Abstract: A casino having a nodal network of wireless transceivers. Each bank of gaming machines has a transceiver within wireless communication range of at least one other transceiver. A casino patron uses a casino app running on a mobile device to communicate with the external network cloud via the nodal network from any location within the casino at which the mobile device is within wireless communication range of a connected transceiver. The mobile device transmits to the connected transceiver an outgoing message that is propagated wirelessly through the nodal network to the external network cloud via a terminal transceiver. The mobile device receives from the connected transceiver an incoming message that has been transmitted from the external network cloud to the terminal transceiver and then propagated wirelessly through the nodal network to the connected transceiver.

Abstract: A transaction is facilitated at a business's touchpoint by transmitting from a wireless device (e.g., a patron's cell phone) to a transaction server operated by a transaction-funding business: patron-identifying information for the patron and a touchpoint ID associated with the touchpoint read using the wireless device. The transaction server authorizes the transaction, transmits that authorization to the cell phone and/or the touchpoint business, and the touchpoint business provides goods/services to the patron. In some implementations, the transaction-funding business transfers outgoing funds for the transaction to the touchpoint business and receives incoming funds for the transaction from the patron. In a casino, a patron can use his/her cell phone to purchase gaming credit at a gaming table. The transaction-funding business funds the purchase for the patron without any funds ever residing on or passing through the patron's cell phone.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, social distancing is implemented at a gaming establishment (such as a casino) by disabling one or more neighboring gaming machines from being played while a first patron is playing at a first gaming machine. Social grouping is implemented by enabling a second patron who is in a social group with the first patron to play at one of the neighboring gaming machines, while the first patron is playing at the first gaming machine. In some implementations, a gaming system of the gaming establishment controls which gaming machines are disabled. In other implementations, patrons' cell phones running a gaming app communicate directly with the gaming machines to disable the neighboring gaming machines while enabling patrons in the same social group to play at neighboring gaming machines. In some implementations, play at a gaming machine is prevented by temporarily disabling the gaming machine's bill validator.

Abstract: A cash-dispensing machine (e.g., a casino kiosk or bank ATM) enables a user to use a bank card (e.g., a credit or debit card) to purchase a negotiable instrument via a quasi-cash transaction, redeem the negotiable instrument, and dispense paper currency for the redeemed negotiable instrument without having to go elsewhere (e.g., a casino cage) to redeem the negotiable instrument. The machine enables a user-verification process to be performed to verify the identity of the user before allowing the negotiable instrument to be redeemed.

Abstract: A computer-based casino gaming system includes a ticket server and a marker server. The ticket server controls generation and redemption of gaming vouchers used for play at gaming machine/tables. The marker server controls granting of non-cashable markers having non-cashable value to casino patrons. When the marker server determines to grant a non-cashable marker requested by a patron, the ticket server generates a first gaming voucher representing a first monetary value corresponding to the non-cashable value. When the patron uses the first gaming voucher for play at a gaming machine/table, the ticket server redeems the first gaming voucher and transmits a message identifying playing credit corresponding to the first monetary value represented by the first gaming voucher and the patron is enabled to play at the gaming machine/table using the identified playing credit. The system ensures that the non-cashable marker is paid back before redeeming any cashable value to the patron.

Abstract: A contact-tracing (CT) device associated with an inanimate object or location receives a wireless message from a first mobile device indicating that a first user of the first mobile device had previously been exposed to a communicable disease (e.g., Covid). In response, the CT device begins to broadcast tokens indicating that exposure. A second mobile device receiving such a token identifies that exposure to a second user of the second mobile device, thereby enabling the second user to leave the location of the CT device. In some implementations, the CT device informs a backend CT server about the exposure, and the second mobile device queries the CT server about that exposure, thereby enabling the second user to avoid the location of the CT device.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, social distancing is implemented at a gaming establishment (such as a casino) by disabling one or more neighboring gaming machines from being played while a first patron is playing at a first gaming machine. Social grouping is implemented by enabling a second patron who is in a social group with the first patron to play at one of the neighboring gaming machines, while the first patron is playing at the first gaming machine. In some implementations, a gaming system of the gaming establishment controls which gaming machines are disabled. In other implementations, patrons' cell phones running a gaming app communicate directly with the gaming machines to disable the neighboring gaming machines while enabling patrons in the same social group to play at neighboring gaming machines. In some implementations, play at a gaming machine is prevented by temporarily disabling the gaming machine's bill validator.

Abstract: A bill-loading machine for receptacles (e.g., cash cassettes or cash cartridges for cash cassettes) for cash-dispensing machines. The bill-loading machine has receptacle ports, currency bins, and bill dispensers. Each receptacle port receives a receptacle that (i) stores bills and (ii) is configurable to the cash-dispensing machines for dispensing the bills. Each currency bin stores a bills, and each bill dispenser loads a receptacle located at a corresponding receptacle port with bills from a corresponding currency bin. In some embodiments, the bill-loading machine includes a bill sorter that receives an input supply of bills of varied denominations, automatically sorts the bills into multiple flows of paper currency of specific denominations for storage in multiple currency bins, and automatically loads each currency bin with the bills of a corresponding denomination.

Abstract: A solution-cathode glow discharge mass spectrometry (SCGD-MS) apparatus comprises a SCGD source and a mass spectrometer. The SCGD source may comprise conductive rods, a power source, and a capillary. A method for ionizing an analyte comprises flowing an electrically conductive liquid onto a conductive rod, applying an electric potential to a second conductive rod such that a plasma discharge forms between the first conductive rod and the electrically conductive liquid to produce ions, and separating the ions in a mass spectrometer. The analyte may be a polypeptide that may be contacted with trypsin. The analyte may be a solid, liquid, gas, chemical complex, or ion in solution. The method may comprise sequencing the polypeptide.

Abstract: A computer-based casino gaming system includes a ticket server and a marker server. The ticket server controls generation and redemption of gaming vouchers used for play at gaming machine/tables. The marker server controls granting of non-cashable markers having non-cashable value to casino patrons. When the marker server determines to grant a non-cashable marker requested by a patron, the ticket server generates a first gaming voucher representing a first monetary value corresponding to the non-cashable value. When the patron uses the first gaming voucher for play at a gaming machine/table, the ticket server redeems the first gaming voucher and transmits a message identifying playing credit corresponding to the first monetary value represented by the first gaming voucher and the patron is enabled to play at the gaming machine/table using the identified playing credit. The system ensures that the non-cashable marker is paid back before redeeming any cashable value to the patron.

Abstract: A casino having a nodal network of wireless transceivers. Each bank of gaming machines has a transceiver within wireless communication range of at least one other transceiver. A casino patron uses a casino app running on a mobile device to communicate with the external network cloud via the nodal network from any location within the casino at which the mobile device is within wireless communication range of a connected transceiver. The mobile device transmits to the connected transceiver an outgoing message that is propagated wirelessly through the nodal network to the external network cloud via a terminal transceiver. The mobile device receives from the connected transceiver an incoming message that has been transmitted from the external network cloud to the terminal transceiver and then propagated wirelessly through the nodal network to the connected transceiver.

Abstract: Validation circuitry enables a patron to use a wireless device to purchase gaming credit at a gaming machine. The wireless device transmits a touchpoint ID for the gaming machine to the transaction server, which communicates with a gaming system server to create a voucher for the gaming credit and wirelessly transmits a transaction package for the purchased gaming credit to the wireless device, wherein the transaction package includes the voucher ID. The wireless device wirelessly transmits at least the voucher ID to the validation circuitry, which transmits at least the voucher ID to the gaming system server to redeem the voucher. The gaming system server transmits gaming-credit approval to the validation circuitry. The transmissions between the validation circuitry and the gaming system server are independent of the game controller. The validation circuitry transmits the gaming-credit approval to the game controller, which provides the gaming credit to play the gaming machine.

Abstract: A solution-cathode glow discharge mass spectrometry (SCGD-MS) apparatus comprises a SCGD source and a mass spectrometer. The SCGD source may comprise conductive rods, a power source, and a capillary. A method for ionizing an analyte comprises flowing an electrically conductive liquid onto a conductive rod, applying an electric potential to a second conductive rod such that a plasma discharge forms between the first conductive rod and the electrically conductive liquid to produce ions, and separating the ions in a mass spectrometer. The analyte may be a polypeptide that may be contacted with trypsin. The analyte may be a solid, liquid, gas, chemical complex, or ion in solution. The method may comprise sequencing the polypeptide.

Abstract: A transaction involving the purchase of gaming credit at a gaming table or gaming machine is facilitated at a gaming establishment's touchpoint by transmitting from a wireless device (e.g., a patron's cell phone) to a transaction server operated by a transaction-funding business: patron-identifying information for the patron and a touchpoint ID associated with the touchpoint read using the wireless device. The transaction server authorizes the transaction, transmits that authorization to the cell phone and/or the gaming establishment, and the gaming establishment provides the gaming credit to the patron. In some implementations, the touchpoint has an associated voucher printer that prints a gaming voucher that is redeemed at the gaming table or gaming machine for the gaming credit. The transaction-funding business funds the purchase for the patron without any funds ever residing on or passing through the patron's cell phone.

Abstract: A transaction is facilitated at a business's touchpoint by transmitting from a wireless device (e.g., a patron's cell phone) to a transaction server operated by a transaction-funding business: patron-identifying information for the patron and a touchpoint ID associated with the touchpoint read using the wireless device. The transaction server authorizes the transaction, transmits that authorization to the cell phone and/or the touchpoint business, and the touchpoint business provides goods/services to the patron. In some implementations, the transaction-funding business transfers outgoing funds for the transaction to the touchpoint business and receives incoming funds for the transaction from the patron. In a casino, a patron can use his/her cell phone to purchase gaming credit at a gaming table. The transaction-funding business funds the purchase for the patron without any funds ever residing on or passing through the patron's cell phone.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a cash machine, such as a casino kiosk or a bank ATM, charges a varying surcharge to patrons requesting cash withdrawals, where the size of the surcharge depends on previous requests for cash-withdrawal transactions. In general, whether or not a previous patron agreed to complete a previously requested cash withdrawal having a specified surcharge may affect the size of the surcharge offered to the next patron requesting a cash withdrawal. For example, if the previous patron completed the previous transaction, then the cash machine might increase the surcharge offered to the next patron and, if the previous patron failed to complete the previous transaction, then the cash machine might decrease the surcharge offered to the next patron. The invention can be applied to types of transactions other than cash withdrawals from cash machines, where customer touchpoints adjust current prices based on the history of previous transactions.

Abstract: A cash-dispensing machine (e.g., a casino kiosk or bank ATM) enables a user to use a bank card (e.g., a credit or debit card) to purchase a negotiable instrument via a quasi-cash transaction, redeem the negotiable instrument, and dispense paper currency for the redeemed negotiable instrument without having to go elsewhere (e.g., a casino cage) to redeem the negotiable instrument. The machine enables a user-verification process to be performed to verify the identity of the user before allowing the negotiable instrument to be redeemed.

Abstract: A transaction is facilitated at a business's touchpoint by transmitting from a wireless device (e.g., a patron's cell phone) to a transaction server operated by a transaction-funding business: patron-identifying information for the patron and a touchpoint ID associated with the touchpoint read using the wireless device. The transaction server authorizes the transaction, transmits that authorization to the cell phone and/or the touchpoint business, and the touchpoint business provides goods/services to the patron. In some implementations, the transaction-funding business transfers outgoing funds for the transaction to the touchpoint business and receives incoming funds for the transaction from the patron. In a casino, a patron can use his/her cell phone to purchase gaming credit at a gaming machine without using a paper voucher or currency. The transaction-funding business funds the purchase for the patron without any funds ever residing on or passing through the patron's cell phone.

Abstract: A solution-cathode glow discharge (SCGD) spectrometry apparatus may comprise an SCGD source and a mass or ion mobility spectrometer. A method for ionizing a molecular analyte may comprise contacting the molecular analyte with a plasma discharge to form ions and separating the ions in a mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer. The contacting step may occur under atmospheric pressure and/or ambient conditions. The molecular analyte may be fragmented by the plasma discharge.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a cash-dispensing machine, having one or more, single-denomination cash cassettes, such as a kiosk for a casino or other gaming enterprise or a bill-breaking machine, performs a cassette-verification operation in which the machine dispenses bills to a user, and the user inserts those bills back into the machine. The machine verifies that the total number and total monetary value of the inserted bills match the total number and expected total monetary value of the dispensed bills. The total number and expected total monetary value are selected such that (i) there is a different number of bills for each different denomination and (ii) given the available denominations, there is only one combination of the total number of bills having the expected total monetary value. The cassette-verification operation can be used to detect when one or more cash cassettes contain bills of the wrong denomination.