GROUP ASSOCIATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100131369A1
• Filed: 11/26/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Luc Doan, Michael Anthony Grimsley, Richard Jude Dominguez
• Original Assignee: Luc Doan, Michael Anthony Grimsley, Richard Jude Dominguez
• Inventors: Doan, Luc, Dominguez, Richard Jude, Grimsley, Michael Anthony
• Application Number:
  US12/324,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20100131369A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.670
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0229 Multi-merchant loyalty card systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product defines an identity of a patron of a casino. Whether the patron has an account within the casino is determined. If the patron has an account, the account associated with the patron is determined. If the patron does not have an account, an account is generated and associated with the patron. The account is associated with a group of patrons.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

defining an identity of a patron of a casino;

determining whether the patron has an account within the casino;

if the patron has an account;

determining the account associated with the patron;

if the patron does not have an account;

generating an account, and

associating the account with the patron; and

associating the account with a group of patrons.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein defining an identity of a patron includes processing encoded data to define the identity.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein defining an identity of a patron includes defining the identity on a handheld device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a membership card and associating the membership card with the account.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating a personal identification number with one or more of the account and a membership card.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising issuing a promotional credit.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein associating the account with the patron includes defining one or more of membership data and group association data, and further comprising:

providing the one or more of membership data and group association data to one or more of a membership system and a promotions system.

8. A system configured to perform operations comprising:

defining an identity of a patron of a casino;

determining whether the patron has an account within the casino;

if the patron has an account;

determining the account associated with the patron;

if the patron does not have an account;

generating an account, and

associating the account with the patron; and

associating the account with a group of patrons.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein defining an identity of a patron includes processing encoded data to define the identity.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein defining an identity of a patron includes defining the identity on a handheld device.

11. The system of claim 8 further configured to perform operations comprising generating a membership card and associating the membership card with the account.

12. The system of claim 8 further configured to perform operations comprising associating a personal identification number with one or more of the account and a membership card.

13. The system of claim 8 further configured to perform operations comprising issuing a promotional credit.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein associating the account with the patron includes defining one or more of membership data and group association data, and further comprising:

providing the one or more of membership data and group association data to one or more of a membership system and a promotions system.

15. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

defining an identity of a patron of a casino;

determining whether the patron has an account within the casino;

if the patron has an account;

determining the account associated with the patron;

if the patron does not have an account;

generating an account, and

associating the account with the patron; and

associating the account with a group of patrons.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein defining an identity of a patron includes processing encoded data to define the identity.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein defining an identity of a patron includes defining the identity on a handheld device.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 further configured to perform operations comprising generating a membership card and associating the membership card with the account.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 further configured to perform operations comprising associating a personal identification number with one or more of the account and a membership card.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 further configured to perform operations comprising issuing a promotional credit.

21. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein associating the account with the patron includes defining one or more of membership data and group association data, and further comprising:

providing the one or more of membership data and group association data to one or more of a membership system and a promotions system.