# US 11,443,589 B2 · Gaming device docking station for authorized game play > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,443,589 B2 - Document ID: US11443589B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/993,154 - Filed: 2020-08-13 - Published: 2020-11-26 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc. (ATI) - Applicants: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc. (ATI) - Inventors: Binh T. Nguyen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11443589B2 ## CPC - G07F 17/3241: {Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance (computer security G06F21/00)} - G07F 17/3202: {Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof} - G07F 17/3209: {Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen} - G07F 17/3218: {wherein at least part of the system is portable} - G07F 17/3223: {Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, leader-follower, wireless communication} - G07F 17/3225: {Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users} - G07F 17/3227: {Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters} - G07F 17/3251: {involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens} - G07F 17/34: depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines - H04L 67/34: {involving the movement of software or configuration parameters (network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416)} - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - H04W 12/06: Authentication - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract In one embodiment, a system to authorize a mobile electronic device to play games of chance includes a gaming system manager and a docking station, The docking station can be configured to: (i) detect whether the mobile electronic device is connected to a receiver of the docking station; (ii) receive device information from the mobile electronic device if it is detected that the mobile electronic device is connected to the receiver; (iii) determine whether a game of chance can be played on the mobile electronic device based on the received device information; (iv) authorize the mobile electronic device to play the game of chance; and (v) transmit gaming data to the mobile electronic device if it is determined that the game of chance can be played on the mobile electronic device and if the mobile electronic device is authorized. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A docking station configured to authorize a player's mobile electronic device to play one or more games of chance, the docking station comprising: a processor operatively coupled to a detector and configured to: detect whether the player's mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station; receive information from the player's mobile electronic device if it is detected that the player's mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station; determine whether the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more games of chance based on the received information; authorize the player's mobile electronic device to participate in the one or more games of chance after it is determined that the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more games of chance; and receive participation data from the player's mobile electronic device if it is determined that the player's mobile electronic device is authorized, wherein once the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more games of chance, the player's mobile electronic device is deemed a trusted gaming device for use within a gaming establishment, and wherein while the player's mobile electronic device is deemed a trusted gaming device, the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to transfer funds into or out of a fund account for use by the player for gaming or non-gaming use. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the docking station is further configured to electronically communicate with a player tracking server to facilitate a fund transfer transaction. ### Claim 3 A docking station configured to authorize a player's mobile electronic device to operate with a casino gaming system manager, the docking station comprising: a processor operatively coupled to a detector and configured to: detect whether the player's mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station; receive information from the player's mobile electronic device if it is detected that the player's mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station; and communicate with the gaming system manager, the gaming system manager comprising a player tracking server, and the communication being over a wired or wireless network for determining whether the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to operate with the gaming system manager based on the received information from the player's mobile electronic device, wherein once the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to operate with the gaming system manager, the player's mobile electronic device is deemed a trusted gaming device for use within a gaming establishment, and wherein while the player's mobile electronic device is deemed a trusted gaming device, the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to transfer funds into or out of a fund account for use by the player for gaming or non-gaming use, wherein the communicating with the gaming system manager includes interacting with the player tracking server over the wired or wireless network, and wherein the communicating includes receiving an indication of whether the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in one or more wagering games. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The docking station as recited in claim 3, wherein the player's mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station via a short-range wireless network. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The docking station as recited in claim 3, wherein the communicating with the gaming system manager includes interacting with the player tracking server over the wired or wireless network. ### Claim 6 A docking station configured to authorize a player's mobile electronic device to operate with a casino gaming system manager, the docking station comprising: a processor operatively coupled to a detector and configured to: detect whether the player's mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station; receive information from the player's mobile electronic device if it is detected that the player's mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station; and communicate with the gaming system manager, the gaming system manager comprising a player tracking server, and the communication being over a wired or wireless network for determining whether the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to operate with the gaming system manager based on the received information from the player's mobile electronic device, wherein once the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to operate with the gaming system manager, the player's mobile electronic device is deemed a trusted gaming device for use within a gaming establishment, and wherein while the player's mobile electronic device is deemed a trusted gaming device, the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to transfer funds into or out of a fund account for use by the player for gaming or non-gaming use, wherein the fund account is associated with the player. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The docking station as recited in claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to: determine whether the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more wagering games. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The docking station as recited in claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to: authorize the player's mobile electronic device to participate in the one or more wagering games after it is determined that the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more wagering games; and receive participation data from the player's mobile electronic device if it is determined that the player's mobile electronic device is authorized. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the player's mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station via a short-range wireless network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the communicating with the gaming system manager includes interacting with the player tracking server over the wired or wireless network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to: determine whether the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more wagering games. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The docking station as recited in claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to: authorize the player's mobile electronic device to participate in the one or more wagering games after it is determined that the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more wagering games; and receive participation data from the player's mobile electronic device if it is determined that the player's mobile electronic device is authorized. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the player's mobile electronic device is coupled to the docking station via a short-range wireless network. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the docking station is further configured to electronically communicate with a player tracking server over a wired or wireless network. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The docking station as recited in claim 14, wherein the processor is operatively configured to interact with the player tracking server over the wired or wireless network, and to receive an indication of whether the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more games of chance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The docking station as recited in claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to: authorize the player's mobile electronic device to participate in the one or more wagering games after it is determined that the player's mobile electronic device is permitted to participate in the one or more wagering games; and receive participation data from the player's mobile electronic device if it is determined that the player's mobile electronic device is authorized. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the gaming system manager further comprises at least one gaming server configured to store at least one of wagering game data, player information and data, or mobile electronic device data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) The docking station as recited in claim 3, wherein the gaming system manager further comprises at least one gaming server configured to store at least one of wagering game data, player information and data, or mobile electronic device data. ### Claim 19 (depends on 6) The docking station as recited in claim 6, wherein the gaming system manager further comprises at least one gaming server configured to store at least one of wagering game data, player information and data, or mobile electronic device data. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The docking station as recited in claim 1, the docking station comprises one of a card reader, a printer, a scanner or a near-field communication device.