GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATING AN ELECTRONIC GAMING MACHINE WITH A MOBILE DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:
- communicatively connecting, by a network interface, to a mobile device of a patron and a plurality of different electronic gaming machines;
receiving, by the network interface and from the mobile device, data representing a request to find a desired one of the plurality of different electronic gaming machines;
prior to the patron arriving at the desired electronic gaming machine, causing, by a processor, the desired electronic gaming machine to output a patron identifier; and
responsive to determining that the patron has arrived at the desired electronic gaming machine, enabling gameplay by the patron.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The gaming system and method, of the present disclosure leverage casino patrons'"'"' mobile devices to facilitate directing the patrons exactly to their desired electronic gaming machines (EGMs). In various embodiments, the gaming system includes a central controller communicatively connected to a plurality of EGMs. The central controller receives a request from a patron'"'"'s mobile device to find a desired one of the EGMs. The central controller causes the desired EGM and the patron'"'"'s mobile device to output the same patron identifier, such as a patron-created image, and causes the patron'"'"'s mobile device to use GPS to direct the patron to the vicinity of the desired EGM. Once the patron is within the vicinity of the desired EGM, the patron can quickly scan the surrounding EGMs to determine the one outputting the patron identifier, which is the patron'"'"'s desired EGM.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:
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communicatively connecting, by a network interface, to a mobile device of a patron and a plurality of different electronic gaming machines; receiving, by the network interface and from the mobile device, data representing a request to find a desired one of the plurality of different electronic gaming machines; prior to the patron arriving at the desired electronic gaming machine, causing, by a processor, the desired electronic gaming machine to output a patron identifier; and responsive to determining that the patron has arrived at the desired electronic gaming machine, enabling gameplay by the patron. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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7. A gaming system comprising:
a central controller configured to; communicatively connect to a mobile device of a patron; receive, from the mobile device, data representing a request to find a desired one of a plurality of different electronic gaming machines which are each communicatively connected to the central controller; prior to the patron arriving at the desired electronic gaming machine, cause the desired electronic gaming machine to output a patron identifier; and responsive to determining that the patron has arrived at the desired electronic gaming machine, cause the desired electronic gaming machine to enable gameplay by the patron.
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13. A gaming system comprising:
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a processor; a network interface; and a memory device that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; communicatively connect, via the network interface, to a mobile device of a patron; communicatively connect, via the network interface, to a plurality of electronic gaming machines, receive, via the network interface and from the mobile device, data representing a request to find a desired one of the plurality of different electronic gaming machines; prior to the patron arriving at the desired electronic gaming machine, cause the desired electronic gaming machine to output a patron identifier; and responsive to determining that the patron has arrived at the desired electronic gaming machine, cause the desired electronic gaming machine to enable gameplay by the patron. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification