MODIFYING GAMING DEVICES FOR DETERMINED GROUPS

• US 20140087862A1
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Burke, Mary M., Hamlin, Vernon W., Anderson, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,888,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3279 wherein the competition is one-to-one, e.g. match

Abstract

A gaming device may be modified in a way that is aimed at the similar interests in a focus group rather than on an individual. Groups are formed where the patrons in the groups have related elements. The related elements are compared to modifiable elements of the gaming device and modifications are made to the modifiable elements to attract the members of the focus group.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, a display, and an input/output circuit, the processor being physically configured according to computer executable instructions for presenting gaming content on a computing device to a determined group, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

determining a focus group of patrons comprising;

selecting at least two patrons that have a related location to form a base group; and

selecting patrons from the base group that have at least one related element to form the focus group;

determining a relevant game attribute for the focus group by analyzing the related element in view of modifiable game attributes;

suggesting modified gaming content based on the determined relevant game attribute; and

if the modified gaming content is accepted, executing the modified gaming content on the computing device.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the analyzing the related element in view of modifiable game attributes further comprises computer executable code for:

using a computer executable function to score modifiable game attributes comprising assigning a value based on a similarity of each modifiable game attribute to the related element of the focus group; and

selecting the modifiable game attribute having a greatest similarity to the related element of the focus group as the modified gaming content.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the related element is selected from user preference files associated with the focus group of patrons, and wherein the related element comprises at least one element selected from a group of elements consisting of denomination preference, bonus preference, game preference, speed preference, and sound preference.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein determining the related element comprises sensing physical characteristics and biometric data associated with the focus group of patrons.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the related element comprises at least one element selected from a group of elements consisting of patron sex, patron age, patron height, patron weight, patron hair color, and observed game preference.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein selecting the modified gaming content comprises selecting at least one game modification from a group of game modifications consisting of game selection, denomination, bonus structure, speed of play, and sound volume.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, further comprising selecting the modified gaming content to match gaming machines located near the focus group of patrons.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable code that physically configures a processor, the computer executable code comprising instructions for presenting gaming content on a computing device to a determined group, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

determining a focus group of patrons comprising;

selecting at least two patrons that have a related location to form a base group; and

selecting patrons from the base group that have at least one related element to form the focus group;

determining a relevant game attribute for the focus group by analyzing the related element in view of modifiable game attributes;

suggesting modified gaming content based on the determined relevant game attribute; and

if the modified gaming content is accepted, executing the modified gaming content on the computing device.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the analyzing the related element in view of modifiable game attributes further comprises computer executable code for:

using a computer executable function to score modifiable game attributes comprising assigning a value based on a similarity of each modifiable game attribute to the related element of the focus group; and

selecting the modifiable game attribute having a greatest similarity to the related element of the focus group as the modified gaming content.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the related element is selected from user preference files associated with the focus group of patrons, and wherein the related element comprises at least one element selected from a group of elements consisting of denomination preference, bonus preference, game preference, speed preference, and sound preference.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein determining the related element comprises sensing physical characteristics and biometric data associated with the focus group of patrons.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the related element comprises at least one element selected from a group of elements consisting of patron sex, patron age, patron height, patron weight, patron hair color, and observed game preference.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein selecting the modified gaming content comprises selecting at least one game modification from a group of game modifications consisting of game selection, denomination, bonus structure, speed of play, and sound volume.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising selecting the modified gaming content to match gaming machines located near the focus group of patrons.

15. A computer implemented method in a gaming device of presenting gaming content to a determined group comprising:

determining a focus group of patrons comprising;

selecting at least two patrons that have a related location to form a base group; and

selecting patrons from the base group that have at least one related element to form the focus group;

determining a relevant game attribute for the focus group by analyzing the related element in view of modifiable game attributes;

suggesting modified gaming content based on the determined relevant game attribute; and

if the modified gaming content is accepted, executing the modified gaming content on the computing device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the analyzing the related element in view of modifiable game attributes further comprises computer executable code for:

using a computer executable function to score modifiable game attributes comprising assigning a value based on a similarity of each modifiable game attribute to the related element of the focus group; and

selecting the modifiable game attribute having a greatest similarity to the related element of the focus group as the modified gaming content.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the related element is selected from user preference files associated with the focus group of patrons, and wherein the related element comprises at least one element selected from a group of elements consisting of denomination preference, bonus preference, game preference, speed preference, and sound preference.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the related element comprises sensing physical characteristics and biometric data associated with the focus group of patrons, and wherein the related element comprises at least one element selected from a group of elements consisting of patron sex, patron age, patron height, patron weight, patron hair color, and observed game preference.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein selecting the modified gaming content comprises selecting at least one game modification from a group of game modifications consisting of game selection, denomination, bonus structure, speed of play, and sound volume.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising selecting the modified gaming content to match gaming machines located near the focus group of patrons.