REAL-TIME NAVIGATION DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20090265105A1
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Davis, Dwayne A., Oberberger, Michael M., Champagne, Christiaan R.
• Application Number:
  US12/106,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20090265105A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/300
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/20 Destination assistance within a business structure or complex
• 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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

Some implementations of the invention provide real-time navigation data via a mobile device. Some embodiments of the invention provide portable devices that can indicate both relatively “static” information, such as map data, architectural features, casino layout information, etc., which may be updated from time to time. Accordingly, the term “static” as used herein does not necessarily mean unchanging or unchangeable. Some such embodiments provide portable devices that can simultaneously display static information and real-time video data. The video data may be provided by one or more cameras in a camera network. Information, such as offers, advertisements, etc., may be provided to a user according to the user'"'"'s location.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing real-time navigation data, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface system comprising at least one network interface; and

a logic system comprising at least one logic device, the logic system configured to do the following;

receive data via the interface system regarding a device location;

select at least one camera having a viewpoint that corresponds with the device location;

obtain video data from at least one selected camera; and

transmit the video data to the device via the interface system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the received data comprise data regarding an actual device location

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data received comprise data regarding a virtual device location.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive data via the interface system regarding a device orientation and to orient the video data according to the device orientation.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises selecting at least one camera of a network of cameras.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises selecting more than one camera of a network of cameras and wherein the obtaining step comprises obtaining video data from each selected camera, wherein the logic system is further configured to form a composite image from the video data from each selected camera.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein selecting comprises selecting at least one camera deployed in a gaming establishment.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic system is further configured to offer a benefit corresponding with the device location.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the logic system is further configured to determine the actual device location according to an indication received via the interface system that a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) reader has read an RFID tag associated with the device.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the logic system is further configured to determine the actual device location according to a triangulation technique, based on a plurality of signals received via the interface system.

11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the video data correspond with the virtual location.

12. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the logic system is further configured to prepare and transmit video data corresponding to a sequence of virtual device locations.

13. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the orienting step comprises matching at least a first portion of a first polygon in a static image with a second portion of a second polygon in an image of the video data.

14. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the orienting step comprises aligning a first point in a static image with a second point in an image of the video data.

15. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the orienting step comprises applying a mathematical transformation of video data taken from a camera viewpoint to produce video data from a device viewpoint.

16. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the device orientation comprises an actual device orientation.

17. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the device orientation comprises a virtual device orientation.

18. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the benefit comprises a wager gaming opportunity.

19. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the benefit comprises at least one of goods or services.

20. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the benefit corresponds to preference data for a user of the device.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the video data correspond with the virtual orientation.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the logic system is further configured to prepare and transmit video data corresponding to a sequence of virtual device orientations.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the logic system is further configured to obtain, via the interface system, the preference data from a player loyalty database.

24. An apparatus for providing real-time navigation data, the apparatus comprising:

an interface system comprising at least one wireless interface;

a display system comprising at least one display device;

orientation means for determining an orientation of the apparatus;

a memory system comprising at least one type of memory device; and

a logic system comprising at least one logic device, the logic system configured to do the following;

determine a location of the apparatus;

ascertain an orientation of the apparatus;

receive video data, via the interface system, from at least one selected camera having a viewpoint that corresponds with the device location and orientation; and

control the display system to display simultaneously the video data and static images of objects near the apparatus location, according to the apparatus location and orientation.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the determining step comprises determining an actual apparatus location and wherein the ascertaining step comprises determining an actual apparatus orientation, according to orientation data from the orientation means.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the determining step comprises determining a virtual apparatus location and wherein the ascertaining step comprises determining a virtual apparatus orientation.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the orientation means comprises a gyroscope system comprising at least one gyroscope.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the orientation means comprises an antenna.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling the display system to display static images of a gaming establishment.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the logic system is further configured to obtain static image data from the memory system.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the logic system is further configured to match at least a first portion of a first polygon in a static image with a second portion of a second polygon in an image of the video data.

32. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the logic system is further configured to align at least one static image reference point with at least one corresponding video data reference point.

33. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the logic system is further configured to apply a mathematical transformation of video data taken from a camera viewpoint to produce video data from an apparatus viewpoint.

34. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the logic system is further configured to select a portion of a field of view of received video data corresponding with a displayed field of view of static image data.

35. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the determining step comprises receiving location data via the network interface.

36. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the logic system is further configured to control the display device to offer a benefit corresponding with the device location.

37. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising an audio system comprising at least one sound-producing device, wherein the logic system is further configured to control the audio system to provide information corresponding with the device location.

38. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for providing wagering games.

39. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tag, wherein the determining step comprises receiving, via the network interface, a location of an RFID reader that has read the RFID tag.

40. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) reader, wherein the determining step comprises determining a location of an RFID tag read by the RFID reader.

41. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a Global Positioning System (“

GPS”

) unit, wherein the determining step comprises receiving location data from the GPS unit.

42. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the static images and the video data correspond with the virtual location and the virtual orientation.

43. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the logic system is further configured to control the display system to provide a virtual tour of an area by displaying static images corresponding to a sequence of virtual device locations and virtual device orientations.

44. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a user interface, wherein the determining step comprises receiving, via the network interface, at least one of a virtual device location or a virtual device orientation.

45. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the logic system is further configured to control the audio device to offer a benefit corresponding with the device location.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the logic system is further configured to control the display system to display video data corresponding to the sequence of virtual device locations and virtual device orientations.

47. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising an audio system comprising at least one sound-producing device, wherein the logic system is further configured to control the audio system to provide information corresponding to the sequence of virtual device locations and virtual device orientations.

48. A system for providing real-time navigation data, the system comprising:

means for determining a location of a device;

means for ascertaining an orientation of the device;

means for displaying static images of objects near the device location, according to the device orientation;

means for selecting at least one camera having a viewpoint that corresponds with the device location and orientation;

means for obtaining video data from at least one selected camera;

means for orienting the video data with the static images; and

means for presenting the video data on the device.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the determining means comprises means for determining an actual device location and wherein the ascertaining means comprises means for determining an actual device orientation.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein the determining means comprises means for determining a virtual device location and wherein the ascertaining means comprises means for determining a virtual device orientation.