SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVENIENCE GAMING

• US 20070281792A1
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Amaitis, Lee, Wilkins, Alan, Mylet, Darrin, Lutnick, Howard, Asher, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/839,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20070281792A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• 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 17/3237 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 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games

Abstract

A user is permitted to engage in at least one activity via a gaming device during at least a first period of time in a given area but is not permitted to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device during at least a second period of time in the given area. The gaming device may be deactivated in the given area during at least the second period of time.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a computing device operable to:

determine that a user of a gaming device is within a first area and that a current time is during a second period of time,

in which the user is permitted to engage in at least one activity via the gaming device from within the first area during a first period of time, and

in which the user is not permitted to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device from within the first area during the second period of time; and

not permit the user to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the user is within the first area and that the current time is during the second period of time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the computing device is further operable to:

determine that the user is within the first area and that the current time is during the first period of time; and

permit the user to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the current time is during the first period of time.

3. The apparatus of claim 2,

in which the user is permitted to engage in the least one activity via the gaming device from within the first area during a third period of time;

in which the second period of time begins when the first period of time ends and in which the third period of time begins when the second period of time ends; and

in which the computing device is further operable to;

determine that the user is within the first area and that the current time is during the third period of time; and

permit the user to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the current time is during the third period of time.

4. The apparatus of claim 3,

in which the first area comprises an area in which an entertainment event occurs;

in which the first period of time ends prior to a start of the entertainment event;

in which the third period of time begins after an end of the entertainment event; and

in which the second period of time begins when the first period of time ends and in which the second period of time ends when the third period of time begins.

5. The apparatus of claim 1,

in which the user is permitted to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device from within a second area during the second period of time;

and

in which the computing device is further operable to;

determine that the user has moved from within the first area to within the second area during the second period of time; and

permit the user to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the user has moved from within the first area to within the second area during the second period of time.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, in which to not permit the user to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device comprises at least one of:

to log out the user from a server to which the user is logged in via the gaming device,

to disconnect the gaming device from a communication network,

to turn off the gaming device,

to suspend communications between the gaming device and the server, and

to terminate communications between the gaming device and the server.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the at least one activity comprises at least one of:

a gambling activity,

a wagering-based activity, and

a lottery-based activity.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the at least one activity comprises at least one of:

purchasing tickets to an entertainment event,

making reservations,

purchasing merchandise,

purchasing food,

purchasing beverages,

receiving news information, and

conducting financial transactions.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the at least one activity comprises at least one of:

receiving audio,

receiving video,

making voice calls, and

receiving voice calls.

10. An apparatus comprising a computing device operable to:

determine that a user of a gaming device is within a first area and that a current time is during a first period of time,

in which the user is permitted to engage in at least one activity via the gaming device from within the first area during the first period of time,

in which the user is not permitted to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device from within the first area during a second period of time, and

in which the second period of time begins when the first period of time ends;

permit the user to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the current time is during the first period of time;

determine that the user is within the first area and that the current time has transitioned from the first period of time to the second period of time; and

not permit the user to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the user is within the first area and that the current time has transitioned from the first period of time to the second period of time.

11. The apparatus of claim 10,

in which the user is permitted to engage in the least one activity via the gaming device from within the first area during a third period of time;

in which the third period of time begins when the second period of time ends; and

in which the computing device is further operable to;

determine that the user is within the first area and that the current time has transitioned from the second period of time to the third period of time; and

permit the user to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the current time has transitioned from the second period of time to the third period of time.

12. The apparatus of claim 11,

in which the first area comprises an area in which an entertainment event occurs;

in which the first period of time ends prior to a start of the entertainment event;

in which the third period of time begins after an end of the entertainment event; and

in which the second period of time begins when the first period of time ends and in which the second period of time ends when the third period of time begins.

13. The apparatus of claim 10,

in which the user is permitted to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device from within a second area during the second period of time;

and

in which the computing device is further operable to;

determine that the user has moved from within the first area to within the second area during the second period of time; and

permit the user to engage in the at least one activity via the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the user has moved from within the first area to within the second area during the second period of time.

14. An apparatus comprising a computing device operable to:

determine that a user of a gaming device is within a first area and that a current time is during a first period of time,

in which the gaming device is permitted to be activated within the first area during the first period of time, and

in which the gaming device is not permitted to be activated within the first area during a second period of time; and

permit the gaming device to be activated based at least in part on determining that the current time is during the first period of time.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, in which the computing device is further operable to:

determine that the user is within the first area and that the current time is during the second period of time; and

not permit the gaming device to be activated based at least in part on determining that the user is within the first area and that the current time is during the second period of time.

16. The apparatus of claim 15,

in which the gaming device is permitted to be activated within the first area during a third period of time;

in which the second period of time begins when the first period of time ends and in which the third period of time begins when the second period of time ends; and

in which the computing device is further operable to;

determine that the user is within the first area and that the current time is during the third period of time; and

permit the gaming device to be activated based at least in part on determining that the current time is during the third period of time.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, in which the computing device is further operable to:

determine that the user is within the first area and that the current time is during the second period of time; and

deactivate the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the user is within the first area and that the current time is during the second period of time.

18. The apparatus of claim 17,

in which the gaming device is permitted to be activated within the first area during a third period of time, and

in which the second period of time begins when the first period of time ends and in which the third period of time begins when the second period of time ends;

and

in which the computing device is further operable to;

determine that the user is within the first area and that the current time is during the third period of time; and

activate the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the current time is during the third period of time.

19. The apparatus of claim 18,

in which the first area comprises an area in which an entertainment event occurs;

in which the first period of time ends prior to a start of the entertainment event;

in which the third period of time begins after an end of the entertainment event; and

in which the second period of time begins when the first period of time ends and in which the second period of time ends when the third period of time begins.

20. The apparatus of claim 17,

in which the gaming device is permitted to be activated within a second area during the second period of time;

and

in which the computing device is further operable to;

determine that the user has moved from within the first area to within the second area during the second period of time; and

permit the gaming device to be activated based at least in part on determining that the user has moved from within the first area to within the second area during the second period of time.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, in which to deactivate the gaming device comprises at least one of:

to log out the user from a server to which the user is logged in via the gaming device,

to stop communications between the gaming device and the server,

to disconnect the gaming device from a communication network, and

to turn off the gaming device.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, in which the gaming device being activated comprises at least one of:

the gaming device being turned on,

the gaming device being connected to a communication network,

the user being logged into a server via the gaming device, and

the gaming device communicating with the server.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, in which the gaming device comprises a mobile gaming device.

24. An apparatus comprising a computing device operable to:

determine that a user of a gaming device is within a first area and that a current time is during a first period of time,

in which the gaming device is permitted to be activated within the first area during the first period of time,

in which the gaming device is not permitted to be activated within the first area during a second period of time, and

in which the second period of time begins when the first period of time ends;

permit the gaming device to be activated based at least in part on determining that the current time is during the first period of time;

determine that the user is within the first area and that the current time has transitioned from the first period of time to the second period of time; and

deactivate the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the user is within the first area and that the current time has transitioned from the first period of time to the second period of time.

25. The apparatus of claim 24,

in which the gaming device is permitted to be activated within the first area

during a third period of time;

in which the third period of time begins when the second period of time ends; and

in which the computing device is further operable to;

determine that the user is within the first area and that the current time has transitioned from the second period of time to the third period of time; and

permit the gaming device to be activated based at least in part on determining that the current time has transitioned from the second period of time to the third period of time.

26. The apparatus of claim 25,

in which the first area comprises an area in which an entertainment event occurs;

in which the first period of time ends prior to a start of the entertainment event;

in which the third period of time begins after an end of the entertainment event; and

in which the second period of time begins when the first period of time ends and in which the second period of time ends when the third period of time begins.

27. The apparatus of claim 24,

in which the gaming device is permitted to be activated within the first area during a third period of time;

in which the third period of time begins when the second period of time ends; and

in which the computing device is further operable to;

determine that the user is within the first area and that the current time has transitioned from the second period of time to the third period of time; and

activate the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the current time has transitioned from the second period of time to the third period of time.

28. The apparatus of claim 24,

in which the gaming device is permitted to be activated within a second area during the second period of time;

and

in which the computing device is further operable to;

determine that the user has moved from within the first area to within the second area during the second period of time; and

permit the gaming device to be activated based at least in part on determining that the user has moved from within the first area to within the second area during the second period of time.