Directional wireless communication

• US 10,391,392 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2015
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nelson, Dwayne R., LeMay, Steven G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Clarke, Jr., Robert T
• Application Number:
  US14/733,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20150265915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method for establishing communication between a portable electronic device and an electronic gaming machine within a gaming environment includes receiving wireless signal data transmitted from the portable electronic device, determining a wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine based on the wireless signal data, and based on a determination that the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine has increased, exceeded a predetermined threshold level, and leveled off for an amount of time exceeding a time threshold after becoming stronger, initiating a wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising:

after an establishment of a wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and a portable electronic device, determining, by a controller supported by a cabinet of the electronic gaming machine, a wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine, said determination being based on wireless signal data received from the portable electronic device;

determining whether the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine has decreased below a predetermined threshold level; and

responsive to the determination being that the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine has decreased below the predetermined threshold level and independent of any other electronic gaming machines, terminating, by the controller, the wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a game controller of the electronic gaming machine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a secondary controller different from a game controller of the electronic gaming machine.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing the portable electronic device to display, by a display device, a message regarding the wireless communication link.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the wireless signal strength responsive to a determination that the electronic gaming machine is not being actively played.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising responsive to a cashout input being received, independent of the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine, terminating, by the controller, the wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device.

7. A method of operating an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising:

after an establishment of a wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and a portable electronic device, determining, by a controller supported by a cabinet of the electronic gaming machine, a wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine based on wireless signal data received from the portable electronic device;

determining whether the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine has decreased below a predetermined threshold level for an amount of time exceeding a time threshold; and

responsive to a determination being that the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine has decreased below the predetermined threshold level for the amount of time exceeding the time threshold, terminating, by the controller, the wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the controller comprises a game controller of the electric gaming machine.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the controller comprises a secondary controller different from a game controller of the electronic gaming machine.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising causing the portable electronic device to display, by a display device, a message regarding the wireless communication link.

11. The method of claim 7, further determining the wireless signal strength responsive to a determination that the electronic gaming machine is not being actively played.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising responsive to a cashout input being received, independent of the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine, terminating, by the controller, the wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device.

13. A system comprising:

a processor supported by a cabinet of an electronic gaming machine; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

after an establishment of a wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and a portable electronic device, determine, based on wireless signal data received from the portable electronic device, a wireless signal strength between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device,

determine whether the wireless signal strength between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device has decreased below a predetermined threshold level; and

responsive to the determination being that the wireless signal strength between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device has decreased below the predetermined threshold level and independent of any other electronic gaming machines, terminate the wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor comprises a game controller.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor comprises a secondary controller different from a game controller.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to cause the portable electronic device to display, via a display device, a message regarding the wireless communication link.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to determine the wireless signal strength responsive to a determination that the electronic gaming machine is not being actively played.

18. The system of claim 13, which comprises an acceptor, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to, responsive to a physical item being received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein when executed by the processor responsive to a cashout input being received and independent of the wireless signal strength between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device, the instructions cause the processor to terminate the wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device.

20. A system comprising:

a processor supported by a cabinet of an electronic gaming machine; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

after an establishment of a wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and a portable electronic device, determine, based on wireless signal data received from the portable electronic device, a wireless signal strength between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device,

determine whether the wireless signal strength between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device has decreased below a predetermined threshold level for an amount of time exceeding a time threshold; and

responsive to the determination being that the wireless signal strength between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device has decreased below the predetermined threshold level for the amount of time exceeding the time threshold, terminate the wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor comprises a game controller.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor comprises a secondary controller different from a game controller.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to cause the portable electronic device to display, via a display device, a message regarding the wireless communication link.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to determine the wireless signal strength responsive to a determination that the electronic gaming machine is not being actively played.

25. The system of claim 20, which comprises an acceptor, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to, responsive to a physical item being received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein when executed by the processor responsive to a cashout input being received and independent of the wireless signal strength between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device, the instructions cause the processor to terminate the wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device.