Multi-process communication regarding gaming information

• US 10,406,446 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Amaitis, Lee, Williams, Paul, Tara, Sunny
• Primary Examiner(s): Renwick, Reginald A
• Application Number:
  US14/622,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20150157947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 463 42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Abstract

Various embodiments that may generally relate to mobile gaming, location determination, mobile devices, authentication, and so on are described. Various methods are described. Various apparatus are described. Further embodiments are described.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving from a device, by a computer processor, a status of one or more communication interfaces of the device, the status indicating whether the one or more communication interfaces of the device are enabled or disabled;

determining based on the received status, by a computer processor, that one or more communication interfaces of the device are disabled;

determining, by a computer processor, that the device is authorized to use a gaming service based at least in part on the determination that one or more communication interfaces are disabled;

determining, by a computer processor, that a user of the device is authorized to use the gaming service;

determining, by a computer processor, that the device is associated with a location in which gaming activity is allowed; and

allowing, by a computer processor, gaming activity on the device based at least in part on the determination that the device is authorized, the determination that the user is authorized, and the determination that the device is associated with the location in which gaming activity is allowed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

determining based on the received status that a first communication interface of the device is enabled and that all remaining communication interfaces of the device other than the first communication interface are disabled,

wherein the determination that the device is authorized is based at least in part on the determination that the first communication interface of the device is enabled and that all remaining communication interfaces of the device other than the first communication interface are disabled.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the gaming service communicates with the device via the first communication interface.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

after a predetermined period of time has passed since determining that the device is authorized, receiving from the device an updated status of the one or more communication interfaces of the device;

determining based on the received updated status that one or more of the remaining communication interfaces of the device is no longer disabled; and

in response to determining that one or more of the remaining communication interfaces of the device is no longer disabled, preventing gaming activity on the device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing an entry in a database of the gaming service that identifies the user as being associated with the device,

wherein determining that the device is authorized to use a gaming service is based at least in part on a determination that the user is associated with the device in the database.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving from the user via a second device a request to use the gaming service on the second device;

determining that the second device is authorized to use the gaming service;

determining that the database of the gaming service does not include an entry that identifies the user as being associated with the second device; and

preventing gaming activity on the second device for the user based at least in part on the determination that the database does not include an entry that identifies the user as being associated with the second device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

establishing an entry in the database of the gaming service that identifies the user as being associated with the second device;

determining that the database of the gaming service includes an entry that identifies the user as being associate with the second device; and

allowing gaming activity on the second device for the user based at least in part on the determination that the database includes an entry that identifies the user as being associated with the second device.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining that a second user of the device is authorized to use the gaming service;

determining that the database of the gaming service does not include an entry that identifies the second user as being associated with the device; and

preventing gaming activity on the device for the second user of the device based at least in part on the determination that the database does not include an entry that identifies the second user as being associated with the device.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the entry in the database of the gaming service that identifies the user as being associated with the device identifies a wagering account of the user of the device on the gaming system as being associated with the device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the device is authorized to use the gaming service based at least in part on a determination that a mobile telephone number of the device has been signed up to have access to the gaming service.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the device a hash of one or more files stored on the device;

comparing the received hash to an approved hash stored on the gaming service;

determining that the received hash matches the approved hash based on the comparison; and

determining that the device is authorized to use the gaming service based at least in part on the determination that the received hash matches the approved hash.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the device data indicating a version of an operating system running on the device;

comparing the received data to data identifying an approved version of the operating system stored on the gaming service;

determining that the version of the operating system running on the device matches the approved version of the operating system based on the comparison; and

determining that the device is authorized to use the gaming service based at least in part on the determination that the version of the operating system running on the device matches the approved version of the operating system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining that the operating system running on the device is an approved operating system includes determining that the device has not been rooted.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting from a service provider of a communication network a determination of whether a device identifier of the device matches a device identifier currently in use on the communication network;

receiving from the service provider of the communication network a determination that the device identifier of the device matches a device identifier currently in use on the communication network; and

determining that the device is authorized to use the gaming service based at least in part on the received determination that the device identifier of the device matches a device identifier currently in use on the communication network.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting from a geofencing service a determination of whether the device is located within a particular area, wherein the particular area is an area in which gaming activity is allowed;

receiving from the geofencing service the determination that the device is located within the particular area; and

allowing gaming activity on the device based at least in part on the received determination that the device is located within the particular area.

16. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the apparatus to;

receive from a device a status of one or more communication interfaces of the device, the status indicating whether the one or more communication interfaces of the device are enabled or disabled;

determine based on the received status that one or more communication interfaces of the device are disabled;

determine that the device is authorized to use a gaming service based at least in part on the determination that one or more communication interfaces are disabled;

determine that a user of the device is authorized to use the gaming service;

determine that the device is associated with a location in which gaming activity is allowed; and

allow gaming activity on the device based at least in part on the determination that the device is authorized, the determination that the user is authorized, and the determination that the device is associated with the location.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to:

determine based on the received status that a first communication interface of the device is enabled and that all remaining communication interfaces of the device other than the first communication interface are disabled,

wherein the determination that the device is authorized is based at least in part on the determination that the first communication interface of the device is enabled and that all remaining communication interfaces of the device other than the first communication interface are disabled.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to:

after a predetermined period of time has passed since determining that the device is authorized, receive from the device an updated status of the one or more communication interfaces of the device;

determine based on the received updated status that one or more of the remaining communication interfaces of the device is no longer disabled; and

in response to determining that one or more of the remaining communication interfaces of the device is no longer disabled, prevent gaming activity on the device.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the gaming service communicates with the device via the first communication interface.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to:

establish an entry in a database of the gaming service that identifies the user as being associated with the device,

wherein determining that the device is authorized to use a gaming service is based at least in part on a determination that the user is associated with the device in the database.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to:

receive from the user via a second device a request to use the gaming service on the second device;

determine that the second device is authorized to use the gaming service;

determine that the database of the gaming service does not include an entry that identifies the user as being associated with the second device; and

prevent gaming activity on the second device for the user based at least in part on the determination that the database does not include an entry that identifies the user as being associated with the second device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to:

establish an entry in the database of the gaming service that identifies the user as being associated with the second device;

determine that the database of the gaming service includes an entry that identifies the user as being associate with the second device; and

allow gaming activity on the second device for the user based at least in part on the determination that the database includes an entry that identifies the user as being associated with the second device.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to:

determine that a second user of the device is authorized to use the gaming service;

determine that the database of the gaming service does not include an entry that identifies the second user as being associated with the device; and

prevent gaming activity on the device for the second user of the device based at least in part on the determination that the database does not include an entry that identifies the second user as being associated with the device.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the entry in the database of the gaming service that identifies the user as being associated with the device identifies a wagering account of the user of the device on the gaming system as being associated with the device.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to:

determine that the device is authorized to use the gaming service based at least in part on a determination that a mobile telephone number of the device has been signed up to have access to the gaming service.

26. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to:

receive from the device a hash of one or more files stored on the device;

compare the received hash to an approved hash stored on the gaming service;

determine that the received hash matches the approved hash based on the comparison; and

determine that the device is authorized to use the gaming service based at least in part on the determination that the received hash matches the approved hash.

27. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to:

receive from the device data indicating a version of an operating system running on the device;

compare the received data to data identifying an approved version of the operating system stored on the gaming service;

determine that the version of the operating system running on the device matches the approved version of the operating system based on the comparison; and

determine that the device is authorized to use the gaming service based at least in part on the determination that the version of the operating system running on the device matches the approved version of the operating system.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein determining that the operating system running on the device is an approved operating system includes determining that the device has not been rooted.

29. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to:

request from a service provider of a communication network a determination of whether a device identifier of the device matches a device identifier currently in use on the communication network;

receive from the service provider of the communication network a determination that the device identifier of the device matches a device identifier currently in use on the communication network; and

determine that the device is authorized to use the gaming service based at least in part on the received determination that the device identifier of the device matches a device identifier currently in use on the communication network.

30. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to:

request from a geofencing service a determination of whether the device is located within a particular area, wherein the particular area is an area in which gaming activity is allowed;

receive from the geofencing service the determination that the device is located within the particular area; and

allow gaming activity on the device based at least in part on the received determination that the device is located within the particular area.

31. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that when executed by at least one processor, configure the at least one processor to:

receive from a gaming service a request for a status of one or more communication interfaces of a device, the status indicating whether the one or more communication interfaces of the device are enabled or disabled;

in response to the request, determine the status of one or more communication interfaces of the device;

transmit the status to the gaming service;

receive from the gaming service a determination that the device is authorized to use the gaming service based at least in part on a determination that one or more of the communication interfaces are disabled;

transmit to the gaming service information associated with a user of the device;

receive from the gaming service a determination that the user of the device is authorized to use the gaming service based on the information; and

allow gaming activity on the device based at least in part on the received determination that the device is authorized and the received determination that the user is authorized.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

determine based on the received status that a first communication interface of the device is enabled and that all remaining communication interfaces of the device other than the first communication interface are disabled,

wherein the determination that the device is authorized is based at least in part on the determination that the first communication interface of the device is enabled and that all remaining communication interfaces of the device other than the first communication interface are disabled.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the gaming service communicates with the device via the first communication interface.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

after a predetermined period of time has passed since determining that the device is authorized, receive from the device an updated status of the one or more communication interfaces of the device;

determine based on the received updated status that one or more of the remaining communication interfaces of the device is no longer disabled; and

in response to determining that one or more of the remaining communication interfaces of the device is no longer disabled, prevent gaming activity on the device.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

establish an entry in a database of the gaming service that identifies the user as being associated with the device,

wherein determining that the device is authorized to use a gaming service is based at least in part on a determination that the user is associated with the device in the database.

36. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

receive from the user via a second device a request to use the gaming service on the second device;

determine that the second device is authorized to use the gaming service;

determine that the database of the gaming service does not include an entry that identifies the user as being associated with the second device; and

prevent gaming activity on the second device for the user based at least in part on the determination that the database does not include an entry that identifies the user as being associated with the second device.

37. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

establish an entry in the database of the gaming service that identifies the user as being associated with the second device;

determine that the database of the gaming service includes an entry that identifies the user as being associate with the second device; and

allow gaming activity on the second device for the user based at least in part on the determination that the database includes an entry that identifies the user as being associated with the second device.

38. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

determine that a second user of the device is authorized to use the gaming service;

determine that the database of the gaming service does not include an entry that identifies the second user as being associated with the device; and

prevent gaming activity on the device for the second user of the device based at least in part on the determination that the database does not include an entry that identifies the second user as being associated with the device.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the entry in the database of the gaming service that identifies the user as being associated with the device identifies a wagering account of the user of the device on the gaming system as being associated with the device.

40. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

determine that the device is authorized to use the gaming service based at least in part on a determination that a mobile telephone number of the device has been signed up to have access to the gaming service.

41. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

receive from the device a hash of one or more files stored on the device;

compare the received hash to an approved hash stored on the gaming service;

determine that the received hash matches the approved hash based on the comparison; and

determine that the device is authorized to use the gaming service based at least in part on the determination that the received hash matches the approved hash.

42. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

receive from the device data indicating a version of an operating system running on the device;

compare the received data to data identifying an approved version of the operating system stored on the gaming service;

determine that the version of the operating system running on the device matches the approved version of the operating system based on the comparison; and

determine that the device is authorized to use the gaming service based at least in part on the determination that the version of the operating system running on the device matches the approved version of the operating system.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein determining that the operating system running on the device is an approved operating system includes determining that the device has not been rooted.

44. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

request from a service provider of a communication network a determination of whether a device identifier of the device matches a device identifier currently in use on the communication network;

receive from the service provider of the communication network a determination that the device identifier of the device matches a device identifier currently in use on the communication network; and

determine that the device is authorized to use the gaming service based at least in part on the received determination that the device identifier of the device matches a device identifier currently in use on the communication network.

45. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions further configure the at least one processor to:

request from a geofencing service a determination of whether the device is located within a particular area, wherein the particular area is an area in which gaming activity is allowed;

receive from the geofencing service the determination that the device is located within the particular area; and

allow gaming activity on the device based at least in part on the received determination that the device is located within the particular area.