1-174. (canceled)
175. A portable device for storing electronic receipts, comprising:
a computing module;
a communications module operatively coupled to the computing module, and configured to communicate with a base device, which supplies data representing at least one electronic receipt to the communications module; and
a memory module operatively coupled to the computing module, and configured to store the data representing the at least one electronic receipt,
wherein the data representing the at least one electronic receipt includes receipt status information, a unique receipt identifier, transaction identifying information, base device information, and portable electronic device identification information.
176. The portable device of claim 175, wherein the computing module executes control logic stored in the portable device to require user authentication before allowing access to the data representing the at least one electronic receipt.
177. The portable device of claim 176, wherein the computing module executes control logic stored in the portable device to restrict access to the data representing the at least one electronic receipt.
178. The portable device of claim 177, wherein the computing module executes control logic stored in the portable device to refuse storage of new data representing the at least one electronic receipt under certain conditions.
179. The portable device of claim 175, wherein the computing module executes control logic stored in the portable device to prevent the storage of the new data representing at least one new electronic receipt if the storage will cause the memory module to exceed a memory capacity of the memory module.
180. The portable device of claim 175, wherein the computing module comprises control logic stored in the portable device configured to keep a record of storing the at least one electronic receipt.
181. The portable device of claim 180, wherein the record comprises a date of a transaction, a reference to a product or service rendered, and a price of the product or service rendered.
182. The portable device of claim 175, wherein the receipt status information identifies the data representing the at least one electronic receipt as being one of: original, duplicated, invalid, or deleted.
183. The portable device of claim 175, wherein the transaction identifying information includes a transaction ID, transaction date, transaction amount, information on products or service delivered, and a receipt validity period.
184. The portable device of claim 175, wherein the portable device identification information links the data representing at least one electronic receipt to the portable device.
185. A method for receiving and storing an electronic receipt onto a portable device, comprising:
receiving data at a communications module of a portable device from a base device, the data representing at least one electronic receipt; and
storing the data representing the at least one electronic receipt in a memory module of the portable device,
wherein, the data representing the at least one electronic receipt includes receipt status information, a unique receipt identifier, transaction identifying information, base device information, and portable device identification information.
186. The method of claim 185, further comprising:
allowing access to the data representing the at least one electronic receipt by an external device coupled to the communications module.
187. The method of claim 186, wherein user authentication is required for allowing access to the data.
188. The method of claim 187, further comprising:
verifying the user authentication, and offloading the data representing the at least one electronic receipt to the external device.
189. The method of claim 186, further comprising:
receiving a request to store new data representing at least one second electronic receipt, detecting that storing the new data representing the least one new electronic receipt will cause the memory module to exceed memory capacity of the memory module, and refusing the request to store the new data representing the at least one new electronic receipt.
190. The method of claim 185, further comprising:
creating a storage record on the memory module for the data representing the at least one electronic receipt.
191. The method of claim 190, wherein the storage record comprises a date of transaction, a reference to a product or service rendered, and a price of the product or service rendered.
192. The method of claim 185, wherein the receipt status information identifies the data representing the at least one electronic receipt as being one of: original, duplicated, invalid, or deleted.
193. The method of claim 185, further comprising:
receiving a request at the communications module of the portable device to change a current state of the receipt status information.
194. The method of claim 193, further comprising:
changing the current state of the receipt status information to a deleted state, in response to the request.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A service center coupled to a gaming network and to an automatic teller network, comprising:
a player identifier structured to validate a user as a holder of a player account on the gaming network;
a ticket reader;
a verifier coupled to the player identifier and the ticket reader, and structured to validate a ticket that is inserted into the ticket reader; and
a payment dispenser structured to eject from the service center an amount of value after the ticket is validated.
2. The service center of claim 1 wherein the ticket reader is a bill validator.
3. The service center of claim 1, further comprising a ticket printer.
4. The service center of claim 3 wherein the ticket printer is configured to print a tax form.
5. The service center of claim 1 wherein the player identifier is also structured to validate the user as an employee.
6. A service center structured to be coupled to a gaming network and to an automated teller network, the service center comprising:
a ticket printer structured to print a ticket after receiving a command from the gaming network.
7. The service center of claim 6 wherein the command is generated from a gaming device coupled to the gaming network.
8. The service center of claim 6 wherein the ticket printer is structured to deliver a bonus generated on the computer network.
9. The service center of claim 6 wherein the service center is a node on the gaming network.
10. A standalone service center that is coupled to a gaming network and that is structured to:
present transaction choices to a user and accept a selected choice;
verify an identity of a user having a player account;
accept a ticket at a ticket reader;
validate the accepted ticket by comparing it to data stored on the gaming network; and
provide a benefit to the user.
11. The service center of claim 10 in which the service center is structured to provide a benefit to the user by providing currency to the user.
12. The service center of claim 10 in which the service center is structured to provide a benefit to the user by providing a new ticket to the user.
13. The service center of claim 10 in which the service center is structured to provide a benefit to the user by adding a benefit to the player account.
14. The service center of claim 10 wherein the service center is further structured to establish a data connection with an ATM network.
15. The service center of claim 14 wherein the service center is structured to transfer account value from an account on the ATM network to the player account.
16. A method of servicing a player account, comprising:
accepting an input at a station that is coupled to a gaming network;
identifying a player having an account based on the input;
accepting a ticket at a ticket reader;
verifying authenticity of the ticket;
providing something of value to the player; and
recording that the ticket has been redeemed.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein providing something of value comprises adding value to a player account.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein providing something of value comprises ejecting currency from the station.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein providing something of value comprises printing another ticket from the station.
20. The method of claim 16 wherein the station does not include a gaming device.
21. A method of servicing a player account at a service center coupled to a gaming network on which a plurality of player accounts are stored, the method comprising:
establishing a data connection to the gaming network;
accepting an identification of a user;
comparing information from the identification to user data stored on the gaming network;
authorizing the user when the information matches the stored user data;
accepting a ticket from the user;
comparing data from the ticket to ticket data stored on the gaming network; and
providing something of value to the user if the data from the ticket matches the stored ticket data.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:
establishing a data connection to an ATM network; and
transferring money from an account on the ATM network to the player account of the authorized user.
23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:
comparing information from the identification to employee data stored on the gaming network; and
authorizing an employee if the information from the identification matches the stored employee data.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:
providing currency to the authorized employee; and
storing a record of providing the currency on the gaming network.