Method, Apparatus and System for Determining the Presence of a User at a Device Such as a Gaming Machine

A system for verifying during gaming the continued presence of a user to a gaming device connected to a network regardless of the identity the user, said gaming device having apparatus for capturing biometric data samples of a user of the gaming device and for transmitting said samples on said network, the system comprising:

• a processor configured (i) to receive said biometric data samples transmitted on said network during gaming, (ii) to designate a first data sample as a reference sample and (iii) to compare a later biometric data sample to said reference template and if said later biometric sample received during gaming is substantially similar to said reference template (iv) generate a first signal indicative of the continued use by the user of the gaming device and if said later biometric sample is not substantially similar to said reference template (v) generate a prompt signal to the player for prompting said user to transmit user identifying information for confirming that the user is still using the device;
• and
• a transmitter for transmitting at least said prompt signal to the device over said network to the user of the device.

A system for verifying during gaming the continued presence of a user to a gaming device connected to a network regardless of the identity the user, said gaming device having apparatus for capturing biometric data samples of a user of the gaming device and for transmitting said samples on said network, the system comprising:

• a processor configured (i) to receive said biometric data samples transmitted on said network during gaming, (ii) to designate a first data sample as a reference sample and (iii) to compare a later biometric data sample to said reference template and if said later biometric sample received during gaming is substantially similar to said reference template (iv) generate a first signal indicative of the continued use by the user of the gaming device and if said later biometric sample is not substantially similar to said reference template (v) generate a second signal;
• and
• a transmitter for transmitting at least said second signal to the device over said network to indicate that the user is no longer using said device.