PROXIMITY BASED GAME CUSTOMIZATION

• US 20060148560A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Adiraju, Srinivyasa M., Swamy, Vikram, Mak, Ryan S., Ralston, Samuel D., Fitzsimons, Matthew, Arezina, Vladimir
• Granted Patent: US 8,602,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• 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

Potential player proximity to a gaming machine is sensed, and used to customize the gaming machine. The potential player position may be sensed in different manners including via an ID card carried by the potential player with triangulation sensors, a cell phone, or via biometrics. The identity of the player is also associated with the ID card, and is used to access a database containing information about the potential player or type of player. Based on that stored information, the proximate gaming machine may be customized with a game or various attract modes that are more likely to attract the potential player. In further embodiments, information known to be desired by the potential player, such as sporting results may also be displayed to attract the potential player. In still further embodiments, various profiling techniques may be utilized to identify desired customizations of proximately located gaming machines.

Claims

1. A method of customizing a gaming device, the method comprising:

identifying a potential player proximate to a gaming device;

determining preferences of the potential player; and

customizing the proximate gaming device as a function of the potential player preferences.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a potential player is identified by the use of a RF tag carried by the potential player.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the RF tag is associated with the player and used as an index into a database of player preferences to determine the preferences of the identified potential player.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a potential player is identified by the use of biometrics.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a potential player is identified by triangulating on a cell phone carried by the potential player.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the preferences of the potential player are identified by profiling the potential player.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaming device is customized to offer a game preferred by the identified potential player.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the game preferred by the identified potential player has payouts that are also preferred by the identified potential player.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaming device is customized with an attract mode based on the potential player preferences.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaming device is customized with commercials, themes, or playing incentives.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaming device is customized with a language based on the potential player preferences.

12. A method of customizing a gaming device, the method comprising:

identifying a potential player;

identifying a current location of the potential player;

identifying an idle gaming device proximate the current location of the potential player;

determining preferences of the potential player; and

customizing the gaming device as a function of the potential player preferences.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the preferences of the potential player are identified by profiling the potential player.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the gaming device is customized to offer a game preferred by the identified potential player.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the game preferred by the identified potential player has payouts that are also preferred by the identified potential player.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the gaming device is customized with an attract mode based on the potential player preferences.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the gaming device is customized with commercials, themes, or playing incentives.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the gaming device is customized with a language based on the potential player preferences.

19. A method of customizing a gaming device, the method comprising:

identifying a potential player;

predicting a future location of the potential player;

identifying an idle gaming device proximate the predicted future location of the potential player;

determining preferences of the potential player; and

customizing the gaming device as a function of the potential player preferences.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the gaming device is customized to begin an attract mode when the identified potential player is proximate the gaming device.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the gaming device is customized to offer a game preferred by the identified potential player.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein a potential player is identified by the use of a RF tag carried by the potential player.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the RF tag is associated with the player and used as an index into a database of player preferences to determine the preferences of the identified potential player.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein a potential player is identified by the use of biometrics.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein a potential player is identified by triangulating on a cell phone carried by the potential player.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein the preferences of the potential player are identified by profiling the potential player.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the game preferred by the identified potential player has payouts that are also preferred by the identified potential player.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein the gaming device is customized with an attract mode based on the potential player preferences.

29. The method of claim 20 wherein the gaming device is customized with commercials, themes, or playing incentives.

30. The method of claim 20 wherein the gaming device is customized with a language based on the potential player preferences.

31. A gaming environment comprising:

means for identifying a potential player proximate to a gaming device;

means for determining preferences of the potential player; and

means for customizing the proximate gaming device as a function of the potential player preferences.

32. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for causing a computer to implement a method comprising:

identifying a potential player proximate to a gaming device;

determining preferences of the potential player; and

customizing the proximate gaming device as a function of the potential player preferences.