GRAPHIC CAPTURE IN A MOBILE LOYALTY NETWORK

• US 20170236376A1
• Filed: 05/01/2017
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Carrico, David, Miles, Danny
• Granted Patent: US 10,482,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/32 using local area network [LAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• 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 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

Devices and methods for generating and/or communicating using optically formatted image data are provided. One method includes receiving first gaming information from a first wager-based gaming device via a local area network. The method further includes receiving from the first wager-based gaming device a request to include the first gaming information in a machine readable optically formatted image data. The method further includes generating the machine readable optically formatted image data or instructions for creating the machine readable optically formatted image data. Data encoded in the machine readable optically formatted image data comprises a unique identifier and the first gaming information. The method further includes sending the generated machine readable optically formatted image data or the instructions for creating the machine readable optically formatted image data to the first wager-based gaming device. The machine readable optically formatted image data is output to a display device.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

cause a display device to display a machine readable optically formatted image,

following a capturing of the displayed machine readable optically formatted image by a mobile device, cause an entry of a game to be associated with a player, and

for a play of the game;

determine a winning entry of the game, and

cause the display device display information associated with the determined winning entry of the game.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a gaming machine display device.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a gaming establishment sign.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the gaming establishment sign comprises a display device of a kiosk.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the machine readable optically formatted image comprises one of:

a 1-D bar code and a 2-D bar code.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the game comprises a drawing game.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the drawing game comprises a lottery.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the game comprises a scavenger hunt game.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular phone.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, which comprises an acceptor, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to, responsive to a physical item being received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

11. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

causing a display device to display a machine readable optically formatted image,

following a capturing of the displayed machine readable optically formatted image by a mobile device, causing, by a processor, an entry of a game to be associated with a player, and

for a play of the game;

determining, by the processor, a winning entry of the game, and

causing the display device display information associated with the determined winning entry of the game.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein causing the display device to display the machine readable optically formatted image comprises causing a gaming machine display device to display the machine readable optically formatted image.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein causing the display device to display the machine readable optically formatted image comprises causing a gaming establishment sign to display the machine readable optically formatted image.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the gaming establishment sign comprises a display device of a kiosk.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the machine readable optically formatted image comprises one of:

a 1-D bar code and a 2-D bar code.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the game comprises a drawing game.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the drawing game comprises a lottery.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the game comprises a scavenger hunt game.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the mobile device comprises a cellular phone.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein a credit balance is increasable based on any award associated with the winning entry of the game, said credit balance being increasable via an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and said credit balance being decreasable responsive to a cashout input.

21. The method of claim 11, which is provided through a data network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the data network is an internet.