MULTI-PROCESS COMMUNICATION REGARDING GAMING INFORMATION

• US 20120046110A1
• Filed: 03/24/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: AMAITIS, Lee, Williams, Paul, Tara, Sunny
• Granted Patent: US 8,956,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Abstract

Various embodiments that may generally relate to mobile gaming, location determination, mobile devices, authentication, and so on are described. Various methods are described. Various apparatus are described. Further embodiments are described.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a machine readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions that are configured to cause a processor to;

determine that a device is authorized to use a gaming service;

determine that a user of the device is authorized to use the gaming service;

determine that the device is associated with a first location in which gaming activity is allowed;

allow gaming activity based on the determination that the device is authorized, the determination that the user is authorized, and the determination that the device is associated with the first location;

determine a period of time at which a determination that the device is associated with a second location should be made based on a distance of the first location from a boundary of an area;

determine that the period of time has passed; and

in response to determining that the period of time has passed, determine whether the device is associated with a second location in which gaming activity is allowed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the instructions are configured to cause the processor to continue to allow the gaming activity in response determining that the device is associated with the second location.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the instructions are configured to cause the processor to prevent the gaming activity in response to determining the device is associated with a third location in which gaming activity is not allowed.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, in determining that the device is authorized include determining that a mobile telephone number of the device has been signed up for the gaming service.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, in which determining that the user is authorized includes authenticating a login and password.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, in which determining that the device is associated with the first location in which gaming activity is allowed includes querying a geofencing service.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the processor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, in which determining the period of time includes determining a period of time that is larger when the distance is larger and smaller when the distance is smaller.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, in which determining the period of time includes determining a period of time that is proportionate to the distance.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, in which determining the period of time includes determining the period of time based on a speed and the distance.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, in which determining the period of time includes determining a period of time that is proportional to the speed and the distance.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, in which the instructions are configured to cause the processor to determine a location prior to the first location and determine the speed based on the first location and the prior location.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, in which the determining the period of time includes determining the period of time based on the speed, the distance, and a direction.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the instructions are configured to cause the processor to determine a location prior to the first location and determine the direction based on the first location and the prior location.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the direction includes a direction relative to a direction of travel of the mobile device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the period of time includes a period of time that is greater when the boundary includes a boundary of a state than when the boundary includes a boundary within a state.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the boundary includes a boundary of a geofence.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a mobile device configured to transmit gaming requests to a gaming service, communicate through a communication service, and provide a user interface to a customer; and

the gaming service, in which the gaming service is configured to;

determine that the mobile device is authorized to use the gaming service;

determine that the customer is authorized to use the gaming service;

determine that the device is associated with a first location in which gaming activity is allowed;

allow gaming activity based on the determination that the device is authorized, the determination that the user is authorized, and the determination that the device is associated with the first location;

determine a period of time at which a determination that the device is associated with a second location should be made based on a distance of the first location from a boundary of an area;

determine that the period of time has passed; and

in response to determining that the period of time has passed, determine whether the device is associated with a second location in which gaming activity is allowed.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, in which the gaming service includes one or more servers.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, in which the mobile device includes a cellular telephone and the communication service includes a cellular phone service.