DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Objections
Claim 13 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 13 recites the limitation “an electronic gaming machine”; however, it appears that the limitation should be amended to “the electronic gaming machine”. Appropriate correction is required.
Response to Amendment
The examiner acknowledges Request for Continued Examination and receipt of amendments/arguments filed 3/26/26. The arguments set forth are addressed herein below. Claims 1-6, 8-18, and 20 remain pending, Claims 7 and 19 are canceled, and Claims 1, 9, and 13 are currently amended.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-6, 8-18, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
In regards to Claims 1, 9, and 13, the claims include the limitations of “responsive to a receipt, via the interface and from the component of the gaming establishment security system, of data associated with a determination that the captured data associated with the image of the user does not correspond to stored data associated with any images of any restricted individuals: and enable a streaming session to occur at the electronic gaming machine, and when the streaming session occurs at the electronic gaming machine: communicate the captured data to a live streaming platform server, receive slot accounting system data from a processor of the electronic gaming machine and communicate at least part of the received slot accounting system data to a processor of a gaming establishment management system”; however, such limitations are not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
The applicant relies upon ¶ 66, 76, 80-81, 83, 90-92, and 99 for support of such features. Below is a recitation of the paragraphs noted by the applicant and a summary (giving it’s broadest reasonable interpretation) of the cited paragraphs.
¶ 66 recites:
“In certain embodiments, in view of the technological challenges to properly identify an individual at an electronic gaming machine for the purposes of determining whether any restrictions are in place regarding that individual's potential use of such an electronic gaming machine, the systems and methods of the present disclosure employ data obtained by a streaming device (and/or a client device) to potentially identify the individual and potentially enforce any applicable restrictions. In these embodiments, a streaming device (and/or a client device) includes or is otherwise associated with certain peripheral devices, such as a camera or a microphone, that enable the streaming device (and/or a client device) to capture certain data that is otherwise used to generate supplemental content to be included in a live stream broadcast by a live streaming platform. In certain such embodiments, in addition (or alterative) to the peripheral devices being used to capture such data for live streaming purposes, the streaming device (and/or a client device) employs such peripheral devices to capture certain user data, such as biometric data, to enable a potential identification of a user at the streaming device (and/or a client device) even when the streaming device (and/or a client device) is not participating in any streaming sessions. This potential identification of a user enables zero, one or more applicable restrictions to be enforced by modifying how the streaming device (and/or a client device) operates in association with the user or how an electronic gaming machine associated with the streaming device (and/or a client device) operates in association the user. As such, the system of the present disclosure utilizes certain components otherwise employed as part of a live streaming environment to potentially identify a user (and, if needed, enforce certain restrictions associated with the user) independent of whether or not such components are actively being utilized in association with the live streaming environment”.
The above, in summary, suggests that a streaming devices includes peripheral devices such as a camera or microphone that captures that used to generate supplemental content in a live stream broadcast, wherein some peripheral devices can capture data such as biometric data to potentially identify the user at the streaming device even when the streaming device is not participating in any streaming sessions or independent of whether or not such components are actively being utilized in association with the live streaming environment.
¶ 76 recites:
“Following the occurrence of the user identification event and the subsequent capture of certain data associated with the user at the EGM, the EGM (and/or the SMIB associated with the EGM) communicates part or all of such data to a component of a gaming establishment security system which compares the received data to stored data associated with certain users prohibited or restricted from interfacing with the EGM. In certain such embodiments, the system of the present disclosure compares the facial recognition data of an unverified user at an EGM to the stored facial recognition data of a verified individual to potentially automatically identify the individual without requesting the individual to make any inputs to verify themselves (either at the EGM or by having to travel to a gaming establishment service desk and interact with gaming establishment personnel which certain banned users are disincentivized to undertake).”
The above, in summary, suggests that the electronic gaming machine sends identification data of an unverified user to stored data of a verified restricted or prohibited users to automatically identify the user without request of the individual to make any inputs that verify themselves to identify an unverified user.
¶ 80-81 recite:
“[0080] In certain embodiments, the component of the gaming establishment security system compares the received data associated with the user at the EGM to stored data associated with certain users prohibited or restricted from interfacing with the EGM to determine (within a designated degree of confidence) if the user at the EGM is prohibited or restricted from interfacing with the EGM. In certain such embodiments, the component of the gaming establishment security system utilizes applicable facial recognition software to analyze each of the images to determine a probability that the user at the EGM is the individual previously flagged as requiring an enhanced security protocol.
[0081] In certain embodiments, one or more user identity servers (either associated with a gaming establishment or independent of the gaming establishment) compare the facial recognition data obtained from the streaming device (and/or the client device) to the stored facial recognition data of the individual prohibited or restricted from interfacing with the EGM. In these embodiments, following any communication of data associated with the obtained images captured by the image capture device(s) to the user identity server, the user identity server determines whether the facial recognition data of the live person at the EGM matches (within a designated degree of confidence) the stored facial recognition data of the individual prohibited or restricted from interfacing with the EGM. In other words, the user identity server utilizes applicable facial recognition software to analyze each of the images to determine a probability that the person at the EGM is the person previously identified as prohibited or restricted from interfacing with the EGM.”
The above, in summary, suggests that identification data associated with a user of an electronic gaming machine is received by the gaming security system/server for comparison to identification data (facial recognition data) of prohibited or restricted users received from the user without request of the individual to make any inputs that verify themselves to identify an unverified user, wherein the servers matches the data within a certain degree of probability.
¶ 83 recite:
“In certain embodiments, in addition to (or alternative from) employing a gaming establishment security system that operates with a streaming device to identify a player at an EGM and potentially modifies one or more features of the EGM based on the identification of the user, the present disclosure employs a responsible gaming system to store facial recognition data (and/or other biometric data) in association with individuals that may be subject to certain responsible gaming limitations. In these embodiments, since different responsible gaming programs required by jurisdiction regulation and/or may be set by an individual as a safety measure provide the ability to set different limits on gaming activities, such as a limit on an amount of money wagered, an amount of money lost, an amount of time played and/or monitor for unexpected behavior (i.e., erratic wagering and/or inputs relative to prior wagering and/or inputs made by individual), the responsible gaming system stores, in one or more databases, facial recognition data (and/or other biometric data) of individuals and responsible gaming activities of such individuals. In these embodiments, in addition to maintaining facial recognition data (and/or other biometric data) of individuals who interact with an EGM (and employing such stored facial recognition data in the comparison to the facial recognition data received from the EGM (and/or the SMIB associated with the EGM) otherwise operable with the live streaming platform), the responsible gaming system tracks one or more responsible gaming metrics, such as tracking amounts of money wagered, amounts of money lost, and/or amounts of time playing games, over a designated time period, such as per day, for such individuals. In another embodiment, the responsible gaming system tracks a user's behavior, such as wagering patterns and/or inputs made, as a responsible gaming metric. Such tracking of these responsible gaming metrics provides an enhanced responsible gaming functionality not previously available from EGMs (and/or SMIBs associated with EGMs) that lack the components otherwise employed to operate in a streaming environment.”
The above, in summary, suggests the gaming establishment security system storing facial recognition data (biometric data) in association with individuals that may have gaming limitations, such upon identification of a player at an EGM being a prohibited player modifications of the EGM can be applied. Such modifications including setting different limits on gaming activities such an limit on the amount of money wagered, lost, amount of time played and/or monitoring of unexpected wagering behavior. The system storing facial recognition data of the users and gaming activities of the user and tracks wagering behaviors.
¶ 90-92 recite:
“[0090] In certain embodiments, if the component of a gaming establishment security system which compares the received data to stored data associated with certain users prohibited or restricted from interfacing with the EGM determines that the user at the EGM is not prohibited or restricted from interfacing with the EGM, the component of the gaming establishment security system notifies the EGM (and/or the SMIB associated with the EGM) that no prohibitions or restrictions are needed. In certain other embodiments, if the component of a gaming establishment security system which compares the received data to stored data associated with certain users prohibited or restricted from interfacing with the EGM determines that the user at the EGM is not prohibited or restricted from interfacing with the EGM, the component of the gaming establishment security system does not notify the EGM (and/or the SMIB associated with the EGM) and the EGM (and/or the SMIB associated with the EGM) continues to operate without any modifications.
[0091] On the other hand, if the component of a gaming establishment security system which compares the received data to stored data associated with certain users prohibited or restricted from interfacing with the EGM determines that the user at the EGM is prohibited or restricted from interfacing with the EGM, the component of the gaming establishment security system notifies the EGM (and/or the SMIB associated with the EGM) of such a situation. In these embodiments, the EGM (and/or the SMIB associated with the EGM) proceeds to modify how it operates (relative to the identified user) to potentially place one or more prohibitions or restrictions on how the user interacts with the EGM.
[0092] In certain embodiments, upon a determination that the user at the EGM qualifies as a user associated with certain prohibitions and/or restrictions, the system disables the EGM from operating with that user. For example, as seen in FIG. 3, following a user identification event of a player inserting money into an EGM and the EGM alerting the SMIB of such an occurrence, the SMIB operates with a component of a gaming establishment security system (i.e., the Security Host) to trigger a check of the player at the EGM relative to video stored by a storage device (i.e., the Live Media Storage) associated with the live streaming platform (not shown). In this example, upon the component of the gaming establishment security system determining that the player at the EGM is prohibited or restricted from interfacing with the EGM, the component of the gaming establishment security system notifies the SMIB to disable the EGM and the SMIB in turn notifies the EGM to disable subsequent interactions with the player at the EGM.”
The above, in summary, suggests that security system compares received data to stored data associated with prohibited or restricted users engaging with an electronic gaming machine and determines that the user at the EGM is not prohibited or restricted from engaging with the EGM. In response to the determination the system notifies the EGM that no prohibitions or restrictions are needed and in some embodiments no notification is provided to the EGM. If a determination is made by the security system that the received data of a user at a EGM matches stored data associated with prohibited or restricted users than the security system notifies the EGM, wherein in response the EGM modifies the EGM to apply restrictions or prohibitions on how the user interacts with the EGM. If a match occurs the system may disable the EGM and the smib notifies the egm to disable interactions with the user/player.
¶ 99 recites:
“Accordingly, the system of the present disclosure harnesses the capabilities of an electronic gaming machine (and/or a component of the gaming establishment management system in communication with the electronic gaming machine) operable as a streaming device (and/or operable as a client device that enables the capturing of certain data of the user of the client device) and employs such capabilities to automatically employ certain enhanced security measures for certain users that warrant such treatment. In other words, the present disclosure utilizes one or more devices associated with an electronic gaming machine operable as a streaming device to additionally (or alternatively if the electronic gaming machine is not operating as a streaming device) offer certain security features not otherwise available from electronic gaming machines not configured to operate as streaming devices.”
The above, in summary, suggests that the EGM (in combination with components of the gaming establishment management system in communication with the EGM) is operable as a streaming device that enables capturing of specific data of a user for use for automatic enforcement of security measures of prohibited users.
The above disclosure and/or instant specification is silent in regards to “responsive to a receipt, via the interface and from the component of the gaming establishment security system, of data associated with a determination that the captured data associated with the image of the user does not correspond to stored data associated with any images of any restricted individuals: enable a streaming session to occur at the electronic gaming machine, and when the streaming session occurs at the electronic gaming machine: communicate the captured data to a live streaming platform server, receive slot accounting system data from a processor of the electronic gaming machine and communicate at least part of the received slot accounting system data to a processor of a gaming establishment management system”
Dependent Claims 2-6, 8, 10-18, and 20 inherit the deficiencies of corresponding Claims 1, 9, and 13 from which they depend; therefore, are herein rejected.
Appropriate correction is required.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 3/26/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive, in part.
Claims 1-6, 8-18, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement The applicant relied upon ¶ 66, 76, 80-81, 83, 90-92, and 99 for support for the certain limitations found within at least Claims 1, 9, and 13; however, after consideration of such disclosure the rejection is herein maintained and clarified to reflect the newly added amendments. Please see the above rejection regarding the cited paragraphs.
35 U.S.C. § 101
The rejection of Claims 1-6, 8-18, and 18-20 under 35 U.S.C. § 101 as being directed to non-statutory subject matter identified as “organization of human activity” is withdrawn in view of the amendments and arguments filed 3/26/26.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TRAMAR HARPER whose telephone number is (571)272-6177. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30am to 5:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kang Hu can be reached at (571) 270-1344. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TRAMAR HARPER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3715