ATTRACT BASED ON MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20130053148A1
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nelson, Dwayne R., LeMay, Steven G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,336,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system is configured to detect the presence of portable electronic devices and determine their locations in a casino environment and determine whether to initiate an attract feature. Based on the determined location of the portable electronic device, nearby gaming devices, such as electronic gaming machines can be selected for use in generating an attract feature for a patron. The generated attract feature can include outputting content to one or more EGMs and/or a patron'"'"'s portable electronic device. The gaming devices selected for use in an attract feature and/or the content associated with the attract feature can be affected by patron specified preferences. In one embodiment, the patron specified preferences can be entered and stored using an application executed on their portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A method in a gaming system server including a processor, memory and a network interface comprising:

receiving via the network interface detection information indicating a presence of a portable electronic device in a gaming environment;

determining a first set of gaming devices including one or more electronic gaming machines near a location of the portable electronic device in the gaming environment;

determining whether a patron associated with the portable electronic device is engaged in an active game play session;

when it is determined the patron is not engaged in an active game play session, selecting a second set of gaming devices from the first set of gaming devices for use in an attract feature; and

sending via the network interface instructions and/or data for initiating the attract feature on the second set of gaming devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming environment is a casino.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection information is received from a plurality of devices configured to detect wireless signal data transmitted from the portable electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection information is received from one or more electronic gaming machines each including a wireless receiver.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the location of the portable electronic device using the detection information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the location from the portable electronic device wherein the location is self-determined by the portable electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the patron associated with the portable electronic device is engaged in the active game play session includes determining whether each first set of gaming devices is idle or not.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein it is determined that the patron is not engaged in the active game play session when the first set of gaming devices near the portable electronic device are idle.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving accelerometer data from the portable electronic device wherein the determining of whether the patron associated with the portable electronic device is engaged in the active game play session is based upon the received accelerometer data.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a change in the location of the portable electronic device over time and comparing the change in the location over time to a threshold value wherein the patron associated with the portable electronic device is determined not to be engaged in the active game play session when the change in the location of the portable electronic device over time exceeds the threshold value.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information from a first electronic gaming machine, a first portable electronic or combinations thereof indicating that a) the first portable electronic device is currently coupled to the first electronic gaming machine and b) the first electronic gaming machine is currently in an active game play session and based upon the received information determining the patron associated with the first portable electronic device is engaged in the active game play session.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a distance between the location of the portable electronic device and each of the first set of gaming devices and comparing the distances to a threshold value wherein the patron associated with the portable electronic device is determined not to be engaged in the active game play session when each of the distances is greater than the threshold value.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving gaming preference information from the portable electronic device wherein the gaming preference information is used to select the second set of gaming device for use in the attract feature.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving identification information associated with the patron from one of the portable electronic device or an electronic gaming machine, retrieving gaming preference information from a loyalty program account using the identification information wherein the gaming preference information is used to select the second set of gaming devices for use in the attract feature.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of gaming devices includes one or more electronic gaming machines and the portable electronic device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of gaming devices includes only the portable electronic device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of gaming devices is selected from the first set of gaming devices based upon a determination of a direction of movement of the patron.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of gaming devices is selected from first gaming set of gaming devices to provide spacing between the second set of gaming devices and other gaming devices near the second set of gaming devices that are currently engaged in providing an active game play session.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of gaming devices is selected from the first set of gaming devices to provide spacing between the second set of gaming devices and other nearby portable electronic devices.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing a first time that the attract feature is initiated on the second set of gaming device, receiving via the network interface detection information indicating the presence of the portable electronic device at a second location at a second time, determining a change in time between the second time and the first time and determining not to initiate a second attract feature near the second location when the change in time is below a threshold value.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the attract feature includes an offer redeemable on one of the second set of gaming devices.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the offer is redeemable at a table game.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the offer is redeemable only on a particular electronic gaming machine.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the offer is redeemable only for a limited time period.

25. A method in a gaming system server including a processor, memory and a network interface comprising:

receiving via the network interface detection information indicating a presence of a portable electronic device in a gaming environment including a unique portable electronic device identifier;

sending via the network interface instructions and/or data for initiating an attract feature on the portable electronic device wherein the attract feature includes an offer redeemable on an electronic gaming machine;

sending offer information to the portable electronic device wherein the offer information includes a unique offer identifier and a description of the offer;

storing the unique offer identifier, the description of the offer and the unique portable electronic device identifier to a memory device,

receiving information associated with the offer from an electronic gaming machine including an offer identifier and the a portable electronic device identifier,

validating the offer when a) the unique offer identifier matches the received offer identifier, b) the unique portable electronic device identifier matches the received portable electronic device identifier and c) the offer has not been previously redeemed,

sending to the electronic gaming machine information indicating the offer is valid.

26. The method of claim 25, after validating the offer, storing information to the memory device indicating the offer has been redeemed.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the instructions and/or data for initiating the attract feature include instructions and/or data for generating a bonus game on the portable electronic device wherein the offer is revealed on the portable electronic device during the bonus game generated on the portable electronic device.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising determining the offer is invalid when the when a) the unique offer identifier does not match the received offer identifier, b) the unique portable electronic device identifier does not match the received portable electronic device identifier or c) the offer has been previously redeemed and sending information to the electronic gaming machine indicating the offer is not valid.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising sending a time period during which the offer can be redeemed to the portable electronic device.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising receiving the information from the electronic gaming machine after the time period is exceeded and determining the offer is no longer valid.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the information associated with offer is received from a game controller on the electronic gaming machine.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the information associated with the offer is received from a secondary controller on the electronic gaming machine that is separate from a game controller.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the secondary controller is located in one of a player tracking unit, a bill validator, a card reader or a printer coupled to the electronic gaming machine.