APPARATUS, PROCESSES AND ARTICLES FOR FACILITATING MOBILE GAMING

• US 20080102957A1
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Alderucci, Dean P., Burman, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,292,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings of the present embodiment, a system and method for wireless gaming with location-dependent gaming functions are provided. In a particular embodiment, the apparatus includes a gaming server; a wireless network at least partially covering a property, the wireless network comprising a plurality of signal detection devices; and a gaming communication device operable to transmit and receive gaming information to and from the gaming server via the wireless network. A location of the gaming communication device on the property is used to alter a game play function, such as a bet option, wager, graphic overlay, permission, or to provide location-dependent advertising or embedded advertising. Based upon the location of the gaming communication device on the property, a predetermined functionality of the gaming communication device may be enabled and/or controlled.

Claims

1. A method for wireless gaming, comprising:

providing a wireless gaming terminal having a network interface operable to transmit and receive gaming information;

determination a location of the wireless gaming terminal; and

interacting with a user to implement a game, wherein the game is dependent on the determined location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location determination step employs network based location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location determination step employs satellite based location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless network interface communicates in an unlicensed radio frequency band.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless network interface communicates in a licensed radio frequency band.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless network interface communicates using at least one of an IEEE-802.11x compatible protocol and an IEEE-802.16x compatible protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a cellular telephone.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of identifying a user biometrically.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating cryptographically.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing a virtual private network.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a location of the wireless gaming terminal based on a response from a radio frequency identification transponder device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said location determining method employs a short range modulated magnetic field communication protocol.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the game receives the determined location as an input parameter, and alters a user interface for a predetermined game in response thereto.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the game receives the determined location as an input parameter, and alters at least one rule of a game in response thereto.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the game receives the determined location as an input parameter, and alters a wager of the game in response thereto.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the game receives the determined location as an input parameter, and alters a bet option of the game in response thereto.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the game receives the determined location as an input parameter, and alters an ancillary incentive for playing the game in response thereto.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the game receives the determined location as an input parameter, and determines a permission for playing the game.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an incentive for a user to be present at a defined location.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a computer programmed to perform the method of claim 1.

20. A gaming system comprising:

(a) a plurality of mobile terminals, each comprising a wireless communication interface, and a user man-machine interface;

(b) a location determining system, for determining a respective location for the plurality of mobile terminals; and

(c) a central server, communicating with the plurality of mobile terminals, and controlling at least one embodiment of game play thereon,

wherein the game play on at least one mobile terminal is modified based on a determined location of the mobile terminal.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least two of the mobile terminals communicate with each other.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein a game play on one terminal is dependent on at least one input received from another terminal.