Viral benefit distribution using mobile devices

• US 10,176,666 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2012
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Incorporated (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nguyen Gaming LLC
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Ross
• Application Number:
  US13/633,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20140094316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,290 Days
• Field of Search: 463 40- 42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

Gaming machines and systems are configured to distribute of viral events, such as viral gaming events, amongst devices. The devices can present the viral events. The devices can, for example, be gaming machines and/or mobile devices. According to one embodiment, once a viral event is triggered, it is presented at one or more first devices at a first time. The viral event spreads to other devices, such as one or more second devices where it can be presented at a later time. The viral event may continue to spread to numerous other devices. Feedback or metrics may be used to control the devices to which the viral event spreads and/or the rate of spread.

Claims

1. A method for distributing a viral benefit to a mobile device, the method comprising:

determining, at a server, whether to initiate a viral event;

determining, at the server, a first viral benefit to distribute to one or more of a first plurality of mobile devices if it is determined that the viral event is initiated;

distributing the first viral benefit to one or more of the first plurality of mobile devices so that the first viral benefit is able to be displayed by each of the one or more of the first plurality of mobile devices, the first viral benefit pertaining to at least one game of chance to be played;

determining whether to distribute a second viral benefit to one or more of a second plurality of mobile devices, the second viral benefit pertaining to at least one game of chance to be played;

transmitting the second viral benefit to the one or more of the second plurality of mobile devices if it is determined that the second viral benefit to one or more of the second plurality of mobile devices is to be distributed so that the second viral benefit is able to be displayed by each of the one or more of the second plurality of mobile devices; and

terminating distribution of the first viral benefit when the second viral benefit ends.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein distributing of the viral benefit to the one or more of the first plurality of mobile devices occurs at a time T1 and the transmitting the second viral benefit to the one or more of the second plurality of mobile devices occurs at a time T2, time T2 occurring at a time later than time T1.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to initiate the first viral event comprises determining whether a viral gaming event is initiated on at least one of the first plurality of mobile devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein subsequent to determining the first viral benefit, transmitting a first viral benefit notification to each of the one or more first plurality of mobile devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein subsequent to determining whether to distribute the second viral benefit, transmitting a second viral benefit notification to each of the one or more second plurality of mobile devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein distributing of the second viral benefit to each of the one or more of the second plurality of mobile devices is based on a random selection of a plurality of mobile devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to distribute the second viral benefit to the one or more of the second plurality of mobile devices is based on a proximity location of the one or more second plurality of mobile devices to the one or more first plurality of mobile devices.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether to distribute a third viral benefit to one or more of a third plurality of mobile devices; and

transmitting the third viral benefit to the one or more of the third plurality of mobile devices if it is determined that the third viral benefit to one or more of the third plurality of mobile devices is to be distributed.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting of the third viral benefit to one or more of the third plurality of mobile devices occurs at a time T3, time T3 occurring later than time T1.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the distributing of the third viral benefit to each of the one or more of the third plurality of mobile devices is based on a random selection of the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first viral benefit is different from the second viral benefit.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether to distribute the second viral benefit or the transmitting of the second viral benefit to the one or more second plurality of mobile devices being triggered at least in part by an event associated with the first viral benefit at one or more of the first plurality of mobile devices.

13. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for distributing a viral benefit to a mobile device, the method comprising:

determining, at a server, whether to initiate a viral event, the viral event including at least play of a bonus game;

determining, at the server, a first viral benefit to distribute to one or more of a first plurality of mobile devices if it is determined that the viral event is initiated;

distributing the viral benefit to one or more of the first plurality of mobile devices so that the first viral benefit is able to be displayed and played by each of the one or more of the first plurality of mobile devices;

determining whether to distribute a second viral benefit to one or more of a second plurality of mobile devices, the second viral benefit including at least play of a bonus game; and

distributing the second viral benefit to the one or more of the second plurality of mobile devices if it is determined that the second viral benefit to one or more of the second plurality of mobile devices is to be distributed so that the second viral benefit is able to be displayed and played by each of the one or more of the second plurality of mobile devices,

wherein distributing of the second viral benefit to the one or more second mobile devices is triggered by an event at one or more of the first plurality of mobile devices, and

wherein the first viral benefit terminates when the second viral benefit ends.

14. The non-transitory program storage device as recited in claim 13, wherein the event is associated with the first viral benefit.

15. The non-transitory program storage device as recited in claim 13, wherein distributing of the viral benefit to the one or more of the first plurality of mobile devices occurs at a time T1 and the distributing the second viral benefit to the one or more of the second plurality of mobile devices occurs at a time T2, time T2 occurring at a time later than time T1.

16. The non-transitory program storage device as recited in claim 13, wherein determining whether to initiate the first viral event comprises determining whether a viral gaming event is initiated on at least one of the first plurality of mobile devices.

17. The non-transitory program storage device as recited in claim 13, wherein subsequent to determining the first viral benefit, transmitting a first viral benefit notification to each of the one or more first plurality of mobile devices.

18. The non-transitory program storage device as recited in claim 13, wherein subsequent to determining whether to distribute the second viral benefit, transmitting a second viral benefit notification to each of the one or more second plurality of mobile devices.

19. The non-transitory program storage device as recited in claim 13, wherein distributing of the second viral benefit to each of the one or more of the second plurality of mobile devices is based on a random selection of a plurality of mobile devices.

20. The non-transitory program storage device as recited in claim 13, wherein determining whether to distribute the second viral benefit to the one or more of the second plurality of mobile devices is based on a proximity location of the one or more second plurality of mobile devices to the one or more first plurality of mobile devices.

21. The non-transitory program storage device as recited in claim 13, wherein the first viral benefit is different from the second viral benefit.

22. A method for distributing a viral benefit to a gaming device, the method comprising:

determining, at a server, whether to initiate a viral event;

determining, at the server, a first viral benefit to distribute to one or more of a first plurality of gaming devices if it is determined that the viral event is initiated;

distributing the first viral benefit to one or more of the first plurality of gaming devices so that the first viral benefit is able to be displayed by each of the one or more of the first plurality of gaming devices, the first viral benefit pertaining to at least one game of chance to be played;

determining whether to distribute a second viral benefit to one or more of a second plurality of gaming devices, the second viral benefit pertaining to at least one game of chance to be played;

transmitting the second viral benefit to the one or more of the second plurality of gaming devices if it is determined that the second viral benefit to one or more of the second plurality of gaming devices is to be distributed so that the second viral benefit is able to be displayed by each of the one or more of the second plurality of gaming devices; and

terminating distribution of the first viral benefit and the second viral benefit.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein distributing of the viral benefit to the one or more of the first plurality of gaming devices occurs at a time T1 and the transmitting the second viral benefit to the one or more of the second plurality of gaming devices occurs at a time T2, time T2 occurring at a time later than time T1.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein determining whether to initiate the first viral event comprises determining whether a viral gaming event is initiated on at least one of the first plurality of gaming devices.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein subsequent to determining the first viral benefit, transmitting a first viral benefit notification to each of the one or more first plurality of gaming devices.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein subsequent to determining whether to distribute the second viral benefit, transmitting a second viral benefit notification to each of the one or more second plurality of gaming devices.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein distributing of the second viral benefit to each of the one or more of the second plurality of gaming devices is based on a random selection of a plurality of gaming devices.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein determining whether to distribute the second viral benefit to the one or more of the second plurality of gaming devices is based on a proximity location of the one or more second plurality of gaming devices to the one or more first plurality of gaming devices.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining whether to distribute a third viral benefit to one or more of a third plurality of gaming devices; and

transmitting the third viral benefit to the one or more of the third plurality of gaming devices if it is determined that the third viral benefit to one or more of the third plurality of gaming devices is to be distributed.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein transmitting of the third viral benefit to one or more of the third plurality of gaming devices occurs at a time T3, time T3 occurring later than time T1.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the distributing of the third viral benefit to each of the one or more of the third plurality of gaming devices is based on a random selection of the gaming device.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein the first viral benefit is different from the second viral benefit.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein the determining whether to distribute the second viral benefit or the transmitting of the second viral benefit to the one or more second plurality of mobile devices being triggered at least in part by an event associated with the first viral benefit at one or more of the first plurality of mobile devices.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein the gaming device is a gaming table.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein at least one of the one or more of the first plurality of gaming devices is a gaming table.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein at least one of the one or more of the second plurality of gaming devices is a mobile device.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein the gaming device is a mobile device.