Point management system and server

• US 20030203754A1
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aruze Corp., SETA Corporation (Universal Entertainment Corporation)
• Inventors: Nonaka, Nobuyuki, Fujimoto, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 7,090,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A point management system has a game terminal mounted to a vehicle, a server including a point memory for storing user ID and the number of points, which are associated with one another, an authenticator for authenticating user ID inputted via the game terminal using the user ID stored in the point memory, a game controller for allowing the game terminal to execute a game when the authentication succeeds, and a point processor for updating the number of points associated with the user ID stored in the point memory in accordance with a result of game execution.

Claims

1. A point management system, comprising:

a game terminal mounted to a vehicle;

a server comprising a point memory for storing user ID and the number of points, which are associated with one another;

an authenticator for authenticating user ID inputted via said game terminal using said user ID stored in said point memory;

a game controller for allowing said game terminal to execute a game when said authentication succeeds; and

a point processor for updating the number of points associated with said user ID stored in said point memory in accordance with a result of execution of said game.

2. A point management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said server comprises said authenticator, said game controller, and said point processor; and

said server and said game terminal are configured to be able to communicate with one another via satellite communications.

3. A point management system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said point processor increases or decreases the number of points stored in said point memory by the number of points having been inputted via said game terminal, in accordance with a result of execution of said game.

4. A point management system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said game is lot, and a result of said game execution is a result of said lot.

5. A point management system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said point processor updates the number of points stored in said point memory in accordance with the traveling conditions of said vehicle.

6. A point management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said game controller is mounted to said vehicle and is configured to be able to communicate with said game terminal;

said server comprises said authenticator and said point processor; and

said server and said game terminal are configured to be able to communicate with one another via satellite communications.

7. A point management system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said point processor increases or decreases the number of points stored in said point memory by the number of points having inputted via said game terminal, in accordance with a result of execution of said game.

8. A point management system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said game is lot, and a result of execution of said game is a result of said lot.

9. A point management system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said point processor updates the number of points stored in said point memory in accordance with the traveling conditions of said vehicle.

10. A point management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said point processor is mounted to said vehicle and is configured to be able to communicate with said game terminal;

said server comprises said authenticator and said game controller;

said point processor updates the number of points recorded on a point record medium in accordance with a result of execution of said game; and

said server and said game terminal are configured to be able to connect to one another via satellite communications.

11. A point management system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said point processor increases or decreases the number of points recorded on said point record medium by the number of points having been inputted via said game terminal, in accordance with a result of execution of said game.

12. A point management system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said game is lot, and a result of execution of said game is a result of said lot.

13. A point management system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said point processor updates the number of points recorded on said point record medium in accordance with the traveling conditions of said vehicle.

14. A point management system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said point record medium is a boarding ticket for said vehicle.

15. A point management system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said point processor and said game controller are mounted to said vehicle, and are configured to be able to communicate with said game terminal;

said server comprises said authenticator;

said point processor updates the number of points recorded on a point record medium in accordance with a result of execution of said game; and

said server and said game terminal are configured to be able to connect to one another via satellite communications.

16. A point management system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said point processor increases or decreases the number of points recorded on said point record medium by the number of points having been inputted via said game terminal, in accordance with a result of execution of said game.

17. A point management system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said game is lot, and a result of execution of said game is a result of said lot.

18. A point management system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said point processor updates the number of points recorded on said point record medium in accordance with the traveling conditions of said vehicle.

19. A point management system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said point record medium is a boarding ticket for said vehicle.

20. A server configured to be able to communicate with a game terminal mounted to a vehicle via satellite communications, comprising:

a point memory for storing user ID and the number of points, which are associated with one another;

an authenticator for authenticating user ID inputted via said game terminal using said user ID stored in said point memory;

a game controller for allowing said game terminal to execute a game when said authentication succeeds; and

a point processor for updating the number of points associated with said user ID stored in said point memory in accordance with a result of execution of said game.

21. A server as set forth in claim 20, wherein said point processor increases or decreases the number of points stored in said point memory by the number of points having been inputted via said game terminal, in accordance with a result of execution of said game.

22. A server as set forth in claim 20, wherein said game is lot, and a result of execution of said game is a result of said lot.

23. A server as set forth in claim 20, wherein said point processor updates the number of points stored in said point memory in accordance with the traveling conditions of said vehicle.