Networked Gaming System Including A Location Monitor And Dispatcher Using Personal Data Keys

• US 20090239667A1
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Barker, Dave, Giobbi, John, Hendrickson, Robert, Kelly, Bryan, Rowe, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 8,392,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A networked gaming system is disclosed that includes location detection and dispatcher servers operative together with one or more wireless personal digital (PDK) devices communicating with receiver/decoders (RDCs) for tracking and communicating with casino employees and patrons throughout the casino. An employee and patron tracking system in a casino is disclosed wherein beverage and other service staff are properly assigned, dispatched to the right patron or location and can be located and tracked throughout various transactions.

Claims

1. A networked gaming system including

a location server;

one or more gaming machines connected to the location server; and

one or more radio frequency transceivers operable to receive data from one or more personal data key devices including a memory storing identity data and a transceiver operable to transmit the data to the location server.

2. The networked gaming system of claim 1, including

a dispatch server;

a dispatch unit connected to the dispatch server;

the frequency transceivers operable to receive a request signal from one of the personal data devices and transmit at least the approximate location of the personal data device and the request; and

the dispatch server operable to transmit a delivery command to a dispatch unit in accordance with the request signal.

3. The networked gaming system of claim 1, further including a monitoring unit connected to the location server and operable to display locations of the personal data key devices from the received data.

4. The networked gaming system of claim 3, wherein the monitoring unit is connected to the dispatch server and is operable to monitor a request signal and a delivery signal.

5. The networked gaming system of claim 4, wherein the dispatch unit is operable to transmit a delivery completion signal;

and

the monitoring unit is operable to display time entries for a delivery command and a delivery completion signal.

6. The networked gaming system of claim 2, further including a monitoring unit connected to the location server and operable to display locations of the personal data key devices from the received data.

7. The networked gaming system of claim 6, wherein the monitoring unit is connected to the dispatch server and is operable to monitor a request signal and a delivery signal.

8. The networked gaming system of claim 7, wherein the dispatch unit is operable to transmit a delivery completion signal;

and

the monitoring unit is operable to display time entries for a delivery command and a delivery completion signal.

9. The networked gaming system of claim 8, wherein the monitoring unit is operable to identify and alert one or more personnel through a communication device associated with the personnel.

10. A method of cocktail dispatching in a casino environments the method comprising:

determining the location and identity of a patron using a patron personal data key;

receiving an electronic beverage request from the patron;

initiating a beverage request transaction for the patron;

locating a beverage host in proximity to the patron using an associated employee personal data key; and

transmitting the patron location and the electronic beverage requested to the beverage host.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a close transaction event triggered by the beverage host after delivery of the beverage; and

recording the beverage request transaction and close times.