Processing of a user device game-playing transaction based on location

• US 10,217,326 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2017
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Linq3 Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Cage, Daniel, Minutaglio, John, Leach, Roy, Tashjian, David, Smith, Travis L., Houseal, Jr., John Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US15/818,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20180102018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 463 25, 463 29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/047 using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

An exemplary method comprises receiving information associated with a game-playing transaction conducted between a user device and a game-playing terminal, wherein the game-playing transaction is associated with a request for playing a game; determining a location of the user device associated with the game; determining the user device is located in an approved location associated with the game; and processing the game-playing transaction based on determining the user device is located in the approved location associated with the game. The game-playing transaction is conducted on a first communication interface, and the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received on a first or second communication interface.

Claims

1. A method for processing information associated with, or enabling initiation or conduction of, game-playing transactions, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user device and at one or more game-playing apparatuses configured for operations associated with game-playing transactions, information associated with a game-playing transaction, wherein the game-playing transaction is associated with a game, wherein the game is associated with or comprises game information;

determining, using one or more computing device processors, the information is at least partially consistent with or mappable to second information, the second information being received or accessed from a second user device different from the user device, the second user device being located in an approved location associated with the game, the second user device being associated with approved identification information or approved location information;

processing the information, or enabling initiation or conduction of, the game-playing transaction, based on at least one of;

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the information is at least partially consistent with or mappable to the second information, the second information being received or accessed from the second user device located in the approved location associated with the game, or

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, a period of validity associated with the game-playing transaction or the game information has not expired,

wherein the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received on a first communication interface, and

wherein the second information is received or accessed on a second communication interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the user device, the second user device, or the one or more game-playing apparatuses comprises or is associated with, integrated with, or comprised in at least one of a pump, an ATM, a servicing station, a retail apparatus, an entity, a local computing apparatus, or a remote computing apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user device comprises a retail apparatus software-customized for at least one of receiving, processing, or transmitting the second information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more game-playing apparatuses comprise or are comprised in one or more software-customized remote servers configured for the operations associated with the game-playing transactions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device comprises a mobile telecommunication device, wherein the mobile telecommunication device executes a customized application configured for second operations associated with the game-playing transactions.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device or the second user device comprises at least one of a local computing apparatus or a remote computing apparatus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the game comprises a lottery game.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the game comprises a non-lottery game.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein an interaction between a gaming card and the second user device causes the second information to be received or accessed from the second user device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second information comprises identification information associated with at least one of the second user device, an entity associated with the second user device, or a user associated with the gaming card.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the second information is stored on the gaming card and is received or accessed by the second user device in response to the interaction between the gaming card and the second user device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the second information is comprised in a chip or a magnetic stripe.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the interaction between the gaming card and the second user device comprises a contact-based interaction.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the interaction between the gaming card and the second user device comprises a contactless interaction.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the information received from the user device comprises at least one of gaming card identification information associated with the gaming card, gaming card account information associated with the gaming card, or code information associated with the gaming card.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the information is associated with or is visible on the gaming card.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the information further comprises identification information associated with the user device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the information is associated with or is visible on the gaming card.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the information further comprises identification information associated with the user device.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein the information comprises identification information associated with the user device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the identification information comprises at least one of user device model identification information, user device serial identification information, or user device manufacturer identification information.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the identification information comprises a phone number associated with the user device.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the identification information is concatenated with at least one of gaming card identification information associated with the gaming card, gaming card account information associated with the gaming card, or code information associated with the gaming card in a customized data structure.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the information comprises an activation code.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising associating or registering, with the second information, or with card identification information or account information associated with the gaming card, the identification information comprised in the information.

26. The method of claim 9, wherein the information received from the user device comprises at least one of gaming card identification information associated with the gaming card, gaming card account information associated with the gaming card, or code information associated with the gaming card.

27. The method of claim 9, further comprising associating or registering, with the second information, or with card identification information or account information associated with the gaming card, identification information associated with the user device received, or accessed, separately from the information.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the second information comprises gaming card identification information or gaming card account information associated with the gaming card.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating or registering the information with the second information, or with card identification information or account information associated with a gaming card associated with the second information, thereby causing registration of at least one of the gaming card, the user device, or a user of the user device.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting, from a gaming system, a game entry associated with the game.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from a gaming system, or generating, a game entry associated with the game, and transmitting, to the user device or to an account associated with the user device or a gaming card, the game entry associated with the game.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the game entry is comprised in or comprises a digital gaming ticket.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the digital gaming ticket is generated based on the second information and the information.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the information comprises identification information associated with the user device.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the digital gaming ticket comprises a digital lottery ticket.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the digital gaming ticket is transmitted to or interacts with a computing system, the transmission of the digital gaming ticket or the interaction of the digital gaming ticket with the computing system causing transmission to at least one of the user device, a third user device, or the account associated with the user device or the gaming card, an object or a prize associated with a game result status of a game entry associated with the digital gaming ticket.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising receiving a result associated with the game or the game entry, and transmitting, to the user device or to the account associated with the user device or the gaming card, a result notification associated with the game or the game entry.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising determining a result category associated with the game entry, and transmitting, based on the result category, a message to the user device or to the account associated with the user device or the gaming card.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the message is customized based on user information associated with the user device or associated with a user of the user device.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the user information comprises at least one of game habit information or device information associated with one or more computing devices used by the user to play one or more games.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the message is transmitted prior to a draw associated with the game, but after the game entry is transmitted to the user device or to the account associated with the user device or the gaming card.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising transmitting a switching message to the user device or to the account associated with the user device or the gaming card, the switching message being customized based on user information associated with a user of the user device or user device information associated with the user device, the switching message presenting the user with an option to switch a first object associated with the result notification to a second object.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the second object comprises an instrument associated with an entity.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the first object comprises a first prize, and wherein the second object comprises a second prize.

45. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting code information to the user device or to an account associated with the user device or a gaming card.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the code information is transmitted in response to validating third information received from the user device or from a third user device.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the third information is at least partially equivalent to, consistent with, or mappable to the information, wherein the information is associated with or is visible on the gaming card.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising receiving the code information or the third information from the user device or from the third user device.

49. The method of claim 45, further comprising receiving the code information from the user device or from a third user device.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising validating the code information and transmitting second code information to at least one of the user device, the third user device, or to the account associated with the user device or the gaming card.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising transmitting a message to a gaming system associated with the game.

52. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating or registering the information with the second information, or with card identification information or account information associated with a gaming card associated with the second information, thereby causing enrollment of at least one of the gaming card, a user associated with the gaming card, or the user device.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising requesting, from a customized gaming system, a game entry associated with the game.

54. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, based on identification information associated with the user device, whether at least one of a gaming card, the user device, or a user associated with the user device was previously registered or enrolled.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the identification information comprises a phone number.

56. The method of claim 54, further comprising requesting, from a gaming system, a game entry associated with the game.

57. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, based on identification information associated with the user device and code information comprised in the information, whether the user device, a user associated with the user device, or a gaming card was previously registered or enrolled.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the identification information comprises a phone number.

59. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device or the second user device communicates with the one or more game-playing apparatuses via one or more intermediary computing systems.

60. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more computing device processors are comprised in at least one of the user device, the second user device, the one or more game-playing apparatuses, or one or more local or remote computing apparatuses.

61. An apparatus for processing information associated with, or enabling initiation or conduction of, game-playing transactions, the apparatus comprising one or more computing device processors configured to:

receive, from a user device, information associated with a game-playing transaction, wherein the game-playing transaction is associated with a game, wherein the game is associated with or comprises game information;

determine the information is at least partially consistent with or mappable to second information, the second information being received or accessed from a second user device different from the user device, the second user device being located in an approved location associated with the game, the second user device being associated with approved identification information or approved location information;

process the information, or enabling initiation or conduction of the game-playing transaction, based on at least one of;

determining the information is at least partially consistent with or mappable to the second information, the second information being received or accessed from the second user device located in the approved location associated with the game, or

determining a period of validity associated with the game-playing transaction or the game information has not expired,

wherein the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received on a first communication interface, and

wherein the second information is received or accessed on a second communication interface.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the game-playing transaction comprises, is, or is comprised in at least one of a gaming transaction, a game initiation transaction, a game completing transaction, a wagering transaction, a pre-game transaction, a post-game transaction, a betting transaction, an in-game transaction, a game-related transaction, a location determining transaction, an identification transaction, an information processing transaction, a sports betting transaction, a user identification transaction, a user device identifying transaction, a crypto-based transaction, a game-playing apparatus-related transaction, or a game-playing apparatus identifying transaction.

63. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the second user device comprises a retail apparatus configured to at least one of receive, process, or transmit the second information.

64. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the apparatus comprises one or more remote servers software-customized for operations associated with the game-playing transactions.

65. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the user device comprises a mobile telecommunication device executing a customized application for operations associated with the game-playing transactions.

66. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the one or more computing device processors are software-customized for processing, or enabling the initiation or the conduction of, the game-playing transaction.

67. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the game comprises a lottery game.

68. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the game comprises a non-lottery game.

69. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein at least one of the second user device or the user device comprises or is associated with, integrated with, or comprised in at least one of a pump, an ATM, a servicing station, a retail apparatus, an entity, a local computing apparatus, a remote computing apparatus, or the apparatus.

70. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein an interaction between a gaming card and the second user device causes the second information to be received or accessed from the second user device.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the second user device is an approved user device from which the second information has been or is to be received or accessed.

72. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured to associate or register, with the second information or with card identification information or account information associated with the gaming card, device identification information associated with the user device.

73. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured to:

receive from a gaming system, or generating, a game entry associated with the game; and

transmit, to the user device or to an account associated with the user device or associated with the gaming card, the game entry associated with the game.

74. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured to:

receive from a gaming system, or generating, a game entry associated with the game; and

transmit, to the user device or to an account associated with the user device or associated with the gaming card, the game entry associated with the game.

75. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein a second interaction between the gaming card and a third user device causes the second information to be received or accessed from the third user device.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the third user device is an approved user device from which the second information has been or is to be received or accessed.

77. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured to:

receive from the gaming system or a second gaming system, or generating, a second game entry associated with the game or a second game; and

transmit, to the user device or to the account associated with the user device or associated with the gaming card, the second game entry associated with the game or the second game.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the third user device is located in a same jurisdiction as the second user device.

79. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the third user device is located in a first jurisdiction, and wherein the second user device is located in a second jurisdiction different from the first jurisdiction.

80. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the game and the second game are associated with different game times or game draw times.

81. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured to transmit, to the user device or to an account associated with the user device or associated with the gaming card, a game entry associated with the game, based on:

determining location information associated with the user device; and

determining the location information associated with the user device is at least partially consistent with or mappable to the approved location or the approved location information.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the location information associated with the user device is determined near or at a time of receiving the information from the user device.

83. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the location information associated with the user device is determined near or at a time when the second information is received or accessed from the second user device.

84. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured to refuse a game entry request associated with the game based on:

determining location information associated with the user device; and

determining the location information associated with the user device is not consistent with or not mappable to the approved location or the approved location information.

85. The apparatus of claim 84, wherein the location information associated with the user device is determined near or at a time of receiving the information from the user device.

86. The apparatus of claim 84, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured to transmit, to the user device or to an account associated with the user device or associated with the gaming card, a message indicating the refusal of the game entry request associated with the game.

87. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured to determine at least one of a gaming card associated with the information or the second information, or the user device associated with the information or the second information, was previously registered or enrolled.

88. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the one or more computing device processors are further configured to:

receive from a gaming system, or generating, a game entry associated with the game; and

transmit, to the user device or to an account associated with the user device or associated with the gaming card, the game entry associated with the game.

89. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the second information is received or accessed from the second user device after the first information is received from the user device.

90. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the second information is received or accessed from the second user device before the first information is received from the user device.

91. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the second information is received or accessed from the second user device substantially simultaneously as the first information is received from the user device.

92. A method for processing, or enabling initiation or conduction of, game-playing transactions, the method comprising:

receiving or sending information, associated with a game-playing transaction, between a user device and a game-playing apparatus, wherein the game-playing transaction is associated with a game, wherein the game is associated with or comprises game information;

determining, using one or more computing device processors, location information or identification information associated with the user device or the game-playing apparatus;

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus comprises or is an approved user device or an approved game-playing apparatus, the approved user device or the approved game-playing apparatus being located in an approved location associated with the game;

processing the information or the game-playing transaction, or enabling initiation or conduction of the game-playing transaction, based on at least one of;

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus comprises or is the approved user device or the approved game-playing apparatus based on determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the location information or the identification information is at least partially consistent with or mappable to second information or second identification information, or

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, a period of validity associated with the information or the game information has not expired,

wherein the game-playing transaction is conducted or is to be conducted on a first communication interface, and

wherein the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received or sent on the first communication interface or a second communication interface.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein the game-playing transaction comprises, is, or is comprised in at least one of a gaming transaction, a wagering transaction, a game initiation transaction, a game completing transaction, a pre-game transaction, a post-game transaction, an in-game transaction, a game-related transaction, a betting transaction, a location determining transaction, an identification transaction, an information processing transaction, a sports betting transaction, a user identification transaction, a crypto-based transaction, a user device identifying transaction, a mobile device identifying transaction, a game-playing apparatus-related transaction, or a game-playing apparatus identifying transaction.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus comprises or is the approved user device or the approved game-playing apparatus based on determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the location information or the identification information is at least partially consistent with the second information or the second identification information comprises determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus comprises or is the approved user device or the approved game-playing apparatus based on determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the identification information is at least partially consistent with the second information or the second identification information.

95. The method of claim 92, wherein the one or more computing device processors are comprised in at least one of the user device, the game-playing apparatus, or one or more local or remote computing apparatuses.

96. The method of claim 92, wherein the user device comprises or is a mobile device.

97. A method for processing, or enabling initiation or conduction of, game-playing transactions, the method comprising:

receiving or sending information, associated with a game-playing transaction, between a user device and a game-playing apparatus, wherein the game-playing transaction is associated with a game, wherein the game is associated with or comprises game information;

determining, using one or more computing device processors, location information or identification information associated with the user device or the game-playing apparatus;

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is located in an approved location associated with the game;

processing the information or the game-playing transaction, or enabling initiation or conduction of the game-playing transaction, based on at least one of;

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is located in the approved location associated with the game based on determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the location information or the identification information is at least partially consistent with or mappable to second information or second identification information, or

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, a period of validity associated with the information or the game information has not expired,

wherein the game-playing transaction is conducted or is to be conducted on a first communication interface, and

wherein the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received or sent on the first communication interface or a second communication interface.

98. The method of claim 97, wherein the game-playing transaction comprises, is, or is comprised in at least one of a gaming transaction, a wagering transaction, a game initiation transaction, a game completing transaction, a pre-game transaction, a post-game transaction, an in-game transaction, a game-related transaction, a betting transaction, a location determining transaction, an identification transaction, an information processing transaction, a sports betting transaction, a user identification transaction, a crypto-based transaction, a user device identifying transaction, a mobile device identifying transaction, a game-playing apparatus-related transaction, or a game-playing apparatus identifying transaction.

99. The method of claim 97, wherein determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is located in the approved location associated with the game based on determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the location information or the identification information is at least partially consistent with the second information or the second identification information comprises determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is located in the approved location associated with the game based on determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the location information is at least partially consistent with the second information or the second identification information.

100. The method of claim 97, wherein the one or more computing device processors are comprised in at least one of the user device, the game-playing apparatus, or one or more local or remote computing apparatuses.

101. The method of claim 97, wherein the user device comprises or is a mobile device.

102. A gaming apparatus configured for:

interacting with a user device, the interaction causing information comprised in the gaming apparatus to be received, by at least one remote server configured for operations associated with game-playing transactions, or accessed, by the at least one remote server, from the user device, the user device being located in an approved location associated with a game, the user device being associated with approved identification information or approved location information, wherein the game is associated with or comprises game information, and

wherein the at least one remote server is further configured for;

determining second information is at least partially consistent with or mappable to the information or gaming account information associated with the information, the second information being received, by the at least one remote server, or accessed, by the at least one remote server, from a second user device different from the user device;

processing the second information based on determining the second information is at least partially consistent with or mappable to the information or the gaming account information associated with the information, the information being received or accessed from the user device located in the approved location associated with the game, the interaction between the user device and the gaming apparatus occurring in the approved location associated with the game;

wherein the information associated with the interaction is received or accessed on a first communication interface, and

wherein the second information is received or accessed on a second communication interface.

103. The gaming apparatus of claim 102, wherein at least one of the information or the second information is stored in the gaming apparatus.

104. The gaming apparatus of claim 102, wherein the information is not visible on the gaming apparatus.

105. The gaming apparatus of claim 102, wherein the second information is visible on the gaming apparatus.

106. The gaming apparatus of claim 102, wherein the information is comprised in a chip or a magnetic stripe associated with the gaming apparatus.

107. The gaming apparatus of claim 102, wherein the interaction comprises a contact-based interaction.

108. The gaming apparatus of claim 102, wherein the interaction comprises a contactless interaction.

109. The gaming apparatus of claim 102, wherein the second user device is located in the approved location or a second approved location.

110. The gaming apparatus of claim 102, wherein the second user device is not located in the approved location.

111. The gaming apparatus of claim 102, wherein the gaming apparatus comprises a physical gaming instrument.

112. The gaming apparatus of claim 102, wherein the gaming apparatus comprises a physical gaming card.

113. The gaming apparatus of claim 102, wherein the gaming apparatus comprises an electronic gaming card.