System and method for positionally accurate gaming content

• US 10,192,398 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hilbert, Scott Thomas, Hedrick, Joseph Randolph, Beaulieu, Nicole Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Seng H
• Application Number:
  US15/656,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20170323523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes

Abstract

A system is disclosed for providing access to first interactive content or second interactive content by a user of a portable computing device based upon a determined location of the portable computing device. The system includes a host server, a content server storing data representing the first interactive content and the second interactive content, and a communication network in communication with the host server and the content server. One or more WiFi communication beacons are in communication with the host server through the communication network. The communication network is configured to establish communication with the portable computing device. The host server is configured to determine a location of the portable computing device from the communication of the portable computing device with the communication network using a combination of WiFi signals and Bluetooth signals. The host server configured to control the content server and enable the portable computing device to display the first interactive content when the portable computing device is determined to be in a first location and to display the second interactive content when the portable computing device is determined to be in a second location.

Claims

1. A system for providing access to at least first interactive content or second interactive content by a user of a portable computing device based upon a determined location of the portable computing device, the portable computing device having communication functionality, the system comprising:

a server storing data representing the first interactive content and the second interactive content;

one or more communication beacons in communication with the server through a communication network;

wherein the server enables the portable computing device to display the first interactive content when the portable computing device is determined to be in a first location and to display the second interactive content when the portable computing device is determined to be in a second location,

wherein the portable computing device implements a first unique interaction method in the first location and implements a second unique interaction method in the second location, wherein the first unique player interaction method is a touchscreen interface, and wherein the second unique player interaction method enables pitch and yaw input capabilities.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable computing device'"'"'s position is determined using WiFi trilateration.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable computing device'"'"'s position is determined using proximity, RSSI, and fixed geographic location of a transmitting device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first interactive content is a game played using a first type of player input on the portable computing device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second interactive content is a game played using a second type of player input on the portable computing device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second type of player input includes gyroscopic directed input that is detected by a gyroscope in the portable computing device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to define one or more virtual geo-fences that prevent one or more of the first interactive content and the second interactive content from being displayed on the portable computing device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first location and the second location have demographic characteristics, and wherein the server is configured to provide the first interactive content based upon identifying the demographic characteristic of the first location and provide the second interactive content based upon identifying the demographic characteristic of the second location.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the server additionally stores data representing the third interactive content, and wherein the portable computing device displays the third interactive content when the portable computing device is determined to be in a third location.

10. A system for providing access to first interactive content or second interactive content by a user of a portable computing device based upon a determined location of the portable computing device, the portable computing device having communication functionality, the system comprising:

a fixed-location gaming device for presenting a game of chance for one or more players, wherein the fixed-location gaming device includes a fixed-location game display configured to display game play and game outcome;

one or more communication beacons in communication with the server through a communication network, the server configured to determine a location of the portable computing device;

the portable computing device including a processor and memory configured to execute the game of chance, wherein the portable computing device further includes a portable display, the first interactive content displaying only a wagering interface on the portable display when a location of the portable computing device is determined to position the player to view the fixed-location game display, and the second interactive content displaying a wagering interface and the game of chance when the location of the portable computing device is determined to be in a location where the fixed-location game display cannot be viewed by the player,

wherein the portable computing device implements a first unique interaction method in the first location and implements a second unique interaction method in the second location, wherein the first unique player interaction method is a touchscreen interface, and wherein the second unique player interaction method enables yaw input capabilities.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the gaming device is a gaming table hosting a live table game, and wherein the gaming device includes a camera that is configured to capture at least a play phase and an award phase.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the gaming device is an electronic table game.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the portable computing device'"'"'s position is determined using WiFi trilateration.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the portable computing device'"'"'s position is determined using proximity, RSSI, and fixed geographic location of a transmitting device.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the first interactive content is a game played using a first type of player input on the portable computing device.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the second interactive content is a game played using a second type of player input on the portable computing device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second type of player input includes gyroscopic directed input that is detected by a gyroscope in the portable computing device.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the server is configured to define one or more virtual geo-fences that prevent one or more of the first interactive content and the second interactive content from being displayed on the portable computing device.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the first location and the second location have demographic characteristics, and wherein the server is configured to provide the first interactive content based upon identifying the demographic characteristic of the first location and provide the second interactive content based upon identifying the demographic characteristic of the second location.

20. A method of delivering at least first interactive content and second interactive content to a portable computing device based upon a location of the portable computing device, the portable computing device including communication functionality, the method comprising:

transmitting communication beacon signals from a plurality of beacons;

establishing communication between the portable computing device and the plurality of beacons using the transmitted communication beacon signals;

deriving, using a processor, a location of the portable computing device within one of a first location having first demographic characteristics and a second location having second demographic characteristics;

configuring a server for providing to said portable device said first interactive content when the portable device is determined to be in said first location and said second interactive content when said portable device is determined to be in said second location, and

implementing a first unique interaction method in the first location and implementing a second unique interaction method in the second location, wherein the first unique player interaction method is a touchscreen interface, and wherein the second unique player interaction method enables pitch and yaw input capabilities.