US 6,783,459 B2Granted

Passive biometric customer identification and tracking system

OwnerBlake Cumbersinventor

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Abstract

A computer-based customer tracking system passively identifies customers. Acquired biometric identification information is sent to a computer processor, which searches files in a library for matching biometric data. If no match is found, the processor opens a new file in the library. If a match is found, said processor stores in the file that a repeat identification has occurred. If said processor is only able to reduce the number of possible matches to two or more files, personnel determines if a match certain has occurred. If prior activity information stored in the file exceeds a predetermined level, the prior activity information is retrieved from the file and sent to a terminal, preferably at the location of the transaction. New information from the transaction is stored for future access. The processor scans the files periodically, and deletes files which include activity level below a predetermined level over a preselected time period.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method for identifying and tracking customers of an establishment who have not previously registered or identified themselves to the establishment, which comprises:

obtaining biometric identification information from the customer,
transmitting acquired biometric data to a data processor memory,
maintaining a library of files of anonymous customers and their corresponding biometric identification data in the data processor memory,
said processor comparing the received biometric data identifying the customer to identification data in the files of said library to determine if the acquired biometric data match stored biometric identification data of anonymous customers,
if said processor determines that said biometric data match stored identification data of a prior customer in said library, said processor storing in the memory of said customer's file that a repeat identification has been made,
said processor storing in the memory of the customer's file information relating to the customer's current transaction,
if said processor is only able to reduce the identity of the customer to two or more of said library of files of anonymous customers and their corresponding biometric identification data in the data processor memory, a human being compares the received biometric data identifying the customer to the identification data in the two or more files of said library to determine which one of the two or more files of said library correspond to the anonymous customer, and
said human being manually inputting into said processor which of the two or more files of said library correspond to the anonymous customer causing said processor to store in the memory of said customer's file that a repeat identification has been made and causing said processor to store in the memory of the customer's file information relating to the customer's current transaction.

5 more elements

An identification method for identifying and tracking the play of a player playing a wagering game comprised of:

acquiring passively, without active entry of player identification data by a player or establishment personnel at the time of play, biometric identification information related to the player,
transmitting acquired biometric identification information to a data processor memory,
maintaining a library of files of anonymous players and their corresponding biometric identification information in the data processor memory,
said processor comparing the received biometric identification information identifying the customer to information in the files of said library to determine if the acquired information matches stored biometric identification information of an anonymous player,
if said processor is only able to reduce the identity of the customer to two or more of said library of files of anonymous customers and their corresponding biometric identification data in the data processor memory, a human being compares the received biometric data identifying the customer to the identification data in the two or more files of said library to determine if the acquired information matches stored biometric identification information of an anonymous player,
if said received biometric identification information matches stored identification information of a prior anonymous player in said library, said processor storing in the memory of said player's file that a repeat identification has been made, and
if said received biometric information does not match stored identification information of a prior customer in said library, said processor opening a new anonymous file for said player and storing in the memory of said processor file biometric identification information of said player and at least one parameter of play of the identified game.

4 more elements

An identification method for identifying and tracking the play of a player playing a wagering game comprised of:

acquiring passively, without active entry of player identification data by a player or establishment personnel at the time of play, biometric information related to the customer,
transmitting acquired biometric identification information to a data processor memory,
maintaining a library of files of anonymous players and their corresponding biometric identification information in the data processor memory,
said processor comparing the received biometric identification information identifying the customer to information in the files of said library to determine if the acquired biometric identification information matches stored biometric identification information of an anonymous player,
if said processor is only able to reduce the identity of the customer to two or more of said library of files of anonymous customers and their corresponding biometric identification data in the data processor memory, a human being compares the received biometric data identifying the customer to the identification data in the two or more files of said library to determine if the acquired biometric identification information matches stored biometric identification information of an anonymous player,
if said received biometric information matches stored identification information of a prior anonymous player in said library, said processor storing in the memory of said player's file that a repeat identification has been made,
if said received biometric information does not match stored identification information of a prior customer in said library, said processor opening a new anonymous file for said player and storing in the memory of said processor file biometric identification information of said player and at least one parameter of play of the identified game,
if said received biometric information matches identification information of a prior anonymous player in said library, sending at least one parameter of play of the identified game to said processor, said processor storing the parameter in the player's file, and said processor sending information from the file relating to the player's activity to a predetermined terminal if the level of said player's activity exceeds a predetermined minimum level.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/080,829Filed 22 Feb 2002 · continuation in part
Priority: 22 Aug 1997
Published: US 2002/0132663 A119 Sep 2002
Granted: 31 Aug 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G06V 40/172
Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions: classification, e.g. identification
G06Q 30/0209
Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates: incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
G06V 40/18
Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands: eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris
G07C 9/37
In combination with an identity check: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Family

Application08/916,270Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Aug 1997
Application09/588,791Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 6 Jun 2000
Application09/707,439Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 6 Nov 2000
US 2002/0132663 A1Pre-grant publication · published 19 Sep 2002
US 6,554,705 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,234,900 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,142,876 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,783,459 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.