Adaptive Mobile Device Gaming System

• US 20170148263A1
• Filed: 02/08/2017
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Incorporated (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nguyen Gaming LLC
• Inventors: Thomas, C. Douglass, NGUYEN, BINH T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,380,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 17/3225 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 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein concern mobile gaming environments. Portable electronic devices can be supported by the mobile gaming environments. The locations of the portable electronic device can influence how the portable electronic devices operate or what services or features are available to the portable electronic device or their users. According to one embodiment, a mobile gaming system can concern gaming/betting opportunities that can be secured using a portable electronic device even when an individual is located in a location where betting or games of chance are not permitted. According to another embodiment, a mobile gaming system can concern an application program operating on a portable electronic device that supports multiple modes of operation depending upon whether the portable electronic device is in a location where betting or games of chance are permitted.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code for an application program stored thereon, the application program being executable by a computing device, comprising:

computer program code for determining whether the computing device is in a gaming authorized location or a gaming unauthorized location;

computer program code for operating the application program in a non-gaming mode if the location of the computing device is located in a gaming unauthorized location; and

computer program code for operating the application program in a gaming mode if the location of the computing device is located in a gaming authorized location.

2. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing device is a portable electronic device.

3. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one reward, tool, enhancement, asset or feature yielded or used by the application is converted or modified when the application program switches between the gaming mode and the non-gaming mode.

4. A method for facilitating gaming via portable electronic devices, the method comprising:

causing a betting opportunity to be presented to a user via a portable electronic device associated with the user;

receiving, at a gaming server, a bet amount for the betting opportunity from the portable electronic device;

determining whether the portable electronic device is in a betting authorized location;

placing a bet corresponding to the betting opportunity in the bet amount for the user if the determining determines that the portable electronic device is in a betting authorized location; and

deferring placing of the bet corresponding to the betting opportunity in the bet amount for the user if the determining determines that the portable electronic device is not in a betting authorized location.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the deferring comprises locking in the betting opportunity in the bet amount for period of time.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the deferring comprises providing the user with an option to place the betting opportunity in the bet amount for period of time.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the method comprises:

subsequently determining whether the portable electronic device is in a betting authorized location.

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

activating the bet corresponding to the option once the determining determines that the portable electronic device is subsequently in a betting authorized location.

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

displaying a bet option fee for locking in an option to make the bet amount;

receiving, using the portable electronic device, an acceptance of the bet option fee; and

locking the option to make the bet amount for the user.

10. A method for provided a betting opportunity using a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

causing presentment of a betting opportunity via the portable electronic device;

determining whether a user of the portable electronic device desires to pursue the betting opportunity;

determining whether the portable electronic device is in a gaming authorized location or a gaming unauthorized location; and

initiating locking in the betting opportunity for future execution if the portable electronic device subsequently is determined to be in a gaming authorized location.

11. A method for facilitating gaming via portable electronic devices, the method comprising:

displaying a betting opportunity to a user via a portable electronic device associated with the user;

receiving, using the portable electronic device, a bet amount for the betting opportunity;

displaying a bet option fee for locking in a bet option to make the bet amount;

receiving, using the portable electronic device, an acceptance of the bet option fee; and

initiating locking of the option to make the bet amount for the user.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the method comprises:

subsequently determining whether the portable electronic device is in a betting authorized location; and

Initiating activation of a bet corresponding to the bet option once the determining determines that the portable electronic device is in a betting authorized location.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the bet option has an expiration time, and wherein the method comprises:

closing the bet option at the expiration time.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the method comprises:

periodically determining whether the portable electronic device is in a betting authorized location, so long as the bet option has not been closed; and

Initiating activation of a bet corresponding to the bet option once the determining determines that the portable electronic device is in a betting authorized location.