USES OF LOCATION TRACKING IN MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20120015735A1
• Filed: 07/19/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Guinn, Andrew C., Gura, Damon E., Lakshmanaperumal, Mahesh, Robbins, Richard B., Abouchar, Thomas S., Biernat, Martin J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,944,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• 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 17/3227 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method includes: detecting a plurality of wagering game machines in proximity to the mobile phone, and selecting a first of the plurality of wagering game machines with which to establish a connection. The method can also include requesting the connection with the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, and transmitting, from the mobile phone to the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, player account information for configuring a wagering game. The method can also include receiving, from the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, content indicating a result of the wagering game, and presenting, on the mobile phone, the result of the wagering game.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting a plurality of wagering game machines in proximity to the mobile phone;

selecting a first of the plurality of wagering game machines with which to establish a connection;

requesting the connection with the first of the plurality of wagering game machines;

transmitting, from the mobile phone to the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, player account information for configuring a wagering game;

receiving, from the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, content indicating a result of the wagering game; and

presenting, on the mobile phone, the result of the wagering game.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a map graphically indicating a path to the wagering game machine, and

presenting the map on a display device of the mobile phone.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

updating a social networking account to indicate the result of the wagering game.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the player account information comprises, at least one of, persistent game state information, denominations, audio settings, and video settings.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said detecting the plurality of wagering game machines in proximity to the mobile phone includes receiving wireless signals emitted by the plurality of wagering game machines, wherein the wireless signals indicate identifiers of the plurality of wagering game machines.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said selecting the first of the plurality of wagering game machines with which to establish the connection comprises:

displaying icons representing the plurality of wagering game machines; and

detecting a selection of one of the icons.

7. A method for configuring a wagering game machine to receive wagering input from a mobile phone, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with a mobile phone;

receiving information indicating that the mobile phone has been configured to operate as an input device for the wagering game machine;

configuring the wagering game machine to accept wagering input from the mobile phone;

receiving the wagering input from the mobile phone;

determining, based in-part on the wagering input, results of the wagering game; and

presenting the results of the wagering game.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information indicating that the mobile phone has been configured to operate as an input device is included in player account information received from a wagering game server.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the wagering input indicates an amount wagered on the wagering game.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

instructing the mobile phone to display input buttons and game elements in accordance with the wagering game.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

presenting a casino floor map indicating that the wagering game machine is configured to present the wagering game.

12. One or more machine-readable storage media including instructions executable on one or more processors, the instructions comprising:

instructions to detect that a winning event has been presented on a device, wherein the winning event is part of a wagering game;

instructions to determine a first location of the device in a wagering game establishment;

instructions to present a celebration event near the first location;

instructions to determine that the player has moved to a second location; and

instructions to present the celebration event near the second location.

13. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 12, wherein the device includes a mobile phone, and wherein the instructions to determine that the player has moved to a second location include instructions to receive global positioning system (GPS) information from the device.

14. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 12, wherein the instructions to present the celebration event near the first location comprises instructions to determine presentation devices near the first location.

15. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 12, wherein the instructions to present the celebration event near the location comprise one or more of instructions to present a light show, instructions to present music, instructions to present video content, and instructions to display an image representing a player of the wagering game.

16. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 12, wherein the device is a mobile phone.

17. A system comprising:

a mobile device configured to

detect one or more wagering game machines in proximity to the mobile device;

select a wagering game machine from the one or more wagering game machines;

request a connection with the wagering game machines;

transmit, from the mobile device to the wagering game machine, player account information for configuring a wagering game on the wagering game machine;

receive, from the wagering game machines, content indicating a result of the wagering game; and

present, on the mobile device, the result of the wagering game.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the mobile device is further configured to receive a map graphically indicating a path to the wagering game machine, and present the map on a display device.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

the one or more wagering game machines, wherein each of the wagering game machines is configured to;

connect with the mobile device;

receive the player account information from the mobile device;

determine a result for the wagering game; and

transmit, to the mobile device, the content indicating the result.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the mobile device is further configured to display input buttons and game elements in accordance with the wagering game.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the mobile device is further configured to present a casino floor map indicating that the wagering game machine is configured to present the wagering game.

22. A mobile phone comprising:

means for detecting a plurality of wagering game machines in proximity to the mobile phone;

means for selecting a first of the plurality of wagering game machines with which to establish a connection;

means for requesting the connection with the first of the plurality of wagering game machines;

means for transmitting, from the mobile phone to the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, player account information for configuring a wagering game;

means for receiving, from the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, content indicating a result of the wagering game; and

means for presenting, on the mobile phone, the result of the wagering game.

23. The mobile phone of claim 22 further comprising:

means for updating a social networking account to indicate the result of the wagering game.

24. The mobile phone of claim 22, wherein the player account information comprises, at least one of, persistent game state information, denominations, audio settings, and video settings.

25. The mobile phone of claim 22, wherein the means for detecting the plurality of wagering game machines in proximity to the mobile phone includes

means for receiving wireless signals emitted by the plurality of wagering game machines, wherein the wireless signals indicate identifiers of the plurality of wagering game machines.