terminal.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , in which the gaming server provides at least one of: a gambling activity, wagering on an event, a lottery activity, and a non-gambling activity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , in which the gaming device is also operable to provide at least one convenience service. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , in which the at least one convenience service comprises at least one of: a restaurant service, an entertainment service, a hotel service, a money management service, a news service, and a financial exchange service. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , in which the gaming server is also operable to provide at least one convenience service via the gaming device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , in which the user enters the verification identifier via the provided interface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising using the verification identifier to determine a network address of the gaming device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , in which the verification identifier identifies the gaming device via at least one of: a serial number assigned to the gaming device, a phone number assigned to the gaming device, a mobile identification number (MIN) assigned to the gaming device, an IP address assigned to the gaming device, a media access control (MAC) address assigned to the gaming device, and an electronic serial number (ESN) assigned to the gaming device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 querying, by the at least one processor, a database for user profile information; and   transmitting, by the communication module to the verification device, the user profile information for output, to allow the user to confirm that the verification device is in communications with the verification server.   
     
     
         12 . A verification server, comprising:
 a communication module;   a memory storing programming instructions; and   at least one processor,   wherein the programming instructions are executable by the at least one processor to cause the verification server to:   transmit, by the communication module to a verification device, an interface by which a user can request a verification service from the verification server;   receive, by the communication module, from the verification device, a request for the verification server generated from the interface provided to the verification device;   based on at least a part of the request for the verification service, identify, by the at least one processor, a gaming device for which verification is to be executed,   transmit, by the communication module to the verification device, an instruction to display a prompt for the user to enter a verification identifier via the verification device;   receive, by the communication module from the verification device, the verification identifier as entered by the user at the verification device; and   transmit, by the at least one processor, the received verification identifier to a gaming server, so as to cause the gaming server to transmit the received verification identifier to the identified gaming device,   in which the gaming device displays the received verification identifier for viewing by the user, to facilitate visual confirmation by the user that the gaming device is in communication with the gaming server.   
     
     
         13 . The verification server of  claim 12 , in which the verification device comprises at least one of: a cellular phone, an IP phone, a personal computing device, a pocket personal computer, a PDA, a kiosk, and a terminal. 
     
     
         14 . The verification server of  claim 12 , in which the gaming server provides at least one of: a gambling activity, wagering on an event, a lottery activity, and a non-gambling activity. 
     
     
         15 . The verification server of  claim 12 , in which the gaming device is also operable to provide at least one convenience service. 
     
     
         16 . The verification server of  claim 15 , in which the at least one convenience service comprises at least one of: a restaurant service, an entertainment service, a hotel service, a money management service, a news service, and a financial exchange service. 
     
     
         17 . The verification server of  claim 12 , in which the gaming server is also operable to provide at least one convenience service via the gaming device. 
     
     
         18 . The verification server of  claim 12 , in which the user enters the verification identifier via the provided interface. 
     
     
         19 . The verification server of  claim 18 , further comprising using the verification identifier to determine a network address of the gaming device. 
     
     
         20 . The verification server of  claim 12 , in which the verification identifier identifies the gaming device via at least one of: a serial number assigned to the gaming device, a phone number assigned to the gaming device, a mobile identification number (MIN) assigned to the gaming device, an IP address assigned to the gaming device, a media access control (MAC) address assigned to the gaming device, and an electronic serial number (ESN) assigned to the gaming device. 
     
     
         21 . The verification server of  claim 12 , in which the programming instructions are further executable to:
 query, by the at least one processor, a database for user profile information; and   transmit, by the communication module to the verification device, the user profile information for output, to allow the user to confirm that the verification device is in communications with the verification server.