Configurable Virtual Gaming Zone

• US 20170148259A1
• Filed: 02/08/2017
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Incorporated (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nguyen Gaming LLC
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T., Rilett, Darrell
• Application Number:
  US15/427,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20170148259A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• 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 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• 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 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

In one embodiment, zone-based gaming activity within a gaming establishment can be configured. The method can, for example, include: setting a location within the gaming establishment for the zone-based gaming activity, the location being at least one defined region within the gaming establishment; configuring a virtual gaming zone for the location within the gaming establishment for the zone-based gaming activity; identifying one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone; and permitting the identified one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone to participate in the zone-based gaming activity.

Claims

1. A method for configuring zone-based gaming activity within a gaming establishment, the method comprising:

setting a location within the gaming establishment for the zone-based gaming activity, the location being at least one defined region within the gaming establishment;

configuring a virtual gaming zone for the location within the gaming establishment for the zone-based gaming activity;

identifying one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone; and

permitting the identified one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone to participate in the zone-based gaming activity.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the zone-based gaming activity includes at least one game of change that involves a wager thereon.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the identified one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone that are permitted to participate in the zone-based gaming activity are eligible for an award generated from the zone-based gaming activity.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

identifying one or more players respectively associated with the identified one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone to participate in the zone-based gaming activity.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the identified one or more players respectively associated with the identified one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone and permitted to participate in the zone-based gaming activity are eligible for an award generated from the zone-based gaming activity.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the zone-based gaming activity includes at least one game of change that involves a wager thereon.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

determining whether the zone-based gaming activity with the virtual gaming zone should cease; and

stopping the identified one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone from further participating in the zone-based gaming activity.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the determining whether the zone-based gaming activity with the virtual gaming zone should cease comprises:

monitoring for occurrence of a trigger condition; and

determining that the zone-based gaming activity with the virtual gaming zone should cease based on the trigger condition.

9. An electronic gaming system, comprising:

a zone controller for configuring zone-based gaming activity within a gaming establishment, the zone controller operates to configure a virtual gaming zone for a location within the gaming establishment for the zone-based gaming activity, the location being at least one defined region within a portion of the gaming establishment;

a location database configured to storage location of a plurality of gaming devices at the gaming establishment; and

at least one server configured to;

identify one or more of the plurality of gaming devices at the gaming establishment that are within the virtual gaming zone; and

permit the identified one or more gaming devices that are within the virtual gaming zone to participate in the zone-based gaming activity.