DE102016013034A1 - Gaming and / or entertainment machine, unlocking medium for this, a method for issuing such a clearing medium and unlocking medium output terminal for this purpose - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the unlocking of restricted access gaming and / or amusement machines. The invention relates on the one hand to the gaming and / or amusement machines themselves, with a code receiver for receiving a medium code from an unlocking medium and an unlocking device for unlocking the game and / or amusement machines depending on the received medium codes and a stored unlock code is provided. The invention further relates to a method for configuring and / or outputting of such an unlocking medium, also the unlocking medium itself, an unlocking medium output terminal for outputting such unlocking media and a group of gaming and / or amusement machines, which together at a Vending machine operators are set up. It is proposed that the gaming and / or amusement machines of a predetermined group communicate with an unlocking medium output terminal and this unlocking medium output terminal the valid on the gaming and / or amusement machines, activated unlock codes and / or matching medium codes, with the aid of the game and / or amusement machines can unlock, report or provide, so that said unlocking medium output terminal knows all unlock codes or the appropriate medium-unlock codes for unlocking all gaming and / or amusement machines of said group. On the basis of the activation codes and / or medium codes received by the gaming and / or amusement machines, the release medium output terminal can then configure at least one release medium, wherein the release medium output terminal is adapted to release the medium codes for unlocking all gaming and / or amusement machines of said Group on the said, at least one unlocking medium to write and / or save it.

Description

The present invention relates generally to the unlocking of restricted access gaming and / or amusement machines. The invention relates on the one hand to the gaming and / or amusement machines themselves, with a code receiver for receiving a medium code from an unlocking medium and an unlocking device for unlocking the game and / or amusement machines depending on the received medium codes and a stored unlocking code is provided, wherein the unlocking code is stored in a connectable to the enabling device memory. The invention further relates to a method for configuring and / or outputting of such an unlocking medium, also the unlocking medium itself, an unlocking medium output terminal for outputting such unlocking media and a group of gaming and / or amusement machines, which together at a Vending machine operators are set up.

Gaming and / or amusement machines, in particular in the form of gambling or slot machines or gaming machines or devices operated by monetary value are often set up in groups in common setup areas or at a vending machine operator, so that an automatic user has the choice between various gaming and / or amusement machines.

In this context, a machine operator, in short operator or operator, can generally be understood to mean a specially authorized person who is allowed to set up or operate gaming devices and who has the authorization to configure or service the game devices. In this context, a machine user can generally be understood to mean a player or consumer who, as an "end user" on the gaming device, can play the game content provided thereon, for example, depending on a credit.

Such gambling halls or casinos, however, are regularly subject to a regulation regarding the use of the machines by a slot machine user or player. In particular, it can be provided that a machine user can not play multiple or at least not as many slot machines at the same time, but may only be active on a single device or at least only a limited number of gaming and / or amusement machines.

For this purpose, it is known that each game and / or amusement machines of the group only a single unlocking medium, for example in the form of an authorization card or a smart card or a transponder is assigned, wherein the unlocking medium with the respective device in communication with is to insert, for example, into a card reader on the gaming device or to place it on a reading or receiving device or otherwise to bring it into operative connection with a code receiver so that a medium code received by the clearance medium or entertainment machines can unlock. With the unlocking different device functions can be enabled or enabled, for example, the insertion and storage of game credits, the activation of a game function and / or the effectiveness of input keys or other input means.

When the removal medium is removed, all game credits can be spent on the game device in a timely manner and any further game operation can be prevented. If the operator of the group of gaming machines only hands out one unlock medium per player at a time, a player can only operate one device at the same time.

From the Scriptures DE 10 2014 107 864 B3 a method for operating gaming and / or amusement machines in the aforementioned type is known, in which case an authorization card is stored with a stored identifier ID in a code reader on the gaming machine and by comparing the identifier ID with a in the data memory of Gambling and / or amusement machines deposited eligibility criterion is decided on the activation. In order to prevent multiple use of the authorization card in various slot machines, on the one hand the query ID ID is made continuously or at certain intervals and on the other hand written in a specially designated memory area on the authorization card, the device ID of that device in which the Authorization card is used. If the card is plugged into another game device, the said memory area is queried, wherein when a foreign device ID is read, the activation is prevented.

Furthermore, from the DE 10 2012 014 039 A1 a centrally controlled activation of gaming and / or amusement machines of a machine operator known. Again, the machine user logs on to a disk at the slot machines, which is then checked via a terminal server, if this player already operated several slot machines or the disk has already been used to unlock another machine and the activation of this other machine yet has ended. Although this allows the use of multiple slot machines in succession and simultaneously prevents the use of multiple slot machines at the same time. However, the slot machines have to do this with a central Terminal server to be networked, which is a problem especially for smaller gambling operators, since they have no such networked systems or do not want to operate due to administrative effort.

Furthermore, from the Scriptures DE 10 2014 009 858 A1 a method for selecting a game device in a play area known. It is characterized in that a preselection device is provided, via which available game devices are player-controlled selectable. In this case, it may additionally be provided that the available game devices are displayed via the preselection device in a form distinguishable from the non-available gaming devices.

At money-operated game devices with profit opportunity, it is also generally known that authorized persons, that is, the operator of the gaming machines or its service personnel, via a secure access of the game device settings various parameters can make, referring to the game mode for the user of the game device, that is the player, impact. For example, via a key switch and a stand-up menu in a multi-game gaming device, certain games can be turned on or off to vary the game offer for the player. However, this adjustability via such a key switch and the display menu does not solve the aforementioned problem of access authorization and playing multiple slot machines simultaneously or sequentially.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved gaming and / or amusement machine, an improved release medium therefor, an improved method for configuring such an unlocking medium and an improved release medium output terminal of the type mentioned above, the disadvantages of the prior art Avoid and educate the latter in an advantageous manner. In particular, the simultaneous recording of multiple devices is reliably prevented, but on the other hand, a successive use of various gaming and / or amusement machines in a simple way without tedious procurement channels of activation media for the machine user or player are enabled, and without it in case of loss or Theft of a release medium and in the course of procurement of spare / reserve activation media to longer downtime or expensive replacement measures must come. At the same time, the unauthorized disclosure of activation media (disclosure to unauthorized persons) should be prevented and the risk of manipulation of the system should be reduced.

The above object is achieved by an unlock medium output terminal for outputting a release medium according to claim 1, a release medium according to claim 7, a method for issuing / generating a release medium according to claim 8 and 9, and a game and / or amusement machines according to claim 11 solved. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

It is therefore proposed that the gaming and / or amusement machines of a predetermined group of such gaming and / or amusement machines - for example all game and / or amusement machines or a subgroup thereof present in a gaming venue - communicate with a clearing medium output terminal and this Unlocking medium output terminal the valid at the gaming and / or amusement machines valid activated activation codes and / or matching medium codes, with the help of which can unlock the gaming and / or amusement machines, report or provide, so that said release media output terminal all Activation codes or the appropriate medium-release codes for unlocking all gaming and / or amusement machines of the group mentioned knows. The gaming and / or entertainment machines can be permanently or temporarily in communication with the activation medium output terminal. On the basis of the activation codes and / or medium codes received by the gaming and / or amusement machines, the release medium output terminal can then configure at least one release medium, wherein the release medium output terminal is adapted to release the medium codes for unlocking all gaming and / or amusement machines of said Group on the said, at least one unlocking medium to write and / or save it.

The unlocking medium is thus configured by the unlocking medium output terminal to be suitable for unlocking all gaming and / or amusement machines of said group of gaming and / or entertainment machines. Accordingly, a player does not have to pick a separate activation medium for each gaming and / or amusement machine or even request a different activation medium when switching from one gaming machine to another gaming and / or amusement machine. On the other hand, a simultaneous recording of several gaming and / or amusement machines can be prevented by, for example, interrupting or ending a game operation when the release medium is removed from the code reader of the respective gaming machine and / or the gaming machine. or entertainment machine is configured to cyclically or continuously query the presence of the unlock medium or the media codes stored thereon.

On the other hand, to be able to consider or comply with limitations of the game mode for a player on the other hand even when playing various gaming and / or amusement machines, the gaming and / or amusement machines of said group can be networked with each other and communicate with each other, for example at the end of Game operation at a gaming machine and / or the beginning of a new game operation at another gaming and / or amusement machine the already spent on one or more previous gaming and / or amusement machines playing time and / or playful game use to query or submit. For this purpose, the game and / or amusement machines can be configured to query on an activation medium recorded game limits such as maximum playing time, maximum game use, etc. and / or relevant game information such as current playing time and previously spent game use, after unlocking a gaming and / or amusement machines incurred accumulate in the memory connected to the gaming and / or amusement machines.

Alternatively or in addition to a networked communicating the gaming and / or amusement machines with each other can also be provided that the gaming and / or amusement machines store said relevant information such as time spent and spent game use in a designated memory area on the activation medium, if Game ended at a gaming and / or amusement machines and the unlocking medium is removed from the code reader of the gaming and / or amusement machines. If the activation medium is subsequently plugged into another gaming and / or amusement machine or brought into connection with its code reader, the said relevant information can be read out and taken into account at the new gaming and / or amusement machine.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the unlocking medium output terminal may include multiple writing stations to configure several unlock media simultaneously or sequentially and to describe each with all media codes to unlock all gaming and / or amusement machines of said group.

This can be done in various procedural training. In particular, the medium code, which is suitable for unlocking a specific slot machine, can be generated directly at said gaming and / or amusement machines and then transmitted from the gaming and / or amusement machines to the clearing medium output terminal. In this case, the respective gaming and / or amusement machine only needs to save the unlock code, but not transmit it to the output terminal.

For clarification, it should be noted that the medium code on the activation medium can be the same as the activation code of the respective gaming and / or amusement machine, but does not have to. As will be explained in more detail, for example, the medium code may have a certain number of digits, which can be converted by a key or a calculation rule or other transformation rule of the enabling device of the gaming and / or amusement machine in an unlock code, which then compared with the stored unlock code becomes. Of course, in the context of the present invention, however, it can also be provided that the medium code is identical to the unlock code, and insofar as the enabling device only compares the medium and unlock codes for identity with one another.

Alternatively to the generation of the medium code on the gaming and / or amusement machines, however, it may also be provided that the activated clearance code generated and / or stored on the gaming and / or amusement machine is transmitted to the clearance-medium output terminal, which then uses a code Converter can convert the transmitted activation code into a corresponding medium code. Said code converter can work with a transformation rule or a key, which also uses the activation device of the gaming and / or amusement machines for the opposite conversion of the read medium code.

In order to be able to unlock any gaming and / or amusement machine of the named group with an activation medium on which all medium codes for unlocking all gaming and / or amusement machines of a certain machine group are actually enabled, the mentioned gaming and / or amusement machines are respectively designed so that the code reader of the gaming and / or amusement machine reads all stored on a clearing medium medium codes and then the enabling device compares all read medium codes with the stored unlock code, possibly taking into account the aforementioned transformation rule or the corresponding key. In this case, the code reader and / or the Enabling device should also be configured so that successively each another medium code is read and adjusted with the stored enable code, which can be done or repeated until a matching pair of medium code and unlock code is found. In other words, not all medium codes actually have to be read in and compared with the stored release code. Already fits the first read medium code for unlocking the gaming and / or amusement machines, the other, stored on the unlock medium media codes need not be read.

The transmission of the enabling codes and / or medium codes from the gaming and / or amusement machines to the clearing medium output terminal may be cyclical - for example every 24 hours - or at the request of the unlock medium issuing terminal which may be initiated by an administrator and / or if present a further event take place, for example, when the gaming and / or amusement machines are shut down and restarted or turned on.

Advantageously, in each case new, activated activation codes are generated at the gaming and / or entertainment machines, which are then stored in the memory provided for this purpose. The gaming and / or amusement machines then provide the unlocking medium output terminal with the respectively new, activated clearance codes or matching, new medium codes, by transmitting them via the communication connection or making them available retrievably. At the same time, the previously valid activated activation codes can be deactivated and / or deleted, so that the respective gaming and / or entertainment machines can only be unlocked with the newly generated, activated activation codes.

The said new, activated activation codes can be generated in this way by a code generator to the gaming and / or entertainment machines in various ways, for example, be created by a random generator. Alternatively, the new, activated activation codes can also be selected from a list of available activation codes and thereby activated.

For example, at a respective gaming and / or amusement machine or in the memory on which the gaming and / or amusement machine has access, a list of possible unlock codes may be stored as passive memory codes, from which then from said code generator one selected at random and marked as activated unlock code or stored in another memory area. A previously activated activation code can be deactivated by removing the active marking or deleting the activation code from the memory area for the activated activation codes. If the list of passive activation codes is sufficiently large, it can be ensured that cyclically changing the activated activation code or selecting a new, activated activation code can replace lost release media and steal the released media.

Advantageously, said code generator of the respective gaming and / or amusement machine is designed such that there is always only one activated activation code for the gaming and / or amusement machine.

If all gaming and / or amusement machines have generated new, activated clearance codes and transmitted them to the output terminal, release media associated with them can be described by the output terminal with corresponding medium codes.

The unlocking medium output terminal can be designed to output a release medium, which release medium can be set in a first enable state or in a second enable state, with a code receiver for receiving a security code from one with the Code receiver in communication connectable security medium, and with a medium-code read / write device for the activation medium, wherein in the presence of a release medium in the first unlock state, the release medium in the second enable state is brought by the medium codes based on PASSIV stored or marked security codes written / stored on / in the unlocking medium and the unlocking medium is released for removal and the security codes are stored or marked as ACTIVE, and wherein at Presence of the release medium in the second unlock state, the release medium in the first release Condition in which medium codes stored on / in the unlock medium are deleted and the associated security codes are stored or marked as PASSIVE.

The unlocking medium can thus be settable in a first unlock state or in a second unlock state and serve for unlocking a gaming and / or amusement machine, which has a code receiver which can be brought into communication connection with the unlocking medium , wherein the unlocking medium in the first unlocked state no medium code has stored and in the second unlock state medium codes for all gaming and / or amusement machines of a machine group, with a release of a respective gaming and / or amusement machines only in the presence of the unlock medium in the second unlock state in the presence of a is made possible with the gaming and / or amusement machine matching medium codes.

The proposed measures also have the advantage that a pairing of the gaming and / or amusement machines does not already have to be performed and the release media belonging to the respective gaming device must be attached, the release media possibly being lost on the way to the customer or could be reversed with unlock media other gaming devices.

Working the game and / or amusement machines with code lists, wherein in one or more the respective game and / or amusement machines associated memory (s) a list or selection of initially passive unlock codes are stored, one of which is selected and activated In order to be stored as activated activation code in the memory or in another memory, the enabling device can be designed such that it takes into account only the active, but not the passive activation codes and matches them with the received medium code in order to store the Unlock game device in accordance for use by a player or not unlock in case of mismatch. According to one embodiment, different passive activation codes can be stored in the memory, one of which can be selected and stored in the or another memory as an activated enabling code and / or flagged or converted into such, wherein the enabling means is adapted to the game and / or entertainment machines depending on the activated activation code to unlock or activate a game session.

By providing different storage levels and / or the configurability of the access of the enabling device to a specific memory space on the one hand, a longer downtime of the gaming and / or amusement machines can be avoided in case of loss of the release medium, as a short-term reserve-release medium by the operator of the gaming and / or amusement machines can be activated so that it does not have to wait until the vending machine manufacturer can obtain a replacement card. If an unlocking medium is lost, the activated unlocking code is deactivated by the machine operator.

Alternatively or additionally, a predetermined maximum playing time and / or a predetermined maximum game loss may also be provided as a deactivation criterion. If the predetermined maximum playing time and / or the predetermined maximum game loss is reached, the activated activation code is deactivated or the game session is ended. Such a deactivation criterion allows the machine user and / or the machine operator better control over playing time or game loss. In particular, such a limitation of the playing time and / or the game loss can be achieved by configuring the activation medium accordingly. Upon generation and / or output of the unlocking medium, a corresponding desired maximum playing time and / or a desired maximum game loss can be entered and / or retrieved and / or stored on the unlocking medium and / or linked to the medium code, so that at Activation of a slot machine with the appropriate unlocking medium and its medium code the corresponding desired playing time and / or the maximum game loss is configured on the gaming machine.

In this case, the maximum playing time and / or the maximum game loss can be received by the activation medium brought into communication with the gaming machine and possibly stored in the gaming and / or amusement machine. Alternatively, it would also be possible to store the desired maximum playing time and / or the maximum loss of play in an external memory and / or terminal and to configure the gaming and / or amusement machines in such a way that when activated by a specific medium code, a query to the external memory and / or said terminal is initiated to interrogate the playing time stored there and / or stored there game loss and / or transfer to the gaming or entertainment machines and configure the enabling device such that when reaching the playing time and / or the loss of play the activated unlock code and / or the game session is terminated.

A deactivation of the activated activation code can also be based on other deactivation criteria. For example, a cyclical deactivation after a predetermined period of time - for example, every 24 hours - take place, so that after the expiry of said period, the previously issued with the old media codes unlock media lose their validity. Alternatively or additionally, a deactivation of the activation code also take place when - for example, at the request of the machine operator after discovering the loss of a clearing medium - the game and / or Amusement machines in a reset process to generate new, activated unlock codes.

Alternatively or in addition to such a deactivation criterion, according to a further aspect of the present invention, an additional activation or activation criterion can also be provided, which is checked for fulfillment in addition to the examination of the medium code of the activation medium, so that the gaming or entertainment machine is only enabled if both the medium code of the release medium and the additional activation criterion fulfill the test.

Such an additional activation criterion may in particular be biometric information about the respective user, in particular a fingerprint and / or an iris scan and / or a face geometry and / or a voice recognition characteristics or other biometric individual characteristics. Advantageously, such a biometric information of a user is linked to the activation medium, which is handed to the user. In particular, the biometric characteristic can be detected during the output and / or generation of the unlocking medium and stored on the unlocking medium and / or stored linked with its medium code.

If the user then brings "his" activation medium into communication with a gaming and / or amusement machine, the respective biometric information of the user can be re-recorded on the gaming and / or amusement machine and compared with the stored biometric information. If the stored biometric information is stored directly on the unlocking medium, the amusement and / or amusement machine can receive the stored biometry information from the unlocking medium. If the biometric information is alternatively or additionally stored and / or kept in an external memory or an external terminal, the enabling device can interrogate upon receipt of a specific medium code the associated therewith, held in the external memory or terminal biometric data and with the currently detected Compare biometric data. If there is a corresponding match - in addition to the "correct" medium code - the machine can be unlocked. If there is no such match in the recorded and stored biometric data, the activation can be denied.

Alternatively or additionally, corresponding biometric data can also be used for deactivating a specific activation code or a specific activation medium, in particular such that an activation code is only deactivated and thus a new activation code can not be activated until a user logs off properly. by having his biometric data re-registered. This can ensure that it is actually the authorized user who ends a game session.

The above-mentioned passive activation codes can in particular be stored in the memory via a special access-protected memory configuration module by means of memory configuration means, while the activation and / or storage of an activated activation code selected therefrom can be carried out by a venue operator or operator of the automaton, with separate memory configuration means for this purpose can be provided. In this way, on the one hand sufficient security can be ensured because the machine manufacturer has, so to speak, the sovereignty over both the game and / or amusement machines stored unlock codes and the associated unlock media, which may be smart cards, smart cards or the like, whereby the manufacturer sufficient Security measures such as cryptographic steps for the comparison between the activation medium and stored on the medium code and the activated activation code of the gaming machine can provide. On the other hand, the venue operator has sufficient flexibility to be able to provide quick replacement in the event of loss of an activation card or a release medium.

Advantageously, the storage of the various activation codes, that is the storage of the selection of several passive activation codes on the one hand and the storage of a selected activation code as activated activation code under different access permissions, in particular such that the access authorization to selection means for selecting an activation code to be activated and storing it as an active unlock code does not entitle the user to change the list of passive unlock codes. Conversely, it can be provided that the manufacturer-side access authorization for the storage of the plurality of passive activation codes entitles to define and / or modify the second, separate access authorization, with the help of which the venue operator or its service company can make said selection and activation of an activation code. The gaming and / or amusement machine can thus have different access levels with different access permissions, with the help of which the memory and the information and activation codes can be configured in different ways.

The selection of a plurality of passive activation codes and an activated activation code selected therefrom can basically be stored in the same memory, wherein different storage areas can be provided so that the passive activation codes can be stored in a first storage area and the activated activation code in a second storage area. Alternatively, the passive unlock codes and the active unlock code may also be stored in the same memory area, wherein flags, ie binary status indicators, may be provided for each unlock code in order to identify an unlock code as passive or active.

Alternatively or additionally, the passive unlock codes on the one hand and the selected active unlock code on the other hand can also be stored in two completely separate memories.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, provision can be made for enabling codes, preferably initiated or triggered via a suitable operating device, to be generated on the basis of a random event, value or a random function and thus a respective individual activation code can be generated. As a result, the distinction between passive and active activation codes can be omitted, since the most recently generated release code is always active or valid.

Said memory and / or said plurality of memories may advantageously be an integral part of the gaming and / or amusement machine, in particular be accommodated in its slot machine housing. As a result, each gaming and / or amusement machine can be individually configured without connection to a network. Alternatively, however, it would also be possible to provide an external memory which is connected or connectable individually or via a network to the gaming machine and its control device, in order to be able to select an activation code and store it as an active activation code or to deactivate it ( passively) to set or delete.

The activation means, by means of which the activation of an activation code can be made, can be formed differently working depending on the memory structure. If the abovementioned markings or flags are used, the activating means may be designed to set and / or remove and / or modify such markings. If a selected, active enabling code is stored in a separate memory area or a separate memory module, the activating means may be designed to describe and / or delete the memory area and / or memory module and / or to change a memory location.

The aforementioned activation means can be provided here as a programmed routine in a program for controlling the gaming machine, in particular for controlling the memory and / or be designed as a hardware logic circuit for directly influencing the electronic memory.

In order to be able to comfortably manage the configuration of the memory area or memory module that can be assigned with active activation code, the respective gaming and / or entertainment machine can advantageously be configured such that the automatic machine can be operated in a special configuration mode in which all gaming machines of a group are operated Unlock medium output terminal communicate and their code generators automatically or semi-automatically activated to generate the new activation code and the associated medium code to save and transfer it to the activation output terminal.

The aforementioned memory configuration means and / or the aforementioned activation means may advantageously be an integral part of the gaming and / or entertainment machine, in particular be designed as a software and / or hardware component of the control device of the gaming and / or amusement machine. Alternatively, it would also be possible to form the activation means and / or memory configuration means as a separate hardware and / or software component which can be connected to the controller of the gaming machine via a suitable interface, for example in the form of a USB interface.

The activation codes, which are stored and / or activated, can in principle be designed differently, for example, consist of a multi-or multi-digit character combination, for example in the form of a letter and / or number sequence, the unlock codes advantageously from a device-specific string and one for the respective unlock medium specific string may be composed.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, enabling codes have character combinations generated on the basis of a random event, value or a random function.

For the activation process, the medium code read in by the release medium can be compared with the stored, active release code, in particular compared to identity, in order to effect an activation in the event of identity and no activation in the case of non-identity.

However, in order to increase security, alternatively or in addition to such a direct identity comparison, the medium code stored on the clearing medium and / or the active unlock code stored in the memory of the gaming and / or amusement machine may be subjected to one or more transformation steps , In this case, a corresponding code transformation module can convert the stored, active activation code into a transformed activation code and / or the medium code obtained from the activation medium into a transformed medium code, it being possible here to work with a corresponding predefined transformation rule. If both the medium code and the unlock code are transformed, the same transformation rule or different transformation rules can be used.

The transformed unlock code and / or the transformed medium code can be buffered or directly processed further, wherein - depending on which code has been transformed - the transformed unlock code can be compared with the received medium code or the transformed medium code or the stored, Untransformed unlock code can be compared with the transformed medium code.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the gaming and / or amusement machine can have an encryption and / or decryption module for encrypting and / or decrypting the medium code received from the activation medium and / or the active release code stored in the memory.

Such a cryptographic encryption and / or decryption module can in principle be configured differently, wherein in a development of the invention a hash module for providing a cryptographic hash function and a key generation module for generating a key for the cryptograft hash function can have. In principle, it would also be possible to provide a keyless hash function.

If a key-dependent hash function is provided, in particular a SHA / HMAC machine module can be provided, which can provide a secure hash algorithm (Hash Algorithm) and / or a hash-based authentication code (Hash-based Method Authentication Code). Such an HMA code, whose construction is based on a cryptographic hash function, can be calculated in particular from a message and a secret key by means of a hash function. The key may be padded by appending zeros to a predetermined block length of the hash function, or if the length of the key is greater than the block length of the hash function, then the key may be replaced according to the block length of the hash function.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment and associated drawings. In the drawings show:

1 : a schematic, perspective view of a gaming and / or amusement machine according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention,

2A : a schematic representation of an output terminal for generating and outputting a release medium based on a read security card,

2 B : a schematic representation of the stored in the memory of the gaming and / or amusement machine unlock code in a first configuration in which a first unlock code is activated,

3 : a schematic representation of the stored in the memory unlock codes in a second configuration in which a second enable code is activated and at the same time the first unlocking medium with the former medium code is no longer usable for unlocking,

4 : A schematic representation of a group of gaming and / or amusement machines that are networked or in communication with a common activation output terminal and are also interconnected with each other, the generation of new, activated activation codes to the gaming and / or amusement machines and whose transmission to the release medium output terminal is represented, at which release medium output terminal then the release media with the appropriate medium codes are described,

5 : A schematic representation of the components of the control device of the gaming and / or amusement machines 1 and its unlocking device

6 : A schematic representation of the stored in the memory of the gaming and / or amusement machine unlock code in a further configuration in which activates an unlock code and thus a first unlocking medium for Unlocking the gaming and / or amusement machine is usable,

7 : a schematic representation of an output terminal for generating and outputting a release medium with extended medium code based on a medium code of a read-in release medium (security card) for unlocking a gaming and / or amusement machine,

8th : A schematic representation of a system with a release medium output terminal as a master in communication with one or more slave enable medium output terminals.

As 1 by way of example, a gaming and / or amusement machine can 1 of the generic type be an electronic, stand-alone gaming device that a - roughly speaking - approximately box-shaped housing 2 includes on which one or more screens 3 may be provided to the game content of a game device 60 as a picture or sequence of images. It is understood, however, that other game devices such as roller play equipment with actual (mechanical) rotating rollers or roulette machines or other game equipment with possibly. Separate housing parts and separate modules may be provided.

In the example shown is on said housing 2 a control panel 4 provided, in this case, below the screens 3 extends and includes various input keys or input means to enter various game control or other commands, which of course also a touch screen or similar input means can be used instead of buttons.

Inside the case 2 is, preferably protected against unauthorized manipulation, an electronic control device 12 with an electronic data storage 8th housed at the gaming and / or amusement machines 1 and control its components.

To the gaming and / or amusement machines 1 To be able to activate this is by means of a release medium 6 unlock, which may be formed for example as a smart card, chip card, magnetic stripe card and / or as a transponder and may be referred to in the description or the figures as a player card.

As 2A shows, in the system, a release medium output terminal 25 for generating and outputting a release medium 6 based on a read in and as a security card 26 trained safety medium may be provided.

The output terminal 25 can be provided that the security card 26 in a card reader 27 of the Unlock Media Output Terminal 25 plugged in or brought into communication with this, the security card 26 in the present example the device ID "AGI_01" and the card version number "S1" to a code generator 28 of the Unlock Media Output Terminal 25 transmitted.

Such a release medium 6 is with the gaming and / or amusement machines 1 to bring in communication with the gaming and / or amusement machines 1 to provide a medium code on the unlock medium 6 is stored and, as explained above, may consist of a particular character string, for example a letter or number combination, which contains a string for the respective gaming and / or amusement machine and a character string for the medium, ie a machine ID and a card ID can. In the example of 2 the device ID is the string "AGI_01" and the medium ID is the string "_V1", which together give the medium code "AGI_01_V1".

The gaming and / or amusement machine 1 has in this case one on the housing 2 arranged card reader as a code receiver 5 on. The above-mentioned release medium 6 can be plugged into or attached to the card reader or otherwise with the code receiver 5 be brought into communication connection. The named code receiver 5 may include a passive, such as electromagnetic or optical, receiving block and / or an active, such as electronic or magnetic, read device, sodas one of the clearing medium 6 received information received and / or stored on the medium information can be queried.

Based on this received information from the activation medium 6 and in the game and / or amusement machine 1 stored information decides the controller 12 of the gaming and / or amusement machine 1 whether an authorization exists and the machine is unlocked for use by a player or just not unlocked.

For this purpose, the said control device comprises 12 a release device 7 , see. 5 , in the form of hardware and / or software components in the control device 12 can be implemented. Furthermore, the control device comprises 12 one input / Output unit I / O, with which, for example, the peripheral control elements of the control panel 4 and the code receiver 5 are connected in hardware. As 5 Furthermore, shows the release device 7 on a memory 8th access. The memory 8th can in the case 2 of the gaming and / or amusement machine 1 arranged and with the control device 12 may be connected or included by this. The activation device 7 is connected to the input / output unit I / O.

In the said memory 8th may according to an alternative embodiment already from the manufacturer of the gaming and / or amusement machines 1 several available activation codes 13p stored, first as a passive and in this form of the enabling device 7 unusable unlock codes stored in a non-volatile memory area 8p can be stored. These unlock codes 13p may be - similar to the medium code on the unlock medium 6 - composed of a string representing a device ID and a string representing a card ID. In the in 2 For example, the number sequence "AGI_01" for the device ID of the relevant slot machine and the number sequence "S1_V2", "S1_V3", "S1_V4" ... "S1_Vn" for different card or medium IDs for the relevant slot machine.

These in the passive memory area 8p stored unlock codes 13p can be programmed by the manufacturer. The manufacturer can provide security cards suitable for a particular gaming device 26 by means of which in conjunction with the output terminal 25 an unlocking medium 6 can be generated with a corresponding medium code.

To activate one of the passively stored unlock codes, the gaming and / or entertainment device may 1 activating agent 9 by means of which one of the passive unlock codes 13p selected and activated, that is in an active memory area 8a transferred and there as an active unlock code 13a can be stored.

This saving or activation of such an active medium code can be done with the activating means 9 advantageously take place in a configuration step, in particular in that of the release medium output terminal 25 a reconfiguration of the activation codes is requested.

As 4 shows can be a group of gaming and / or amusement machines 1 - For example, all located in a gaming machine or a subgroup thereof - networked together by a network connection N and also with the said release medium output terminal 25 be connected, so advantageously the game and / or amusement machines 1 communicate with each other, advantageously in encrypted form, and also with said output terminal 25 , in the present case via a data interface 44 , to be able to communicate. The network connection N may be wired or wireless.

Will be from or via the Unlock Media Output Terminal 25 a reset or configuration process requested - for example, in the case of the loss of a release medium or routinely on the morning of a new day - are at the gaming and / or amusement machines 1 each generates new activation codes, which in the manner indicated by the activation means 9 can take place, which select a release code from a list of initially passive activation codes and store and / or mark as activated activation code. Like a comparison of 2 B and 3 shows, for example. The previously marked as active or stored unlock code AGI_01_S1_V3 set back into the list of passive unlock codes and a new, activated enable code AGI_01_S1_V4 stored or marked as active.

In principle, however, it would also be possible to not select a new, activated activation code from a list of existing passive activation codes, but rather to regenerate it altogether, for example by means of a random generator, if appropriate in conjunction with further data that is imported from a security medium can.

Have all gaming and / or amusement machines 1 the group mentioned generates a new, activated activation code and / or marked and / or stored, said new, activated activation codes of all gaming and / or amusement machines to the activation medium output terminal 25 transmitted, which is a code receiver 27 for receiving an enabling code and / or a medium code from each of the gaming and / or amusement machines communicating with the code receiver ( 1 ) of said group.

As 4 indicates the unlock medium output terminal 25 a code converter 29 for converting the received unlock codes into medium codes as well as a medium code writer 30 which is designed to either directly from the gaming and / or amusement machines 1 received medium codes or the medium codes converted from the received unlocking codes to the at least one Unlock Medium 6 to write. Further, the medium code writing device has 30 advantageously several writing stations K1, K2, K3 ... Kn, to several unlock media 6 to be able to describe with medium codes that unlock the game and / or amusement machines 1 are suitable. As explained at the outset, the medium codes mentioned can correspond identically to the new, activated activation codes or can be adapted taking into account a key, a conversion rule or a transformation rule.

The named output terminal 25 is trained to do this on every unlocking medium 6 which is associated with one of the writing stations K1, K2 ... Kn, to store all medium codes corresponding to all unlock codes transmitted by all gaming and / or amusement machines of the relevant machine group. This is every unlocking medium 6 potentially suitable, all gaming and / or amusement machines 1 unlock the group.

If the code generators of the machines work with preconfigured lists of passive activation codes, the activation means can be used 9 add and / or remove and / or convert a tag to the relevant passive unlock code, for example converting a tag "passive" into a tag "active", as explained in more detail above ("setting flags"). The activating agents 9 can also hardware and / or software in the control device 12 be implemented and subject to a special access authorization so that only the gaming machine operator and / or another authorized person has access to it. For example, the activating agents 9 a key switch, which upon activation by the authorized person a corresponding selection menu on the screen 3 causes. In an alternative embodiment, the medium codes with which each unlocking medium 6 described are generated in response to a security code. Dbei can the unlock media output terminal 25 in a training a store 31 comprising, with a passive memory area for storing security codes as PASSIVE and an active memory area for storing security codes as ACTIVE. Additionally or alternatively, the states of the security codes can be marked by means of a "flag" in the memory area. In this context, the output terminal 25 in an alternative training to be provided that a security card 26 into a card reader of the unlock medium output terminal 25 plugged or brought into communication with this, wherein the security card, for example, a security code consisting of eienr device ID "AGI_01" and the card version number "S1" to the code converter 29 of the Unlock Media Output Terminal 25 transmitted.

The activation device 7 is for comparing the activated activation code 13a formed with a received medium code and the gaming and / or amusement machines ( 1 ) depending on a comparison result. For this purpose, so can from the enabling device 7 depending on the comparison of the activated activation code 13a with a receiving medium code a release signal 61 be delivered. Accordingly, on the basis of the release signal 61 Operating elements of the control panel 4 be unlocked and locked and elements of the game device 60 be activated / deactivated.

Like a comparison of 2 B and 3 shows, a previously activated unlock code can also be switched to passive again, for example by the corresponding unlock code back into the passive memory area 8p is pushed back. This can be done, for example, if the corresponding security medium has been lost or stolen. The aforementioned activating agents 9 can thus be designed to deactivate an active activation code.

A previously activated unlock code can be switched to passive again, for example, by the corresponding unlock code back into the passive memory area 8p is pushed back. This can be done, for example, if the corresponding security medium has been lost or stolen. The aforementioned activating agents 9 can thus be designed to deactivate an active activation code.

Such as the 3 shows are on an unlock medium 6 stored several medium codes, each of which is suitable for unlocking each of a gaming and / or amusement machines. For example, the medium code AGI_01_S1_V4 can unlock the slot machine AGI_01, while the further medium code AGI_02_S1_V1 can unlock a second slot machine AGI_02.

To any gaming and / or amusement machine of the named group with any of the free media configured for this purpose 6 can unlock the code reader or code receiver 5 of every gaming and / or amusement machine 1 be trained to all on an unlocking medium 6 to read stored media codes. The slot of the slot machine can then be configured to all read-in media codes with the stored, activated unlock code to find a matching code pair.

Furthermore, optionally, the above-described method can be implemented with a release medium designed as a rewritable barcode ticket or QR code ticket, wherein the barcode ticket can be read by an optional banknote validator of the gaming and / or entertainment machine. A QR code ticket could be read by a reader integrated in the gaming machine, such as a camera. The activation medium output terminal has a correspondingly configured ticket printer for generating barcode tickets or QR code tickets or controls an external ticket printer accordingly. As described above, the required information (medium code, etc.) can be generated by means of a security card and printed or deleted accordingly on the bar code ticket or QR code ticket.

According to a further embodiment, instead of or in addition to the manual input, the gaming device may comprise a camera and an image recognition or QR code recognition, with which the code is received as image or as QR code, and the activation device as medium -Code for the further comparison method can be supplied.

For a plurality of gaming and / or amusement machines, the corresponding security cards per gaming and / or amusement machine can be plugged into the unlock medium output terminal or the ticket printer, whereby the operator can select for which game devices an unlock medium is generated shall be.

Optionally, there is not only one security card per game device, but a plurality of security cards, because in case of loss (eg theft) of a single security card, no activation medium could be output and the game device would be for the period of recovery of a replacement security card out of service. According to one embodiment, it may be provided that several security cards per game device are supplied ex works, these security cards having a specific version number (eg S1, S2, S3, etc.) and a pairing in the factory between the Game device and issued security cards takes place. Go z. If, for example, the security card "S1" is lost, the operator can now use the security card "S2" and create an activation medium (cf. 3B ), whereby the game device now only accepts the unlock media generated based on the security card "S2" (the version number can start again at "V1") and no longer the unlock media generated based on one of the other security cards ,

According to one embodiment it can be provided that a security card accepts the currently valid activation medium code of the game device, for example in such a way that the operator uses the display menu (ie an authorized person via a corresponding selection menu) to display the active medium code can transfer the security card. If the security card is lost, the o. G. A new medium code is activated and transmitted to the security medium. Thus, the game mode can only be activated if the code on the unlock medium matches the currently activated medium code in the game device.

According to a further embodiment, a release medium 6 be provided that in a first unlock state or in a second unlock state can be set, for unlocking a gaming and / or amusement machine having a code receiver, which is in communication with the unlock medium in communication, wherein the unlocking medium has stored no medium code in the first unlock state and has stored a medium code in the second unlock state, with an unlocking of the gaming and / or amusement machines only in the presence of the unlock medium in the second unlock state is enabled in the presence of a matching with the gaming and / or amusement machine media codes.

In other words, it is suggested that the unlock medium issued to the player 6 only two states knows, ie a first unlock state, for example, "empty", and a second enable state, which is characterized in this case in that the unlock medium 6 is described with a certain set of media codes or has stored such, so that with this (one) unlock medium 6 only a very specific group of game devices can be activated according to the respectively stored set of medium codes. Furthermore, in this context, according to another embodiment, a release medium output terminal 25 for issuing a release medium 6 proposed which unlocking medium 6 can be set in a first enable state or in a second enable state, with a code receiver 27 for receiving a security code from one with the code receiver 27 in communication connectable security medium 26 , and with a medium-code read / write device 30 for the activation medium 6 , wherein in the presence of a release medium 6 in the first unlock state, the unlock medium 6 into the second activation State is brought in which a medium code based on a PASSIV stored or marked security code on / in the activation medium 6 written / saved and the activation medium 6 is released for collection and the security code is stored as ACTIVE or marked; and wherein in the presence of a release medium 6 in the second unlock state, the unlock medium 6 is placed in the first unlock state in which the on / in the unlock medium 6 stored media code is deleted and the associated security code is saved or marked as PASSIVE.

In this case, a security code stored or marked as PASSIVE means that the corresponding security code is available to a corresponding gaming and / or amusement machine via the activation medium to be generated 6 unlock. A security code stored or marked as ACTIVE is therefore to be understood as meaning that the corresponding security code is no longer available, since a release medium already exists for this purpose 6 was generated.

In this case, the activation medium output terminal 25 a memory 31 comprising, with a passive memory area for storing the security codes as PASSIVE and an active memory area for storing the security codes as ACTIVE. Additionally or alternatively, the states of the security codes can be marked by means of a "flag" in the memory area.

The process in an arcade can be characterized as follows:
One in the first unlock state ("empty"), ie without medium code, located release medium 6 is issued to the player.

An unlock medium output terminal in the gaming hall exhibits unallocated media codes in an electronic memory area "PASSIVE". The thus located in the memory area "PASSIVE" media codes represent in this sense the available group of free, still available, gaming devices in the arcade. Furthermore, selection means, such as buttons or via touchscreen and a visualized selection menu, for selecting a certain media codes or a specific set of medium codes.

Upon insertion (or establishing a communication link with the unlock medium output terminal) of the "empty" unlock medium, the selected set of medium codes is written on the unlock medium. Subsequently or at the same time, the relevant set of medium codes in the release medium output terminal is moved from the storage area "PASSIVE" into a storage area "ACTIVE". Media codes in the storage area ACTIVE can not be taken over by another "empty" activation medium.

The unlock medium can only unlock the group of game devices whose active medium codes match the medium codes of the unlock medium.

According to a further embodiment of the method can be provided that one, preferably at a central location, positioned in the arcade Central Unlock Medium-output terminal has functionally identical "satellite" free-medium-output terminals, the next to each or in the vicinity of each gaming device are positioned in the gaming arcade and perform the same display and function as the central unlock medium output terminal, thus avoiding the tedious back and forth to the central unlock medium output terminal for the player. At least one or the "satellite" free medium output terminals are connected to the central release medium output terminal in a permanent and secure operative connection, which may be formed wired or wireless, in particular, an adjustment of the ACTIVE and PASSIVE memory areas.

Such a system shows 8th That is, it can be provided that the central release medium output terminal has reading means for one or more security cards S1-Sn and acts as a "master" / acting and the medium codes are "physically" processed there. So in this case, the "satellite" free medium output terminals will act as "slaves" (slave_1-slave_n).

Each belonging to a game device security card (with the individual activation code for the respective game device) may preferably remain permanently plugged into the central unlock medium output terminal, so that the corresponding unlock code in the memory of the activation medium Output terminals (active or passive) is present. This ensures that even with the use of multiple release medium output terminal snur a valid clearance medium can be generated. It may further be provided that the security medium is secured against unauthorized removal, for example by a corresponding mechanical lock or by an electronic security query system.

For the activation process directly the received media codes with the stored, active activation code 13a be compared in order to identify or find a suitable code Paares an activation and in case of non-identity no activation of the gaming and / or amusement machines 1 to effect. As an alternative to such a direct identity comparison, the received medium code and / or the stored enable code can be used in the manner described in the beginning by a code transformation module 24 be transformed and optionally cached, so then the activation takes place in dependence of the transformed enabling code and / or the transformed medium code. The mentioned code transformation module 24 In this case, it is possible in particular to transform a stored active activation code; if appropriate, such a transformation step can be integrated into the activation process, that is to say if a passive activation code is selected, this is transformed and stored in the form of a transformed, active activation code.

To increase the security of the activation, the enabling device 7 an encryption and / or decryption module 11 include that cryptographically processes the received medium code and / or the respective enabled unlock code. Such an encryption and / or decryption module 11 In particular, it may be part of a security chip implemented in the gaming and / or amusement machine in hardware and / or software technology. Such a security chip may include, for example: a processor module for performing control tasks comprising a microcontroller unit processor 15 , said encryption and / or decryption module 11 , a memory module 16 for storing encryption and / or decryption keys, an input / output interface module 17 and optionally a power acquisition module 18 for detecting the power supply of said security chip. The modules mentioned here can communicate with each other via an internal bus system 19 be connected in the security chip. However, it is also understood that the said modules must be implemented separately or not all in such a security chip, but can also form separate control blocks.

The named processor module 14 this can be the encryption and / or decryption module 11 according to one at the input / output module 17 command received and / or a command processing result according to the received command to the input / output module 17 send and / or stored information and / or a key from the memory module 16 retrieve and / or to the input / output module 17 send.

Preferably under the control of said processor module 14 may be the encryption and / or decryption module 11 the aforementioned stored encryption and / or decryption keys from the memory module 16 retrieve and / or receive from this and then using at least one such key to encrypt and / or decrypt data received and the encrypted and / or decrypted data via the input / output module 17 to send to other modules. The mentioned input / output module 17 is intended to transmit data and / or commands and / or signals between the security chip and other control devices.

The said encryption and / or decryption module 11 may comprise in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a hash module, which can perform an asymmetric cryptographic method that can be used both for encryption and for digital signature. In particular, such an RSA system may use a key pair which consists of a private key used for decrypting or signing data and a public key which is also encrypted and signatures are checked, said private key being kept secret becomes.

Preferably also under the control of said processor module 14 can be the RSA processor module 23 execute corresponding RSA algorithms on the received data and the calculated result to the input / output module 17 to hand over. The random number generator 22 may also be under the control of the processor module 14 Provide random numbers for random key generation. With the help of these random numbers, the key generation module 21 Generate keys from the RSA module 23 and / or the SHA / HMAC module are needed and / or processed.

The named memory module 16 can be advantageously designed as a non-volatile memory and store key data and / or user data and / or programs. Alternatively or additionally, the said memory module 16 also include volatile memory for backing up temporary data and temporary programs.

For example, the aforementioned private key that is used by the RSA module 23 works on the player card or the unlock medium 6 stored in a secure processor which is neither readable nor copyable. The aforementioned public key may be in the gaming and / or amusement machines 1 , in particular its unlocking device 7 be saved.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the release medium 6 includes time information in addition to the medium code. For this, the unlock medium output terminal 25 a real-time module or timer, for example, a DCF77 radio clock module, and wherein the code generator 28 for outputting the time information to the enabling medium may be formed. As time information, absolute times and / or relative times (ie time periods) can be output. In this case, the electronic control device 12 the game device for receiving the time information of the unlocking medium via the code receiver 5 and the further processing of the time information to be formed. In particular, it can be provided that the release of the game device as a function of a comparison result of the code receiver 5 received time information and one in the control device 12 Current time (for example, also based on a DCF77 radio clock module) takes place. Such a temporal restriction of the validity of unlock media is advantageously feasible. This can be used, for example, for the limitation of an event duration of the game device which is desired by a player himself

For this purpose, the player informs the operator of the restricted-access gaming and / or amusement machines before issuing the activation medium 6 in that a limitation of the time of use is desired to voluntarily and self-determined counteract excessive use of the game device. For example, a maximum usage time of 2 hours may be desired, and the gaming device operator will provide that amount of time via a suitable input device of the unlock medium output terminal 25 a, wherein the issued release medium 6 receives the information that the activation of the game device is automatically interrupted at a given time.

The calculation basis of the shutdown time can take place in an embodiment "absolute time" by using the current date and the current time plus the maximum user time of 2 hours, for example, desired by the player. H. at the production and release of the release medium at 12 o'clock an automatic interruption or termination of the activation of the game device takes place at 14 o'clock. For this purpose, the game device stores in addition to the accepted via the activation device medium code in addition to the desired shutdown time in a geigneten memory area and stops the activation of the game device at exactly 14 o'clock.

In the design variant "relative times", the desired playing time on the release medium 6 noted and this when inserting the activation medium on the code receiver 5 in the unlocking device 7 the game device are transmitted, so that the turn-off time from the time of activation of the game device plus the desired playing time results. For example, if the device is unlocked at 12:10, the game device automatically ends use at 14:10.

In addition or as an alternative to a time-bound voluntary restriction of use of the game device by a player, by means of a separate configuration of the activation medium 6 also be made a voluntary restriction on a given maximum monetary loss during the use of the device. This option also supports the player in voluntarily restricting excessive gambling or self-protection from excessively large monetary losses by using the gaming machine within a certain period of time.

For this purpose, the player before the generation of the activation medium 6 by means of the Unlock Media Output Terminal 25 announce that while using the unlocking medium 6 at most a predetermined amount of money can be used or gambled for playing on the relevant game equipment. For example, a maximum loss of $ 100 on the unlock medium 6 noted and transmitted in the above manner to the game device and the game device checks by a permanent target / actual comparison of the balance between stakes and money gained, whether the negative balance, in this example 100 €, is reached or not, and ends with reaching the upper limit the activation. Such a target / actual comparison can alternatively be made in temporal (fixed or variable) intervals or in the event of a change in a monetary amount or a score. Of course, a combination of temporal and monetary self-limitation of the player is possible, ie the activation can be terminated before the expiry of the predetermined maximum game time, if the predetermined maximum monetary loss in the context of the use of the game device is first achieved.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the smart card can have a fingerprint sensor as a further security feature, subsequently referred to as a FP smart card, i. The clearance medium has means for a biometric query and optional storage integrated on / in the FP smart card.

In a preferred embodiment, the FP smart card can be rewritten over and over again via the unlock medium output terminal, and thus be output to a different player after being used by a player, whereby the biometric data of the previous player can be deleted and the biometric data of the new player can be saved.

As a result, in particular the advantage is obtained that the transfer of the activation medium to unauthorized persons is not possible or can not be used by the unauthorized person to unlock the game device.

• 1) Jeder Spieler erhält beim Betreten der Spielstätte eine FP-Smart-Card, welche per se zum Spielen an den definierten Spielgeräten akzeptiert wird, da in bekannter Weise der hierfür bestimmte Satz an Medium-Codes gemäß der in das Ausgabeterminal eingesteckten Security-Karten auf die FP-Smart-Card aufgespielt wird.
• 2) Über den Fingerprintsensor der e-smart-card wird die FP-Smart-Card ”fix” mit diesem einen Spielgast verbunden, so dass eine Weitergabe an einen weiteren Spieler nicht möglich ist.
• 3) Beim Einstecken der FP-Smart-Card in das Spielgerät wird neben der Übereinstimmung des Medium-Codes auch geprüft, ob der Finger der berechtigten Person aufgelegt ist.

This could be used when using slot machines as follows:

• 1) Each player receives when entering the venue a FP smart card, which per se is accepted for playing at the defined game equipment, as in a known manner the specific set of medium codes according to the inserted in the output terminal security cards on the FP-Smart-Card is loaded.
• 2) Via the fingerprint sensor of the e-smart-card, the FP-Smart-Card "fix" is connected with this one game guest, so that a passing on to another player is not possible.
• 3) When inserting the FP-Smart-Card in the game device in addition to the compliance of the medium code is also checked whether the finger of the authorized person is hung up.

This ensures that only one and the same person can play on a (single) game device of the defined group of game devices, whereby the player can change the game devices of the defined group at any time.

It can be provided that a game room (in which the gaming and / or amusement machines are located) via a singling system, such as a turnstile, limited access. Subsequently, it may be provided that the turnstile remains closed if the player does not return the FP-Smart-Card.

Furthermore, provision can be made for using release media which are already provided with a unique or medium code (for example consecutive number) and can only be read for security reasons. In the initial state, that is to say before the first readout of the activation medium, a usage status flag is set to "unused" in the activation medium and pairing with a group of game devices can only take place if this flag is set to "unused" that this already ensures that only "virgin" unlock media can be linked to the gaming devices and not those that have already been paired with another group of gaming devices. When such an initial pairing on the display menu, the medium code of the unlocking medium is read and stored in the memory of the game device as an individual media code (or activation code), the first read out necessarily the flag on the unlocking medium (preferably irreversible) sets from "unused" to "used". Instead of a flag, on the hardware side, a readable (memory) area can be irreversibly changed on the enabling medium, so that subsequently no initial pairing is possible.

The technical procedures described below offer the particular advantage that in the end in a group of gaming and / or amusement machines per player (= user) only a valid activation medium must be issued, so that with changing use of the game and / or Entertainment machines constantly changing their associated activation media deleted, if per gaming and / or amusement machines only a single and individual activation medium exists.

Also in these methods can be advantageously provided that a secure communication between the game device and the (pre) configured unlock media is ensured by means of a suitable encryption method.

6 shows a schematic representation of the stored in the memory of the gaming and / or amusement machine unlock code in a further configuration in which activates an unlock code and thus a first unlocking medium for unlocking the gaming and / or amusement machine is usable. This involves configuring an "empty" security medium 26 with the help of the gaming and / or amusement machine 1 the one code receiver 5 for receiving a medium code and a code writing device 5a for writing a medium code, and a memory 8th in which at least one activated unlock medium code can be stored, wherein in an initial pairing step in which in this case a security medium designed as a security card 26 , which in turn is provided for generating activation media for unlocking the gaming and / or amusement machine, with the code receiver 5 or the code writing device 5a at least one gaming and / or amusement machine 1 is brought into communication connection and the security card accepts the currently valid activation medium code of the game device as a security code.

The gaming and / or amusement machine 1 can also create an unlock medium code Generator include the unlock medium codes generated based on a random event, value or a random function and so a respective individual unlocking medium code can be generated, with only one last generated unlocking medium code as the active code available is held. The activation medium code can be an identifier of the gaming and / or amusement machine generated by it 1 contain.

According to a further embodiment, a configuration of the gaming and / or amusement machines 1 the one code receiver 5 for receiving a medium code and a memory 8th , in which at least one activated activation code can be stored, be provided wherein in an initial pairing step in which a security medium, which is provided for unlocking the gaming and / or amusement machine and a suitable for unlocking this game and / or amusement machine medium Code with the code receiver 5 at least one gaming and / or amusement machine 1 is brought into communication, and wherein the communication-related security medium to a use status 40 is checked, and where there is a usage status = unused 41 , generated in accordance with the received medium code of the communication-connected security medium, a compatible enabling code and in the memory 8th as activated activation code 13a is stored, and where the usage status 40 of the communication-connected activation medium 6 to a usage status = used 42 is set.

The 7 shows a schematic representation of a release medium output terminal 25 for generating and outputting a release medium 6 to unlock a gaming and / or amusement machine, with extended medium code based on a security code of a read as a securit card trained unlock medium 26 ,

The output terminal 25 may be provided and adapted to the security medium 26 in one as a card reader 27 trained Unlock Media Output Terminal Code Recipient 25 plugged in or brought into communication with this, the security medium 26 in the present example, the (game and / or amusement machine) device ID "AGI_01" and the card version number "S1" to a code generator 28 of the Unlock Media Output Terminal 25 transmitted or receives this one which then generates an extended, provided for unlocking a gaming and / or entertainment machine medium code depending on the received security code.

Furthermore, the unlock medium output terminal includes a card output 30 as the medium-code read / write device for the activation medium 6 is formed, wherein in the presence of a release medium 6 in the first unlock state, the unlock medium 6 is placed in the second unlock state in which a medium code based on a security code stored or marked as PASSIVE on / in the unlock medium 6 written / saved and the activation medium 6 is released for collection and the security code is stored as ACTIVE or marked; and wherein in the presence of a release medium 6 in the second unlock state, the unlock medium 6 is placed in the first unlock state in which the on / in the unlock medium 6 stored media code is deleted and the associated security code is saved or marked as PASSIVE. The card issue 30 of the issue terminal 25 may be configured to store the, possibly extended, medium codes in an electronic or electromagnetic memory of the unlocking medium 6 he follows.

In an alternative embodiment it can be provided that the card issue 30 is designed for printing or deleting a barcode / QR code and storing the extended medium code comprises printing a barcode / QR code.

In a further alternative or additional embodiment it can be provided that code transformation means are provided and the extended medium code with a transformation function is converted into a multi-digit, for example three, four, or five-digit code and is printed as human-readable code.

It may further be provided that the card reader 27 and the card issue 30 are formed as a unit.

According to a further embodiment, the generation of the extended medium code may comprise a further activation criterion or a plurality of further activation criteria, whereby detection of the activation criterion (s) is carried out, in particular a desired maximum duration of play and / or a desired maximum loss of play and / or biometrics -Information of a user of the gaming and / or amusement machine is / are recorded. For this purpose, it can be provided that the output terminal 25 detection means 51 in particular for acquiring biometric information of a user, for example a fingerprint sensor, a hand vein scanner, an iris scanner, a camera. The recording means 51 may further comprise simple keyboard input means and a suitable user interface display and choices, such as a touch screen display.

Similar as above in connection with the 5 described now includes a gaming and / or amusement machine 1 in a game mode of operation brought to a player for operating the machine, a code receiver 5 for receiving a medium code, a memory 8th in which at least one activated enabling code can be stored, and an enabling device 7 for unlocking the gaming and / or amusement machine for use by a user in response to the received medium code and the active unlock code. This is one of the code receiver 5 received media code or valid group media code with the / each enabled unlock code 13a of the gaming and / or amusement machine 1 compared and the gaming and / or amusement machine 1 depending on the comparison between medium code and activated activation code 13a unlocked or locked.

Based on this received information from the activation medium 6 and in the game and / or amusement machine 1 stored information decides the controller 12 of the gaming and / or amusement machine 1 whether an authorization exists and the machine is unlocked for use by a player or just not unlocked.

According to one embodiment, said control means 12 the activation device 7 include, cf. 5 , in the form of hardware and / or software components in the control device 12 can be implemented. Furthermore, the control device comprises 12 an input / output unit I / O, with the example, the peripheral controls of the control panel 4 and the code receiver 5 are connected in hardware. As 5 Furthermore, shows the release device 7 on a memory 8th access. The memory 8th can in the case 2 of the gaming and / or amusement machine 1 arranged and with the control device 12 may be connected or included by this. The activation device 7 is connected to the input / output unit I / O.

According to another embodiment, in addition to the comparison between medium code and activated unlock code 13a one with the code receiver 5 via another extended medium code receivable further activation criterion or more with the code receiver 5 Receivable unlock criteria is taken into account / and the game and / or amusement machine will only be released upon fulfillment of this additional clearance criterion or this additional clearance criteria.

According to a further embodiment, the additional activation criterion may comprise biometric information, preferably a fingerprint and / or an iris representation and / or a visual field recognition, whereby the biometric information of a respective user is acquired at the gaming and / or amusement machine and stored biometric information for the release of a release medium 6 has been compared to the user to be compared and depending on the game and / or amusement machine for use by a player unlocked or just not unlocked. For this purpose, the gaming and / or entertainment machine comprises, for example, a fingerprint sensor, and / or a hand vein scanner, and / or an iris scanner, and / or a camera.

According to a further embodiment, a temporal configuration of the gaming and / or amusement machine can be used as an additional activation criterion 1 be provided, the game and / or amusement machine 1 a real-time, for example, from a real-time module (real time module or timer) determined.

According to a further embodiment, after completion of the use of the gaming and / or amusement machines 1 a real time timestamp by means of a code writing device ( 5a ) of the gaming and / or amusement machine 1 , or a separate validation or real-time stamp terminal, into the memory of the communication-connected release medium ( 6 ) get saved.

According to another embodiment, a time difference between one of the code receiver 5 with the extended medium code received real-time timestamp and the real-time of the gaming and / or amusement machine 1 be determined and the gaming and / or amusement machine 1 be enabled or disabled depending on the determined time difference and a predetermined time difference.

According to a further embodiment, the release medium 6 include a security tag, and where sufficient proximity of the security tag to an antenna of an electronic article surveillance system (AES), a visual and / or audible warning signal at a suitable location, for example on the gaming device and / or Ausgabeterimnal and / or a system center, output.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102014107864 B3 [0007]
• DE 102012014039 A1 [0008]
• DE 102014009858 A1 [0009]

Claims (25)

Disconnect Media Output Terminal ( 25 ) for issuing at least one release medium ( 6 ) for a group of gaming and / or amusement machines ( 1 ), with a data interface ( 44 ) to communicate with all gaming and / or amusement machines ( 1 ) of said group, a code receiver ( 27 ) for receiving an activation code and / or a medium code from each of the game and / or amusement machines ( 1 ) of said group, as well as a medium-code write device ( 30 ) for describing the at least one release medium ( 6 ) with all media codes that can be used to unlock all gaming and / or amusement machines ( 1 ) of the said group, according to the received activation codes and / or medium codes. Disconnect Media Output Terminal ( 25 ) according to the preceding claim, wherein the medium code writing device ( 30 ) several writing stations (K1, K2 ... Kn) for describing a plurality of release media ( 6 ) and is designed to describe each of the release media located in the writing sites in each case with all medium codes. Disconnect Media Output Terminal ( 25 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a code converter ( 29 ) is provided for converting the received unlock codes into medium codes and the medium code writing apparatus ( 30 ) is designed either directly from the gaming and / or amusement machines ( 1 ) received medium codes or the medium codes converted from the received unlocking codes to the at least one activation medium ( 6 ) to write. Disconnect Media Output Terminal ( 25 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one release medium ( 6 ) in a first enable state or in a second enable state can be set, wherein in the presence of a release medium ( 6 ) in the first release state, the release medium ( 6 ) is brought into the second unlock state, in which all medium codes for enabling all of said group of gaming and / or amusement machines ( 1 ) on / in the release medium ( 6 ) are written / saved and the activation medium ( 6 ) is released for removal, and wherein in the presence of a release medium ( 6 ) in the second release state, the release medium ( 6 ) is brought into the first release state, in which all on / in the release medium ( 6 ) are deleted. Disconnect Media Output Terminal ( 25 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein input means ( 51 ) are provided for inputting a desired maximum playing time and / or a desired maximum game loss, and writing means for storing the entered maximum game loss and / or the input maximum playing time on the unlocking medium. Disconnect Media Output Terminal ( 25 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a biometric data acquisition device ( 51 ) are provided for capturing biometric data of a user, in particular a fingerprint and / or visual field and / or an iris representation, wherein writing means for storing the acquired biometric data on the unlocking medium ( 6 ) and / or storage means for storing the acquired biometric data and / or transmission means for transmitting the acquired biometric data to a gaming and / or amusement machine, at which a release medium is read in, are provided. Unlocking medium ( 6 ), which is settable in a first unlock state or in a second unlock state, to unlock multiple gaming and / or amusement machines ( 1 ), each of which has a code receiver which can be brought into communication connection with the activation medium, wherein the activation medium has stored no medium code in the first unlock state and has stored in the second unlock state a plurality of medium codes, wherein enabling the Gaming and / or entertainment machines only in the presence of the unlocking medium in the second unlock state in the presence of a matching with the gaming and / or amusement machine media code is possible. Method for dispensing at least one release medium ( 6 ) via a release medium output terminal ( 25 ) comprising the following steps: - connecting at least one gaming and / or amusement machine ( 1 ) with the release medium output terminal ( 25 ), - generating a new, activated activation code as well as a new medium code matching the new, activated activation code at the at least one gaming and / or amusement machine ( 1 ), - transmitting the new medium code from the at least one gaming and / or amusement machine ( 1 ) to the unlock medium output terminal ( 25 ), and - storing the new medium code in the clearing medium ( 6 ) through the unlock medium output terminal ( 25 ). Method for dispensing at least one release medium ( 6 ) via a release medium output terminal ( 25 ) comprising the following steps: - connecting at least one gaming and / or amusement machine ( 1 ) with the release medium output terminal ( 25 ), - generating a new, activated activation code at the at least one gaming and / or amusement machine ( 1 ), - transmitting the new, activated activation code from the at least one gaming and / or amusement machine ( 1 ) to the unlock medium output terminal ( 25 ), Generating a new medium code matching the new, activated unlock code by the unlock medium output terminal ( 25 ), and - storing the new medium code in the clearing medium ( 6 ) through the unlock medium output terminal ( 25 ). Method according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein a plurality of gaming and / or amusement machines ( 1 ) with the release medium output terminal ( 25 ), whereby at each gaming and / or amusement machine ( 1 ) each time a new activated activation code is generated, wherein for each new activated activation code, a respectively matching medium code to the respective gaming and / or amusement machine ( 1 ) or through the unlock medium output terminal ( 25 ) and where at the disconnect medium output terminal ( 25 ) several activation media ( 6 ), each of which is described with all new media codes. Gaming and / or amusement machine, with a code receiver ( 5 ) for receiving a medium code from one with the code receiver ( 5 ) in communication connection releasable medium ( 6 ) as well as an enabling device ( 7 ) to unlock the gaming and / or amusement machine ( 1 ) in dependence on the received medium code and a stored activation code, which in one with the enabling device ( 7 ) connectable memory ( 8th ), characterized in that a code generator for generating a new, activated enabling code for storing in the memory ( 8th ) is provided in response to the presence of a predetermined event, and a code provider for providing the new, activated unlock code and / or a matching new medium code to a disconnected medium output terminal ( 25 ), the code receiver ( 5 ) is adapted from an enabling medium ( 6 ) several on the release medium ( 5 ) received media codes, and the enabling device ( 7 ) is adapted to match a plurality of received media codes with the new, activated unlock code. Gaming and / or amusement machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the code generator is adapted to generate the new, activated unlock code in the presence of at least one of the following events: expiration of a predetermined period of time since generation of the last, previously activated unlock code, Switching on and / or starting up the gaming and / or amusement machine, - there is a request signal from the clearance medium output terminal ( 25 ). Gaming and / or amusement machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the code generator has a random number generator for generating new activation code and / or a code selector for selecting the new, activated unlocking code from a plurality of stored passive release codes. Gaming and / or amusement machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the memory ( 8th ) several different passive activation codes ( 13p of which one is selectable and in an activated activation code ( 13a ) convertible and / or in the or another memory ( 8th ) is storable and / or markable, wherein the enabling device ( 7 ) is adapted to the gaming and / or amusement machines ( 1 ) depending on a comparison of the activated activation code ( 13a ) with a received medium code. Gaming and / or entertainment machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the enabling device ( 7 ) is adapted to deactivate the activated activation code on the basis of at least one predetermined deactivation criterion, wherein the deactivation criterion comprises the achievement of a predetermined playing time and / or a predetermined loss of play and / or the generation of a new, activated activation code and the activation device ( 7 ) is adapted to deactivate on activation of the predetermined playing time and / or reaching the predetermined loss of play and / or in generating a new activated activation code the previously activated activation code and / or to end the game session. Gaming and / or amusement machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the activation device ( 7 ) is designed to account for the unlocking of the gaming and / or amusement machines in addition to a comparison of the medium code with the activation code at least one further activation criterion and the game and / or amusement machines only at Fulfillment of this unlock at least one other unlock criteria. Gaming and / or entertainment machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the at least one further activation criterion comprises biometric information, preferably in the form of a fingerprint and / or an iris representation, wherein the gaming and / or amusement machine biometry data acquisition device for detecting biometric data of a User and the enabling device ( 7 ) is adapted to unlock the gaming and / or amusement machines as a function of a comparison of the recorded biometric data with stored biometric data. Gaming and / or amusement machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the stored biometric data on the unlocking medium ( 6 ) are storable and the enabling device ( 7 ) is adapted to store the stored biometric data from the clearing medium ( 6 ) to recieve. Gaming and / or entertainment machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the enabling device ( 7 ) is adapted to deactivate the activated enabling code in dependence on the presence of detected biometric data and / or to end a game session in dependence on the presence of detected biometric data. Gaming and / or amusement machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the memory ( 8th ) integral part of the gaming and / or amusement machine ( 1 ), in particular inside a slot machine housing ( 2 ) is recorded. Gaming and / or amusement machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the enabling device ( 7 ) a code transformation module ( 24 ) for transforming the from the release medium ( 6 ) received medium codes in a transformed medium code and / or in the memory ( 8th ) storable activated activation codes ( 13a ) in a transformed activated activation code, wherein the release device is adapted to the gaming and / or amusement machines ( 1 ) depending on the transformed medium code and / or the transformed activated unlock code. Gaming and / or amusement machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the enabling device ( 7 ) an encryption and / or decryption module ( 11 ) for encrypting and / or decrypting the unlock medium ( 6 ) received medium codes and / or in the memory ( 8th ) storable activated activation codes ( 13a ), and / or the code generator and / or the code provider an encryption and / or decryption module ( 11 ) for encrypting the memory ( 8th ) to be stored, new activated clearance codes and / or the release medium output terminal ( 25 ) to be transmitted new medium codes. Gaming and / or amusement machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the encryption and / or decryption module ( 11 ) a hash module ( 20 ) for providing a cryptographic hash function, said hash module ( 29 ) is designed preferably key-dependent working and a key generation module is provided for generating a key for the cryptographic hash function. Device comprising an enabling medium output terminal ( 25 ), which is designed according to one of claims 1 to 6, as well as a group of several gaming and / or amusement machines ( 1 ), each according to one of claims 11 to 23, wherein the release medium output terminal ( 25 ) with each of the gaming and / or amusement machines ( 1 ) is in data-transmitting connection. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the gaming and / or amusement machines ( 1 ) are interconnected.

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