SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUGMENTED GAMING VENUE USING A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20120122529A1
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Lyons, Martin S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,443,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 11/0074 Game concepts, rules or strategies
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2011/0093 characterised by the game theory or winning strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 5/00 Methods or arrangements for verifying the correctness of markings on a record carrier; Column detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/10 Terrestrial scenes scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/20 in augmented reality scenes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/161 Detection; Localisation; Normalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• 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 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• 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 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/359 Augmented reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3245 of image modifying data, e.g. handwritten addenda, highlights or augmented reality information

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for enabling a user in an augmented reality gaming venue to use an augmented reality gaming venue component and a mobile device to find a particular game or gaming machine. The method includes: controlling a camera on the mobile device using the augmented reality gaming venue component, once the component is activated; determining the location of the mobile device; determining the orientation of the mobile device; querying a casino management system to retrieve data for the augmented reality gaming venue; generating a list of gaming machines and other objects currently visible to the camera; rendering a camera-captured image on a display of the mobile device; and overlaying icons on the image for each visible object to display additional visual information to a user on the display of the mobile device in response to the user aiming the mobile device at gaming machines or other objects of interest in the augmented reality gaming venue.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a user in an augmented reality gaming venue to use an augmented reality gaming venue component and a mobile device to find a particular game or gaming machine, the method comprising:

controlling a camera on the mobile device using the augmented reality gaming venue component, once the component is activated;

determining the location of the mobile device;

determining the orientation of the mobile device;

querying a casino management system to retrieve data for the augmented reality gaming venue;

generating a list of gaming machines and other objects currently visible to the camera;

rendering a camera-captured image on a display of the mobile device; and

overlaying icons on the image for each visible object to display additional visual information to a user on the display of the mobile device in response to the user aiming the mobile device at gaming machines or other objects of interest in the augmented reality gaming venue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a camera, gyroscope, location tracking components, and optical recognition components.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gyroscope provides orientation derivation capabilities.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the location tracking components include a digital compass and a GPS system (Global Positioning System).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location tracking components enable accurate position and orientation of the mobile device and its user to be derived.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the augmented reality gaming venue component is activated by a Bluetooth or wireless message that is received by the mobile device when the device passes through a portal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the portal is a casino entrance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data includes current occupancy, historical performance, current denominations, or combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a smart phone that includes a built-in camera.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device displays a message to the user on the display of the mobile device instructing the user to aim the mobile device at gaming machines or other objects of interest in an augmented reality gaming venue.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein an occupied gaming machine is displayed with a first icon and an unoccupied gaming machine is displayed with a second icon.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a gaming machine that is enabled to play a first game is displayed with a first icon and a gaming machine that is enabled to play a second game displayed with a second icon.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a gaming machine having a first game parameter is displayed with a first icon and a gaming machine having a second game parameter is displayed with a second icon.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a targeted gaming machine need not be directly visible by the user in order to be presented on the display of the mobile device, wherein the targeted gaming machine is displayed even if obstacles are between the user and the targeted gaming machine.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a pop-up window containing information about a game or gaming machine is activated by selecting an icon on the display of the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a pop-up window containing information regarding gaming machine availability is activated by selecting an icon on the display of the mobile device.

17. A method of enabling a user in an augmented reality gaming venue to use an augmented reality gaming venue component that is displayed on a mobile device to find a targeted user, the method comprising:

controlling a camera on the mobile device using the augmented reality gaming venue component, once the components are activated;

determining the location of the mobile device;

determining the orientation of the mobile device;

querying a casino management system to retrieve data for the augmented reality gaming venue, wherein a user may register affinities for targeted users via the augmented reality venue component, and enabling a user to find a targeted user by aiming the mobile device around the augmented reality gaming venue until the targeted user icon located;

generating a list of targeted users and objects currently visible to the camera;

rendering a camera-captured image on a display of the mobile device; and

overlaying icons on the image for a targeted user and each visible object to display additional visual information to a user on the display of the mobile device in response to the user aiming the mobile device in the augmented reality gaming venue while looking for the targeted user.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the mobile device includes a camera, gyroscope, location tracking components, and optical recognition components.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the gyroscope provides orientation derivation capabilities.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the location tracking components includes a digital compass and a GPS system (Global Positioning System).

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the location tracking components enable accurate position and orientation of the mobile device and its user to be derived.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the augmented reality gaming venue component is activated by a Bluetooth or wireless message that is received by the mobile device when the device passes through a portal.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the portal is a casino entrance.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the data includes current occupancy, historical performance, current denominations, or combinations thereof.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the mobile device is a smart phone that includes a built-in camera.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the mobile device displays a message to the user on the display of the mobile device instructing the user to aim the mobile device at targeted users or other objects of interest in an augmented reality gaming venue.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein an occupied gaming machine is displayed with a first icon and an unoccupied gaming machine is displayed with a second icon.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein a gaming machine that is enabled to play a first game is displayed with a first icon and a gaming machine that is enabled to play a second game displayed with a second icon.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein a gaming machine having a first game parameter is displayed with a first icon and a gaming machine having a second game parameter is displayed with a second icon.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the targeted user icon need not be directly visible by the user, wherein the targeted user icon is displayed even if obstacles are between the user and the targeted user.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein a pop-up window containing information about a game or gaming machine is activated by selecting an icon on the display of the mobile device.

32. The method of claim 17, wherein a pop-up window containing information regarding gaming machine availability is activated by selecting an icon on the display of the mobile device.

33. A method of enabling a user in an augmented reality gaming venue to use an augmented reality gaming venue component and a mobile device to find a particular game or gaming machine at another location, the method comprising:

controlling a camera on the mobile device using the augmented reality gaming venue component, once the component is activated;

determining the location of the mobile device;

determining the orientation of the mobile device;

querying a casino management system to retrieve data for the augmented reality gaming venue;

generating a list of gaming machines and other objects in the augmented reality gaming venue, including gaming machines and other objects not currently visible to the camera of the mobile device;

rendering a camera captured image on a display of the mobile device; and

overlaying icons on the image for each object to display additional visual information to a user on the display of the mobile device; and

enabling the user to find a targeted game machine at another location in the augmented reality gaming venue, wherein if the targeted gaming machine is visible, the targeted gaming machine is indicated on the display by a first icon pointing at the targeted gaming machine, and wherein if the targeted gaming machine is not visible, a second icon is displayed that indicates which direction the player should rotate the mobile device to bring the targeted gaming machine into view on the display;

wherein as the user rotates the mobile device, the second icon position is updated, and eventually replaced by a first icon pointing directly at the gaming machine.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the mobile device includes a camera, gyroscope, location tracking components, and optical recognition components.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein a list of gaming machines at other locations is generated by querying a database as to other gaming machines with identical themes, and wherein the list is filtered to only matching-themed gaming machines having zero credits and no player tracking card inserted, thereby identifying available gaming machines.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein once the list is formed, the list is sorted by distance from the user based upon a gaming machine location table.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising enabling a player to reserve a gaming machine by selecting an icon on the mobile device.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein enabling a player to reserve a gaming machine further includes sending a message from the mobile device to a casino management system to reserve the gaming machine.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein casino management system generates a personal identification number and transmits the personal identification number to the mobile device of the requested user.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the reserved gaming machine is locked up from use until the personal identification number is entered into the gaming machine, thereby providing a period of time for the user to reach the reserved gaming machine.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein upon reaching the reserved gaming machine, the user enters the personal identification number and unlocks the reserved gaming machine.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein once a time limit is reached without the personal identification number being entered, the reserved gaming machine is unlocked to prevent the reserved gaming machine from being held out-of-service for an extended period of time.

43. A gaming system for enabling a user in an augmented reality gaming venue to use an augmented reality gaming venue component and a mobile device to find a particular game, gaming machine, or user, the system comprising:

one or more gaming machines, each gaming machine having a door solenoid to unlock the door;

a server connected to the one or more gaming machines via a network, wherein the server is associated with a casino management system that is enabled to retrieve queries for data regarding the augmented reality gaming venue; and

one or more mobile devices that includes a camera, a gyroscope, a location tracking component, an optical recognition component, and a wireless connection to the server, wherein each mobile device enables a user to scan an augmented reality gaming venue using the camera, wherein the location tracking component determines the location of the mobile device, wherein the gyroscope determines the orientation of the mobile device, wherein the optical recognition component captures data regarding the gaming venue, and wherein the wireless connection to the server enables the mobile device to send and receive information from the server;

wherein the casino management system generates a list of gaming machines and other objects currently visible to the camera, wherein the augmented reality gaming venue component renders a camera-captured image on a display of the mobile device, and wherein the augmented reality gaming venue component overlays icons on the image for each visible object to display additional visual information to a user on the display of the mobile device in response to the user aiming the mobile device at gaming machines, users, or other objects of interest in the augmented reality gaming venue.